Brady caught the look on Sebastian''s face, hesitated like he wanted to say something, then thought better of it. He slipped out quietly, leaving the room in heavy silence.


    The shareholders had called for a meeting, and Reese would definitely be there. Patrick, always one step ahead, was already waiting downstairs outside Ramos Corporation.


    When Reese''s car pulled up, Patrick rushed over.


    "Ms. Meyer."


    "Morning."


    Reese stepped out and gave Patrick a quick once-over. He looked exhausted, like


    sleep had been a rumortely. She softened a little. "You''ve been working nonstop. Once this is behind us, take a real break. You''ve earned it."


    Patrick managed a small smile. “Thank you."


    Honestly, he thought, Reese paid better than anyone else and never


    micromanaged. As long as he got results, she left him in peace. That alone made his life easier.


    "Besides the shareholders, who else is up there?" Reese asked.


    Patrick kept pace as they headed inside. "Upstairs, waiting to talk buyouts, are Bryce—who you asked for and another investor I mentioned yesterday. His name''s Karter, and he''s big in the investment world."


    He lowered his voice. "Also, Mr. Meyer showed up.”


    Patrick kept his tone professional as he reported, "He''s already talked with the shareholders. If he manages to buy out Ramos Corporation, he promised them he wouldn''t touch their shares."


    He hesitated. “Once you go up, the shareholders will probably..."


    He didn''t have to finish. Reese understood. If given the choice between losing their shares and letting the Meyer family take over while their own stakes stayed safe, the shareholders would side with the Meyers every time.


    No doubt, they''d be waiting to throw her under the bus.


    Hank and Bailey had really yed their cards well, using the other shareholders to corner her. Even if she refused, she''d have no power to stop them from moving


    in.


    But they were kidding themselves if they thought it would be that easy. Her grandfather had seen thising ages ago. When he set up thepany, he made sure the legal representative had the final say in any transfer of ownership.


    That was the real reason her mother''s will named her as the legal rep, and probably why her uncle''s family had always resented her so much.


    It also exined why the shareholders were so desperate to force this meeting.


    "This other investor-does he want buy the wholepany too?" she asked, pushing through the ss doors as Patrick followed her into the elevator.


    "No, he just wants some shares," Patrick replied.


    Reese frowned, thinking it over.


    Just shares? That was basically a capital injection. With Zach blocking Ramos Corporation everywhere, who would dare step in and help her right now?


    Who was backing this guy?


    "Find out who''s behind him," she said.


    "I''m already on it," Patrick assured her.


    Reese nodded, satisfied.


    The elevator glided to the top floor and the doors slid open. The conference room was cracked open a few inches angry voices spitting out Patrick followed close, gripping a folder full ofpany bws.


    As soon as Reese walked in, a dozen pairs of furious eyes turned on her at once.


    The shareholders were all lined up on one side of the table, faces stony. Hank


    looked positively smug. Two men sat beside him—Bryce and, presumably, Karter.


    "Reese, you finally decided to show


    up!" Cameron, seated at the front, pped the table. "The inte''s blowing up about you pushing Tara and making her lose the baby. Ramos Corporation''s stock has


    dred twenty-three percent. We''ve


    fost almost a billion in value! You owe us an exnation!"


    "Yeah! Have you seen thements? Everyone''s bashing Ramos Corporation. Our shares are practically worthless now!" Jos added mming his tablet on the table. The screen was filled with angry posts.


    "I never wanted you as our legal rep anyway," someone else grumbled. "If Dylon hadn''t been running the ce all these years, we''d have crashed and burned a long time ago."


    "If you can''t fix this, just transfer thepany already. Or let Dylone back as CEO," another voice joined in.


    At the mention of Dylon, Reese''s lips curled in a faint, knowing smile. So, he was behind this too.


    She strolled to the head of the table, took her seat, picked up her coffee, and took a slow sip. Her eyes swept across the room, cool and steady, meeting every shareholder''s re head-on.