Another boring elevator ride – or at least that’s what Adam and Thomas thought until a tiny whirlwind in a blue dress came bursting through the doors.

“Daddy!”

Before either man could blink, a pair of tiny arms had wrapped around Adam’s wheelchair like a baby koala. The whole thing happened so fast, they just stood there gaping at the pint-sized intruder who’d literally come out of nowhere.

Seriously, she was adorable. Like, designer-kids-catalog adorable, with bouncy dark curls and the sweetest little face ever. But when she looked up at Adam… okay, weird moment alert. Something about those eyes had him doing a total double-take.

“Kid, you’ve got the wrong guy,” he tried to shut this down fast, going for his best ice-king voice. “I’m not your dad.”

But Miss Tiny and Determined wasn’t having any of it. Her grip on the wheelchair just got tighter, and those eyes – freakishly similar to his own – were full of pure five-year-old conviction. “No way… you’re totally my daddy! I just know it!”

Then came the kicker. Her little voice started wobbling, hands clutching his armrest like a lifeline. “Daddy, how come you’re pretending you don’t know me? Is it ’cause I did something wrong? I’ll be super good, I promise – just please don’t say you don’t want me!”

Oh boy. Thomas jumped in with his best damage control face. “Sir, she’s probably just lost. Must’ve mixed you up with her real dad.”

Adam tried softening his approach. Like, how do you even talk to a random kid who’s convinced you’re her long-lost dad? “Look, sweetie, you’ve got this all wrong. I’m not your dad. Did you lose your family somewhere? What’s your room number? We can get someone to take you back.”

Lily wasn’t budging. Her curls went flying as she shook her head so hard it was a miracle they stayed attached. “Nuh-uh! You ARE my daddy! I know you are…” Cue the trembling lip and – oh god, were those tears? “Daddy, please don’t make me go away. Don’t you want me? sniffles Please don’t say you don’t want me! Mom’s not here, and I dunno which room we’re in…”

“Hey kiddo, got your mom’s number maybe?” Thomas tried his luck, crouching down for maximum friendly vibes.

“Nope… don’t have it…”

Great. Just great. Adam could feel a headache building behind his eyes. Like he didn’t have enough on his plate today, between hunting down that missing specialist and that bizarre run-in with mystery woman in the hallway. And now this?

The elevator dinged. Saved by the bell – literally.

“C’mon, we’re here.” He tried for firm but not scary.

Lily let go of the wheelchair like it physically hurt her, but the look on her face? Pure mini-CEO determination. Thomas wheeled Adam out with their tiny shadow trailing behind, her fancy little shoes click-clicking on the marble like the world’s smallest fashion model.

“Daddy…” And wow, that whispered word just did things to his chest.

Adam sighed. What was he supposed to do, leave her wandering around like a lost puppy? “Take her up to the suite,” he told Thomas. “Figure out who her folks are.”

“Right away, sir.”

—

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify