Reese tapped her finger where the two data sets ovepped and nced at n.


    "When Sofia put together this dispatch system, I''m almost certain she used the data I developed back at the research institute," she said.


    "My improvements to our traffic management system are all built on that foundation,"


    "Are you serious?" n picked up the paperwork and flipped through it. "Dominic told me you left the institute seven years ago... Wait, you were already on this track back then?"


    He tapped the page with a thoughtful frown, worry flickering in his eyes. "Clever Cloud''s dispatch systemunched before ours. If what you''re saying is true, do you think people might use us of copying when we finally go to market?"


    "I don''t think so." Reese closed the file and set it aside. "That data is seven years old. I''ve made a lot of improvements since then. There''s not enough ovep for anyone to call it giarism."


    Dominic already knew about her work on the system, and technically, she''d been a researcher at Clever Cloud too. She figured it wouldn''t turn into a problem.


    n let out a relieved breath, his mood instantly lifting. "You''re incredible. With you on board, I''m sure our dispatch system will leave Clever Cloud in the dust."


    But the good mood didn''tst. Not long after, n took a phone call, and his face fell.


    "What happenee?" Reese asked, concern slipping into her voice. n wasn''t usually this shaken.


    "Geovision is backing out of our contract. They''ve decided to work with Clever Cloud instead." n''s frustration was obvious. "If only I''d met you sooner, we could''veunched first and avoided all of this."


    Reese didn''t seem bothered. "Our system has way more uses than Clever Cloud''s. The market is still wide open for us.


    "How about you reach out to the director at Geovision? Maybe we can set up a meeting and show them what we''ve got. Once they see our data, I bet they''ll reconsider."


    n nodded. "I''ll contact them and set something up."


    But it wasn''t as easy as Reese hoped. It took three days just to get a meeting.


    When they finally sat down with Geovision''s director, York, he didn''t waste any time.


    "Clever Cloud''s system has Iron Financial backing them. You know their record- they never pick the wrong project," York said, barely ncing at Reese. "Plus, Mr. Shaw himself has already signed on with them. Why would I walk away from that and choose you?"


    "Numbers don''t lie," Reese tried, holding her ground. "Our system..."


    “That''s enough,” York cut her off with a dismissive wave. “ckOak is respected in the industry, sure, but this is where we part ways. Our legal team will be in touch about the contract termination."


    n saw there was no point in pushing further. He led Reese out.


    As they stepped out of Logicore Inc., they spotted Sebastian and Sofia walking in together, with an elegant, well-dressed woman right behind them.


    Reese''s stomach tightened. She never expected Sofia''s mother, Grace, to show up in Bridger Lake.


    "n," Sebastian greeted, acting like Reese wasn''t even there.


    "Mr. Ratcliff." n went forward to shake Sebastian''s hand. "Ms. Meyer."


    "Hi, n." Sofia''s eyes paused on Reese for a moment, her smile polite but distant. "We''re heading up to meet Geovision now. Let''s catch up another time." "Of course." n stepped aside.


    As the elevator doors slid closed behind them, n turned to Reese and said, "Wait here, I''ll get the car."


    Reese nodded, her eyes following the elevator. No wonder Geovision turned them down. Sebastian was in Sofia''s corner, and there weren''t many in Bridger Lake who couldpete with that kind of connection.


    "Reese, it''s been a while," Grace said, that familiar polished smile on her lips. "Your father misses you. When are youing home for a visit?"


    Reese''s tone was icy. "Not worried I''lle back and leave no room for you and your daughter?"