No one ever had. “Sir?” the waiter pressed again, his patience wearing thin. “Shall I call security?” “No,” Thomas said, his voice suddenly cutting through the silence, much louder than he’d intended. Every head on the patio turned to look at him.
Thomas pushed his chair back with a scrape and rose to his feet. “Bring another plate,” he commanded firmly. The waiter just blinked, nonplussed.
“Excuse me?” the waiter stammered. “You heard me,” Thomas repeated. “Bring the best you have. And make it quick.” Layla’s eyes went wide with disbelief. “Really?” she whispered.
“Yes. What’s your name, sweetie?” “Layla,” she replied. Thomas dropped to one knee, bringing himself down to her eye level. “Come on, Layla,” he said gently. “Sit with me.” A fresh wave of gasps rippled around the patio.
“Is he actually serious?” a woman whispered. “A millionaire… dining with a beggar child.” “This is disgraceful,” another man muttered under his breath.
Thomas paid them no mind. He pulled out the heavy chair right next to his own and gave the upholstered seat a gentle pat. “Sit down, sweetheart.”
“Tonight, you are my guest.” As Layla carefully, almost hesitantly, climbed up into the large chair, Thomas turned back to the still-frozen waiter. “And bring some warm bread first. She’s freezing.” The waiter faltered for a second, then, clearly embarrassed, rushed off to the kitchen.
Thomas let his gaze sweep across the other diners, taking in their faces, which were flushed with judgment and obvious discomfort. “You’re all staring,” he said, his voice ringing out clearly. “Maybe you should be asking yourselves why a little girl has to beg for food in the first place.”
A profound silence fell over the entire restaurant. Just then, the bread arrived. Layla wrapped her tiny, cold hands around the warm roll. Tears streamed silently down her face as she whispered, “Thank you, sir.”
“I thought… I thought no one cared.” Thomas felt his own throat tighten as he watched her take that first, hesitant bite. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, he felt something stir deep in his chest—a flicker of warmth he’d long forgotten he even possessed…
