Then, perhaps because pride never allowed him to leave a challenge untouched, he looked down at Eli and said:
“Some machines reach the end, kid.”
Sarah's expression hardened.
Victor continued:
“Your father knew that.”
Mason stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Victor looked at him.
“I’m not being cruel.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I’m being honest.”
“No.”
Mason’s voice stayed low.
“You're using a four-year-old to make his mother feel guilty enough to sign a contract.”
Victor's face changed.
Sarah stared.
Mason continued.
“That's not honesty.”
“That's pressure.”
Silence.
Victor closed the folder halfway.
“Fine.”
He turned toward Sarah.
“My offer stands.”
Eli tugged Mason’s hand.
“Mason.”
He looked down.
The boy was staring at the motorcycle.
“What?”
Eli pointed.
“Daddy didn't put blue there.”
Mason followed his finger.
Nothing obvious.
“Where?”
Eli stepped carefully closer to the marked safety line on the floor.
He did not cross it.
“There.”
Mason crouched beside him.
Eli pointed toward the motorcycle's left side.
A narrow gap behind a removable panel.
Something blue showed near the edge.
Mason frowned.
It could be anything.
Paint.
Tape.
Reflection.
He looked at Ray.
Ray moved closer.
Victor said:
“For God's sake.”
Mason turned.
“What?”
Victor spread his hands.
“You're taking diagnostic advice from a preschooler now?”
Mason’s eyes hardened.
“No.”
“I’m looking where he pointed.”
“Same thing.”
Eli lowered his hand.
His face changed.
Embarrassment.
Mason saw it immediately.
He turned fully toward the boy.
“Hey.”
Eli looked up.
“You did exactly right.”
Victor laughed.
Mason stood.
His gentleness disappeared only when he faced Victor.
“Do that again and leave.”
Victor stared.
“Do what?”
“Make him feel stupid for noticing something.”
“I didn't—”
“Yes.”
Mason’s voice was quiet enough that everyone listened harder.
“He is four.”
“You are forty-six.”
“Act like the older one.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
Sarah looked at Mason.
That was the combination she had always found strange about him.
He could speak to a frightened child as though nothing else mattered.
Then turn toward an adult and make four words feel heavier than shouting.
Victor backed off.
“Fine.”
Mason removed his suit jacket.
Handed it to Sarah.
Then loosened his cuffs and rolled his sleeves.
Eli watched.
“You fixing it?”
“I’m looking.”
“Can I look?”
“From there.”
“Okay.”
Mason smiled.
“Good man.”
He pulled a padded mat beside the motorcycle.
Ray handed him the correct tool before he asked.
Victor folded his arms.
Mason looked at him.
“You staying?”
“I want to watch.”
“Then be useful and quiet.”
Victor’s mouth tightened.
Ray almost smiled.