"What''s that supposed to mean?"


    "Exactly what it sounds like." Reese leaned back in her chair, calm and unbothered. "If you''re so curious, why don''t you go look it up yourself?" She didn''t give Sebastian another nce. Instead, she raised her voice toward the door. "Security, please show Mr. Ratcliff out."


    Sebastian''s face turned stormy, his chest rising and falling with barely controlled rage. But he didn''t lose it. He just locked his eyes on Reese, voice low and icy.


    "Reese, I hope you know what you''re doing. With the state Ramos Corporation is in, I could destroy it whenever I want. Don''t push me."


    A while ago, that would have scared her. In Bridger Lake, Sebastian definitely had the power to ruin Ramos Corporation. But things had changed. Now that Leslie had dragged him into trouble, the government was bound toe knocking again. This time, he wouldn''t get away so easily. Reese wasn''t about to be threatened anymore. Besides, Ratcliff Global had already starteding after them.


    She just nodded, her facepletely nk, as if he hadn''t just threatened her livelihood. "Go ahead. You can leave now."


    There was noise at the door as security arrived. Sebastian nced at them, then shot Reese a re full of resentment and cold fury. "Well, Reese, you really don''t give an inch, do you? I never noticed that before. Just wait. I''ll be here when youe crawling back."


    He straightened his suit jacket, gave Matthew onest venomous look, and walked out, each step heavy with anger.


    Finally, the office was quiet.


    Matthew, who had heard everything, walked over to the water dispenser, filled a cup with warm water, and handed it to Reese.


    She took it with a strained smile. "Sorry you had to see that."


    Matthew caught the flicker of hurt in her expression and felt something twist in his chest. "It''s okay. If anyone looked ridiculous just now, it was Sebastian."


    "Yeah," Reese murmured. She took a sip of water, but the warmth only made her more aware of the cold knot in her chest.


    Sebastian didn''t waste any time. The next morning, before sunrise, Reese was jolted awake by her phone buzzing nonstop. She rubbed her eyes and checked the screen: the warehouse manager was calling. Her stomach dropped.


    "Ms. Meyer, something''s happened! They''ve sealed the warehouse!" The manager''s panicked voice echoedan her ear. "A bunch of uniformed officials showed up before dawn. They said our raw materials failed safety standards and pped a closure notice right on the door. We couldn''t stop them!"


    Reese''s heart sank. She shot upright in bed, voice tight. "What? Which warehouse?"


    "The big one, out by the city limits! We''ve got all the raw materials for the Eastbase Group and Southern Machinery orders in there. If we can''t deliver on time, we''ll owe millions in penalties!"


    Reese hung up, not even thinking about getting ready. She threw on a coat, grabbed her keys, and ran for her car.


    When she got to the warehouse, she


    had to push through a worried


    crowd before she saw the official seal on the iron gates and the police tape blocking everything off. She closed her eyes, anger burning in her chest but nowhere to go. After a long moment, she forced herself to calm down and walked over to the


    warehouse manager and the nervous employees.


    This wasn''t just about a few big orders. That warehouse held everything Ramos Corporation


    needed to keep going for the nexet


    half year. If it stayed shut, they wouldn''t just lose money on date orders; their reputation would be trashed, and other clients would start backing out, too.