The room fell into an uncomfortable quiet.

The only sound was the low hum of the air conditioning.

I walked toward the head of the table.

The board members parted for me, pulling their chairs back.

I took the empty seat next to Margaret.

I sat down and adjusted Lily in my arms.

“I am not here to destroy this company,” I said, looking around the room.

“I am here to protect my daughter’s inheritance.”

“As her mother and legal guardian, I now control her fifty-one percent share of the Whitmore trust.”

“Under the terms of Arthur Whitmore’s will, those shares vested the moment her paternity was legally established.”

Adrian stepped toward the table, his fists clenched.

“You can’t do this, Vivian,” he hissed.

“You’re a schoolteacher.”

“You don’t know the first thing about running a global enterprise.”

“I don’t need to,” I said.

“I have Grace.”

“And I have a board of directors who would very much like to avoid going to federal prison.”

Several board members nodded.

The gray-suited man sat back down.

“The vote to transfer the assets is canceled,” he said.