Chapter 2 - The Blue Leather Sole
A sharp, rhythmic clicking severed the quiet hum of the luxury lobby.
Italian leather heels were striking the polished marble floor.
The sound was fast, impatient, and moving directly toward the corner where they sat.
A tall shadow fell over the little girl’s narrow shoulders.
The scent of bergamot and expensive cigar smoke suffocated the faint smell of street rain.
Before the old man could slip the coins into his torn pocket, a pointed, stone-blue leather shoe swung forward.
The toe of the shoe caught the underside of the old man’s trembling wrist.
The impact was a dull, sickening thud.
The old man’s grip broke instantly.
Three copper pennies and one silver coin launched into the air.
They hit the marble floor, spinning frantically and scattering in four different directions.
The metallic ringing echoed harshly against the gold-accented walls.
The little girl flinched, her shoulders hiking up to her ears as she scrambled backward.
A young man in a flawlessly tailored, stone-blue suit stood towering over them.
His silk tie was pulled tight, a perfect Windsor knot resting against a crisp white collar.
The gold face of his heavy watch caught the chandelier’s glare.
He didn't look at the scattered coins.
He stared in utter disgust at the frayed wool of the old man’s coat touching his pristine velvet lobby chair.
"Street trash doesn't eat inside my club."
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His jaw was clenched so tight the muscle fluttered beneath his skin.
In the background, two broad-shouldered security guards shifted their weight, their hands resting on their belts.
