Reese already had Sebastian in her corner, and now Matthew was standing up for her too. If she managed to win over Bailey and Hank, it would be game over for everyone else.


    Sebastian. How could she have forgotten about him?


    She took a steadying breath, pulled herself together, and walked into the developmentb.


    "Useless!"


    Bailey was in full-on rant mode, his anger aimed right at Hank. "You''ve been at Bridger Lake for ages, following the de project from day one, and you didn''t even know Reese was one of the leads? Now she''s got us right where she wants us. We have to agree to all her terms. What exactly have you been doing all this time?"


    "Dad." Sofia stepped forward, trying to calm things down. "Please calm down. Don''t me Hank. This is my fault. That''s how we ended up here. Right now, the only way to secure the de partnership is to give Reese the shares she wants."


    She paused, watching Bailey''s reaction. When she saw he wasn''t mad at her, she went on. "But I think you should let Mr. Ratcliff know what happened today. After all, Reese and Matthew caused quite a stir at Vista Tech. He deserves to hear about it."


    Bailey''s eyes brightened. "You''re right. There''s definitely something going on between Reese and Matthew. Matthew''s been spoiling her, letting her think she can get away with anything. Sebastian needs to step in and remind her who''s in charge."


    He grabbed his phone and called Sebastian on the spot.


    Sebastian listened to Bailey with a darkening expression. He paused in the middle of signing papers, his mind racing.


    He''d reported the Ramos Corporation warehouse incident that morning and had been waiting for Reese toe to him, maybe ask for help or at least reach out. But she hadn''t even called. Instead, she''d managed to get the warehouse reopened on her own.


    He couldn''t figure out how she''d pulled it off-until now. So Matthew had been the one backing her up. The two of them had put on quite a show and even managed to grab Meyer Group''s shares.


    Sebastian narrowed his eyes,


    thinking quickly. He pressed the inte "Brady, get in touch with all of Ramos Corporation''s business partners. Spread the word that nobody is to work with Ramos Corporation unless they have approval from Ratcliff Global."


    He hung up, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. He wanted to see just how tough Reese would be when everyone started dropping their contracts with her.


    Right then, someone knocked on the office door. His secretary walked in, looking pale. “Mr. Ratcliff, there are a few agents from the National Security Bureau here. They say they need to ask you some questions."


    Sebastian frowned, confusion flickering across his face. Wasn''t Leslie''s case already wrapped up? Hed spent a lot of effort smoothing things over because Jane was involved, and he was still trying to get her out on bail.


    So why was the NSB here again?


    "Let them in."


    He shoved down a wave of anxiety, straightened his suit, and got up to greet them. He barely made it to the door before it opened from the outside.


    A group of men in dark suits walked in, shed their badges, and nodded at Sebastian. “Mr. Ratcliff, sorry for the intrusion."


    "We have evidence that suggests you''ve been involved in leaking ssified data and threatening national security."


    The lead agent ced a file on the desk in front of Sebastian. "This is Leslie''s statement. She''s named you directly, saying you hid your previous coboration on artificial intelligence technology with Big X Headquarters. so Ratcliff Global and ck Oak could jointly develop the de system.


    "This means your im that you didn''t know about her involvement in leaking secrets when you vouched for her doesn''t add up. We need you toe with us to the National Security Bureau for questioning."