Page 59 of Power Play

Her eyes flickered to mine, and she went back to typing. “I’m running on four hours of sleep for the past two days. I don’t have time or the mental capacity to decipher what you mean.”

I glanced down and realized her baby was in his wrap against her chest like he was every time I saw him. I almost asked if she’d tried taking him out of that thing. I had a feeling he would sleep better, but the deep purple bags under her eyes had me rethinking.

“You got Taylor a job, not just in the city but with the team! Then you gave her the same apartment recommendations you gave me.”

She sighed. “Have you seen her art?”

“Of course, I have.” I shook my head. What was her point?

“Then you know why I had to hire her. She’s too talented to be crunching numbers or taxes or whatever accountants do. She needs to be creating.”

She had a point. Taylor was an artist. I was actually grateful someone recognized that.

“And as for the apartments, I give everyone the same recommendations. If you remember, there were about twenty to choose from. Even I’m not good enough to plan or manipulate you two into choosing the same one.”

I fell into the seat behind me. That was another good point.

“Look, even when I’m on my A-game, which I am not, I can’t force people to bend to my will. I provide options and opportunities. Even though I take the credit, it’s really just two people finding their way to one another.”

Callan shifted and gave a tiny chirp of a cry. We both froze, and Chloe looked down at him. A few seconds later she let out a sigh.

“So, if things are uncomfortable,” she lowered her voice, “that’s not my doing. That’s on you.”

I narrowed my eyes, but she was right. Chloe didn’t even know the full extent of my history with Taylor. She couldn’t have done any of this on purpose.

Maybe I was just sleep-deprived, and not handling it nearly as well as she was.

“Do you want some help?” I offered.

She stopped typing and stared at me. “With what?”

I nodded down. “With Callan. Do you want me to take him on a walk or something?”

“He’s sleeping.”

I waited.

“You don’t touch a sleeping baby,” she said like I was beyond stupid.

Right. That sounded vaguely familiar.

“If you want to come over from one to four in the morning and walk with him then, be my guest.”

I cringed. “Is it really that bad?”

She closed her eyes and sighed. “I sleep from eleven to one, then four to six. If I’m lucky. He wasn’t in the mood this morning to stay in his crib so I came here so I can at least be productive while being sleep-deprived.”

“So yes. It is.”

She shook her head and went back to typing. “You and Taylor have something most people wish for.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“A second chance.” She paused and leaned back. “You have an opportunity to try again. To do better. To make up for the things you did wrong in the past.”

“How do you know either of us want that?”

“You’re in my office at seven on a day off. That wouldn’t happen if you were content or happy with life, and you’re not mad about living close to each other. You wouldn’t be here if that was the case either. You’re here because you’re scared.”