He stepped toward the door, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his mistress.

“We’ll see who the board believes when the morning papers hit the stands,” Preston said.

He turned and walked out of the room, Samantha following closely behind him.

The heavy oak door clicked shut, leaving Mia and me alone in the quiet office.

The air felt heavy, thick with the scent of Preston’s expensive cologne and Samantha’s expensive perfume.

“Mom?” Mia asked, her voice trembling.

“Can they really do that?”

“Can they make people believe you’re crazy?”

I looked down at the crumpled trust document on the desk.

“They can try,” I said, though my heart was pounding against my ribs.

I knew Samantha’s influence in the city was vast.

Her firm managed the reputations of some of the most powerful people in New York.

If she launched a smear campaign, it would be relentless and devastating.

I reached into my purse and pulled out my phone.

I needed to call Daniel Price at the Plaza Hotel.

He had access to the security footage from the ballroom, which showed Preston and Samantha together before the announcement.