The chairman''s office at the top of Ratcliff Global had a view that could make anyone stop and stare. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Bridger Lake skyline stretched out endlessly, skyscrapers crowding together, their ss walls catching the midday sun and scattering light across the polished marble floor. Bright patches danced on the stone, shifting with every cloud that drifted by.


    Matthew leaned back in his leather chair, giving himself a slow spin behind the massive desk. He looked around, eyebrows lifting with obvious satisfaction.


    “This is what I call an office," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Noah, remind me, when we redo our headquarters, let''s use this ce as the blueprint.”


    "You got it, boss." Noah stood at the desk, grinning. He knew Matthew wasn''t serious. Their European headquarters had just been remodeled half a year ago. Still, now that everyone else had finally left, the room felt lighter, and Noah let out a quiet breath he''d been holding all afternoon.


    Thinking back to the board meeting, he hesitated, a furrow forming between his brows. "Boss, the proposals those directors put forward... It''s obvious they''re trying to sideline you. They want core business approvals to go through the board. And that so-called ''strategic oversight group'' they suggested? It''s made up entirely of their people. They''re basically trying to turn you into a puppet. Why did you agree to any of that?"


    On paper, the board''s suggestions sounded noble, all about "better management" and "steady growth," but every line chipped away at the chairman''s authority. Control over real estate and tech divisions was being split up, and the financial process was about to get buried in red tape. If things kept going this way, it wouldn''t be long before the old guard ran Ratcliff Global from the shadows, and Matthew''s fancy title wouldn''t mean a thing.


    Matthew looked up, his dark eyes impossibly calm. His voice came out t, as if he were talking about the weather. "It''s fine. I never wanted this job anyway." He paused, a hint of a smirk on his lips. "Besides, in their eyes, I''m still the sickly one who needs to take it easy."


    Noah just stared, stunned. He''d been by Matthew''s side for years, always thinking this was the endgame-taking over Ratcliff Global and getting back at the family for what they''d done.


    Matthew''s tone softened, almost thoughtful. "I only fought Joseph for this position because he pushed too far. He tried to mess with the Meyer family, and he picked the wrong target."


    Reese''s face shed through his mind-a cool, sharp profile. He remembered the tired lines under her eyes after nights spent upgrading the system, the way her back stayed straight even when Joseph tried to cut her down.


    "Now Joseph''s out of the picture, the board promised to tear up that unfair agreement he signed with the Meyers, and my work here is done."


    Power struggles never interested him. Running Ratcliff Global was just something he had to do, a temporary job to keep Reese safe from Joseph''s schemes. What mattered to him more than any title was finding out the truth about his mother''s disappearance and where she was now.


    He thought back to the funeral, remembering the conversation between Jane and Leslie. His eyes narrowed. He''d nned to investigate quietly, to find his mother without drawing attention. He never expected Joseph to act so fast against the Meyer family and drag Reese into the mess.


    A flicker of guilt crossed his face. He wanted to shield Reese from all this ugliness, but he hadn''t managed to keep her out after all.


    Noah, watching Matthew sink into his thoughts, suddenly remembered some fresh news. "By the way, boss, our people noticed Sebastian''s been digging into your past. He''s calling in favors from old friends at Ratcliff Global even reaching out to military contacts and people he knew abroad. Should we step in? Maybe clean up anything sensitive?"


    Matthew''s lips curled into a cool, almost amused smile. “No need." His voice was light, but something sharp ran under it. “Some things can''t stay hidden forever. If he wants to know, let him dig."


    He''d been ready for this since the day he came back to Bridger Lake. He just thought Sebastian would catch on sooner. Now, finally, his so-called perfect older brother+the one who idolized a man who didn''t deserve it, who clung to the fantasy of a perfect family-was about to leam the truth He wondered what Sebastian would do when he found out who his father really was, how Jane had pushed his mother to the brink.


    "Let him get to the bottom of it," Matthew said quietly, the barest trace of irony in his tone. He stopped tapping his fingers on the desk. “Once he knows everything, he''ll finally understand what I''m after."


    Meanwhile, at Vista Tech, theb was buzzing, lights bright and the smell of coffee thick in the air. It was already ten at night, but the team was still going strong, the steady click of keyboards filling the room.


    Hank stood in the doorway, unable


    to hide the smile on his face. He held a share transfer agreement so tightly his hands shook. After a mountain of paperwork, the Meyer Group shares had finally been transferred to Reese. She was now the majority shareholder holding fifty-one percent.


    If this had happened before, Hank might have been annoyed that his little sister got such a big share. But now, none of that mattered. He knew she deserved it, whether aspensation from him as her brother or as recognition of her own hard work. Reese had earned every single share.