"Enough!" Bailey''s patience snapped. He cut her off, voice sharp. "Don''t start making excuses. And don''t you dare try to guilt me using your mom.


    "Just get it done. Even if you really were the reason Marie died, I''ll give you the shares, just like she wanted."


    Reese closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. She knew even if she told him the truth right now, Bailey wouldn''t believe her. She was done trying to convince him. Without another word, she ended the call.


    She couldn''t help but wonder-if he ever found out the truth, that it was Grace who caused their mother''s death, how would he react? Would he finally see Grace and her daughter for who they were? Or would he keep treating Sofia like his precious little girl?


    Either way, Reese was determined to im the shares her mother left her. No way was she letting Grace and Sofia walk away with them.


    With that thought, she turned to George. "Can you take me back to ckOak?" Thirty minutester, she was back in the ckOak R&Db.


    Matthew was there, organizing thest of de''s data. When he saw Reese, he smiled. "How''d it go? Did you see him?"


    "It went pretty well," Reese said, nodding as she walked over to check the numbers on his screen.


    "You ran into Hank today?"


    Matthew''s expression shifted, darkening for a second. So she knew. Was the Meyer family causing trouble again?


    "Yeah, I did. I told them no on the Vista Tech deal," he said. "I looked into their tech—there are way too many holes in their core algorithm. They can''t handle de. Not even close." He handed Reese a folder. "Here''s the report."


    He''d called Hank out in front of everyone partly because of what Hank had done to Reese over Sofia, but also because the evidence was clear. Vista Tech just wasn''t up to the task.


    Reese took the file and set it aside without even looking at it. When it came to work, she trusted Matthewpletely. She knew he wouldn''t mess around. Still...


    "What''s up? Are you actually thinking about working with them?" Matthew asked, picking up on her hesitation. "Why?"


    "Bailey is using my mom''s shares to force me into the deal," Reese admitted, "I figured, if we could work with them, I''d agree for now, just until get the shares. But since they''re not qualified, I''m not going to push it."


    She couldn''t let apany like Vista Tech get their hands on de. She and Matthew had built this system from the ground up-it was like their own creation.


    If they were going to coborate, it had to be with someone worthy.


    Matthew saw the conflict in her eyes and felt a pang of sympathy. He thought for a moment. “There''s actually a way we can y this.


    "We could agree to the partnership, but put in the contract that if Vista Tech can''t actually support de, they''re responsible for any fallout de isn''t even on the market yet, so you''d have time to settle things with your family and get your shares. Then, once they inevitably fail, we end the deal because their


    tech isn''t up to par.


    "That way, the Meyer family can''t me you, and de can go to someone who actually deserves it."


    Reese stared at him, a little surprised.


    Matthew, catching her look, rubbed his nose, suddenly sheepish. "What? You think I''m being too sneaky?"


    She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "No, actually—it''s a great idea."


    "Are you sure it''s not too much trouble for you?" she asked. With her n to draw out Leslie, she''d be away from ckOak for a while. That would leave most of the work on him.


    "Trouble?" Matthew looked at her,


    amusement flickering in his eyes. He


    couldn''t help but find her concern


    adorable. Heughed softly and


    when Reese nced at him, he quickly changed the subject


    "Anyway, how''s it going with Ramos Corporation?"