Page 69 of Power Move

Innocent. Was a broken condom and a resulting couple of kids innocent? Was making a strange woman cum on your hand in a men’s room quaint?

Under her expectant gaze, I cleared my throat. “So, when she appeared on day one, neither of us was sure how to act.”

“Is that why you’ve been so cold to her?” Claire asked.

No, I’ve just been an asshole, and she barely tolerates me.

“Yes,” I said. “I actually love Eva, so that is difficult.”

The words rolled off my tongue effortlessly. This conversation pained me, but the words didn’t. I tested the waters.

“We figured we’d just ignore it. And given that I’ve beenveryclear with Daphne about Eva reporting to Daphne and you, Claire, I have stayed out of it. I intend to do the same. We will remain professional.”

Eva nodded.

“So, why did you feel the need to tell us?” Norm wondered. “Bosses date their employees all the time, Davey.”

“Yes, well, there’s more,” I moved uneasily on the balls of my feet. “Eva is pregnant. And while that is a bit of asurprise, it’s… well, it’s happening so, when she fell?—”

“Oh my God,” Bob said. “Eva, I am even more aggrieved. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Eva smiled. “Everything is good—minus the sprain.”

I wanted to rush through the rest, crawl into a hole, and die. “I know there will be some logistics to clear up. I will take leave shortly after Daphne returns. We will work everything out in the coming months.”

“There will be continuity,” Daphne insisted. “I will step up to fill the role of CEO in the interim.”

“Correct,” I agreed.

She said it with such pride, evenmyheart swelled.

Claire did the math. “Eva, you’resixteenweeks pregnant or thereabouts?”

“I’m almost thirteen,” Eva said. “We weren’t planning on telling anyone.”

“But why so soon?”

“I’m having twins,” Eva answered. “Which is why, returning from the hospital, we needed a moment. They didn’t see the second baby until they were checking me for any issues. Thankfully, both are fine. But they are going to deliver me by thirty-six weeks.”

“Three babies in a few months,” Norm said. “The office will be busy. Your father would approve.”

I smiled. It was bittersweet because I knew there was nothing more Dad would have wanted than to be surrounded by a bevy of rambunctious grandkids. My only regret in that moment was that Dad would never meet our children—he’d never know them. It wasn’t how they came to be. It wasn’t the complication. It was how much I missed him. In truth, he would have loved Eva. She’d have charmed him with her dry sense of humor but would never meet him. Grief hit.

Daphne saw it, probably felt it, too. “It’s hard. Sometimes, I feel like he’s still around. And while life is wild, we’re a family company—we’re not a public company. So, in situations like this—unexpected, wonderful ones—we pull together, right?”

“Right,” I agreed. “You cannot keep a Delphine down.”

21.DECLARATIONS

Eva

Feet leaden,I processed into my parents’ kitchen to the smell of lasagna, which would be a treat under any other circumstance. Though bruised and battered, it was time to come clean.

Mom was making a salad.

She turned as I entered, her face pulling in concern. “Eva! My God! What happened?”

“Another exec bumped me,” I said. “I went down and sprained my wrist. It’ll take a while to heal, but I’ll be back to normal soon.”