Reese pulled out her phone and fired off a quick message to Matthew, who''d been at the National Security Bureau all morning, helping with the investigation.


    Can we go public with the details of Leslie''s case?


    Matthew smiled at the text. He already knew what Ratcliff Global was up to. That''s why he''d told Karter to get Reese her funding approval right away.


    [If it''s about what the Ratcliffs did, go ahead.]


    [Alright.]


    With that green light, Reese grinned.


    By two in the afternoon, the crowd of suppliers outside Ramos Corporation had started to thin out. Reese had handled things herself, paying off the debts to their three main suppliers right then and there. For everyone else, she signed clear payment ns on the spot. At the same time, thepany''s official ounts posted a public statement,plete with proof of funds and a list of new orders. The rumors lost steam almost instantly.


    Later that evening, local Bridger Lake news broke the story: Leslie was being investigated for stealing state secrets. The report didn''t go into detail about her, just mentioned the case was ongoing. But it did make it clear how she''d gotten ess, thanks to a guarantee from Ratcliff Global''s chairman, Sebastian, and a helping hand from his mother, Jane.


    The news hit the city''s upper crust like a bomb. People who''d thought Reese was just being jealous and dragging Ratcliff Global down realized the truth-it was the Ratcliff family''s own mess that had pulled theirpany under.


    The Ratcliff Global board finally got it too. They''d been misled by those rumors, pushed Reese to defend herself, and ended up forcing her to reveal the real story. Their carefully maintained reputation was in shreds, and their stock value had tanked even more. They started tracking where the rumors hade from and, before the night was over, traced everything back to the Ramos family.


    The very next day, word spread that Dylon''spany-the one he''d started after leaving Ramos Corporation was going bankrupt.


    Reese sat at her desk, scrolling through her phone and tapping her fingers in a good mood. She was just thinking about what to do next when Karter knocked on her door and walked in, holding a freshly printed document.


    "Ms. Meyer, here''s thetest breakdown of the fund transfers for your review."


    She took the papers, ncing over the numbers. As she looked up, she noticed Karter''s phone light up with a message preview. The contact wasbeled "Mr. Wiles."


    Seeing that name made her heart skip. An idea started taking shape in her mind.


    She set the file on her desk, trying to sound casual. "Mr. Shaw, I keep meaning to ask-what does your boss actually do? He''s helped me


    out so many times, and don''t even know his name. It feels a little weird."


    Karter''s eyes flickered for just a second. "He''s a very private person. He''d rather


    keep his identity confidential. I hope you understand, Ms. Meyer."


    "Is that so?" Reese arched an eyebrow, locking eyes with him.


    Karter looked nervous under her stare and nodded stiffly. "Yeah." He remembered Matthew''s warning. Reese could never find out.


    Just then, there was another knock. Her secretary poked her head in, with Matthew right behind.


    "Ms. Meyer, this gentleman is here to see you."


    "Thank you," Reese said with a smile. "You can go."


    The secretary left, and Matthew came in carrying a folder, breezing past Karter without even ncing at him.


    "Leslie''s case is almost wrapped up," Matthew said. “Sebastian didn''t know what she was doing, so he''s not on the hook as an aplice, but he''ll still have to deal with some civil ims."


    He sounded a little regretful, but Reese barely registered it. What caught her attention was how, the moment Matthew walked in, Karter gave him a


    straightened up ally


    respectful rod the kind you''d only give a boss. Matthew acted like he didn''t even recognize Karter, which just made it more obvious. It was all way too deliberate.


    Reese tilted her head, watching Matthew, and suddenly it all clicked. Karter''s mysterious boss had to be Matthew. Who else would go this far to help her? She remembered, the file she''d seen back when they''d started putting together the de project team.  té