Face to Face

"Madam Beautipul, we’re here to audition!" Chloe declared, standing with boundless confidence amidst the chaotic studio. She tilted her chin up, her big, round eyes sparkling like hidden stars, effortlessly disarming the high-strung director.

Stella Waverly stood frozen, the frantic yelling dying on her lips. She took a slow, deep breath, trying to calm the wild drumming of her heart. Her sharp gaze flicked between the little boy and the little girl. How on earth could such lovable kids bear any connection to someone as ruthlessly cold as Mr. Rothwell? Knowing the CEO's icy demeanor, Stella found it impossible to imagine him fathering such angelic children.

She crouched down to their eye level, a warm smile replacing her previous scowl. She gently ruffled their soft hair. "What are your names, sweethearts?"

"My name is Chloe," the little girl chirped.

"My name is Maddox," the boy stated, his voice steady and serious.

Stella stared at them in awe. They were incredibly gorgeous. Their high-fashion features were practically begging to be captured on camera. Forget the tantrums of the other toddlers—these two were a goldmine. Abandoning her earlier frustration, Stella jumped to her feet and spun toward her stunned crew.

"What are you all standing around for?" she barked, her authoritative tone returning. "Hurry up! Bring these two little models into the dressing room and get them prepped for the camera right now!" She practically vibrated with excitement, desperate to see how they would look under the studio lights.

Meanwhile, outside the towering glass structure of the Obsidian Tower, a sleek Maybach slid to a halt. Bodyguards scrambled to form two neat lines, parting the bustling crowd. Gideon Rothwell stepped out of the vehicle. His imposing figure radiated power as he strode purposefully into the grand marble lobby, his long legs eating up the distance toward his private elevator.

Up on the studio floor, Stella was practically buzzing with adrenaline. Operating on pure disbelief and excitement, she snapped several quick, unedited photos of the twins while they were being styled. Without a second thought, she attached the files and sent them directly to Wyatt, Gideon's executive assistant.

Down in the lobby, Wyatt was waiting near the elevator banks. He felt his phone buzz, pulled it from his pocket, and casually glanced at the screen. His casual demeanor shattered. He stopped dead, his jaw practically hitting the floor. Fingers trembling slightly, he magnified the images, zooming in on the little boy's face.

Realizing Gideon had already passed him, Wyatt sprinted to catch up. "Mr. Rothwell!" he called out, his voice tinged with frantic urgency.

"What's the matter?" Gideon asked smoothly, not breaking his stride. The security guard rushed to press the button for the CEO's private elevator. Gideon stepped inside, turning to face his assistant.

Wyatt hurried in after him, practically shoving the glowing screen toward Gideon. "You need to take a look at this, sir. The brand endorsement department found these two little models for the new campaign, and they look rather similar to… you."

Gideon paused. He lowered his gaze to the screen. For a man who rarely spared more than a passing glance at anything unrelated to business, his reaction was unprecedented. He stood in heavy silence, staring at the glowing photo for three whole minutes. His dark eyes narrowed, meticulously tracing the boy's facial structure. The slope of the nose, the sharp cut of the jaw, and the striking shape of the eyes—every detail flawlessly mirrored his own.

"Where are they?" Gideon asked, his voice low.

"They should still be in the studio on the filming floor," Wyatt stammered, still recovering from the shock.

Bypassing his strict itinerary to the executive suite, Gideon reached out and pressed the button for the photography department. An uncharacteristic sense of intrigue washed over him. He needed to see these impossible anomalies with his own eyes.

Miles away in a dimly lit, remote room, multiple computer screens illuminated Jaxon's focused face. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he hacked through Obsidian's intricate security firewall, gaining full access to the building's surveillance feeds. He clicked a camera icon, bringing up the live feed of the elevator banks.

Seeing Gideon's towering frame bypassing the top floor and heading straight for the studio, Jaxon smirked. He tapped a few keys, activating the encrypted communicator hidden in Maddox's smartwatch.

Inside the studio, Maddox felt a subtle vibration on his wrist. He slipped away from the bustling makeup chairs and brought his wrist close to his mouth. "Jaxon, what's the status?"

"Gideon is coming to look for the two of you right now," Jaxon's voice whispered urgently through the tiny earpiece. "Go and get Chloe to approach him. Remember the plan—retrieve his hair!"

"Understood," Maddox muttered. He casually strolled over to where his sister was examining a prop toy. Leaning in close, he discreetly whispered the execution plan into her ear. Chloe gave a subtle, practiced nod.

Back in his remote setup, Jaxon leaned back in his chair and chuckled darkly. The trap was set. A simple DNA test would soon shatter this mystery once and for all. Soon, they would know if Gideon Rothwell was truly their biological father.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. Gideon stepped out onto the bustling filming department floor, his presence immediately sucking the air out of the room.

Stella spotted him instantly. She scurried forward, a nervous, wide grin plastered on her face. "Mr. Rothwell! What brings you down here?"

Wyatt cut in before Gideon could respond. "Where are the two little models?"

"Oh! They're right over there." Stella pointed a trembling finger toward the elaborate backdrop.

Gideon's gaze tracked her movement. Two curious rugrats were standing on a chair, peering intently into a massive camera lens. As Gideon's towering frame closed the distance, Stella called out, "Chloe, Maddox."

The children turned. When they spotted Gideon, Maddox didn't hesitate. He immediately hopped off the chair and stepped firmly in front of Chloe. Throwing his small arms wide to shield his sister, the boy shot the billionaire a vigilant, warning glare. His little eyebrows pinched together, flawlessly mimicking Gideon's own signature, intimidating frown.

"Who are you?" Maddox demanded loudly, his clear voice slicing through the studio's silence. He stared the billionaire down fixedly, refusing to break eye contact.

Gideon stopped. He squinted, amused and somewhat taken aback by the boy's sheer nerve. Most grown men trembled under his gaze, yet this tiny child was challenging him. "Then who are you?" Gideon countered, arching an eyebrow.

"Is that even your business?" Maddox retorted sharply.

Behind Gideon, Wyatt and Stella exchanged horrified glances, sweat forming on their foreheads. The blunt disrespect was staggering. They held their breath, terrified of how the ruthless CEO would react to this rigid audacity.

Sensing the tension peaking in the room, Chloe brilliantly sprang into action. She reached out and tugged lightly at the hem of Maddox's shirt, feigning a look of sheer terror. "Maddox, I want to go home," she whimpered softly.

Maddox dropped his tough facade for a second to pat her head. "Don't be afraid. I'm right here."

Gideon watched the exchange, a strange, unfamiliar pang hitting his chest. Was his natural aura really too fierce for a child? Did they think he was a bad person? He consciously softened his rigid posture and let his tone drop into a gentle, soothing register. "I'm the owner of this company. Where are your parents?"

Hearing the legendary CEO speak in such a soft, gentle voice sent fresh shockwaves through Wyatt and Stella.

Chloe peered at him from behind her brother, pouting adorably. "Our mommy is very busy working, and we don't know where our daddy is," she explained in a sweet, soft murmur.

Gideon frowned slightly, processing the information. A fatherless home, a working mother. But before he could dwell on it, Chloe stepped out from behind Maddox. In a move that defied all logic, she stretched her tiny, open arms straight up toward the intimidating billionaire.

"Mr. Handsum, I want a hug!"

The entire studio plunged into a deafening silence. The staff practically stopped breathing. This child was asking the untouchable Gideon Rothwell to carry her?

Playing his part flawlessly, Maddox let out a loud, deliberate gasp and grabbed his sister's arm. "Chloe! Mommy said we shouldn't let strangers carry us. We'll be abducted!"

"But he doesn't look like a bad person, right?" Chloe argued sweetly, keeping her bright eyes locked on Gideon.

Despite the boy's warning, Gideon found his icy demeanor crumbling. In a fluid, effortless motion that left Wyatt mind-numbed with shock, the CEO reached down, scooped up Chloe's tiny, tender frame, and lifted her high into the air.

Chloe giggled, wrapping her small arms securely around his neck. She leaned back slightly, staring deeply into his face with impossibly cute eyes. "Mr. Handsum, your eyes look as pretty as my brother’s!" she chirped cheerfully.

Holding the child against his chest, Gideon experienced a profound, unprecedented sensation of warmth. It was a strange, paternal pull he had never felt before. He stared into her bright, innocent face, and a sudden jolt went through him. This little girl strongly resembled someone familiar, though the memory danced just out of reach, shrouded in the fog of his mind.

Driven by an intense, sudden curiosity, he kept his voice barely above a whisper. "What's your mommy's name?"