Reese slumped against Matthew,pletely drained, her gaze icy as she stared at Leslie''s face. Leslie looked wild with anger and resentment, and Reese just felt tired-bone-deep tired. She forced herself upright, ready to speak, but Leslie cut her off with a furious shout.


    "This was all Reese''s idea! She''s the one who pulled the strings. She was already under investigation for working with people overseas! And when the de data got leaked, her cousin and half-sister got dragged in, and so did I, just because Big X partnered with ckOak. She was scared I''d spill the truth, so she got her husband, Mr. Sebastian Ratcliff, to show up at the national security office and cover for me!"


    The lobby went silent. Every eye was on Reese.


    "Ms. Meyer, you''ll have to stay here until we sort this out," one of the agents said, stepping in front of her.


    Reese shut her eyes, feeling a fresh wave of disbelief. Sebastian had vouched for Leslie? She never saw thating.


    Matthew looked like he was about to jump in, but Reese gave his sleeve a subtle tug, telling him not to make things worse. Leslie''s story had just enough truth mixed in that it all checked out on paper. Officially, it would look like she was right. The only way Reese could clear her name now was to prove she and Leslie weren''t on the same side-that Leslie was setting her up out of spite.


    "There''s a recorder and a folder in the nightstand at home," she whispered to Matthew. "They have proof Leslie tried to hurt Mr. Ratcliff and frame me for it. There''s also evidence she talked Sebastian into trying to get me to be a surrogate."


    Matthew looked at her like he couldn''t believe what he was hearing. Before he could say anything, Reese added, "Bring me that recorder. We need to spin this so it shows Leslie hates me, because I ended her and Sebastian''s pregnancy. That would exin why Sebastian vouched for her. And about the Big X and ckOak partnership-I never agreed to it. Sebastian forced it through by putting pressure on Mr. Sanchez. Try to get Mr. Sanchez to testify for us."


    Matthew clenched his jaw, worry clear in his eyes. "Hang in there. I''ll be back as soon as I can."


    Reese nodded with a weary, crooked smile. She didn''t have the luxury of copsing now.


    As Matthew hurried away, Leslie smirked, watching Reese get left behind. "Face


    it, Reese, you and I are in this together. If I go down, you''reing with me!"


    Reese just shot her a cold look, then followed the agents back into the interrogation room.


    Since Leslie was the one who filed theint and the agents already knew Reese''s background, they didn''t rush to question her again. They just left her alone in the room.


    Reese sat there, head bowed,


    silently counting the minutes. About half an hourter, the door finally opened. Her heart skipped a bear as she looked up and saw Sebastian stride in, his expression dark.


    He caught the disappointed look in her eyes, and his face grew even more


    somber. “I just talked to Leslie. Why did you make her do this?"


    Reese couldn''t help the bitter smile that tugged at her lips. "Sebastian, did you already forget what you said at the hospital this afternoon? You always think you know best you trust Leslie but not me. Do you honestly believe I''d do something like this?"


    “No,” he said right away, shaking his head. “I know how much de means to you. You''d never leak its data."


    That threw Reese for a loop. She


    was about to ask why he''d even said all that earlier, when Sebastian went on, "All that supposed evidence.


    about data theft and working we ne


    fareign forces you faked it didn''t you?"