After knowing Jasper for so many years, how could she possibly fail to see right through him?
She spoke softly. "Jasper, I get it. You don''t want to ruin your friendship with Haynes, and The Wilkinson Group still needs The O''Brien Group''s support. But after what happened with Ste, Haynes must be eaten up with guilt where she''s concerned.
You''ve been making trouble for Ste all this time. Haynes is bound to hold it against you.
So if you''re hoping to keep relying on him, I''m afraid that ship has sailed."
Jasper raked a hand through his hair, recalling how cold Haynes had sounded on the phone yesterday.
"So... what are we supposed to do?"
Rachel leaned in. "If we let Haynes believe our baby is his, he''ll not only make that child his heir-he''ll ensure The O''Brien Group supports The Wilkinson Group, no questions asked.
You and Haynes are best friends. His son is your son, your son is his-it would make your families even closer. Isn''t that perfect?"
Jasper''s face betrayed uncertainty; he was wavering.
Since the dawn of time, nothing has moved men''s hearts like personal gain.
He hesitated. "But... wouldn''t that be unfair to Joshua?"
Rachel''s expression hardened. "Jasper, Haynes was willing to throw away his friendship with you for Ste''s sake. Do you really want Ste to run you into the ground?"
Jasper knew all too well-Haynes''s patience with him had already worn thin.
Now that Haynes realized how much he''d misjudged Ste, he would be riddled with guilt toward her.
If Ste whispered the right things in his ear, Haynes would toss their years of friendship out the window in a heartbeat.
A bitter resentment stirred in Jasper''s chest.
The idea of letting his dear friend raise his child-just thinking about it sent a thrill down his spine.
He made up his mind and looked at Rachel.
"All right, Rachel. What do you need me to do?”
A vicious smile curled Rachel''s lips.
"Jasper, you and Haynes are
Getting him drunk, slipping
velibe
something into his drink-that won''t be hard.
All you need to do is arrange for me to end up in his bed at the right moment. The rest will take care of itself."
Jasper frowned. "But how can I be sure the baby is mine and not Haynes''s? What
if it turns out to be his? Wouldn''t all this be for nothing?"
Like a serpent, Rachel slid her arms around Jasper''s neck.
She purred, "We''ll just have to make sure I''m pregnant first, won''t we?"
Before, Jasper had held back-out of loyalty to Haynes, out of guilt.
But now, thinking of a future where he''d wield the same power and never have to
beg for anyone''s approval again, excitement surged through him.
He''d always been drawn to Rachel. Now, with his conscience silenced, nothing held him back.
Soon enough, the two of them tumbled into bed together.
As passion dulled their senses, Rachel''s fingers toyed with Jasper''s neck.
"Jasper, all that dirt on me-your
good buddy Foreman is the one wet
leaked it. He''s been secretly helping Ste all along. I think he might even have a thing for her.
I''ve got a brilliant idea. We can make sure Ste and Haynes never reconcile, and
take away one of her strongest allies at the same time..."
But Jasper was in no state to think straight.
He''d gotten ckout drunkst night, remembered nothing, and felt cheated by the lost opportunity.
Tonight, he was determined to make up for it.
He kissed Rachel deeply. "Baby, let''s talk about thister. I''ll do whatever you want."
Thinking of the humiliation she
could bring down on
Haynes making him unwittingl
raise another man''s child-Rachel''s heart soared with vengeful delight.
Not only could she unt her affair with Haynes''s best friend right under his nose,
but she could make him celebrate a child that wasn''t even his.
There was no sweeter revenge in the world.
With that thought, Rachel threw herself into the moment with even more fervor.