"Coworker."


    Reese shot Sebastian a quick look.


    Sebastian scoffed, sharp and cold. "So when you said you were headed to ckOak, you were actually going to pick him up?"


    "And that girl is his too, right?"


    Reese''s eyes narrowed. "Isn''t this just what coworkers do? He helped me outst time when I was in trouble."


    "I used to care about you and Robbie, too, you know. But look how Robbie treated me. And when I needed help, where were you?"


    Sebastian let out a lowugh, the sound empty and unreadable.


    "So what-you''re mad I didn''t show up for you back then?"


    He''d been in an interview that day and missed the hospital''s calls. Brady had told himter that after Reese was admitted in aa, Sebastian had dropped everything to rush to the hospital.


    "No," Reese said simply. It was the truth. She''d thought of every possible way to save herself that day—except calling Sebastian.


    Her calm reply made Sebastian''s face darken. "Good. Let''s keep it that way." He turned, climbed into his car, and waved his hand. "Go get some rest."


    Reese watched his taillights disappear into the night, feeling weirdly lost. When she''d lived at home waiting for him, he''d barelye by a few times a month. Now that she''d moved out, he kept showing up every other day.


    She''d barely stepped out of the elevator when her phone rang-an unknown number. Reese hesitated, then picked up.


    "Reese, you really are something, aren''t you?"


    Zach''s voice came through,zy and amused. "Didn''t think you could even get Sebastian under your thumb."


    Reese frowned. "What are you trying to say?"


    She''d figured Zach would be annoyed once he found out Sebastian had given her the ne, but she hadn''t expected him to hear about it so fast.


    "Oh, nothing much," Zach said, his tone yful. "Just curious, that''s all. Sebastian used to barely notice you, and now he''s practically bending over backwards just so you can get that useless ne. He even came to me, wanted to team up, and handed over all the profits."


    "I thought he was doing it for Sofia," Zach drawled, drawing out the words, "but turns out... it was for you."


    "But don''t get too cocky. I''ve got a big surprise for you."


    The line went dead.


    Reese stared at her phone for a long moment, a wave of dread settling in her chest. If Zach called it a "present," she knew it couldn''t be good.


    She exhaled slowly, trying to pull herself together, but that uneasy feeling just wouldn''t go away.


    The next morning, she''d barely walked into the ckOak R&D department when she noticed the receptionist giving her a strange look.


    "Reese, n wants you toe to his office."


    Her stomach dropped. She knocked, then pushed open n''s door, only to find two men in dark suits standing beside his desk, faces stern.


    n looked at her with clear difort. "Reese, these gentlemen are from the National Security Agency. They want to speak with you."


    The words National Security Agency made Reese quickly rey everything she''d been


    doing everyone she''d seentely She rxed a little. Ever since she joined the de project, she hadn''t had any contest with foreigners, She followed every rule, every protocol nothing even close to leaking secrets.


    But the next thing the man said made her blood freeze.


    "Ms. Meyer, we have a report that seven years ago, while applying for your student visa, you had close contact with an unidentified foreign national. You are suspected of endangering national security. Pleasee with us to assist in our investigation."


    His voice was cold and official, but the words hit Reese like a punch to the gut.


    Seven years ago, she really had


    gotten an offer from MIT and started the visa process. But then Sebastian


    was drugged, her whole world flipped upside down, and she manied him, turned down MIT invitation.


    Back then, she had no idea how to manage a visa application. Her uncle had set her up with an agent, she''d handed over her documents, and left everything in their hands.


    "I never met with any suspicious foreign nationals," she said, keeping her voice steady. "The agency handled everything. The whole process is on record— anyone can check."


    She couldn''t let them pin this on her. Even if they cleared herter, there was a good chance she''d never be allowed back on the de project.


    The man nced at n, then shook his head. "We wouldn''t be here if we didn''t already have evidence."


    He handed her a few photos.


    Reese took them, and her eyes widened. The pictures showed her during the visa application process-photos she''d once sent to Zach. There she was, standing beside the blond man who''d run the agency.


    The same man her uncle had rmended.