Tara had just gotten a message from the Ratcliff family. She figured Reese must be up to her neck dealing with their drama, way too busy to care about anything else. Perfect, she thought, she''d finally have a chance to talk to Zach about taking over the ckOak market.


    But then she overheard something she never sawing. Zach had been digging into Reese behind her back, and he''d even found out it was Dylon who drugged her all those years ago.


    Now he was actually nning to team up with the board and push her out of thepany-all for Reese. All she''d done for him these past years-did that mean nothing?


    How could he be so cruel? She was carrying his child right now!


    Tara staggered back a step, her heart pounding. She knew Zach too well. If there was anything he hated, it was betrayal and lies. That''s why he''d held a grudge against Reese for so long.


    Now that he knew the real story, there was no way he''d ever let her or the Ramos family off the hook.


    No. She wasn''t just going to sit here and wait for her world to fall apart. She needed to throw Zach off his game, buy herself some time, ande up with a n.


    As Zach''s assistant finished up with thewyers, Zach grabbed his coat and walked out. Tara spun around and hurried back to her own office.


    She held her belly, pacing the office in a panic.


    Maybe she could get the Ratcliff family to believe Reese was the one who hurt Mr. Ratcliff. If Zach and the Ratcliffs went at each other, that would give her extra time, and if things went her way, she could even take Reese down for good, brand her as a murderer.


    The thought sent a cold glimmer through her eyes. She pulled out her phone and dialed Leslie.


    Rosie had mentioned before that Leslie had been given Mr. Ratcliff''s nurse schedule. Now that Mr. Ratcliff was in trouble, Leslie would be involved too. Getting Reese thrown in jail would only help Leslie, so she''d have every reason to go along with it.


    The phone rang. Leslie picked up, sounding almost in a good mood. "Hello? Who''s this?"


    "Hey Leslie, it''s Tara, Reese''s cousin. I''m sure you''ve heard of me."


    Of course Leslie had heard of her. Tara was the cousin who''d gone overseas ande back just to get engaged to Reese''s first love.


    Leslie nced at Jane, then got up and put some distance between them. "Ms. Ramos, what can I do for you?" Once Jane was out of earshot, Leslie spoke up again.


    "Leslie, I heard about what happened to Mr. Ratcliff. The family thinks Reese did it, right? Think you could help make sure they don''t change their minds?"


    The straightforwardness made Leslie pause, but she quickly replied


    with a smile, "I think you''re mistaken,


    Ms don''t have any contro


    Ramos


    over what the Ratcliff family thinks."


    Tara justughed coldly. "You seem to forget my mom gave you Mr. Ratcliff''s nurse schedule.


    "So, Leslie, if the Ratcliff family finds out about that, do you think they''ll still suspect Reese? Or will you be their new favorite suspect?"


    Leslie''s face darkened for a second. "What''s your angle here? Aren''t you afraid this could blow back on your own family?"


    "Not at all."


    Tara didn''t even blink. At this point, she had nothing to lose. If Zach


    wanted payback there Me was no way


    the Ramos family could handle it. Why not ass the Ratcliffs to the list of problems?


    The only way out was to make sure Reese took the fall.


    "Just get it done, Leslie. It''s the best move for both of us.


    "If you don''t, I''ll tell the Ratcliff family about that nurse schedule. And then, good luck exining yourself."


    Leslie gripped her phone tight. She couldn''t let this happen. If the truth came out, Sebastian would never trust her again and there''d be no hope of her ever getting de''s core data.