Billionaire: Show that to me right now!
The man stepped past his security team, his voice commanding and sharp as he reached down to snatch the pendant from Toby’s dirty palms.
Security Guard: Mr. Sterling, let us handle this street kid. He might be trying to scam you.
Julian: Back off, Marcus! Both of you, stand back right now!
Julian Sterling’s hands shook as his thumb traced the intricate petals carved into the silver rose. He turned the metal over in his palm, revealing two small initials hand-engraved on the back: J & M.
Julian: Where did you get this? Who gave this to you?!
Toby: My mom... she gave it to me before the doctors took her away in the ambulance.
Julian: What is your mother's name, boy? Tell me her name!
Toby: Her name is Margaret. Margaret Miller.
Julian’s breath hitched in his chest. His knees felt weak, and for a second, the powerful CEO looked as if he might collapse onto the cold marble floor right in front of his staff.
Julian: Margaret...? No, that's impossible. Margaret moved to California ten years ago. She cut off all contact with my family.
Toby: She didn't want to move, mister. She told me she was forced to leave Chicago because people threatened her!
Julian: Threatened her? Who threatened her?!
Toby: She said your family paid a lawyer to make her sign papers and take me away from the city before I was even born!
The little girl in the pink dress stepped closer, pulling on Julian’s suit jacket with a worried expression.
Chloe: Daddy, why is that boy crying? Is he hungry?
Julian: Chloe, sweetie, stay with Marcus for a moment.
Security Guard: Sir, your stepmother is waiting for you in the penthouse boardroom for the annual estate trust meeting. We need to go upstairs.
Julian: The meeting can wait! Clear the lobby office right now!
Julian dropped to one knee on the hard stone floor, ignoring the dirt on Toby’s clothes as he grabbed the young boy gently by his thin shoulders.
Julian: How old are you, son?
Toby: I'm nine years old. My birthday was last month.
Julian: Nine years... Nine years ago, my stepmother told me Margaret took five million dollars from our family company and ran away with another man.
Toby: Mom never had five million dollars! We lived in a tiny apartment above a grocery store! She worked two jobs at a diner just to pay for my school shoes!
Julian: My God... What did she do to you both...?
Julian pulled the young boy into a tight embrace, burying his face in Toby’s messy hair as tears welled in his own eyes. The wealthy CEO felt a cold rage ignited deep inside his heart.
Toby: Are you... are you really my dad?
Julian: Yes, Toby. I am your father. And nobody is ever going to hurt you or turn you away again.
Toby: Mom said if I showed you the rose, you would remember the promise you made under the willow tree.
Julian: I promised I would protect her forever. I failed her then, Toby, but I swear on my life I will not fail you today.
Julian stood up, clutching Toby’s small hand firmly in his own as he turned toward the elevator doors with a deadly calm expression.
Julian: Marcus, call my divorce lawyer and tell him to get to the penthouse immediately. We have an estate fraud to expose.