Beside her, Lyndon's eyes narrowed faintly, a shadow of irritation crossing his striking features.

Casper was proving to be a real headache. Why on earth would he drag Rita along for a client meeting?

Just then, he noticed Ellis approaching with his companion in tow.

Ellis wore a broad grin as he reached out to greet Xavier, no doubt offering a polished introduction.

After a brief exchange, Xavier responded with a courteous handshake.

"ELlis sure stays in the loop," Tilda observed. Lyndon gave a slight nod, his face a mask of neutrality.

As the three of them drew closer, Casper turned to Xavier and announced, "Mr. Fernandez is here, Mr. Rayne."

Xavier's eyes met Lyndon's, and he greeted him with a warm smile. "Hello, Mr. Fernandez."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Rayne." Lyndon nodded.

Their handshake was firm yet courteous, a silent acknowledgment of mutual respect.

Turning his attention to the pair beside Lyndon, Xavier's gaze softened. "Mr. Fernandez, I take it this lovely lady and this bright-eyed young gentleman are your wife and son?"

"Indeed. This is my wife, Tilda, and our son, Sheldon." Lyndon slipped an arm around Tilda's waist as he spoke, a quiet display of affection.

Tilda inclined her head gracefully. "It's a pleasure, Mr. Rayne."

Her eyes then landed on the elegant woman standing beside Xavier. "And I assume this beautiful lady is your wife?"

Xavier chuckled. "Spot on. This is my wife, Anabella, and our son, Jerry."

His voice carried a note of pride as he introduced his family.

"Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Rayne." "The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Fernandez."

After the customary pleasantries, Tilda cast a fond glance at the boy standing beside Anabella. "Your son is quite the handsome young man."

A soft, knowing smile touched Anabella's lips. "And your little one is utterly charming. How old is he? He looks about five."

Tilda's eyes gleamed with motherly pride. "Sheldon turned five this year."

"He's just a little younger than Jerry," Anabella noted before turning to her son. "Jerry, you were complaining about being bored all the way here. Well, now you have a playmate. That should make things more interesting."

Jerry, his dark curls slightly tousled, gave Sheldon a fleeting glance, his expression tinged with an air of self- importance.

"I don't play with little kids."

Sheldon, who had just been about to greet him, halted mid- motion. His expression remained unreadable as he calmly countered, "I don't play with kids who think too highly of themselves either."

The silence that followed was almost comical in its weight, hanging between the adults like an unexpected storm cloud.

Ellis, who had been standing on the sidelines, found the situation amusing and seized the opportunity to stir the pot. With an exaggerated sigh, he chided, "Sheldon, that's no way to speak. Haven't your parents taught you to respect our guests? If you act like this, people might start thinking that your father doesn't take his guests seriously."

Though his words were aimed at Sheldon, his real target was Lyndon—an attempt to subtly undermine him in front of Xavier.

Sheldon's small hands curled into fists momentarily before he glanced at Lyndon. With a slight pursing of his lips, he muttered, "I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Rayne. I didn't mean to be impolite."

Despite his irritation, he knew better than to let his emotions run wild.

He didn't want to jeopardize Lyndon's business.

"It's quite alright, dear. No harm done." Anabella, ever perceptive, waved a hand dismissively.

She then turned to Lyndon and Tilda with an apologetic smile. "Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez, please don't blame Sheldon. If anything, I should apologize-our Jerry has been spoiled silly and can be quite the handful."

Anabella, ever gracious, bore no ill will toward Sheldon. Instead, she readily took responsibility for her own son's behavior, a testament to her understanding nature.

Jerry, still holding his head high, cast a brief glance at Sheldon, his pride refusing to let him say more.

Xavier, watching the exchange with mild amusement, let out a light chuckle. "My wife is right, Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez. A little disagreement between kids isn't a bad thing-it's how friendships are forged."

Anabella nodded in agreement. "Exactly. In fact, honey, doesn't Sheldon remind you of Jerry when he was younger?"

Xavier's gaze lingered on Sheldon for a moment before he smiled. "I was just thinking the same thing. Mr. Fernandez, your son must be quite bright."

Lyndon's expression softened as he looked down at Sheldon. "Sheldon is a quick learner. He's got a natural curiosity for the world, especially when it comes to books and computers. Even at his age, he's already showing real talent."