A cruel supervisor tried to throw away untouched food in front of a broke mother, unaware the hotel's dangerous billionaire owner was watching.

Gabriel didn't look back at Dennis. Hearing Maeve’s strained, panicked apology, he slowly turned his entire body toward her.

The intimidating, sharp-edged aura that usually surrounded Gabriel Hart softened in an instant. His dark eyes, previously cold and dismissive when addressing Dennis, took in Maeve’s trembling frame—the faded canvas tote, the modest black-and-white service uniform, and the raw, maternal dignity in her eyes that refused to break into tears despite her obvious embarrassment.

He didn't look at her with pity. There was no condescension in his posture, no wealthy benefactor looking down at a struggling worker. Instead, his expression held a deep, grounded respect.

"You said it was for your son?" Gabriel asked quietly, stepping toward her prep station.

Maeve hesitated, her fingers tightening on her bag strap. She looked up into the face of a man whose picture she had seen in city newspapers—a man feared by politicians and police chiefs alike—yet in his eyes, she saw only genuine, unhurried attention.

"Yes," Maeve whispered, clearing her throat to steady her voice. "Yes, sir."

"How old is he?" Gabriel asked softly.

"Seven," Maeve replied, a subtle warmth touching her tired eyes despite her anxiety.

Gabriel smiled faintly, a small, genuine expression that transformed his rugged face. "Seven is a good age. Full of energy. What’s his name?"

"Eli," she said, her heart hammering against her ribs.

Gabriel nodded slowly, repeating the name under his breath. "Eli."

He turned his head slightly, looking back over his shoulder at the stainless-steel heating racks loaded with untouched pans of food—the golden roasted chicken, the steamed green beans, and the vast, smooth tray of whipped garlic potatoes.

Gabriel looked back at Maeve, a subtle spark of humor in his dark eyes. "Tell me, Maeve... does Eli like potatoes?"

The absurdity of the question, delivered by one of the most powerful men in Chicago in the middle of a tense kitchen showdown, caught Maeve completely off guard. Despite her fear, despite her humiliation, a soft, breathless laugh escaped her lips, and she almost smiled.