Little Charlie was snuggled up in Dad's arms, his tiny feet pressing down on Dad's shirt, his small hands resting on Dad's sturdy shoulders. After a good cry and a bout of fussing, he had settled down to bask in the sunlight, his eyes squinting in comfort.
Unbeknownst to him, his older brother Leo had taken a mental note to settle the score.
A meeting was about to start, and Leo reluctantly bowed to the assertiveness of his young uncle. He picked up the documents from the table, shot a glance at the culprit, Henry, and resignedly left the office.
Noah looked at Andre, hesitating to leave. "Mr. President, will you be joining the meeting remotely?"
Andre nodded in affirmation.
Understanding, Noah also exited the office.
Andre, cradling his son, moved to his desk, opened his laptop, and began to navigate with one hand. Little Charlie's eyes widened in curiosity at the sight of the object in his father's hands. It was as if he had discovered a new world, blinking in fascination, so much so that he forgot it was time for his bottle.
Soon, the screen of Andre's laptop displayed the conference room. Leaning back in his chair, with both arms around his son, he watched the proceedings. The little guy glanced curiously between the computer and his dad, his chubby face a picture of bewilderment, his inquisitive eyes seeking answers from his father.
Andre wrapped an arm around his son's head, hugging him close to his chest. "This is a computer, buddy. When you grow up and go to school, Dad will get you one."
Before long, Leo entered the conference room, and upon his arrival, everyone did a double take. Then, Noah pulled out the chair reserved for Andre, causing a ripple of surprise among those present.
Where was the president?
Leo, with a look of steely resolve mirroring Andre's to a striking degree, stepped forward. Noah explained to the side, "This is Leo Cedillo, Andre's nephew. The president is unable to attend the meeting in person today, so Leo will be taking his place."
After the brief explanation, everyone had a hunch, well aware that Andre's son had come to the office that day. Surely, the president wouldn't skip the meeting just to take care of his son? Amid the speculations, no one dared to question further.
From the large screen, some international participants asked Noah in English, "Only the president is fully apprised of the international matters. We haven't seen this young man before. Does he understand the situation?"
Leo answered for Noah, "Not having been seen doesn't mean lacking ability. I've done my homework on the overseas situation, and I'm more familiar with the data than my uncle. I understand your concerns, but let's let the facts do the talking."
Little Charlie, struggling to keep his head turned towards the screen, eventually grew tired and turned back to nestle against his father's chest. Within minutes, his lips began to quiver, signaling the onset of another crying spell.
This time, there was no one in the office to tend to his son, and Andre, with one arm holding the crying child, stepped out to prepare a bottle in the break room. The cluster of secretaries in the executive office were dumbfounded. Was this the same imposing CEO they knew?
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