Reese didn''t even nce at them. She just typed a string ofmands into the input box, hit enter, then looked up at Matthew. "All done on my end. Now it''s your turn."


    Matthew arched a brow, his gaze drifting over to Bailey and the others, who


    looked like they''d been frozen in ce. He wandered over to theputer, casual


    as ever.


    "Wait, hold on!"


    Bailey finally snapped out of it, pointing a trembling finger at the screen before turning to Reese. "How do you even have the authority to destroy de''s data?" Wasn''t that ess supposed to be for the project''s technical lead only?


    Reese tilted her head, acting genuinely puzzled. "I am the other technical lead on de. Didn''t Matthew mention that to you?"


    Matthew just shrugged, looking innocent. "I told him, but Mr. Meyer didn''t believe me. Not much I could do."


    He hovered his fingers over the keyboard, ready to type in his own authorization code. "Since the partnership''s over, we might as well get the data destruction over with."


    "No, please, don''t!"


    Bailey lunged forward and pped his hand over Matthew''s, sweat beading on his forehead and running down his face. "Reese, look, I didn''t give you enough credit, and I haven''t really paid attention to you.


    "I honestly had no idea you''d made such big strides in Al-that you''d be a technical lead on de."


    He turned toward Reese, his anger gone, reced by a forced, almost desperate smile. “You spotted the problem, so I know you can fix it. Why don''t you help your dad out and get de running properly for the tform?"


    Reese''s eyes sparkled with mischief. "Mr. Meyer, stop acting like we''re close. If even Sofia, your star pupil, couldn''t solve this, there''s no way I can."


    "That was... I mean, earlier, I just—"


    Bailey''s cheeks burned with


    embarrassment. The words he''d said earlier felt like a p in his face. He wanted to apologize to He wanted to an


    Reese but the


    int quite g


    words out, so he turned to Sofia and Hank instead.


    "What were you two thinking, talking to Reese like that? Apologize to her right now."


    “Dad!" Sofia protested, her voice sharp. She was about to argue, but Hank, finally realizing the gravity of the situation, pulled her back.


    As soon as Hank learned Reese was the other lead on the de project, regret washed over him. He knew now wasn''t the time to bicker. He lowered his head, voice subdued.


    "Reese, was out of line shouldn''t I have doubted your skills."


    Sofia nced at Hank''s pale face, then looked back at Bailey, who shot her a stern look. Clenching her fists


    so tightly her nails.dug into her palms, she barely managed to choke out, "Reese, I''m sorry."


    Reese watched their forced apologies and lifted an eyebrow, her tone cool. "Fine, apology epted. But if you want my help, there''s something I want in return."


    She paused, her gaze locking on Bailey. "I want the shares my mother left me."


    "You-"


    Hank was stunned, not expecting Reese to turn the situation to her advantage. His frustration and humiliation quickly boiled over into anger. "Reese, don''t go too far.


    "Do you even understand how important de''smercial rights are to Vista Tech? The shares from your mother are always yours. You can have them anytime. Do you really have to make this demand right now?


    "So if we don''t hand them over, you''d just watch Meyer Group go under?"


    "Meyer Group going bankrupt?" Reese tilted her head, pretending to think it over, then smiled. “Honestly? That doesn''t sound too bad.


    "I''m only asking for the shares so Sofia and Grace don''t get them. If the Meyer family does go bankrupt and they walk away with nothing, I''d actually find that pretty satisfying."


    Hank waspletely floored, staring at Reese in disbelief. He had always thought she wanted the shares to honor her mother''s legacy. He never imagined she didn''t care at all about thepany''s fate.