"That way, Sebastian will see for himself that she never nned on having another kid. Let''s see how she exins that to the Ratcliff family."


    Rosie''s eyes lit up. "Tara, you''re brilliant. I''ll tell Jon right away."


    Outside the hospital, Reese turned down Sebastian''s offer to grab lunch and waved down a cab. As soon as she slid into the back seat, her phone started buzzing. Bailey''s name shed on the screen. She hesitated for a moment, finger hovering over the answer button, then finally picked up.


    "Reese, have you talked to ckOak''s execs? When are we getting de''s civilian contract?" Bailey''s tone was sharp, barely hiding his irritation.


    "I''m telling you, this project is everything for the Meyer family. The bank loan already came through and we''re bleeding interest every month. If you keep dragging this out, I''ll make sure you eat the cost."


    "I quit ckOak," Reese replied, her voice even.


    "You what?" Bailey''s voice shot up, almost yelling. "Who told you that you could quit? The contract isn''t even signed yet. How could you do this?"


    "Reese, I''m warning you. Screw this up and you can forget about your mother''s shares."


    Reese let out a silent, bitterugh. Threatening her with those shares was the only trick Bailey ever had.


    "I already spoke to ckOak''s senior team. Matthew agreed to keep talks open with Vista Tech. They''ll reach out when they''re ready to meet. Just wait for their call."


    Bailey''s tone softened, a little skeptical. "Really?" He didn''t buy that Reese could still pull strings at ckOak, especially after quitting.


    "Of course." Reese let a small, confident smile slip. Getting those shares from her mother was a non-negotiable part of her n. No way she''d let anything mess it up.


    "What''s going on between you and Matthew? Why would he listen to you?" Bailey sounded uneasy. "Don''t forget, you''re still Mrs. Ratcliff. Don''t go doing anything stupid."


    "You''re reading way too much into this," Reese said, her voice cool. "Matthew and I are just coworkers. That''s it."


    And partners in battle, she thought to herself.


    "Then why is he listening to you?" Bailey pushed. "And why''d you quit out of nowhere?"


    Reese wasn''t about to tell him that de was something she and Matthew built together. "We worked together a lot built some trust. He''s


    X to give Vista Tech


    another shot because of that."


    "As for why I quit..." She paused for effect. "Weren''t you the one who wanted me


    to have another kid with Sebastian, so I could get my inheritance?"


    "I had to quit to focus on getting pregnant."


    "Pregnant?” For the first time, Bailey sounded surprised—and a little hopeful. "Seriously?"


    "Of course," Reese said, looking out the window at the city shing by. "Sebastian and I just left the hospital. We had some tests done. Ask him if you don''t believe me."


    "And don''t forget to get the share transfer papers ready."


    "Good, good." The mention of Sebastian seemed to put Bailey at ease. His tone softenedpletely. "Take care of yourself then. I''m looking forward to the baby."


    "Once you''re expecting and Vista Technds the de contract, I''ll transfer your mother''s shares to you. With those, you''ll finally have something to fall back on. The Ratcliffs won''t be able to look down on you anymore."


    Reese let out a coldugh. Something to fall back on? The only person she could


    ever count on was herself.


    “Got it. I''ll let you know if there''s any news."


    She hung up and stared out at the city racing past, her eyes cold and distant Bailey said he''d already taken out a loan tounch the de project Her lips curled into sly, almost cruel smile.


    "So what if you get the de contract, Bailey?


    "With Vista Tech''s tech, do you really think you can handle it?


    "When your dreams crash and burn, don''te ming me."