A Billionaire's Favor

The morning sun broke through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Obsidian administrative office, casting a bright glow over Gideon Rothwell's desk. On his tablet, the internet was in a frenzy. The newly released promotional photos for the 'Junior Styles' brand had taken social media by storm, climbing to the third spot on the trending search list within hours.

Users were flooding the comments with praise, creating a massive wave of excitement across platforms.

"These kids are gorgeous!"

"They look like they were blessed by God himself. I'm so jealous."

"Who are their parents? The genetics must be insane."

"It’s just children's clothing, but they make it look like high-end luxury. Is it because of their faces?"

The comment section below the posts was buzzing. Almost everyone was talking about the children's stunning looks and natural charm.

Gideon sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the trending search. He rarely paid attention to marketing campaigns, but these two faces held his gaze. The boy and girl in the photos showed no stage fright. They coordinated with effortless grace, their natural charm radiating through the screen. There was an innate sophistication in their expressions that felt strangely familiar, though he could not understand why he felt so drawn to them. It was as if a string in his heart was being pulled by these two strangers.

A knock at the door broke his concentration. Wyatt entered, holding a tablet of his own with a look of surprise.

"Sir, the sales figures for the 'Junior Styles' brand are skyrocketing. The campaign is a massive success. Choosing those kids as our models was the right decision."

Gideon nodded slowly, his eyes still fixed on the screen. "And?"

"We also received a call from Sovereign Peak Entertainment today," Wyatt continued, shifting his papers. "They want to sign both children to exclusive contracts."

Sovereign Peak was the largest entertainment agency in Crownhaven, operating under the Obsidian Group's umbrella. Landing a contract with them guaranteed a path to stardom. All the artists they chose had exceptional potential, and their futures were bright.

Gideon's eyes drooped slightly. "Ask for their parents' consent first. They are still too young. We cannot make this choice for them."

Wyatt hesitated, shifting his weight. "That's the problem, sir. Their documentation doesn't include any parental contact information or a home address. The only thing they left is a single, unverified mobile phone number."

Gideon looked up, his brow furrowing. "No parental information?"

"None," Wyatt confirmed, looking through the papers in his hand. "Just this number. I'm not sure if it's even a genuine one."

Gideon stared at the digits on the paper. A sudden, unexplainable curiosity took hold of him. He picked up his desk phone. "I will call them myself."

***

At Oceanfront Villa, the atmosphere was busy. Vivienne rushed around the living room, grabbing her purse and slipping into her heels.

"Sweethearts, Mommy is heading to work now," she called out, pausing at the door to look at her three children. "Be good, stay inside, and call your godmother if you need anything, okay?"

"Goodbye, Mommy!" the three children chimed in unison, waving their small hands.

Vivienne smiled and blew them a kiss before rushing out to catch her ride.

Just minutes after the front door clicked shut, the landline on the side table rang.

The three children gathered around the flashing screen. They recognized the line. It was the specific number they had written down on the Obsidian Group's application form.

Chloe tiptoed, reaching up to grab the receiver. She pressed it to her ear, speaking in her brightest, most cheerful voice. "Hello! This is the residence of Her Royal Highness. Who is calling?"

On the other end, Gideon paused. The sweet, childish voice made the coldness in his chest melt slightly. "Hello. I am... the uncle who carried you the other day."

Chloe’s eyes lit up. "Mr. Handsum! It's you!"

"Are your parents at home?" Gideon asked, his tone softening.

"Mommy went to work," Chloe said, leaning her chin on her hand as she sat on a stool. "Why are you calling, Mr. Handsum?"

Gideon smiled, a rare warmth slipping into his tone. "Where are you right now? I will come pick you up."

Wyatt, standing near Gideon's desk, stared at his boss in sheer shock. The strict, unyielding billionaire was throwing his entire corporate schedule and noble status out the window. He was going to personally pick up two children?

Gideon ended the call and grabbed his car keys from the desk.

"Sir, let me go instead," Wyatt offered quickly, still trying to process the situation. "You have meetings scheduled."

Gideon tossed the keys to Wyatt. "You drive."

Wyatt caught the keys, utterly speechless.

***

Wyatt pulled the sleek, luxury sedan up to the curb outside Oceanfront Villa Number Seven. Through the windshield, he saw two children waiting happily.

Chloe was wearing a bright yellow tutu with sunflower accents, her hair tied into neat braided pigtails. Next to her stood Jaxon. He wore an identical designer outfit, matching Maddox's style to perfection. He was pulling off a flawless impersonation of his brother to protect his sister.

"From a distance, sir, this looks like we are kidnapping someone's children," Wyatt muttered under his breath as the kids ran toward the car.

Gideon ignored the comment. The rear door opened, and the kids scrambled into the spacious backseat. Chloe immediately slid over, sitting right next to Gideon with a bright grin.

"Where are we going, mister?" Jaxon asked, keeping his voice steady as he looked at Gideon.

Gideon turned his head, his sharp eyes scanning the boy. He noticed a tiny mole near the corner of Jaxon's eye. His brow twitched slightly. He felt a subtle difference in the boy's demeanor compared to the hostile, fiercely protective kid he had met the day before. The boy seemed calmer, though still watchful. Perhaps the child had simply warmed up to him after their previous encounter.

"Have you eaten lunch yet?" Gideon asked.

"Not yet," Jaxon replied, blinking innocently. "Are you buying us food?"

Gideon reached out, his long fingers gently resting on Jaxon's head, ruffling his hair. "You seemed to dislike me a lot yesterday. Why the sudden change?"

Jaxon scratched his cheek, sticking his tongue out with a mischievous grin. "That was because I thought you were a bad guy."

"My brother gets super fierce when he thinks someone is dangerous," Chloe explained quickly, backing up Jaxon's cover story.

Gideon's lips curved upward into a rare, genuine smile. He looked ahead at the rearview mirror. "Wyatt, drive to the Majestic Atrium Hotel."

***

The executive restaurant of the Majestic Atrium Hotel was silent. The grand hall, usually bustling with high society, was empty save for the staff standing at attention. Gideon had utilized his influence to reserve the entire venue for their private lunch.

"Order whatever you like," Gideon said, gesturing toward the leather-bound menus in front of the kids.

Chloe and Jaxon opened the menus. The prices were astronomical, enough to make an average person gasp, but Chloe didn't hesitate. She pointed her small finger at the most expensive dish on the page. "Maddox, I want this one!"

"Sure, we'll get that," Jaxon said, nodding casually.

"And this one too! And those!" Chloe added, her eyes sparkling.

"Are you a pig?" Jaxon muttered, rolling eyes.

Chloe huffed and turned her face away. If the real Maddox were here, he would have let her order the whole menu without a single complaint.

Gideon watched their bickering with a quiet amusement, taking a slow sip of water. He found himself enjoying their company, an unfamiliar feeling of warmth settling in his chest.

The restaurant manager stood by, sweating slightly as he noted down the orders. When he saw Chloe's finger resting on the Australian lobster, his face fell. He bowed apologetically.

"I am terribly sorry, little miss, but we are out of Australian lobsters today. In fact, due to shipping delays, none of the high-end hotels in this district have them in stock."

Chloe’s shoulders slumped, her face falling into a look of deep disappointment. "Oh... but lobster is my favorite." It was her mother's favorite too, and she had hoped to describe the taste to Vivienne later.

Gideon looked up at the manager, his expression calm but commanding. "How long would it take to fly a shipment of fresh lobsters here from a coastal city?"

Wyatt, standing in the corner, felt his jaw drop. Was his boss seriously suggesting airlifting seafood just to make it possible for these kids to have a taste of Australian lobster? The expense would be ridiculous. It was a level of doting he had never seen Gideon show to anyone—not even Camilla.

The manager swallowed hard, bowing lower. "Mr. Rothwell, if we arrange a private transport, it would take about two hours."

"Make the arrangements," Gideon ordered without blinking. "Have them flown in by helicopter immediately."

"Yes, sir. Right away." The manager scrambled off to make the calls.

Chloe and Jaxon stared at Gideon with wide, amazed eyes. "Mister, you are incredibly rich," Chloe whispered in awe.

Wyatt pinched the bridge of his nose in silence. *He is burning money like water for you two,* he thought.

Gideon leaned forward slightly, a faint smile on his lips. "Have you two ever thought about making a formal debut in the entertainment industry?"

***

Chloe tilted her head, her braided ponytails swaying. "Is there an agency that wants to sign us, mister?"

"Yes," Gideon replied softly. "But only if you want to. I won't force you into anything if your parents do not approve." He was genuinely curious about the people who raised these unique children.

"I want to do it!" Chloe said eagerly. Her mind was already calculating the numbers. Showbiz paid well. If they could earn their own money, they could help her mother.

Gideon was surprised by her instant agreement. "Are you sure? Will your parents be okay with you working at such a young age?"

Chloe’s bright eyes softened, a touch of sadness flickering in them. "We don't have a father. We only have Her Royal Highness."

Gideon felt a sudden stillness in his chest. "Her Royal Highness?"

"That's our mommy," Chloe explained, her voice dropping into a tender, sincere tone. "Mommy works so hard to make money to raise us all by herself. It's really difficult for her. If we can make our own money, we can share her burden and make her life easier."

Hearing her words, a sharp, protective ache bloomed in Gideon's chest. His amber eyes dimmed with a sudden, heavy emotion. These brilliant, beautiful children were growing up without a father, carrying a maturity far beyond their years to protect their single mother. The thought of their struggles stirred something deep inside him.

"What does your mommy do for a living?" Gideon asked, his curiosity thoroughly piqued.

Jaxon rested his small chin in his hands, looking up at Gideon. A bright, calculating gleam flashed deep within his eyes as he smiled. "Our mommy is amazing. She is a designer!"