Chapter 1 - The Midnight Knock
The chain latch on apartment 3B felt fragile against the weight of the dark hallway. Savannah Brooks stood holding four-month-old Noah tightly against her chest, her eyes fixed on the man standing on the other side of the cracked door.
Harrison stood tall in his tailored dark coat, holding two cans of Neutramigen formula and a heavy-duty portable power bank. His steady, unreadable eyes met hers through the narrow gap. He didn't look like the kind of man who belonged in a rundown Queens apartment complex where the hallway light flickered and died. There was an quiet authority about him—the kind born of immense wealth and absolute control.
"You said you don't send money to strangers," Savannah whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she unlatched the chain and pulled the door open another few inches. "Why come all this way yourself?"
"Because people who lie about needing baby formula usually ask for cash amounts that can be wired through an app," Harrison replied evenly, his voice calm and deep. "People who are genuinely desperate give exact details, specific brand names, and don't care who sees them panic."
He held the plastic bag out toward her. Savannah took it, her fingers brushing his leather-gloved hand. The weight of the formula felt like a lifeline.
"I... I can pay you back on Friday," she stammered, looking down at the floorboards. "My next shift at CVS—"
May you like
"Keep your money, Ms. Brooks," Harrison interrupted softly, stepping back into the dim hallway. Before she could ask how he knew her last name, he turned toward the stairs. "Feed your son. We'll talk about the rest tomorrow."
Before she could process his words, he was gone, disappearing down the stairwell as quietly as he had arrived.
