Stephenson didn't respond immediately. He took a deep breath first, as if steadying himself, then exhaled slowly.
"Yes, I know," he said at last. "And I'm sorry. I was just surprised to see you h-here."
His tone softened slightly, though his posture remained rigid.
"But calm down for a second," he added. "Sylvester is already on his way. Just wait for him, okay? You can't just resign like that without talking to him first."
As if suddenly remembering something else, his gaze shifted to Cairo.
The change was subtle, but unmistakable. His expression softened, the sharp edges melting away as he looked at Cairo beside me. When he looked back at me, his eyes lingered for a few seconds longer than necessary. The tension in his shoulders eased just a fraction before he crouched down, lowering himself to Cairo's height.
"Hey," he said quietly. "It's been a long time since I last saw you. You've grown taller."
Cairo blinked, surprised, then broke into a wide smile.
