We’ve had endless headaches on this one.”

“What’s going on?” Payton knew all about advertising headaches. She’d had her share of ad agonies this year.

“Everything. The tone’s wrong. The energy’s not there. We’ve reshot the ad twice. But come with me. You’ll see.”

Marco’s driver delivered them across town, dropping them off in the commercial district with its plethora of warehouses and industrial space. Many of the city photographers and artists had taken up residence in the huge lofts and today’s fragrance ad was being shot in one of these.

They took the elevator up and Payton got the girls to sit in a corner and quietly watch the activity. They’d been on enough jobs with Payton to know when to sit still and let Mommy work.

“Take a look at this,” Marco said, handing Payton the ad agency’s storyboard. “What do you think?”

Payton cocked her head. “It’s pretty.”

“Come on. You can do better than that.”

“It is pretty.” Payton hesitated. “And Elegant. Classic. Refined.”

“Be honest. You’re not going to hurt my feelings. I know there’s problems with it, but my fragrance director—” he dropped his voice and nodded to the petite woman pacing near by “—has her own ideas.”

“And this is hers?” Payton asked, flipping through the pages in the portfolio.

“It’s the closest we’ve come to a compromise.”

Payton’s nose wrinkled. “It is a little flat,” she said after a moment. “It doesn’t feel…young.”

“I know. So what would you do differently if this were your ad?”

Payton exhaled slowly. Was he serious? “But it’s not my ad. I’m with Calvanti. You’re d’Angelo.”

“That’s true. But you once worked for me. You know me.”

Never mind that she’d slept with him, gotten pregnant and had his babies.

Payton looked up, met his gaze. He was waiting for her to say something. “Maybe I do know your standards, but I don’t want to interfere. These ads cost a fortune—”

“Which is why I want your opinion.” His dark eyes scanned her face. “You’re good, Payton. You’ve got a great eye, an intuitive feel for design.”

Did he just pay her a compliment? She folded her arms across her chest.