Pending Review Poor Dad Walked A Woman Past Harassing Men, Clueless She Was A Millionaire Who’d Love Him

The Penthouse and the Proposal

Later that night, after Lily was tucked into bed in their small apartment’s only bedroom, Thomas slept on the pull-out couch. He took out Amelia’s card again.

In the quiet of the living room, with only the distant sound of traffic filtering through the thin windows, he studied the embossed letters of her name. Amelia Lockheart.

The name seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Probably just a common name, he thought.

He should be getting ready for his night shift at the office building, but instead, he found himself reaching for his phone.

Before he could second-guess himself, he typed out a simple text message.

“This is Thomas from earlier. Just wanted to make sure you got home safely.”

He hit send before he could talk himself out of it, then hurried to change into his janitor’s uniform, telling himself not to expect a reply anytime soon. To his surprise, his phone buzzed as he was tying his shoes.

“I did, thank you. I was hoping you’d text. How’s Lily?”

Thomas felt a ridiculous grin spread across his face. He quickly typed back.

“Already asleep. She liked meeting you.”

The response came almost immediately.

“The feeling is mutual. She’s a wonderful child. You should be proud.”

“I am,” he wrote back. “Listen, I have to go to work now, but maybe we could continue this conversation tomorrow?”

“I’d like that. Sleep well when you get the chance, Thomas.”

He slipped the phone into his pocket. The warm feeling in his chest was unfamiliar but welcome. It had been so long since he’d felt this kind of connection with someone that he’d almost forgotten what it was like.

As he locked the apartment door behind him, leaving Mrs. Rodriguez from across the hall to listen for Lily as she did every night he worked, Thomas tried to temper his expectations.

One pleasant dinner and a few text messages didn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things. He couldn’t afford to get distracted by daydreams when his reality required such constant attention.

But as he rode the bus to the downtown office building where he spent his nights mopping floors and emptying trash cans, Thomas couldn’t help but think about Amelia’s smile.

He thought of the way she’d treated Lily with such natural warmth. For the first time in three years, he found himself looking forward to something other than just making it through another day.

The next morning, after dropping Lily off at school, Thomas headed to Bennett’s Hardware for his shift. The store had no relation to him despite sharing his last name.

This was a coincidence that had actually helped him get the job when the owner, Frank Bennett, had joked that he must be family.

“Morning, Tom,” Frank called from behind the register as Thomas entered through the staff door. “Got a delivery of those new drill sets coming in this afternoon.”

“I’ll make space in aisle three,” Thomas replied, hanging up his jacket.

He checked his phone quickly, hoping for another message from Amelia, but there was nothing. Shaking off the disappointment, he tucked the phone away and got to work.

The morning passed in a blur of customer questions, inventory checks, and restocking shelves. Around noon, as Thomas was helping an elderly man select the right light bulbs, the bell over the door chimed.

He glanced up automatically, his heart skipping a beat when he saw Amelia walk in. She was dressed more professionally today in tailored slacks and a cream-colored blouse.

Her auburn hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders. She spotted him immediately and smiled, giving a small wave as she browsed the first aisle.

Thomas finished with his customer as quickly as possible without being rude, then made his way over to her.

“This is a surprise,” he said, suddenly aware of his worn work shirt with the Bennett’s Hardware logo and his name stitched above the pocket.

“I hope it’s a good one,” Amelia replied. “I was in the neighborhood for a meeting and thought I’d stop by.”

“It’s definitely good,” Thomas assured her, then hesitated. “But I’m working until five.”

“I know,” she said with a smile. “I actually do need to pick up a few things. My kitchen faucet has been dripping, and I’ve been putting off dealing with it.”

“I could help you with that,” Thomas offered before he could stop himself. “I mean, if you want. It’s usually a simple fix.”

Amelia’s eyes lit up.

“Really? That would be amazing. I’ve been quoted ridiculous amounts to have someone come look at it.”

“Plumbers can be expensive,” Thomas agreed. “But most faucet issues just need a new washer or a ring. I can show you what you need.”

He led her to the plumbing section, asking questions about her faucet to determine what parts she might need. As they talked, Thomas found himself relaxing.

This was his element—solving practical problems, knowing exactly which tool or part would fix an issue.

“So, these should do it?” Amelia asked, holding the package of washers Thomas had recommended.

“Most likely. If not, it might be the cartridge. But let’s start with the simple fix.”

He hesitated again.

“I get off at five, and I need to pick up Lily by five-thirty. But after that, I could come take a look at it for you.”

Amelia’s smile widened.

“I’d really appreciate that. I can write down my address, actually—”

Thomas interrupted, the practicalities of his life reasserting themselves.

“I’d need to bring Lily with me. My regular sitter isn’t available tonight.”

“That’s not a problem at all,” Amelia said without hesitation. “I’d love to see her again, and I could order us dinner as a thank you.”

Thomas wanted to say no, that he didn’t need payment for a simple favor, but the prospect of a proper meal that he didn’t have to cook was too tempting.

“That sounds great.”

They arranged for Thomas to come by around six o’clock, and Amelia paid for the washers, waving off his offer to use his employee discount.

“See you tonight,” she said, and the warmth in her voice stayed with him long after she’d left the store.

By five-thirty, Thomas had picked up Lily from her after-school program, explained their evening plans, and listened to her excited chatter about seeing Amelia again.

The address they’d been given was in a much nicer part of town than Thomas had expected. It was a sleek high-rise with a doorman and a marble-floored lobby.

He hesitated on the sidewalk, suddenly feeling out of place in his work clothes with his toolbox in one hand and Lily’s small backpack in the other.

“Is this where Miss Amelia lives?” Lily asked, her eyes wide as she took in the glass and steel structure.

“I think so,” Thomas said, double-checking the address Amelia had written down. “Let’s find out.”

The doorman eyed them with barely concealed suspicion as they approached the desk.

“Can I help you?”

“We’re here to see Amelia Lockheart,” Thomas said, straightening his shoulders. “She’s expecting us.”

The doorman’s demeanor changed instantly.

“Of course, sir. Miss Lockheart’s penthouse. I’ll let her know you’re on your way up.”

“Penthouse?” Thomas repeated.

But the doorman was already on the phone.

“Miss Lockheart, your guests are here. Yes, I’ll send them right up.”

He hung up and gestured toward the elevator bank.

“Take the express elevator on the right. It goes directly to the penthouse level.”

Thomas felt Lily’s hand slip into his as they walked across the lobby, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. Inside the elevator, she bounced on her toes.

She watched the floor numbers climb with fascination.

“Daddy, we’re going so high! Almost to the sky!”

Thomas squeezed her hand, his mind racing. Penthouse? Express elevator? What kind of investment consulting did Amelia do exactly?

The elevator doors opened directly into a foyer with gleaming hardwood floors and soft recessed lighting. Amelia was waiting for them, a warm smile on her face.

She was dressed more casually now in jeans and a soft-looking sweater.

“You found it,” she said, stepping forward to greet them. “Welcome to my home.”

Lily darted forward, her initial shyness forgotten.

“You live in the sky!”

Amelia laughed.

“It sometimes feels that way, doesn’t it? Would you like to see the view?”

As Amelia led Lily toward the floor-to-ceiling windows on the far side of the massive living room, Thomas stood frozen in the foyer, taking in his surroundings.

The apartment was beautifully decorated in neutral tones with occasional splashes of color. The furniture was elegant but inviting.

An original painting hung on one wall. Thomas didn’t know much about art, but he recognized quality when he saw it. This wasn’t the apartment of someone who worked in finance.

This was the apartment of someone who owned the finance company.

“Thomas?” Amelia’s voice brought him back to the present. “Are you coming?”

He joined them at the windows where Lily had her face and hands pressed against the glass, looking out over the city skyline.

“This is amazing,” he said, because it was and because he couldn’t think of what else to say.

Amelia gave him a slightly nervous smile.

“I should have been more upfront about this.” She gestured around the apartment. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t apologize,” Thomas said quickly. “It’s just not what I was expecting.”

Before Amelia could respond, Lily tugged on her sleeve.

“Can I see the rest of your castle?”

The tension broken, Amelia smiled down at her.

“It’s not quite a castle, but yes, I’d be happy to give you a tour. The kitchen faucet is in the guest bathroom, Thomas, if you’d like to take a look while we explore.”

Thomas nodded, grateful for the task to focus on while he processed this new information. He followed them through the apartment.

He listened as Amelia showed Lily the dining room, library, and home office, each room more impressive than the last.

The guest bathroom turned out to be larger than his entire kitchen at home, with dual sinks and a marble vanity.

The dripping faucet was a high-end model he’d seen in home improvement magazines but never actually worked on before. Still, plumbing was plumbing.

He set his toolbox down with determination. By the time he’d fixed the leak—it was indeed just a worn washer—and cleaned up his minimal mess, Lily and Amelia had returned to the kitchen.

They were sitting at the island counter looking at a delivery menu.

“All fixed,” Thomas announced, washing his hands in the now properly functioning sink.

“Good as new. Thank you so much,” Amelia said. “What do I owe you?”

“Nothing,” Thomas said firmly. “It was an easy fix, and you already bought the parts.”

Amelia looked like she wanted to argue but instead gestured to the menu.

“Well, at least help us decide what to have for dinner. Lily and I are torn between pizza and Chinese food.”

“Pizza!” Lily declared.

“Chinese,” Thomas said at the same time, making Lily giggle.

Amelia’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

“How about we get both? I’m not much of a cook, so I always have a stash of takeout menus. Both seems excessive,” Thomas protested.

“Not at all,” Amelia insisted. “We’ll have leftovers. It’s practical, really.”

Thomas knew she was humoring him, making the extravagance sound reasonable, but he appreciated the effort.

“All right. Both it is.”

While they waited for the food, Lily explored the living room, immediately drawn to a bookshelf filled with children’s titles. Thomas and Amelia sat on the nearby couch.

An awkward silence settled between them.

“So,” Thomas finally said, “investment consulting, huh?”

Amelia had the grace to look sheepish.

“I did start as a consultant, but now I run my own investment firm.” She paused. “I should have been more forthcoming. I’ve just found that people tend to act differently when they know that you’re—”

“Loaded,” Thomas finished for her.

The words came out more bluntly than he’d intended. To his relief, Amelia laughed.

“That’s one way to put it, yes.”

Thomas looked around the penthouse, trying to imagine what his life would be like if he never had to worry about bills again. It was impossible to conceptualize.

“Why were you walking alone downtown yesterday?” he asked suddenly. “Don’t you have a car and driver or something?”

“I do, actually,” Amelia admitted. “But I like to walk sometimes. It helps me think, and it keeps me connected to the real world.”

“Peter, my driver, was supposed to pick me up at six, but I decided to walk a bit farther than usual. Those men started following me before I could call him.”

Thomas nodded, understanding the desire for normalcy even if his version of normal was very different from hers.

“I’m glad I was there,” he said.

Amelia’s expression softened.

“So am I.”

The food arrived shortly after, an abundance of pizza boxes and Chinese takeout containers that made Lily’s eyes widen with delight. They ate at the dining table.

The formality of the setting was at odds with the casual meal, but Amelia didn’t seem to mind when Lily accidentally dripped soy sauce on the tablecloth.

“I’m sorry,” Thomas said automatically, reaching for a napkin.

“It’s just a tablecloth,” Amelia said with a shrug. “Things are meant to be used, not preserved in pristine condition.”

As they ate, the conversation flowed more easily again. Amelia asked Lily about school, listening with genuine interest to her detailed explanation of the solar system model she was building.

Thomas found himself relaxing, the initial shock of Amelia’s wealth fading as her personality reasserted itself.

After dinner, when Lily began to yawn despite her protests that she wasn’t tired, Thomas knew it was time to go. He helped clean up the remains of their meal.

“Thank you for dinner,” he said as they stood in the foyer, Lily half asleep against his side. “And for your hospitality.”

“Thank you for fixing my faucet,” Amelia replied. “And for the company, both of you.”

There was a moment of silence. The air between them was charged with something Thomas couldn’t quite name. Then Lily yawned widely, breaking the spell.

“I should get her home to bed,” Thomas said reluctantly.

“Of course,” Amelia agreed. “But I’d really like to see you again. Both of you,” she added, echoing her words from the previous night. “Maybe this weekend if you’re free?”

Thomas hesitated. The sensible part of him knew that pursuing any kind of relationship with someone from such a different world was asking for heartache.

But looking at Amelia’s hopeful expression, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.

“I’m off on Sunday,” he said.

Amelia’s face lit up.

“Sunday is perfect. I know a great park not far from here with a playground Lily might enjoy.”

“Can we, Daddy?” Lily asked suddenly, more awake. “Please?”

Thomas ruffled her hair affectionately.

“Yes, sweetheart, we can.”

As they rode the elevator down to the lobby, Lily leaned sleepily against his leg. Thomas tried to make sense of the evening.

He’d gone from believing Amelia was a modestly paid office worker to discovering she was apparently wealthy enough to own a penthouse apartment.

It was disorienting, to say the least. And yet, when she smiled or laughed, when she talked about growing up with three brothers or her favorite books, none of that mattered.

She was just Amelia. She was the woman who texted to make sure Lily had a good day at school. She was the woman who ordered too much food so he could take home leftovers.

She looked at him like what he had to say actually mattered.

As the doorman hailed a taxi for them, ignoring Thomas’s protest that they could take the bus, he found himself looking forward to Sunday with an anticipation he hadn’t felt in years.