Once the room finally settled down, Reese set her teacup aside. Her voice was calm and cool, carrying to every corner. "Did you all forget? When Ramos Corporation almost went underst time, I was the one who saved it.


    "And this time? I haven''t hurt a soul. Everything that happened was Tara''s own drama. So tell me, what exactly do I owe you?"


    "Tara''s own doing?" Cameron let out a sarcasticugh. "Reese, we watched Tara grow up. We know exactly who she is."


    "Yeah, that''s right," Josh agreed, nodding. "Things are different now, Reese.


    "Sure, you bailed us out when thepany was in trouble. But that doesn''t mean you get to push Tara out and drag Ramos Corporation into this mess.


    "Tara was supposed to marry Zach. That would''ve made Ramos Corporation and the Wiles family one big family-money would never be a problem. But you ruined all that. Now we really might go bankrupt!"


    Reese nced at the men who''d built thispany side by side with her mom and grandpa. She smiled, but it was cold, the kind of smile that never reached her eyes.


    They''d watched Tara grow up, sure. But hadn''t they watched her grow up, too? The truth was, they just trusted Tara more. Dylon had given them so much that they''d forgotten everything her grandpa and mom had ever done for them.


    "Ramos Corporation is my grandpa''s and my mother''s legacy. I''m not giving it up." Josh snorted. "That''s not your call."


    He mmed his hand on the table. "Every shareholder here agrees. Even if you have more than forty percent, it''s out of your hands now!"


    "I think thepany would be better off with the Meyer family anyway."


    Reese''s eyes shed with sarcasm. Just as she expected-they''d forgotten the agreement they''d signed when they first got their shares from her grandpa.


    "Maybe you all forgot. ording to thepany charter, as long as I''m the legal representative, it doesn''t matter if I own zero shares. I have the final say on any transfer of ownership."


    The room froze. Every face turned pale, especially Hank''s.


    "That''s impossible! Why would grandpa ever do that?" Hank shot up, voice trembling.


    "Because grandpa knew exactly who he was dealing with," Reese said with a shrug, turning to Hank. "So if I say no, nobody''s buying Ramos Corporation."


    "Hank, I told you this yesterday," she added, voice soft but firm.


    The shareholders bristled at her words. But remembering that the rule was real, all they could do was re at Reese, frustrated and helpless.


    "Fine then. I''ll buy everyone''s shares myself!" Hank snapped.


    He knew that with Reese blocking him, his n to have the Meyer family take over was dead. Still, he was determined to get some shares,


    to have a say in thepany


    Future. There was no way he''d


    Reese run it into the ground.


    "Everyone, if you sell your shares to the Meyer family, I promise you''ll get a ten


    percent premium over market price. You won''t lose out."


    Bryce nced at Patrick, who gave a tiny nod. ll offer yesterday''s market price for your shares," Bryce said. "Of course, I''m not as loaded as the Meyer family, so it''s firste first served."


    Karter, who''d been quiet until now, shot Reese a look of admiration and gave azy smile. "Count me in too. I''ll buy at yesterday''s price and can put down a deposit right now."


    The room went silent.


    The shareholders'' eyes lit up—yesterday''s price was way better than the Meyer family''s deal.


    Hank''s face twisted. He hadn''t expected anyone topete with him for shares, let alone offer such a high price.


    "You''re all insane!" Hank blurted, panic creeping into his voice.


    Over thest two days, Ramos Corporation''s stock had crashed, and who knew what would happen next? If anyone bought at


    In


    yesterday''s prices, there was no way his dad of the board would ever


    approve it.