Kind Janitor Buys Bread for an Old Woman, Not Knowing She Is a Billionaire CEO
Chapter 2
Daniel woke up before sunrise.
Lily was still asleep.
He quietly made pancakes, packed her lunch, and left a note beside her backpack.
Have a good day, bug.
Love, Dad.
He arrived at the hotel at 7:00.
The morning staff was already moving.
The Grand Meridian was hosting a private business summit.
Executives.
Investors.
Politicians.
Daniel barely noticed.
He was assigned to the forty-second floor.
That floor belonged almost exclusively to executive guests.
At 8:15, an elevator opened.
Three men stepped out.
Behind them came an elderly woman.
Daniel froze.
The same woman from the bakery.
She looked completely different.
Instead of the beige coat, she wore a tailored navy suit.
Two security officers followed her.
An assistant carried a leather folder.
Daniel stared.
The woman saw him.
Her expression softened.
“Daniel.”
He blinked.
“Ma’am.”
She smiled.
“You work here.”
“Yes.”
Her assistant looked confused.
“You know Mr. Brooks?”
Eleanor smiled.
“We met.”
Daniel looked at the security guards.
Then at the assistant.
Then back at her.
“Are you okay?”
She laughed.
“Yes.”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“I thought you were alone last night.”
“I was.”
“And now?”
“Things change.”
She looked toward the conference room.
“You’ll be working nearby?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Daniel didn’t understand.
She walked away.
Her assistant followed.
Ten minutes later, the hotel manager came running toward Daniel.
“Daniel!”
“Yes?”
“Stay away from the executive conference room.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why?”
“Because Mrs. Sterling is meeting our investors.”
“Okay.”
“And she specifically asked whether you still worked here.”
Daniel stared.
“What?”
The manager walked away.
Daniel returned to work.
But he couldn’t stop thinking about Eleanor.
Around noon, he saw her again.
She was alone in a side hallway.
Her assistant had stepped away.
Daniel approached.
“Did you get home safely?”
She smiled.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She looked at him.
“You’re worried about me.”
“A little.”
She laughed.
“No one asks me that.”
Daniel frowned.
“That’s strange.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a person.”
Eleanor stared at him.
Then smiled.
“You have no idea who I am, do you?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Daniel laughed.
“Should I?”
“Not yet.”
She looked toward the hallway.
“Do you have lunch?”
“Yes.”
“What did you bring?”
Daniel showed her.
A sandwich.
She smiled.
“That’s all?”
“I have a daughter.”
“That explains it.”
“You have children?”
Eleanor’s expression changed.
“I had one son.”
“Had?”
“He died years ago.”
Daniel’s voice softened.
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded.
“So am I.”
They stood quietly.
Then Eleanor asked,
“What would you do if money wasn’t a problem?”
Daniel thought.
“Spend more time with my daughter.”
“Anything else?”
“Fix the house.”
She laughed.
“That’s all?”
“Maybe take Lily somewhere warm.”
“Where?”
“California.”
“Why?”
“She wants to see the ocean.”
Eleanor smiled.
“You’ve never taken her?”
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because life gets expensive.”
Her eyes softened.
“I understand.”
Daniel’s radio buzzed.
He looked down.
“I have to go.”
Eleanor nodded.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t change.”
He smiled.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
She watched him leave.
Then she turned to her assistant.
“Eleanor?”
“Yes, Mrs. Sterling?”
“How much does the Grand Meridian pay its janitors?”
Her assistant hesitated.
“Why?”
Eleanor looked down the hallway.
“Because no one should have to choose between feeding their child and seeing the ocean.”
