The manager lowered his dark eyebrows and glared down at the small family.
Manager: Get out of this building right now!
Elena flinched at the harsh tone of his loud voice.
Elena: Please, sir, it is freezing outside and my children just need to rest.
Manager: This lobby is for wealthy clients, not homeless people.
Elena: We will leave in ten minutes once the baby warms up.
Manager: You leave right this second or I call the police!
Maya started to cry silently behind her mother's thin coat.
The manager stepped closer and pointed a finger at the double glass doors.
Several business people stopped to watch the scene with quiet curiosity.
Nobody stepped forward to help the desperate young mother.
Elena felt tears of shame burning in the back of her eyes.
She had never begged for anything in her entire life until today.
She reached into her pocket for her old broken phone.
She wanted to check if any city shelter had open beds tonight.
The manager grabbed her coat sleeve to pull her toward the exit.
Manager: I told you to move your feet right now!
Elena: Do not touch me!
The baby woke up and began to cry loudly in the grand lobby.
The manager gritted his teeth in deep frustration.
He raised his voice even higher to drown out the crying child.
Manager: You are ruining the reputation of this multi-million dollar business!
Elena backed away slowly until her heel hit a solid stone pillar.
She was trapped between the cruel manager and the cold street outside.
She lowered her head to shield her children from his angry glare.
The heavy gold revolving doors suddenly whirred with great speed.
A towering figure walked into the quiet room with immense purpose.