Leslie''s heart tightened at those words.


    So Sebastian had finally figured out how he felt about Reese? That was bad news. Sebastian always seemed so cold and distant, but once he actually cared about someone, he''d move heaven and earth to protect them. If that happened, Leslie could forget about using Sebastian''s connections to get her hands on de''s core data. She might also have a hard time keeping her ce at Bridger Lake.


    No way. She wasn''t going down without a fight.


    Lowering her eyes, Leslie quickly masked the sh of panic and started searching for a new n. She couldn''t just sit here and do nothing.


    "Sebastian..." She looked up with her softest smile, reaching for his arm-hoping to make things look real for everyone watching. But Sebastian didn''t give her the chance. With a quick, "Excuse me," he stepped away, his long stride carrying him straight toward Reese.


    Reese had already noticed themotion at the door. When she saw Sebastian and Leslie walking in together, she shot n a knowing look. So Leslie was trying to use Sebastian, hoping to get at de''s data through Ratcliff Global again. Reese wondered if Sebastian would really risk the wholepany just because Leslie once saved his life. Hopefully, he wasn''t that stupid. At the very least, he could wait until her divorce was final and she''d secured her share of the assets. She wasn''t about to let anyone mess with her interests.


    Reese kept her smile in ce, calmly answering questions from the people around her. It wasn''t until the noise around her faded and everyone started to go quiet that she realized something was off. She looked up, and met Sebastian''s dark, steady gaze.


    He was standing right behind her, wrapped in that usual don''t-mess-with-me aura, but his eyes softened when he looked at her. When she finally noticed him, Sebastian raised an eyebrow and gave her a smile that was surprisingly gentle. "Reese, what a coincidence. Didn''t expect to see you here."


    Her hand shook a little around her wine ss, but her expression didn''t change. She answered coolly, "I''m here with n for work. Did you need something?"


    Now everyone was staring at Reese.


    The head of Ratcliff Global was actually smiling at a woman, and starting a conversation? Everyone knew Sebastian was seldom interested in girls. They all just saw him dodge Leslie trying to hold his arm.


    Sebastian either didn''t notice or ignored Reese''s distant tone and took the initiative to exin, "I promised Leslie I''de with her tonight it was something I''d already agreed to, so it wouldn''t have been right to back out. That''s why I brought Neal along too. Fjust wanted to let you know, so there wouldn''t be any misunderstandings."


    Reese arched an eyebrow. She knew he was exining himself—and making sure there were no rumors-but honestly, what did any of this have to do with her?


    The people around them looked even more shocked. Was Mr. Ratcliff actually exining himself to Ms. Meyer?


    "Mr. Ratcliff, do you and Ms. Meyer


    know each other?" Wade finally


    asked, ncing back and forth between them. Thinking back to the admiring way he''d looked at Reese just moments ago he suddenly felt a little nervous.


    Sebastian shot Wade a cool look. He''d definitely noticed the interest in Wade''s eyes earlier. That was exactly why he''d left Leslie and Neal and hurried over here.


    "Yeah, she''s my..."


    "We''ve met, but we''re not close," Reese cut in, her voice calm and sharp.


    Sebastian''s next words caught in his throat, the word "wife" stuck halfway out and nowhere to go.