“I had no idea it would ever come out.”
“Everything always comes out eventually.”
“I didn’t know she’d made an appointment. She didn’t tell me that. It was one night—one long, horrible night where we argued. And then she changed her mind. I don’t remember any of the staff being around. I thought nobody knew but me.”
“She might have told Samuel.”
Amber gave her head a decisive shake. “She knew how much he wanted children. If she’d had an abortion, it would have been in secret. She’d never have admitted to him she’d had doubts.”
They both fell silent, chewing their way through the pizza slices.
“We were about to lose, weren’t we?” Amber asked.
“We were about to lose big-time. Roth knows how to run Coast Eagle, and Samuel was way out front in the character debate.”
“Just because Coco was self-centered doesn’t mean she was wrong to choose me.”
“I agree,” said Destiny, helping herself to another slice. “We need to figure out Cole’s plan. I can guess at Roth’s next move. Between Samuel and his mother, the Hendersons controlled sixty-five percent of Coast Eagle. The other shareholders are minor, mostly companies, none with more than seven percent. But Roth still has a play. If he gets custody, therefore half of the Henderson family shares, and if he can bring the other shareholders on side, he’ll control the board and get himself appointed as president.”
“He doesn’t care anything about Zachary.”
“True, but all but impossible to prove,” said Destiny. “Samuel named him guardian for some reason.”
“If Cole gets custody, he controls all sixty-five percent. He’s invincible.” Amber paused. “But why the ruse?”
“He was obviously looking for information, solidifying his position. That has to be why Luca was cozying up to me.”
“Did you tell Luca anything?”
“Nothing that wasn’t already public. Cole obviously saw you as his primary rival rather than Ross. I’m guessing he was either going to co-opt you or take you out.”
“He must have been shocked when it went in Roth’s favor.”
“And had to suddenly change the game plan. I don’t think they planned it like that.”
“They did have DNA and a marriage certificate at the ready.”
“True,” said Destiny.
Amber took a drink, appreciating the hit of alcohol warming her system. “What do we do now?”
“We need more information on Cole.”
“Maybe I could seduce it out of him. No, wait. I already tried that.”
Destiny gazed at her for a moment, the tone of her voice going softer. “How was it?”
“Seriously?”
Destiny gave a helpless shrug. “What can it hurt to tell me now?”