Chapter 2 - Apartment 4B
William canceled three meetings that afternoon.
His assistant, Daniel Brooks, sounded stunned.
“You’re canceling the Harcourt acquisition meeting?”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
William watched Emma walk ahead of him toward the subway.
“A personal matter.”
“You don’t have personal matters.”
“I do now.”
Emma had refused his car.
So William Parker, millionaire real-estate developer and a man accustomed to being driven everywhere, followed an eleven-year-old onto the subway carrying two grocery bags and a case of formula.
“You really don’t have to come,” Emma said.
“You’ve mentioned that.”
“And you keep coming.”
“I’ve noticed.”
When they reached her building, William stopped.
The front door barely locked.
Water stains covered the ceiling.
The elevator displayed an OUT OF SERVICE sign.
“What floor?”
“Fourth.”
William looked at the grocery bags.
“Of course.”
Emma smirked.
“You tired?”
“Not remotely.”
“You’re breathing hard.”
“I’m wearing a suit.”
“That doesn’t affect breathing.”
William stared at her.
“Fourth floor, Emma.”
She smiled.
It was the first real smile he had seen.
Then they entered apartment 4B.
“Grandma?”
Martha answered weakly.
“Emma?”
William followed the girl into the bedroom.
Martha tried to sit up.
Her face changed when she saw a stranger.
“Who are you?”
“William Parker.”
“What are you doing in my apartment?”
“Grandma, it’s okay.”
“Emma?”
“He bought food.”
Martha looked horrified.
“You begged?”
“No.”
William interrupted.
“She asked for my leftovers.”
Martha closed her eyes.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
“I had to do something.”
“You should have come home.”
“To what?”
Silence.
Emma’s voice cracked.
“Noah was hungry.”
Martha looked at the baby.
Then at the groceries.
Then at William.
“We’ll repay you.”
“That isn’t necessary.”
“It is to me.”
William nodded.
“All right.”
Emma stared at him.
“You’re going to make Grandma pay?”
“No. I’m allowing her dignity.”
Martha studied him carefully.
“You have children, Mr. Parker?”
The question caught him off guard.
“No.”
“A wife?”
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
William looked around the apartment.
The empty formula can.
The medication bottles.
The unpaid bills.
Then he noticed an envelope.
FINAL NOTICE.
“What happened to your pension?”
Martha stiffened.
“That’s private.”
Emma answered.
“Someone stole it.”
“Emma.”
“He did.”
William crouched beside her.
“How?”
Emma explained the ATM.
The helpful stranger.
The missing card.
The emptied account.
William stood.
“Did you call the bank?”
“Yes,” Martha said. “They’re investigating.”
“How long?”
“Could be weeks.”
William’s jaw tightened.
“Which bank?”
“Why?”
“Because weeks isn’t acceptable.”
Martha stared at him.
“Who exactly are you?”
Emma answered.
“He’s a CEO.”
Martha blinked.
Emma added, “Apparently people blame him when things go wrong.”
William sighed.
“I regret explaining it that way.”
Martha actually laughed.
Then she started coughing.
Her hand pressed against her chest.
Emma rushed forward.
“Grandma?”
“I’m fine.”
William saw the medication bottle.
Empty.
“When did you take your last dose?”
Martha didn’t answer.
“Grandma?”
“Yesterday.”
Emma went pale.
“You told me there were three left.”
“I didn’t want you worrying.”
William reached for his phone.
Martha snapped, “What are you doing?”
“Calling an ambulance.”
“No.”
“You have a heart condition and missed medication.”
“I cannot afford another hospital bill.”
William looked directly at her.
“Then don’t pay it.”
“That isn’t how hospitals work.”
“It is today.”
Martha’s expression hardened.
“I don’t accept charity.”
William stepped closer.
“Then call it a loan.”
“With what collateral?”
He glanced at Emma.
“Teach me how to get her to listen to adults.”
Emma crossed her arms.
“Impossible.”
Martha laughed again despite herself.
Then her face suddenly tightened.
Her hand grabbed the blanket.
“Grandma?”
Martha gasped.
May you like
William dialed emergency services.
This time, nobody argued.
