THE BOY WITH THE BLACK KEYCARD

Within twenty minutes, corporate security and independent auditors arrived on the 40th floor. Julianne’s private files were seized on the spot. As she was escorted from the boardroom, she paused near Leo, her eyes flashing with bitter venom.

“You’ve ruined everything,” she hissed at the young boy. “You and your sick mother.”

Leo didn’t flinch. He looked at her not with anger, but with the quiet sorrow of a child who had seen real hardship. “My mom says when people are mean, it’s usually because they’re starving on the inside. I hope you find something good to eat.”

The simplicity of the words hit the room harder than any corporate sanction. Julianne turned away, her high heels clicking rapidly down the hall as security led her out of the building forever.

Damian knelt beside Leo’s chair again, ignoring the board members waiting for instruction. “Leo, we need to leave. Right now.”

“To the hospital?” Leo’s eyes widened with hope.

“Yes,” Damian said. “And we aren’t taking a car.”

Damian looked over his shoulder at his chief of staff. “Have the helicopter ready on the rooftop pad in three minutes. Call Dr. Mercer at Johns Hopkins and tell him the Aurelia medical transport team is deploying to St. Jude’s immediately.”

Leo jumped down from the large chair, grabbing Damian’s hand tightly. “Can we bring mom some flowers? She likes yellow ones.”