“Yes, you did,” May said, totally unfazed.
Reba asked, “Then why send me to collect Mom’s money?”
May said through gritted teeth, “Keep talking like I’m royalty and I’ll hop a flight just to swat you.”
Reba thought, ‘Yep. Same May.’ She said, “Alright, just go ahead.”
“That’s better,” May said, sounding pleased. She rolled her suitcase out of the airport and said, “Your mom doesn’t even bat an eye at the Jensen Group’s money.”
Reba was totally confused, honestly wondering if May had lost her mind. She asked, “Are you sure you’re not crazy or something?”
“Get lost,” May shot back, never one to hold back when she was roasting someone. She asked, “Didn’t Amelia ever mention this to you?”
Reba waspletely lost. She replied, “I seriously have no clue what you’re talking about.”
May said, “Give me half an hour, and I’ll exin everything. Let me find a quiet spot first.”
Reba was sure May was messing with her on purpose.
Half an hourter, May checked into a fancy hotel. After putting her luggage down, she walked up to the floor–to–ceiling window and video–called Reba. No greetings, no small talk–she dove straight back into their unfinished business.
She asked, “So you have no idea Amelia’s got money sitting around?”
“No,” Reba said, shaking her head.
May said, “She does. Seriously, at this point, she’s so broke all she’s got left is money.”
Reba assumed that May was messing with her right now.
“What’s that look supposed to mean?” May teased, her brows arched, face full of sass as she eyed Reba through the screen.
“I honestly have no clue what to say,” Reba replied, not believing a word of it.
May looked like she was about to spill some real secrets, but remembering how Amelia had cut off every connection to her past, she just shrugged and said, “It’s all her own money–private funds.
“At the very least, she’s got hundreds of millions to her name, maybe way more. Can’t say for sure.”
Reba looked outright skeptical.
May continued, “Before Amelia married Richard, they signed a prenup. Their finances are totally separate.
<b>14:54 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>
…
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Everything Richard’s ever spent on you? That’s basically the repayment for Amelia helping him set up the Jensen Group.”
Reba said, “From now on, I’ll treat you like a friend, not an elder -just don’t mess with me anymore, alright?”
Reba knew Amelia was smart and capable–but having hundreds of millions? She hadn’t let herself dream that big.
May blurted out, “You don’t believe me?” She was genuinely stunned–she’d spilled the beans, and Reba still wasn’t buying it.
Reba dropped herself into a chair next to the garden and said, “That’s even more unbelievable than if you told me I wasn’t really their kid.”
May thought, ‘Well, you’re definitely not Richard’s biological daughter.‘ She tried a different way to break it to Reba<i>. </i>
She said, “Next time you get a chance, find Amelia’s bank card. The PIN is either your birthday or hers. Just check the bnce–you’ll see for yourself.”
Reba saw May wasn’t messing around, so she asked, “Wait, you’re actually serious?”
“Duh!” May shot back.
Reba pressed, “Okay, but how did she even get all that cash?”
“She made it herself,” May replied.
“How did she earn all that?” Reba asked straight out.
May went quiet for a second. She knew that answering would dig up all kinds of secrets from the past–stuff Amelia had strictly warned her to keep from Reba. Amelia wanted to make sure Reba never got mixed up with those people.
May thought, ‘But if I keep quiet, Reba won’t believe me.‘
After pausing for a second, she finally said, “I have no clue. I was way too busy chasing hot guys around the globe to bother keeping tabs on whatever boring money moves she was making.”
After the call ended, Reba sat in the garden for a long time, reying every word May had said.
Reba thought, ‘May’s always been bold, never shies away from a joke–but after hearing about my divorce and everything I’ve been through, she wouldn’t joke about something like this. So maybe it’s true. And if it is, then who is my mom, really?‘
Her head spun with a thousand wild thoughts. Since she couldn’t sort it out, Reba changed her game n: she’d bring Jessica orn along when she finally faced Richard on Wednesday.
Richard had spent years by Amelia’s side; Reba figured that there was no way he didn’t know the real story.
<b>14:54 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>
Soon, it was nighttime.
…
:
Reba had spent the evening cooking up all kinds of delicious food with everyone.
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They were just about to start feasting when Jeffrey walked in. He had on a ck shirt that somehow made him look extra untouchable, the sleeves rolled up to reveal a bit of his strong, muscr forearms.
As soon as he walked in, everyone got up almost automatically and chorused, “Mr. Hanson.”
Jeffrey nced around the table, but his eyes paused noticeably on Reba for a few seconds longer than anyone else.
The way his gaze lingered on her didn’t go unnoticed; a few people definitely picked up on it.
Jeffrey said, “Just stopping by to see how things are going. You all go ahead and enjoy yourselves.”
“Now that Mr. Hanson’s here, let’s all raise a toast to him,” the project manager, Derek, announced, pouring a drink and giving the team a subtle nod. He added, “It’s truly a privilege to be noticed by Mr. Hanson.”
Everyone lifted their sses together.
Reba joined in with the group, blending right into the cheerful atmosphere. Only, instead of wine, she raised her own ss of juice this time.
Jeffrey’s gaze was impossible to ignore–he didn’t even try to hide it. Everyone noticed how his eyes lingered on Reba, sliding from her face right down to the ss she was holding.
“Reba,e on, switch that juice for some wine already,” someone called out.
“Seriously, Mr. Hanson’s burning a hole through you with that look,” another teased.
The person sitting next to Reba leaned over and whispered, “Just do it, don’t chicken out.”
Reba nced around and realized she wasn’t alone–some others were sipping juice instead of wine, too.
“I’ve got stuff to take care ofter, so just one drink,” Jeffrey said, finally turning his attention away from Reba as he came over to join the group.
“Of course, Derek replied, grabbing a fresh ss and pouring Jeffrey a drink. He gave everyone else a pointed look and said, “If Mr. Hanson’s having wine, shouldn’t we all show some real respect?”
Two of the people who’d been drinking juice spoke up right away. One of them eximed, “Yeah, totally.”
Another said, “Hang on, Mr. Hanson, I’m switching to wine.”
Reba’s fingers tightened around her ss. If she didn’t switch to wine, she might get talked about behind her back, and it could even mess with her team rtionships down the line.
But if she did swap for wine, she knew she’d end up a little drunk–maybe not totally cked out likest time, but definitely tipsy. For a moment, she hesitated, caught in the middle.
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Just then, Jeffrey said, “No need to switch. I’m just here to make sure the team’s safe tonight, not to make things difficult for you all.” With that, he finished his wine in one go.
Everyone froze for a split second. Then, they downed their drinks in one go, whether it was wine or juice.
“I’ve got to head out now, Jeffrey said, setting his ss on the table. His gaze swept across the group, lingering a moment longer on Reba before moving away. He added. “Don’t stay up toote once you’re done hanging out.”
Everyone called out their agreement.
After Derek walked Jeffrey out, everyone else zeroed their eyes in on Reba–their looks full of gossip and clearly dying to know what was <b>up</b>.
<b>14:54 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>