Page 16 of Power Play Daddies

>>Boring. You’re old Beau.

I roll my eyes, shoving the phone back into my pocket. If only he knew.

I start the truck, pulling out of the parking lot with one destination in mind: home.

CHAPTER FIVE

Daisy

I take a deep breath,straightening my skirt for what feels like the hundredth time as I stand outside the door of Ace’s office.

The hallway’s quiet, almost too quiet. I know this is a big deal, but I’m still not sure what’s going to happen.

My uncle wanted to meet here instead of the restaurant. I knew the risk, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I wasn’t expecting to see Beau so soon, though. It’s like the universe has a twisted sense of humor.

And it has been so long since I saw my uncle. Not since the funeral. Not since everything. Damn, that day was awkward. The air between us was thick, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Hug? Shake hands? I almost wanted to avoid him entirely, but that would’ve been impossible.

“All right, Daisy, get it together,” I mutter under my breath, holding onto the words I’ve been using lately to ground myself. “I’m confident. I’ve got this. I’m ready.”

I knock once on the door, then step back, waiting for the sound of movement inside. My stomach’s doing flips.

“Come in,” a gruff voice says from the other side.

The door swings open with a soft creak, and there’s Ace, sitting there in a black leather chair behind his desk. He’s still got that air of authority, and it’s hard not to see him as my uncle, even though it’s been so long.

His dark eyes assess me, and there’s a flicker of something in his gaze that I can’t quite place.

“Daisy,” he says, his voice rough around the edges like always, but there’s something softer in it now. “You look… grown up.” He quickly stands.

I can’t help but laugh, though it sounds nervous. “Well, you don’t look too bad yourself.” I’m sure I’m blushing, but I hope he doesn’t notice.

There’s an awkward silence, and neither of us makes a move. Not a hug. Not a handshake. Just two people standing in the same room, trying to navigate the tension.

“So, uh… how’ve you been?” he asks, sitting back down, arms crossed. I’m almost surprised he’s asking, given everything between him and my dad.

“I’m good.” It’s the easy answer. It’s always the easy answer. “How about you?”

He shrugs, glancing away for a second. “You know how it is. Busy.”

I’m trying not to read too much into that, but it’s hard not to. He kept his distance after everything that happened with my dad. I hadn’t been able to make peace between them. Guess some things don’t change.

I clear my throat, pushing past the discomfort. “Is now a good time to talk?”

“Yeah, sure. Go ahead.” He waves a hand toward the chair opposite his desk, like I’m supposed to sit, and I do. The chair creaks beneath me, and I shift uncomfortably. “What’s on your mind?”

This is it. My pitch. I’ve rehearsed this a thousand times, but now that I’m sitting here in front of him, I’m not sure where to start.

“Okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “So, I want to do a story about the team. You know, get an inside look at what it’s like behind the scenes. The lives of the players, how they train, what makes them tick. It’s a different angle—something fresh, you know?”

He raises an eyebrow, and I swear the room gets colder. “And you’re asking me for access to the team?”

I nod, swallowing. “Yeah. I’d be able to give the paper a really unique piece. Something that’s not just fluff. Something people will actually want to read. And… this could help me, too. My career. The paper’s not doing well, and this could bring in a ton of attention. It’s a win-win situation.”

Ace doesn’t respond right away, just stares at me like he’s sizing me up. “Why now? Why’s this paper suddenly so interested in the team? And why you?”

I’m quick to respond, my words tumbling out. “It’s not just about the paper. I’m serious. I’m not trying to use this as some gimmick. I’ve been with them for years, but right now, it’s more about the opportunity. This could help turn things around. I don’t want to fail. And this? This is my chance.”

He exhales, like he’s annoyed, but there’s something softer in the way he looks at me.