George''s voice buzzed through the phone. "Ms. Meyer, we''ve got almost


    everything we need for your divorce. Thest documents are being checked. We should be able to file next week."


    "Okay," Reese replied, exhaling slowly. Seven years with Sebastian, and it was finally about to be over.


    "Oh, and George, I sent you the power of attorney for the Dylon short-selling case against Ramos Corporation. Did it arrive?"


    "Yeah, just got it this morning."


    Reese nodded, relieved. "Great. I''ll leave it all to you."


    She hung up, turned up the air conditioning, andy back down, but sleep just wouldn''te. She tossed and turned until after midnight. Finally, she flicked on her bedsidemp and pulled out a rosewood box from the drawer.


    Inside were a few leather-bound journals. Reese picked up the one on top and flipped it open. Marie''s handwriting flowed across the pages, gentle but strong, chronicling a lifetime.


    A smile touched Reese''s lips as she traced the faded ink. Then she paused.


    "Today Bailey gave me a ne—a tinum chain with tiny sapphires, sparkling like the light in his eyes."


    Reese remembered that ne. In the sunlight, the pendant scattered shes of blue, almost like stars. She was sure it was the first gift her father ever gave her mother. Even after the divorce, her mom wore it all the time. Thrn her grandfather died, thepany ran into trouble, and her mother had to sell nearly everything, including that ne.


    If only she could get it back.


    She remembered the uing charity auction and decided to check it out. Maybe, just maybe, the ne would show up. She still had some savings- plus the money from selling herst patent. Maybe luck would be on her side.


    She closed the journal and shut her eyes.


    The next morning was sunny and clear. Reese got up early, got ready, and headed to ckOak.


    As she stepped out of the elevator, she spotted L, arm in arm with Sofia,ing out of the other elevator. L saw Reese and turned away with a dramatic huff, raising her voice, "Wow, Reese, Mr. Ratcliff must really be spoiling you! Is that the newest H&K bag? I heard you have to drop almost a hundred grand just to get the chance to buy it!"


    "It''s not that crazy," Sofia said, patting L''s hand and giving Reese a friendly smile.


    Sofia was about to badge into the R&D area with L when Reese frowned.


    "Wait."


    Sofia looked back, confused.


    "The de project is ssified. Everyone here signed an NDA. You can''t bring irrvant people in," Reese said, voice calm but firm.


    Sofia''s smile faded. "I think there''s a misunderstanding. L and I both left Clever Cloud. We''re both on the Ratcliff Global team now."


    "Since de is a joint project between ckOak and Ratcliff Global, having her help isn''t a breach," Sofia added. "I''ll talk to Matthew about it. Just get her an NDA."


    L shot Reese a smug look and followed Sofia into theb.


    Reese watched them go, then texted Matthew and n. Every R&D team member was handpicked by her and n, with thorough background checks. It wasn''t as simple as Sofia made it sound. If Sofia was bringing L in, Reese needed to report it.


    A few minutester, Matthew came into the conference room with a stack of files. He nced at L, then gave Reese a subtle nod before assigning tasks.


    "I''ll lead the core algorithm development for de. Tony is handling data modeling and security. Sheldon will work on backend code testing. Sofia, you''ll coordinate with Ratcliff Global''s Vault team to make sure our data lines up.”


    Sofia''s face went pale.


    Why does Reese get to work with Sebastian again?


    She gripped her pen tightly, ring at Reese as she took notes. She remembered


    what Sebastian said. The only thing he cared about was Reese''s baby.


    But what if the baby was gone? Wouldn''t Reese be out of the picture then?


    Her eyes flicked to Reese''s stomach, calcting.


    "What''s going on?" L whispered after the meeting, looking at Sofia. "You''re Ratcliff Global''s only rep, but they''re just giving you data integration?"


    "Maybe Reeseined to Matthew so you wouldn''t get core development," L insisted, working herself up. “She''s just jealous, always has topete with you!"


    "This isn''t right. You should talk to Matthew. Don''t let Reese fool him."


    Sofia''s eyes got a little red. "It''s fine. Matthew probably has his reasons."


    "Fine? No way!" L snapped. "Don''t worry, I''ll go with you."


    She practically dragged Sofia out of the conference room.


    Everyone had their own workspace, each one locked with iris scan. As L and Sofia walked down the hall, they saw Matthew and Reese heading for the biggest room at the end. Matthew leaned in, smiling as Reese talked.


    L grabbed her phone and took a few quick photos. In one, Matthew was turning to the scanner, his hand protectively at Reese''s side.


    "See? There''s obviously something going on. No wonder Matthew''s ignoring you."


    "I''m sending these to the Ratcliff Global group chat. Mr. Ratcliff needs to know. He''ll stand up for you."


    Sofia didn''t stop her. "Let''s go. Reese works for ckOak; of course Matthew trusts her more."


    At that same moment, over in Ratcliff Tower, Sebastian stared at the photos of Reese with another man in the work group chat, his face darkening. He didn''t even notice as the fountain pen in his hand leaked a blot of ink onto the paper.