Minutes later, they sat together on his Italian leather couch. Amy drank apple juice and ate imported cookies Robert usually saved for VIP clients. As she ate with unmistakable hunger, Robert quietly canceled every meeting on his calendar.
“Mommy says you’re very important,” Amy said through crumbs. “She says you live in the sky of the building.”
“Sometimes,” Robert murmured, “the sky gets very lonely.”
When she finished, Amy insisted on “finishing her shift.”
She wiped his desk proudly—until it happened.
Reaching for the center, her elbow knocked over a crystal glass of water.
The glass shattered.
Water spilled across financial documents.
Amy froze.
Her lower lip trembled violently as tears poured down her face.
“I’m sorry!” she cried. “I didn’t mean to! Please don’t tell my mommy! I’ll clean it!”
She dropped to the floor, reaching for broken glass with her bare hands.
“No!” Robert lunged forward, catching her wrists just in time. “Amy—stop.”
“I ruined everything!” she sobbed. “Now she’ll get fired. It’s my fault!”
Robert lifted her onto the desk, ignoring the water soaking into his $3,000 suit. He held her face gently.
“Listen to me,” he said firmly. “It’s just water. And just a glass.”