Sebastian had already made his move. Every partner was cutting ties with Ramos Corporation, and he had thepany''s credit lines frozen at all the major banks.
"You really think that''s enough to make me give in?"
"Dad, calm down." Hank stepped forward quickly, trying to smooth things over when he noticed Reese''s cold look. "Reese, we''re not trying to make things hard for you. Ramos Corporation is struggling, and if Mom were still around, she wouldn''t want to see everything she built fall apart, right?
"If you''re willing to help Vista Tech out, the Meyer family will start a partnership with Ramos Corporation. We''ll even give Ramos thirty percent of the profits. What do you say?"
Reese squinted at her phone instead of answering. She was so over Bailey and Hank''s good cop, bad cop routine.
Her phone lit up with a news alert. Her longshes fluttered as she opened it.
Bailey took her silence as a good sign, like maybe Hank''s words were actually working. He softened his tone. "Reese, if you help Vista Technd this deal, I promise I''ll handle things with Sebastian."
Reese finished reading and looked up, the corner of her mouth curving into a knowing smile. "Do whatever you want with that partnership. As for Ramos Corporation, don''t worry about it."
She got up and left.
"Stop right there!"
Bailey was furious at her attitude. He grabbed his phone and immediately dialed Sebastian''s number, muttering, "Fine. Let''s see how you like the consequences of saying no."
But all he got was a cold automated message. "The number you have dialed is unavable. Please try againter."
Bailey frowned and tried again. Still nothing.
"What''s going on?"
"Dad..." Hank was staring at his own phone, face pale and anxious. He had just finished reading thetest breaking news. "Something happened to Sebastian..." "No way." Bailey shook his head. "This is Sebastian. Who in Bridger Lake could touch him?"
"It''s true." Hank''s hands were shaking as he passed the phone to Bailey.
Bailey read the headline: "Ratcliff Global CEO Sebastian Ratcliff under investigation for alleged leak of state secrets, detained by National Security Bureau."
All his anger vanished in an instant, reced by panic.
"This... how can this be?" Bailey''s voice was shaky. "How could he be involved in something like that?"
"That''s not the point right now,"
Hank said, snapping out of his
shock. "Dad, we can''t count on Sebastian to deal with Ramos Corporation anymore. What are we going to do? If we lose de''s partnership, it''s not just Vista Tech at risk, the whole Meyer family is finished."
Bailey took a long, shaky breath, trying to steady himself. He nced at the open door, then ordered, after her. Talk to Reese again. Whatever it takes, don''t let her walk away Get her to fix Vista Tech''s tform situation."
"Got it."
Hank bolted out of the room.
Downstairs, outside Maple Street Diner, Reese and George stood by the curb, waiting for the valet to bring their car. Behind her, hurried footsteps echoed on the sidewalk. Reese instinctively stepped aside.
"Reese, wait, let me talk to you."
She turned, expression cool as she faced Hank. "I don''t want to talk."
“Don''t be like this.” Hank took a deep breath, forcing a smile. “I know I was out of line earlier. I''m sorry. But Mom and Dad built Meyer Group from scratch. You can''t just stand by and watch it fall apart, can you?
"That de partnership means everything to Vista Tech and the family. Just help us this once. If you do, I''ll give you my share of Mom''s inheritance too. What do you say?"
Reese stared at Hank for a long moment. His desperate sincerity almost looked real. She smiled slightly. "Are to save the Meyer family because of
you trying so hard et
Mom, or is it because you just can''t let go of everything you have now?"
Hank froze, his smile faltering. "What''s that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." Reese''s smile faded, her gaze turning sharp. "I just wanted you to know, Mom''s car ident wasn''t actually an ident. There''s more to it than you think."