Page 67 of Power Move

Don’t I know it!

Eva

I got nosey during my exile to the drawing room. With an arm in a sling, I spied something in the corner on a mahogany writing desk I doubt anyone used. A series of family photos in heavy silver frames sat on it. My mother would have been envious of how nice they looked. I filed silver frames away as a Christmas present idea, praying I still had a job in December. I observed these normal family photos—starkly contrasting to the dining room’s massive family portrait. There, the family presented as the royals might—if royals casually gathered on the shore of their private beach for a portrait. An elegant oval frame held a photo of a beautiful woman in an off-the-shoulder dress looking out a window. I figured that was Lady Danna in her prime. If so, it made sense why Lanie and Dora, her mini-mes,had such presence. Another photo showed Daphne and Cal on their wedding day.

Finally, a larger rectangular frame held a photo of Davey’s father on the phone in his office—a place I recognized—surrounded by his brood. Teen Davey and Daphne camped out on the floor—Daphne on a laptop and Davey leaning over, pointing at something. Dahlia read on the couch. The brother I’d yet to meet, Derrick, played on a gaming system nearby. Delanie played with a car at the foot of the desk near Daphne. In David’s lap sat a fat, chubby baby eating something. It had to be little Dora.

“Eva?”

Fear shot down my spine as Lady Danna approached.

“Yes?”

She gently plucked the frame from my hands.

She smiled and cooed, “Oh, this one. It’s one of my favorites. Daphne has another one like it up at home. I took it when they were all there.”

“Your husband had all of them in his office at once?” I asked. “Was that… a normal thing?”

“We were hit with a bad storm,” Danna explained. “The kids were all out of school. I’d not slept in days since the baby was up about five times in the night. Well, David let me sleep. He didn’t wake me, just packed them all off to work. He bundled them up and Davey and Daphne helped herd the little ones. Davey pulled Dora and Delanie in a sled there per what I was told. David kept them all morning until the staff told me what he’d done. I was concerned. By then, the roads were passable enough. So, I went to collect them.”

I smiled. “That is sweet. He didn’t mind?”

“Our lives were chaos, darling. Six children is madness. And Lanie was supposed to be our last baby, but… fate had other plans. David never complained—not once—when they had nowhere to go. They’d wind up there after school. Davey and Daphne were common sights in that building. Their school wasn’t far off. The man had the patience of a saint. The joke was he closed more deals with a baby on his knee than any other man in the business.”

“That’s so adorable. Everyone says the sweetest things about him.”

“He wasn’t perfect, but he was ours—all ours. He’d do anything to protect us. It has been difficult on all the kids. They lost their biggest champion. And Davey…” Danna shook her head. “Well, he’s struggled the most. He lacks direction. Daphne struggled through a divorce, but she is so ambitious. Davey is… cocky, but projects because he’s insecure. The others didn’t rely as much on their father. They never wanted to work for the business.”

I snickered at that assessment. “I’m sorry, but you just confirmed something for me.”

Danna set the picture down, turning back. “Why my son?”

Once more, words failed. “I… I…”

“You do not have to tell me. I realized something was going on the day before yesterday. Davey was… preoccupied with you. He got defensive at dinner. He doesn’t do that unless he’s invested.”

“It’s complicated,” I said.

“Everything with you young people is complicated! There is very little in common between you two.”

“Well, perhaps, Lady Danna, it’s better to ask your son why he has come ontome?”

I recognized that face from when Daphne would put someone in their place.

She set her jaw. “Darling, you take offense, but you shouldn’t. You’re ambitious and clever. He likes pretty girls, yes, but you’re not his average date. You’retoobright.”

“Davey isn’t my type, either,” I said. “When I met him, I had no idea who he was. Daphne and I are friends, but I never met any of the rest of you. We just met at a bar and… that’s how it started. I didn’t intend to throw myself at him or anything. Dating the boss isn’t my thing.”

“Whatisyour type?”

I grimaced. She was the overly involved mother who would doubt a woman who didn’t find her precious son attractive.

“What? It cannot be that embarrassing!”

I opened my mouth but stopped as the door opened. I was saved by Davey’s arrival.

“Mother, I need to speak to Eva.”