Tara thought everything would go exactly as nned. Sebastian would see Reese''s fake medical report, storm over to confront her, and the paparazzi would be there to capture the whole messy scene. Even if they were too scared to make a scene with a Ratcliff involved, they could at least get some footage-perfect for leverage against Reeseter.


    But what she didn''t seeing was how quickly Reese and Matthew cleaned up the mess. Within half a day, the whole medical report issue was sorted out, and Sebastian found out it was all Tara''s doing. Worse, the paparazzi she''d sent were now too scared of the Ratcliff family to even get close.


    "I''ve got no idea," one whispered, shaking his head. "Those guys gave off serious bodyguard vibes. Way too intense."


    "Let''s just wait it out. See if Reesees down with them."


    "Are you sure this is going to work? Ms. Ramos wants video."


    "We''re talking about the Ratcliffs!" another snapped. "A couple of photos will have to do. I''m not risking my neck over this."


    As they argued, Reese appeared with several agents from the National Security Bureau. The elevator doors slid open and there she was.


    "Quick, there she is!" someone hissed.


    Cameras shed. Someone started filming.


    "Where are they even taking her?"


    "No clue."


    They watched, confused, as Reese and the agents headed straight for a car with


    a government emblem on the door. The paparazzi just stared.


    "That''s an NSB car, right?"


    "She looks like she''s being taken away."


    "What''s going on? Why would the National Security Bureau arrest Reese?" Shock rippled through the group. Their leader snapped out of it first. "Don''t just stand there—get the shot! This is way bigger than a fight with Mr. Ratcliff!"


    They scrambled for their cameras, but before they could get more than a few snaps, a stern voice cut through the chaos.


    "No pictures! Leave, now!"


    An NSB agent strode over, cold-eyed, confiscating memory cards and forcing everyone out. In themotion one paparazzo” managed to text a photo to Tara before he was shoved from the parking garage. His heart raced with a mix of fear and excitement. This was front-page stuff.


    [Ms. Ramos, Reese just got taken away by the NSB!]


    Meanwhile, Tara was sprawled on her living room sofa, a face mask stered on, waiting impatiently for updates. She couldn''t help but smirk, picturing Reese and Sebastian going at it over the medical report. Once she had hard proof she could pressure Reese into dropping the charges against Dylon-and the Ratcliffs would owe her big time.


    The second her phone buzzed, she snatched it up. One look at the photo and she nearly dropped her phone and the mask.


    The image showed Reese, surrounded by NSB agents, heading for an official car.


    Her face was set and serious, tension practically radiating off her.


    "The NSB?" Tara''s eyes went wide. She immediately called her mom, Rosie, barely able to keep the excitement out of her voice. "Mo Something huge just


    happened Reese got arrested by the National Security Bureau!"


    Rosie, busy with paperwork in her home office, froze mid-sentence. "What did you


    say? The NSB arrested Reese? What for?"


    "I don''t know the details, but the paparazzi got a photo-it''s real!" Tara babbled. "Mom, what if she actually did something illegal? Like... I don''t know, stealing state secrets or something?"


    Rosie was silent for a moment, her eyes sharpening. She set her pen down and walked to the window, her voice low and calm. "If that''s true, things are about to get very interesting."