Part 2 "The Girl Who Chose a Stranger"
The man in the leather jacket started walking toward them.
Not quickly.
Not aggressively.
That was what made Andrew distrust him even more.
Predators rarely rushed when they believed they still had control.
Penny pressed closer against his side.
"That's him," she whispered.
Andrew felt her tiny fingers tighten around his sleeve.
The lobby doors suddenly clicked.
Building security had received his message.
Two guards casually moved into position near the exits.
The man noticed immediately.
His expression changed.
For the first time, uncertainty flashed across his face.
Then he turned.
And ran.
"Stop him!"
One of the guards shouted.
The man shoved through a revolving door and sprinted into the street.
Security followed.
Several pedestrians jumped aside in surprise.
Within seconds, sirens echoed outside.
The police had arrived faster than expected.
Andrew remained seated beside Penny.
He knew his job now was not chasing criminals.
It was protecting the frightened child beside him.
Minutes later, two police officers entered the lobby.
One of them crouched beside Penny.
"Hi there, sweetheart. Can you tell us where your mommy is?"
Penny's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know."
The words broke something inside the lobby.
The officers exchanged concerned glances.
Andrew spoke quietly.
"Her name is Rebecca Chen. According to Penny, she works at a hospital."
The officers immediately began checking records.
Within twenty minutes they had an answer.
There were dozens of Rebecca Chens in New York.
But only one had recently been reported missing by coworkers after failing to show up for several shifts.
A nurse.
Single mother.
Thirty-two years old.
Last seen three days earlier.
Andrew looked down at Penny.
The little girl had fallen asleep against him.
Her small head rested on his shoulder as though she had known him forever.
One officer sighed.
"We'll get Child Services involved."
Andrew frowned.
"Until you find her mother?"
"That's usually how it works."
Penny stirred in her sleep and wrapped both arms around his neck.
"No..." she mumbled. "Don't leave me, Daddy."
The officer looked away.
Andrew's chest tightened.
For reasons he couldn't explain, the idea of this child spending the night alone with strangers felt unbearable.
For the first time in years, a decision wasn't calculated.
It was instinctive.
"I'll take temporary responsibility for her."
The officer blinked.
"Mr. Sterling, that's a serious commitment."
"I know."
And for the first time in a long time...
Andrew meant it.
Over the next forty-eight hours, his entire life changed.
His penthouse suddenly contained stuffed animals.
Tiny shoes appeared in hallways.
Cartoons played on screens that usually displayed stock reports.
Penny insisted on helping him make breakfast.
She accidentally dropped eggs.
Twice.
Burned toast.
Three times.
And somehow Andrew laughed harder than he had in years.
His employees noticed.
His assistant noticed.
Even the board noticed.
The famously cold CEO smiled now.
Frequently.
But beneath every happy moment remained the same question:
Where was Rebecca Chen?
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Three days later, police found the answer.
And it was worse than anyone expected.
