“Care to tell me why you made up the story about this being sabotage?”
Greg struggled to answer, but another look from Kai and the man lowered his clipboard in defeat. “It was just convenient, a good way to hike up the ratings, right out of the gate.
“By scaring one of your contestants?” Kai demanded to know.
“Well, she was not going to be in any real danger.”
“Right. So I’m guessing that the convenience was even sweeter because of this.” Kai plucked the threatening letter Ember had received from her hand and all but shoved it into Greg’s face.
“You have to understand,” Greg started. “We’re competing against a lot of reality television shows nowadays. Everyone and their brothers are releasing reality TV. Each is more dramatic than the next. Our baking competitions can’t compete, even if it used to be the network's bread and butter. If I don’t salvage this competition, it will be the last one. F&D will turn into scripted shows only. I can’t let that happen.”
Ember was stunned, but for his part, Kai looked unfazed, as if he had expected this dirty trick from the showrunners.
“You left that note on my car? But why?” A wave of nausea rose inside of her.
“You’re one of the best bakers on our roster. You run one of the best bakeries in the world. I knew you could continue baking under stressful circumstances.”
Her teeth clenched down. “That is really fucked up.”
“Agreed,” Kai said. “Two letters and a feigned accident? I’m reporting you to the network. This is a security risk. I have half a mind to call the cops on you myself, but I’ll see what the network wants to do with your sorry ass.”
Greg was genuinely confused, his skin turning slightly green. “Two letters? No. I only put one on her car today.”
Ember inhaled sharply. “But I got two.”
Kai turned the full force of his angry stare toward Ashleigh. “Did you send it?”
“What? No. Of course not.” She turned her nose up, clearly too good for the likes of this conversation.
“I’m taking this to the network execs. And you,” Kai’s eyes bored into hers. “You’re coming with me.”
Ember nodded. She wasn’t going to argue with the man.
The morning had gone from bad to worse to downright confusing.
Greg had sent her one fake threatening letter in hopes of creating drama and boosting the show’s ratings before it even was filmed or aired. The publicity would have been free advertising for a run-of-the-mill baking competition. When the light fixture had fallen on her, Greg had seen an opportunity. It had failed, thankfully.
But that left one very serious question. Who had sent the first letter?
Chapter Six
Kai
Kai was fuming. It went well above anger. He was in dangerous territory. His fury was pushing against his skin, and his lion wasn’t making things any better. The beast was on a tear. Of course, Kai couldn’t shift, so the lion was on a tear in his mind. It was giving him a headache.
The animal, and the man, too, were furious that the network hadn’t done more to deal with Greg. The production assistant had been put on leave, forbidden to set foot on the lot again until after the show was done filming. He wouldn’t receive his pay, and he was going to be seriously demoted, but Kai didn’t feel like it was enough for the fright he had caused Ember.
The network, claiming that Greg hadn’t actually done anything illegal, had refused to call the cops. Kai had a very detailed report that he was going to keep in a safe place. It might come in handy when he did call the police. When his family’s business wasn’t completely tied to the success or failure of the F&D Network.
For now, he had a more pressing matter.
He had to figure out who was after his mate. Though Greg had been responsible for one letter, and the falling fixture had been exceptionally bad luck, there was still another letter to contend with.
Ember had no idea who could be after her. In truth, Kai couldn’t imagine anyone hating his mate so much as to threaten violence. She was sweet and funny. There was a sassy streak in her, but he had barely been given a chance to see it while they met with the network’s executives.
They had given Ember the chance to back out of the show, stating that there were twenty more bakers, just like her, ready to take her spot. She had crossed her arms and stated, quite plainly and ferociously, that she was not going to back down.
She would compete in the show and win the bakery. Then they would be sorry that they hadn’t dealt with the situation with more heart. One of the three men they had met with had laughed.
“The network has done nothing wrong here, girlie,” his tone dripping with condescension. “If you received a letter putting you off the show, then it’s on you to decide to leave. We have dealt with Greg, and he has nothing to do with the show anymore. Case closed.”
“If I may,” Kai had cut in. “As the head of security, I have to point out the obvious.” He knew his choice of words was dangerous, but he was too angry to mince his words. This was his mate’s life, for fuck’s sake. “If there has been a threatening letter, Miss Brady has to report it to the police. Something I strongly suggest that she does. I’ll drive her to the precinct myself if I have to.” His eyes had found hers on a warning, but she had arched a daring brow at him. “If there is a threat, and you have been made aware of it, as your head of security, I’m telling you that you need to place more security around the show. Specifically, around Miss Brady.”
“This is more trouble than it’s worth,” another of the execs had said. “If we can’t use this shit for the ratings, what good are you to us? We’re letting you go.”
Ember’s gasp and the sharp scent of her sadness and anger had made Kai livid. “You can’t do that,” Ember had said with a calm voice that was tinged with barely contained fury. “I did nothing wrong. I deserve a shot at winning that bakery.”
All three execs had exchanged a look.
Kai knew what needed to be said to wrangle this herd of greedy cats in the right direction. He bit down on his tongue. If he said the words himself, it was sure to put his family business in danger. He willed Ember to read his mind. That wasn’t exactly part of the mate sense, especially not so soon after meeting her, but he had faith that his mate was a strong woman who didn’t back down from a challenge.
Even if he thought she should.
It was dangerous to stay tied to the show now that someone was after her. But if she didn’t want to back down, then it was his duty to protect her, not just as a security expert, but as her mate. More than that, as her mate, it was his duty — and his pleasure — to make sure that Ember achieved her dreams. If his mate was happy, he would be happy.
Ember rolled her shoulders back, took a deep breath, and took on a composed mask. Kai knew it was a facade. He could hear her heart beating wildly and the slight hitch in her breathing. His mate was downright terrified, but she was pushing through the fear, not backing down from the insane challenge that lay before her.
“I really hate to do this, but under the circumstances, I think you have left me no choice. If you do not let me compete and give me a fair go of it, I’ll be forced to bring Greg’s antics to the authorities and the media. I have some pretty good family connections. Ever heard of a little soap opera called The Town? My sister Sparx is one of the leading stars. Oh, and I cannot forget the millions of followers my sister, makeup influencer, Cinder, has. You cannot push me out. And you’ll also accommodate my security needs.”