Chapter 5

Ember rose to her feet with fluid grace. She smoothed down her skirt, brushing away a piece of lint that wasn't there.

She turned her back on Haden and walked around the desk. She sat back down in her chair, reclaiming her position of power.

Corbin puffed on his cigar, looking extremely satisfied. "Glad to see you're being reasonable, Mrs. Baldwin."

Tierney sashayed over to the glass coffee table. She set her Chanel handbag down with a thud. She opened the clasp and pulled out a small, square piece of paper.

She walked over to the mahogany desk and slammed the paper down right in front of Ember.

It was a black-and-white ultrasound image.

"I'm pregnant," Tierney announced, her voice high and shrill. "With Haden's baby."

Haden, who had been watching from the couch, went completely still for a fraction of a second. The shock hit him hard.

He quickly covered it up. A fake, mocking smile spread across his face. "Is that so?"

Ember stared at the image. A sharp, twisting pain gripped her stomach. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

But she didn't let it show. She forced the emotion down and looked at the photo with clinical detachment.

She saw it immediately. The pixel distribution around the fetus was slightly off. The date stamp in the corner was misaligned by two pixels.

Her brain processed the data in a millisecond. It was a composite image. A fake.

She looked up at Tierney. The girl's eyes darted to the side for a split second. She was terrified.

Corbin seized the moment. "The Baldwin family will give my grandchild a name," he demanded. "Or I go to the New York Times with the scandal. Your stock will be worthless by noon."

Ember knew if she called Tierney a liar right now, the girl would just destroy the evidence. They would deny everything and counter-attack. She needed them trapped.

Ember folded her hands on the desk. She looked at Haden, and a perfect, serene smile appeared on her face.

"Congratulations, Haden," she said softly. "I'm so happy for you."

The words hit Haden like a bullet. The fake smile vanished from his face. His eyes went dark, a dangerous storm brewing in them.

Ember turned to Corbin. "A wedding is a major event. Per the family trust bylaws, I need three days to prepare the share transfer agreements and the press releases."

Corbin thought he had won. He laughed, a greasy, satisfied sound. "Three days. Not a minute more."

Tierney preened, shooting Ember a victorious glare as she hooked her arm through her father's. They walked out of the office, the doors clicking shut behind them.

The room went silent. The air felt thick enough to choke on.

Haden stood up from the couch. He looked like a man possessed. He walked toward the desk, his eyes locked on Ember with pure, unadulterated hatred.