Bailey stared for a solid three seconds, her voice full of disbelief. "Are you


    serious?"


    "Yeah."


    "But why?"


    He still couldn''t wrap her head around it. Just at lunch, Reese had been adamant it would never happen. How did she change her mind in just a few hours?


    "Robbie''s sick." The sunlight was bright, almost blinding. Reese lifted a hand to block it. "Both he and Sebastian have a gic condition. They need stem cell treatment. You can look it up if you want.


    "I said yes to their request. I''ll have another baby."


    "You''re not messing with me, are you?" Bailey''s voice was shaking with excitement. He was practically out of breath.


    If this was real, it was huge. Even the universe seemed to be on the Meyer family''s side.


    "Of course I''m serious." Reese let out a coldugh. "But I have conditions. As soon as I''m pregnant, you transfer all the shares my mom left me-right away.


    "If you try to stall or secretly move the shares, I''ll end the pregnancy.


    "And if that happens, not only will you lose the Ratcliff family''s support, I''ll make sure they think it was your idea. Think about it."


    Silence hung on the line. Bailey was clearly weighing his options.


    He knew Reese wasn''t bluffing. If Reese got pushed too far, she''d absolutely go through with it.


    Besides, once Reese was pregnant with Sebastian''s child, the Meyer and Ratcliff families would be tied together for good. Getting the shares backter would be easy.


    "Alright. As soon as you''re pregnant, I''ll have thewyers get the paperwork ready and call a shareholders'' meeting."


    As soon as he hung up, Bailey called Hank right away, unable to hide the glee in her voice. "Hank, Reese agreed! She''s going to have another baby with Sebastian!"


    Hank was stunned. "Seriously? What made her change her mind? She was totally against it this morning."


    Did something happen with Ramos Corporation again?


    "What else could it be?" Bailey scoffed. "Women are soft, especially when ites to kids. Mention Robbie, and she crumbles.


    "As long as she has the baby, we''ll have her under control."


    He paused, sounding even more smug. "Once she''s carrying Sebastian''s child, the Meyers and Ratcliffs are stuck together. For good.


    "And even if we don''t end up taking over Ramos Corporation, we can still throw her a bone, make her owe us.


    "After that, she''s just a piece on our chessboard. We can use her however we want."


    "That''s amazing," Hank said, his excitement picking up. With this, the Meyer family''s problems suddenly didn''t seem so bad.


    "Oh, by the way, Dad-" Hank hesitated thinking about their


    current situation. "de''s people got back to me. They''re free to meet any


    day this week They want to talk partnership."


    "That quick?" Bailey''s eyes lit up. "Let''s set it for tomorrow. Perfect We''ll handle de, then check in an Reese. Who knows maybe well get a double win."


    After the call, Bailey leaned back in her chair, a smug smile spreading across her face.


    Meanwhile, over at ckOak.


    n was at his desk working through a stack of files when his phone rang.


    He checked the screen: Mr. Marsh, Vista Tech''s point of contact.


    "Hello?"


    "Hi, n." Mr. Marsh''s tone was formal and polite. "We''ve discussed the timing and were hoping de''s rep could meet tomorrow attent Would that work?  fo


    n thought about what Matthew had just said, and about Reese''s n. "That''s


    fine. We''ll see you at ten tomorrow in the ckOak conference room."