Chapter 7 - A New Dawn at Mendes Tower
The transition from a cramped Victorian orphanage to a sprawling penthouse overlooking the Boston harbor was nothing short of magical for a seven-year-old girl. Gabriel had converted his minimalist, sterile study into a vibrant wonderland filled with art supplies, bookshelves, and a custom-built dollhouse that resembled a miniature version of the Boston skyline.
On their first Saturday morning together, the aroma of burnt pancakes drifted through the penthouse kitchen. Gabriel, dressed in a flour-dusted apron that looked utterly ridiculous on a billionaire CEO, flipped a pancake with a spatula while Clara sat on the marble kitchen island, giggling uncontrollably.
"You know, Dad," Clara said, using the title for the first time with complete naturalness, "your cooking is terrible."
Gabriel feigned a look of deep offense, placing a hand over his heart. "Terrible? This is a culinary masterpiece crafted by the head of Mendes Corp!"
"It's burnt on one side and raw on the other," she laughed, grabbing a strawberry from the fruit bowl and tossing it at him. It bounced off his shoulder, landing on the floor.
Gabriel grinned, scooping up a handful of whipped cream and dotting it right on the tip of her nose. Clara squealed in delight, retaliating with a smear of strawberry jam across his cheek. For the most powerful man in the city, standing in a kitchen covered in breakfast mess, this was the greatest victory of his life.
Later that afternoon, Regina arrived with a stack of tablet computers and briefing folders for the upcoming quarterly review. When she stepped out of the private elevator and saw the living room scattered with building blocks and coloring books, she stopped in her tracks.
"Mr. Mendes... the board meeting with the European partners is in two hours," Regina said, eyeing a plastic dinosaur resting on the glass coffee table.
Gabriel wiped a smudge of syrup from his hand with a napkin and walked over to her. "Reschedule it, Regina."
"Reschedule it?" Regina blinked in surprise. "Sir, they flew in from Frankfurt specifically for this acquisition."
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"Then they can enjoy an extra day in Boston," Gabriel replied calmly, picking up the plastic dinosaur. "My priorities have shifted, Regina. Mendes Corp will continue to thrive, but I am no longer willing to sacrifice my family for a spreadsheet."
Regina looked at him for a long moment, a slow, approving smile spreading across her face. For the first time since she had started working for him, she saw a real human being standing behind the corporate armor. "Consider it done, boss."
