The Little Schemer

Gideon’s handsome face darkened in a flash. His icy, penetrating stare shifted from the defiant six-year-old boy directly to Valerie. The temperature in the lavish reception room seemed to plummet. He stared at the woman sitting across the smooth glass coffee table, convinced she had deliberately raised her son to be just as ruthless and unscrupulous as she was. He could almost see her invisible hands pulling the strings from the shadows, using this child to squeeze every possible advantage out of the Vance Group. He watched her composed expression, searching for a crack in her armor. She was an enigma, returning to the city out of nowhere with a child who possessed negotiation skills rivaling seasoned executives. Gideon knew there was more to the story, and keeping them close by signing this deal was the easiest way to uncover the truth.

Despite the suffocating tension pressing down on everyone in the room, Gideon possessed a sharp eye for talent. He recognized the modeling prodigy’s undeniable commercial value. The boy had already built a formidable reputation in the industry.

A faint, predatory smirk touched the corner of Gideon’s mouth. He leaned back into the plush leather sofa and leveled his gaze back at the child.

"I will accept your terms, provided you strictly comply with the company's regulations."

Rowan remained unintimidated by the billionaire’s heavy, commanding aura. The boy simply raised his small chin defiantly, meeting the titan of the business world eye to eye.

"I can do that, as long as you keep your end of the promise."

Gideon did not break eye contact. He smoothly slid the finalized contract across the polished table. The thick stack of premium paper came to a halt right in front of Valerie.

Rowan suddenly hopped off his oversized leather chair. His small dress shoes tapped against the hardwood floor.

"Mommy, I need to use the restroom. I will leave the rest to you."

Without waiting for a response, Rowan turned his back on the room and strolled out. The heavy mahogany door clicked shut behind him, leaving a ringing silence in the reception room.

Gideon laced his long fingers together, resting them on his tailored lap.

"Ms. Thorne. You have successfully raised a skilled negotiator."

His cold praise hung in the air. His tone implied she had maliciously orchestrated the boy’s strict financial demands from the shadows. Valerie caught the biting irony in his words. She kept her posture perfectly straight and reached for the luxury pen resting beside the contract.

"My son is sharp and possesses a mind of his own, Mr. Vance. I respect his choices."

She spoke with quiet, calm honesty, letting the ink flow smoothly onto the signature line. Inwardly, however, a wave of confusion rippled through her. She had to admit that Rowan’s deliberate, aggressive provocation today was unusual. Her son rarely pushed boundaries with such brazen defiance. Something about Gideon Vance had triggered a protective, combative streak in the boy.

Gideon merely stared at her. His dark eyes tracked her every movement as she signed the pages. He quietly harbored his own hidden, calculated agenda for agreeing to the seemingly disadvantageous deal.

Rowan did not head to the restroom as claimed. Instead, he casually roamed the brightly lit halls of the entertainment company. He memorized the layout of the Vance Group building as he walked, his sharp eyes taking in the glass-walled studios and the expensive artwork lining the corridors. His harsh negotiation terms had not been coached by his mother. They were a deliberate, calculated retaliation against Gideon. Just yesterday, this arrogant billionaire had selfishly let Valerie go hungry and allowed her to get caught in the freezing rain. For a company that prided itself on perfection, its CEO was a terrible gentleman. Rowan had seen his mother shivering. Hitting the Vance Group’s profit margins felt like a suitable first step for his revenge.

The bustling corridors were filled with busy staff members, aspiring celebrities, and other child stars rushing between sets. Rowan wandered away from the main foot traffic and slipped into a quiet VIP lounge.

The room was bathed in soft light, furnished with plush velvet seating and thick carpets. He spotted a young boy sitting still in the corner. The boy wore a crisp outfit and stared downward, engrossed in swiftly solving a complex Rubik's cube. His small fingers manipulated the colorful blocks with dizzying speed.

Rowan walked closer, his curiosity piqued. He stood right beside the velvet chair, watching the blur of colors snap into perfect alignment. The boy remained unresponsive. He did not look up. He did not even blink.

Rowan tilted his head, studying the strange, silent child.

"Can I try that puzzle?"

The boy ignored him, turning the puzzle over in his hands without making a sound.

Rowan frowned, taking a cautious step closer.

"Are you mute?"

A blur of motion tore across the lounge. A fierce little girl dashed aggressively from the other side of the room. She barreled into Rowan and shoved his shoulder. Rowan stumbled backward, barely catching his balance before he could fall onto the carpet.

"Don't you dare bully Ollie!"

The little girl planted herself firmly in front of the silent boy, spreading her arms wide. Her dark eyes blazed with self-righteous anger.

Rowan straightened his jacket, his own temper flaring. He glared deeply at the small menace blocking his path.

"You are the rude one for physically pushing me without even asking what happened."

"You were calling him names!" The girl jutted her chin out, refusing to back down.

"I asked a simple question because he ignored me. You are just a loud brat."

As the two strong-willed children began to bicker, Rowan noticed with a sudden, odd curiosity that the feisty girl in front of him looked exactly like a miniature version of his own mother. She shared the same slope of her nose, the same stubborn set of her jaw, and the same vibrant spark in her eyes that Valerie showed when she was angry.

Stella aggressively put up her tiny fists, dropping into a sloppy but determined stance. She was prepared for a physical fight to protect her brother.

Rowan stared at those tiny fists. His intense irritation strangely faded, replaced by a quiet patience. He relaxed his shoulders, dropping any defensive posture.

"Look. I only wanted to try the toy. I have not bullied anyone in this room."

Stella opened her mouth to yell another insult, but a sudden movement behind her cut her off.

Oliver silently extended his hand past Stella’s shoulder. His small fingers unclasped. He offered the perfectly solved Rubik's cube directly to Rowan. The plastic squares caught the warm light of the lounge, reflecting bright hues of red, blue, and yellow. It was a flawless victory over a difficult puzzle.

Stella spun around, her mouth dropping open in jaw-dropping shock. Oliver never shared his personal belongings with a single living soul. Even their own father was rarely allowed to handle his puzzles. Yet here he was, freely handing his prized possession to a total stranger.

"Ollie! What are you doing?" Stella gasped, her voice trembling with the sting of betrayal. "You never let me play with that!"

Oliver did not look at her. He kept his dark eyes fixed on Rowan, his outstretched hand steady and insistent.

Rowan looked from the silent boy to the outraged girl. Seeing Stella’s bubbling displeasure sparked a mischievous idea in his mind. The previously indifferent Rowan mischievously decided to take the toy anyway. He snatched the cube from Oliver’s palm.

"Thank you."

Rowan took a deliberate step back and playfully made a taunting face at Stella. He stuck out his tongue and wiggled the solved cube in the air, flaunting his unearned victory.

The blatant unfairness of the situation snapped Stella’s remaining patience. She went into a frustrated, stomping fit. Her small shoes pounded against the thick carpet as she let out a shriek of sheer indignation.

"Give it back! You rude jerk, give it back right now!"

"Rowan? What are you doing?"

Valerie’s gentle voice drifted in from the open doorway, suddenly interrupting the chaotic moment.

Rowan dropped his mischievous, bullying facade. His taunting smirk vanished. He swiftly spun around on his heel, clutching the Rubik's cube to his chest, and flashed an innocent, angelic smile at his mother.

"Mom. Have you finished signing the complex contract?"

Valerie stepped into the VIP lounge, her sleek tote bag slung over her shoulder. She smiled warmly at her son, missing the tail-end of the standoff.

"Yes, we are all done. The paperwork is finalized."

She paused, taking in the scene. She noticed the colorful puzzle in Rowan’s hands. She saw the little girl panting with anger and the silent boy sitting in the chair. Valerie was pleasantly surprised to see her typically reserved, mature son acting so playfully and normally around strangers. He usually treated other children with polite detachment. Seeing this brought a wave of relief to her heart.

Valerie walked across the room, her heels clicking softly against the floorboards until she reached the carpet. She stopped beside her son and tenderly ruffled Rowan's soft hair.

"I am glad you are making friends," she murmured.

She lifted her gaze, casting a gentle, affectionate glance at the dumbfounded Stella and the silent Oliver.