"She says her dad''s here. Could you help her find him?"


    Reese handed the little girl over to the receptionist who''d juste over, then took the folder n offered. "Is this the development team list?”


    "Yeah, just got it from upstairs." n walked with her toward the office. "But there''s a situation... You should see for yourself."


    Reese flipped open the folder. Her eyes paused on Sofia''s file. The woman in the photo smiled softly. Her resume was wless.


    "What''s going on?"


    Reese''s mood soured. She didn''t want anything to do with Sebastian or Sofia, not now, not ever.


    "Management wants to use our ''de'' system in Ratcliff Global''s new project, ''The Vault.'' That means our teams have to work together. There''s no way to avoid dealing with Ratcliff''s tech people."


    n looked apologetic. "If you really can''t work with her, we can ask Ratcliff to send someone else."


    "It''s fine." Reese closed the folder and let out a slow breath. She''d forgotten about this.


    No wonder Sebastian had shown up this morning-first with that fancy wooden box, then the house deed. He was trying to apologize, but really, he was just making it easier for Sofia to join the team.


    She should have known. Sebastian never did anything that didn''t benefit himself. Even if she refused, Sebastian would find another way. He always did.


    Reese pulled open her desk drawer, tucked the wooden box and the property deed inside, and had just turned on herputer when her phone rang.


    A number she didn''t recognize lit up the screen. Reese frowned, hesitated, then picked up.


    "When you get a chance, go to the hospital for a prenatal check-up. Grandpa''s worried yesterday might have affected the baby."


    Sebastian''s voice was as cold and distant as ever. He didn''t ask about being blocked. He didn''t seem to care.


    Reese couldn''t help but feel bitter. "If you''re so concerned about the baby, maybe don''t do things that put it at risk."


    Not that it mattered anymore. She''d already had the abortion. There was no baby left to worry about.


    The old man''s hopes would end up empty.


    Reese was done with this. She decided to be clear.


    "Sebastian, stop calling me from different numbers. We''re finished. There''s no baby. I..."


    "Sebastian, can you look at this data for me?" Sofia''s sweet voice came through the phone.


    "That''s it. When you set an appointment, call me. I''ll go with you." Sebastian hung up and looked over at Sofia, frowning. "You ever heard of knocking?"


    Sofia''s grip on the folder tightened, her eyes shing with frustration. "Sorry, Sebastian. ckOak just invited me to a seminar, and I got excited..."


    She''d always just walked into Sebastian''s office without knocking. She hadn''t expected him to care, especially not today.


    "Just remember for next time."


    Sebastian took the folder from her. "Where''s the issue?"


    "Here." Sofia pointed at a section of numbers.


    Sebastian skimmed it. "The algorithm goes wrong here. Adjust this part."


    He closed the file and rubbed his brow. "Reese works at ckOak now. You''ll run into her sooner orter. She''s pregnant, so her mood''s all over the ce. Don''t give her any trouble."


    The warning in his voice only made Sofia more resentful. Still, in front of Sebastian, she could only smile and nod. "Of course. I won''t."


    Once she left the office, Sofia''s face darkened.


    When had she ever let Reese get the upper hand?


    All because Reese was pregnant?


    Was that why even Sebastian, who never cared much for her, was suddenly so protective?


    So if Reese lost the baby, would everything just go back to the way it used to be?