Page 7

Theo

What is that noise? I follow the sound down the hallway and push open the door to Rhys’s office. It’s just past noon on Sunday, and the lack of Mackenzie’s presence is as conspicuous as a glaring neon sign. Instead, I’m greeted by the rapid-fire sound effects of a video game and the sight of a little boy’s back, hunched over a tablet.

“Hey there,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “Who are you?”

The kid pauses the game and swivels around. “Levi Davis,” he replies, eyes darting back to the screen.

My heart jumps, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. Mackenzie has a son? The thought hits me hard, and I feel a strange mix of worry and hurt. Why didn’t she tell me? She’s never said anything about having a child.

Before I can gather my thoughts, the door swings open again, and Mackenzie steps through, balancing two greasy paper bags of fast food.

She freezes when she sees me. “What are you doing here?” I can see the beginnings of annoyance on her face.

“I figured if you’re going to work, then I should too.” I cross my arms, my gaze flicking to Levi before returning to her. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a son?”

She blinks, taken aback. “Because he’s not my son,” she says, setting the bags on a table. “He’s my half-brother. And he’s going to be staying with me for a while.”

I nod, relief mingling with a tinge of embarrassment. I should’ve known better than to jump to conclusions. But still, Mackenzie and a kid? It’s a piece of her life she’s never even hinted at.

“You have a half-brother?” I say, glancing again at Levi, who has resumed his game as if we’re not even here. “That’s quite the surprise.”

Mackenzie pushes a piece of hair behind her ear, her face soft as she looks at him. But when she looks at me, there’s a flash in her eyes.

I know that look. It’s the one she gives me when we’re about to argue. But today, I’m not trying to start a fight. “Looks like you’ve got your hands full,” I say. There’s a story here, and I’d love to know it. But seems like now is a good time to give her space.

Still, I lean against the wall with my arms crossed, watching her unpack burgers and fries from the bags. “Is this going to be a long-term thing?” I ask.

She takes a deep breath, and I get ready for her to be angry. “My dad is off in Kauai with his current wife for who knows how long. His driver picked Levi up for the weekend, and he said it seemed like he’d been there alone for a while. His mom is missing, and he’s only eight. What else was I supposed to do?”

My eyes widen. “Mackenzie, how are you going to handle this with your job?”

She stands straighter and gives me a look that could cut through steel. “Levi will be going to school. I’ll find a nanny. But right now, he’s with me.” Her voice is sharp, and I can tell she’s ready to do this, no matter what.

“Okay,” I say, raising my hands in a gesture of peace. “But having him here at the office? It’s not ideal.”

Her eyes narrow, and there’s a dangerous edge to her voice when she replies. “Fine. If it bothers you that much, I’ll take the next few months off. Would that make you happy?”

The air between us crackles with tension, one wrong word away from a full-blown argument. I should back down, but something inside me pushes instead. “No, that’s not what I’m saying,” I snap. “I just think—”

“You think too much!” She cuts me off, her patience frayed. “You need to leave now.” She points to the elevator. “Just go.”

I blink, surprised. This isn’t only about Levi. It’s also about the way we keep pushing each other. I want to speak up and tell her I have every right to be here. But when I look at Levi, I know this isn’t the right time for a fight. “Okay.” I back away. “I’ll be in my office. But we’re not done talking about this.”

My steps are loud, and I slam the door behind me. The glass shakes. “I’m the one in charge here,” I say quietly, frowning as I sit behind my big wooden desk. “I choose when to go home.” I drop into my chair. It creaks as I lean back, trying to calm down.

But the anger doesn’t go away. After a little while, the door opens down the hallway, and I hear quiet sounds from Rhys’s office. A child’s voice. “Is he your boyfriend?”

I can almost see Mackenzie’s reaction, but then a laugh, soft and unexpected, comes through instead. “No, Levi,” she says, her voice carrying an undertone of amusement that grates on me. “He’s more like…Dad. He’s got lots of girlfriends.”

A smirk twitches at my lips despite the bitterness welling up inside me. Her sharp wit always finds its mark.

The sound of crinkling paper and muted conversation drifts in, and I imagine them sitting across from each other, burgers in hand. My stomach growls, traitorous thing, but I ignore it.

“I hate the pool at Dad’s. It doesn’t have a slide or a diving board,” Levi informs her between bites, his voice thoughtful and a little sad. “Not much to do at Dad’s. That’s why I always bring my game.”

“Good thing you packed it, then,” she says.

I tap on the desk, full of energy I don’t know what to do with. I should be working. There are so many things I need to do. But all I can think about is the two of them out there—spending time together, eating, living their lives—while I sit here, alone and frustrated.

And it’s ridiculous, because I’m cool, calm, and collected. And I’m never at a loss for companionship. But somehow, I’ve been thrown off balance by a woman who keeps up with me—and now a kid who sees the world like it’s full of magic. “Damn it,” I mutter, pushing away from the desk. I need air, space, something to break the cycle of thoughts spinning in my head.

I take a loop around my office and then stare at a spreadsheet, but the numbers all run together. It’s not the work that’s messing with my head. It’s what I see through the glass wall of my office. Mackenzie leans over Levi, her hand gently tousling his hair.

“Levi, do you have any clean clothes with you?” she asks.

He shakes his head, eyes still glued to the screen. “Nope, I had clothes at Dad’s,” he tells her, thumbs navigating the game.

Mackenzie sighs and stands up, stretching her arms skyward for a moment. “Okay, how about this—after I wrap up some work, we’ll hit the stores? Get you all set with everything you need.”

Levi shrugs off the suggestion. “Don’t need more clothes.”

“Maybe not,” she concedes, “but would you like to stay with me for a while? Maybe live in my guest room and go to school here?”

His attention snaps from the game, eyes wide. “Really?”

“Really,” she confirms. “Though you’ll have to go to school, you know.”

The sparkle dims just a touch, but he nods. “Cool.”

I lean back in my chair, hands behind my head, jealousy knotting in my chest. The ease between them, the way they connect—it’s foreign to me.

Turning my attention back to my work, I try to focus on the upcoming board meeting. Rhys will be back, but only just before, so I’ll have to get the report ready for him to present. The responsibility of decisions that could shape our company’s future usually excites me. But today, it feels hollow compared to the simple human interaction unfolding outside my door.

But I don’t let that show.

I can’t.

Instead, I pore over reports and projections, forcing myself to ignore the laughter and soft conversation that drift through the walls. I won’t admit how much I want to be part of that world where Mackenzie smiles and a little boy’s excitement isn’t tempered by the reality of responsibilities.

Hours pass, and as the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink, I close my laptop with a sigh. It seems being in charge means nothing if you’re just commanding an army of one.