Page 64 of Her Hat Trick Daddies

For a moment, I think I’ve walked into the wrong room. But no. This is my office. What’s different is the explosion of color and fragrance. Bouquets, dozens of them, flood the space. Red roses. Maroon. Yellow. White. Blue. Purple. Every shade I’ve ever seen and a few I didn’t even know roses came in.

“Who…?” I spin around, jaw dropped.

Cecille just beams. “The ones on your desk have a card.”

Still stunned, I approach the center arrangement—deep maroon roses in a gleaming crystal vase. A small, stuffed pink pig with a black bow is attached. I already know Luna will love it.

The card reads:

Leighton,

I’m sorry for acting like such a jerk.

Please give me a chance to explain. Give me a chance to show you and Luna the real me.

You deserve more. And I want to be the one to show you how.

Love,

SJ

Shane Jacobson. I’m sure he left only his initials to avoid any outside speculation, but there’s no mistaking the affection behind this gesture. The tightness in my chest loosens, just a little. It’s sweet. Thoughtful. Unexpected.

Cecille catches the look on my face and winks. “This isn’t my first rodeo, hon. Looks like Barb and I have some behind-the-scenes work to do today. Enjoy.”

And bywork, she meanscover-up. According to Ava, Barb is basically the Olivia Pope of corporate clean-up. If something needs disappearing, her team makes it vanish so fast, you’d swear it never existed.

She breezes off, and I just stare at the roses like they might bloom into answers.

And then one does. I spin on my heel. “Cecille, wait!”

She stops and turns. “What’s up?”

“Do you have a few minutes? I need to run something by you.”

She checks her watch, then flashes a grin. “Sure.”

Back in my office, I shut the door behind us. “This might be awkward, but… thie display in here? It’s kind of telling, right?”

She nods, unbothered. “Oh yeah. I clocked it the second I saw the flowers. Like I said, this isn’t a first for me.”

“So, I know Barb handled a lot when it came to… the Sven situation. Ava told me—”

She cuts me off smoothly, crossing her legs and folding her hands in her lap like she’s preparing for court testimony. “Tell me what you need. I’ve been with this team for over fifteen years. I protect this family, albeit sometimes in less-than-traditional ways. Including keeping things from ever reaching the top brass. Even if it’s risky.”

I exhale. “Oh, thank god.”

I pull out my phone and, with no small amount of shame, navigate to EverybodysXXX.com. After some digging, I findthevideo, and my cheeks burn instantly. “Is there anything we can do about this?”

Cecille takes the phone like she’s checking her Amazon cart, calmly flicking through the site and jotting down notes. Then she gives me a look.

“No problem. I’ll loop Barb in. But be careful. This could have been way worse if you didn’t have masks.”

Ugh. If only she knew I’ve already made it worse. Because apparently, I have zero impulse control when it comes to these men when I see them here.

As she walks out, something pink and black catches my eye near the back wall. A toddler scooter, three-wheeled, with a basket holding a helmet and padded knee guards. Another note is tied to the handlebar:

To my sweet daughter,