On Monday morning, the sun shone brightly through the glass skyscraper windows of Calder Biotech headquarters in the downtown financial district.
Chloe sat in a private, sunlit corner office on the forty-fifth floor, wearing a sharp grey blazer over her dark blouse as she reviewed genetic sequencing data on her computer monitor.
Her assistant, a young woman named Hannah, knocked softly on the door frame.
Hannah: Chloe? There's a gentleman down in the main lobby demanding to see you.
Chloe: Did he give a name, Hannah?
Hannah: He said his name is David Vance. He claims he's your father and that it's a family emergency.
Chloe didn't take her eyes off her computer screen as she typed a command on her keyboard.
Chloe: Tell security that I do not have any scheduled appointments with Mr. Vance today.
Hannah: He looks very upset, Chloe. He's holding a large bouquet of roses and a box of bakery goods.
Chloe: Tell him to leave the building, or security will escort him to the sidewalk.
Hannah: Right away, ma'am.
Down in the marble lobby of the skyscraper, David Vance stood near the security turnstiles, wearing a rumpled suit with no tie.
His eyes were bloodshot, and he held a dozen long-stemmed red roses in his trembling hand.
The chief security guard, a tall man in a dark uniform, walked up to David with a stern expression.
Security Guard: Sir, Ms. Vance has declined your visit. You need to clear the building lobby immediately.
David: Declined?! I am her biological father! I have a right to see my daughter!
Security Guard: You don't have a security clearance badge for this floor, sir. Please turn around and step outside.
David: You don't understand! My entire firm is going under! Arthur Calder canceled our five-million-dollar funding agreement this morning!
Security Guard: That is a corporate matter, sir. It has nothing to do with building security.
David: Just let me take the elevator up for five minutes! I need her to sign a reconciliation statement for Mr. Calder!
The guard placed a firm, heavy hand on David's shoulder, guiding him toward the heavy glass exit doors.
Security Guard: If you do not leave the premises right now, sir, I will call the city police and have you arrested for criminal trespassing.
David looked up at the massive glass ceiling of the atrium, realizing that his daughter was forty-five floors above him, completely out of his reach.
He dropped the bouquet of red roses onto the polished lobby floor, his shoulders slumping as tears filled his tired eyes.
David: I destroyed everything... I destroyed my own daughter...
He shuffled out through the revolving glass doors into the noisy city street, where the cold afternoon wind blew dust across his expensive dress shoes.