Sofia wore a ck floral dress and linked her arm through his as they worked the room, chatting with people around them.


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Ratcliff. Ms. Meyer''s system is our top priority for rollout," promised a well-dressed man as he reached out to shake Sebastian''s hand.


    Reese recognized him right away. He was the firstpany rep toe talk to her about a coboration after theunch event.


    "Looking forward to working together," he said.


    Sebastian''s handshake was barely more than a tap, his tone polite but distant.


    Sofia saw the man off with a smile, then slipped her arm around Sebastian as they headed for the ck Bentley at the curb.


    "I swear, Sebastian, you''re amazing. You got the deal done so fast," she said, leaning into him.


    Sebastian didn''t reply. He just opened the passenger door for her, hand gently guarding her head as she got in, then circled around to the driver''s side and slid in.


    Across the street, Reese was trying to get past a group of guys hanging out outside a bar when one of them, already drunk, stepped in front of her.


    "Hey gorgeous, you here alone?" he slurred, blocking her way. "Come in and have a drink with us."


    "Move," Reese said, frowning as she stepped back.


    "Oh,e on, one drink''s not gonna hurt," he insisted, reaching out for her arm.


    Reese dodged him, twisting away.


    Thrown off bnce, he staggered and his face twisted in anger. He jerked his hand up, ready to hit her.


    "Whoa, chill out!" his buddy said, grabbing his arm. Then he turned to Reese, trying to smooth things over. "Sorry, he''s had too much. But can you me him? You''re kind of stunning. Just have one drink with us, make his night."


    "I''m sorry, I have somewhere to be," Reese said, trying to step around them.


    "It''s just one drink. Won''t take a minute," the drunk guy insisted, grabbing her wrist and yanking her toward the bar.


    Reese tried to pull free, ncing desperately at the ck Bentley down the street. Sebastian sat in the driver''s seat, his profile sharp under the streetlight.


    His eyes flicked over to her, his expression calm and distant, like she was just any other stranger.


    The Bentley''s engine started, headlights ring and sweeping across Reese''s face before the car pulled away, smooth and steady, not even hesitating.


    Reese''sshes trembled. She shoved the guy holding her, her voice shaky. "Let go of me!"


    The two men closed in on either side, boxing her in.


    People on the sidewalk started to notice, but no one stepped in. They just watched, waiting to see what would happen.


    Reese''s voice shook as she called out, "I don''t know these men! Please, someone call the police!"


    "It''s just a drink. Chill out," one guy sneered, reaching for her hair.


    "She said she doesn''t know you. Back off!" a voice called out from the crowd.


    A tall man stepped forward, putting himself between Reese and the two men. "Mind your business, man. Don''t get involved," the drunk growled.


    "I am involved. I''m a cop." The neer shed his badge. "Walk away now, or spend the night at the station."


    The two men looked at each other, then let go of Reese, muttering under their breath as they slipped away.


    Reese stood there, legs shaking.


    "Thank you..." she managed.


    The man smiled at her. "Ms. Meyer. It''s been a while."


    She looked up at him. Under the streetlight, his face seemed familiar but she couldn''t ce him.


    He caught her confusion and grinned, rubbing his nose. "Don''t remember me?" "Seven years ago, you called the police. I was the officer who showed up." Everything came rushing back to Reese.


    Seven years ago, at Sebastian''s twenty-second birthday party, he''d been drugged. In the chaos, he''d dragged Reese into a room and forced himself on her.


    Reese had called the police as soon as she could. The man standing in front of her now was the officer who answered her call that night.


    "Mr. Sanchez. It really has been a long time."