Clifford then jolted from his seat when he heard the shriek from a child and calling his name. Then he saw a child came running to him, grinning."Uncle Cliff!" The child called him again.
"Clark? What are you doing here? Who is with you?" Clifford looked at the child with concern.
"I"m with my mom, come I want to introduce you to her and to my grandpa and grandma and uncle Lance." The child pulled his coat urging him to stand up.
Gary then cleared his throat. The child and Clifford looked both at him with same gesture. He almost lost his breath when he saw their stares.
"How could this be? Why are they looking alike?" His jaw dropped and his eyes widen even more his pondering.
"Who is this cute little guy we have here." Miss Reiley then asks looking so amused with the child.
The child smile and answered.
"I"m Clark Howard, please to meet you." He acted as if he is of the same age as them.
"Ooohh.. he is so adorable.." Miss Reiley was about to pinch his cheeks when Clifford blocked it and took hold both of the child"s shoulders and leveled his eyes to him.
"Where is your mother?" Cliff asks. Before Clark could answer, someone from behind him talked.
"I apologize for my son"s behavior, Mr. Briggs." Ingrid said blushing almost reddening her face.
Clifford then looked up to her with a questioning stare; she could not understand she felt of his stare so she evaded it and look elsewhere.
"Are you acquainted with uncle Cliff, mom?"
"Of course, he"s my boss, " the child smiled and jumped up and down as if he receives a reward. but the question is why you know him? it was Ingrids moment to be confused.
I told you already, mom, many times, that he is Tristans uncle. Her son reminded her, because of embarra.s.sment Ingrid ignored Clark and she glance to her boss companions.
"I am so sorry for disturbing your meeting." She said apologetically. Vanessa Reiley was the one to reply.
"What an adorable child you have, you and your husband is lucky to have him. I"m Vanessa Reiley."
"Ingrid Howard, oh, I"ve no husband by the way and it"s a long story. Nice meeting you. Vanessa Reiley? The same owner of famous clothing brand?" Ingrid smiled at the woman in a business-like manner.
So who is the father? Clifford wanted to ask Ingrid so badly but he just keeps it to himself.
"It"s a family business not mine alone." The woman replied.
Ingrid observed Vanessa Reiley, she is indeed beauty, a woman oozing with appeal even just in her business suit.
"No wonder, she could seal the deal in an instant." She sighed to herself.
However, when she noticed that her boss was in the middle of signing the contracts...
"Clark, come on now." She said warning her child and with slightly strong grip, she holds the left hand of her child gesturing to go. Clark is so disappointed that it makes him pout his lips.
"By the way, where are Mr. and Mrs. Howard?" Cliff b.u.t.t in.
"They"re over there. We are having our lunch with Lance."
Unexpectedly Cliff stood up, and then he holds the small right hand of the child.
"I"ll go with you to greet your parents." Ingrid glared at Cliffs handsome face down to his hand that is holding also Clarks.
Without their knowledge they already made a scene in the restaurant, slowly the diners started to look at them. They look as if they are a couple quarrelling over something.
"What are you doing, sir?" She feels aghast on what he said especially that he holds his hand as if he is the father.
"I already said it. I"ll go with you greet your parents." His voice has no emotion.
"Mr. Briggs you still have papers to sign." Gary barge in.
"It can wait. Gary, kindly accompany Miss Reiley in her lunch first, then make sure that she"ll go home safe and bring the doc.u.ments in my office. Please excuse us, Miss Reiley."
"But, Mr. Briggs–" Ingrid started to be annoyed.
"And you Ingrid should address me in my first name when we are outside work. Is that clear?" His voice is full of authority that it made her gulp her saliva.