Adrian Shaw, a 34-year-old entrepreneur who measured his life in billable hours and quarterly goals, sat at the café table watching the candlelight flicker like a countdown to disappointment. His blind date was now officially late, and he was ready to declare the evening a failed investment. He had already signaled for the check when a small figure appeared by the table—far too small to be a server or a date. A little girl in a pink dress, no older than four, looked up at him with steady seriousness.
“Are you Mr. Adrian?” she asked. When he nodded, she continued confidently, “I’m Lily. My mommy sent me. She’s really sorry she’s late. She’s parking the car .” Adrian, who thrived in negotiations with CEOs, found himself speechless in the face of a child who seemed certain she was managing an important mission.
