Reese held tight to Millie''s wrist as they left the boutique, only to catch the worry in Millie''s eyes.


    She took a breath and forced a smile. "Don''t look so glum. I just spotted a designer shop across the street with some new arrivals. Let me get you a couple of outfits as an apology, okay?"


    Millie immediately shook her head. "Seriously? I love shopping with you. You don''t owe me a thing."


    Reese didn''t give her a chance to argue, dragging her right inside.


    She ordered two sets of casual clothes for each of them. As soon as they stepped out, Reese''s phone rang.


    She picked up and heard Matthew on the other end. "Reese, Mr. Sanchez wants to see you. He''s at the stables out west. I''ll head over when I''m done."


    "Got it. I''m on my way."


    Reese turned to Millie with an apologetic look. "Sorry, Millie, something came up. Let''s finish our shopping another time?"


    By the time she got to the riding center, Reese spotted two people on horseback in the distance.


    Leslie, dressed in crisp white riding gear, looked effortless in the saddle. Neal rode beside her, the two of themughing and chatting like it was the easiest thing in the world.


    Not far off, in the lounge area, Dominic sat on a wicker chair, looking like a storm cloud.


    Seeing Leslie here was thest thing Reese expected. Her heart skipped a beat. She quietly walked over and sat down beside Dominic. "Professor."


    Dominic grunted but his face softened. "The whole mess caused a stir. For now, keep your head down. The higher-ups are already looking into who tipped them off."


    "I''m sorry, Professor. I keep dragging you into trouble." Reese looked down. "But you can tell them to stop searching. I already know who it was."


    Dominic frowned. "Who?"


    "Zach."


    One word, and Dominic just stared at her for a long moment before sighing. "How did it get like this between you two?"


    He remembered how fiercely Zach used to protect Reese.


    Reese managed a small, bitter smile. Fate really had a twisted sense of humor.


    Voices grew louder nearby. Reese looked up.


    Mr. Sanchez was walking over, dressed in a dark suit, his steps calm and steady. Sebastian was right beside him, sharp in a ck suit looking colder than usual They talked quietly, seeming perfectly at ease with each other.


    Dominic''s expression darkened again as he leaned closer to Reese. "Sebastian''s


    putting his name on the line for Big X, trying to set up a partnership with ckOak."


    "This meeting is about that. Get ready."


    Reese felt her heart drop.


    Her suspicions about Big X weren''t based on anything solid, just a feeling that


    Leslie showing up when she did was way too convenient.


    Before she could process it, Mr. Sanchez and Sebastian reached them.


    Sebastian paused briefly when he noticed Reese sitting with Dominic, then took a seat across from them with Mr. Sanchez.


    Reese started to stand, but Mr. Sanchez waved her back down. "No need for formalities. Sit."


    "The higher-ups believe in you. But until we know more, your suspension stays in ce."


    Then he shifted the conversation. "I heard you''re against ckOak working with Big X. Why?"


    Reese curled her fingers into her palm. Her voice was steady. "The day I got tailed and ended up in that ident, Leslie just happened to be there and saved me it felt too much kera setup."


    "So what, you think Leslie saved you on purpose?" Neal scoffed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Reese, maybe you''re just being paranoid. A little gratitude wouldn''t hurt."


    Leslie nced at Sebastian and gave a lightugh. "A lot of ckOak''s projects are ssified. I get why Ms. Meyer would be cautious.


    "But I was born here. I''d never betray


    my country. If Ms. Meyer doubts my


    loyalty td like to see svidence


    instead of being used


    because Mr. Ratcliff and I are old


    friends."


    She was basically saying Reese was jealous because she and Sebastian were close.


    Reese looked up at Sebastian, but he just stared off into the distance. "Leslie and


    I have known each other since college. I trust her."


    Dominic''s face turned red with anger. He shot Reese a look that said it all-was this really the guy she''d given up her studies and career for?