Kamila was seated in her glass-walled office, scanning through the latest reports on Gabriel's tech deal. She was almost certain Troy Evans had orchestrated the whole thing.
Her fingers drummed rhythmically on the surface of her desk, eyes narrowed with thought.
The phone buzzed.
Without checking the caller ID, she answered, "Yes, Chris?"
A small voice came through the line, timid and anxious. "Mommy?"
Kamila blinked, her stern expression melting into warmth. "Callum? What's wrong, baby?"
"I'm in the bathroom at school," his voice echoed softly, embarrassed. "Are you still coming to my PTA meeting? You promised…"
Her eyes widened in horror. PTA meeting. Dammit.
She glanced at the digital clock on the wall. 3:32 PM.
"Oh no," she whispered, bolting upright. "Yes, sweetheart! Mommy's on her way right now, okay?
Stay with Miss Daniels till I get there. I'm coming."
"Okay…" Callum replied, his voice both relieved and unsure.
Kamila hung up and grabbed her coat, her heels clicking loudly against the marble as she raced out of her office.
"Cancel everything for the rest of the day!" she barked to her assistant, who looked up from her screen in surprise. "Callum's PTA. Now."
"Yes, ma'am," Chris called out as Kamila disappeared into the elevator.
Kamila's black SUV pulled up in front of Crestwell Elementary just as a sea of parents were filtering into the school.
She stepped out, sunglasses on, hair slicked back in a low bun, draped in a tailored white trench coat and heels that echoed confidence with every step.
Whispers immediately filled the air.
"Isn't that Kamila Vernz?"
"The Kamila Vernz? From Cinz?"
"She's so… flawless in real life."
Phone cameras started flashing from all angles.
Kamila ignored the murmurs, holding her head high as she strode through the courtyard toward the front doors. Security guided her inside quickly.
Miss Daniels, Callum's teacher, spotted her and waved with a warm smile.
"Miss Vernz," she said, offering her hand, "it's such an honour to have you here.
Congratulations on the new acquisition, by the way. It's been all over the news."
Kamila offered a polite nod and smiled. "Thank you, Miss Daniels. Sorry I'm late."
"No worries at all. Callum's been excited all week. He wouldn't stop talking about how cool his mom is."
Kamila's heart swelled.
They walked into the classroom where several parents sat on tiny chairs, trying to fit themselves comfortably.
Kamila took the one next to Callum's, and he beamed up at her, proud and glowing.
"You came," he whispered.
"Of course I did," she said, brushing a curl from his forehead. "I always will."
The meeting proceeded with the usual school updates—field trips, fundraising, and curriculum plans.
But Kamila's mind was only half-there.
She stole glances at Callum every few minutes, watching how he interacted with his classmates, how confidently he raised his hand when asked to speak.
He's growing up so fast, she thought.
When the meeting ended, Kamila thanked the teacher again and waited with Callum outside near the gate while his class dismissed.
"Mama," he said, tugging on her coat. "Can we get ice cream? Just us?"
She looked down at him, her hard exterior softening instantly.
"I suppose I could be persuaded."
"Yay!"
They drove to a small, quiet parlour Kamila used to frequent before her life turned into a battleground of business and revenge.
It had a vintage charm and served the best vanilla swirl in the city.
Callum dove into his rainbow sprinkles with glee while Kamila sat beside him with a pistachio cone, enjoying the brief peace.
For once, she wasn't a CEO, a revenge-fuelled woman, or a shadow from the past. She was just a mom.
The bell above the door jingled.
Kamila looked up—and instantly regretted not keeping a lower profile.
A crowd of journalists had gathered outside the parlour's wide windows.
Cameras pressed against the glass.
Reporters scrambled as soon as they recognized her.
She placed a protective hand around Callum.
"Miss Vernz!" one called out through the door.
"Just one question, please!"
Kamila exhaled and stood, lifting Callum gently from his seat.
"Stay behind me, baby," she said softly, shielding him as they moved toward the exit.
Flashes lit up like fireworks the moment she stepped outside.
"Are the rumours true that you're buying out a European competitor?"
"What's your response to Gabriel Denim's tech merger?"
She moved quickly, giving only a faint, controlled smile.
But then, a new voice cut through the chaos.
"Miss Vernz!" a female reporter pushed forward, recorder in hand.
"What are you going to do about the employee who was abused inside your corporation?"
Kamila froze.
Everything around her seemed to blur—the cameras, the crowd, even Callum's hand in hers.
"What did you say?" she asked, turning slowly.
The reporter, a young brunette with fierce eyes, didn't flinch.
"An anonymous source claimed a senior employee at Cinz was involved in a harassment case. Are you aware of this allegation?"
Kamila's face went pale.
She didn't know about that information.
And yet, there she was— being asked by a reporter, Words she knew were never meant to leave the walls of Cinz now lived in headlines. The phrasing was too exact, too calculated. It wasn't just a vague rumour.
It was a precision leak.
Needless to say, Cinz was a massive company. With its size came power, and with power came attention—eyes and ears everywhere, some loyal, some not. Still, this felt different. Not the usual boardroom gossip. Not the typical corporate sabotage.
This was personal. A direct shot at her and her company.
Kamila stood motionless.
"There's no comment at this time," she said sharply, regaining composure.
"Excuse us."
She pushed past the reporters, clutching Callum's hand tightly as they returned to the car.
Inside the vehicle, Callum was first to break an existing silence, she didn't know she left.
"Mommy?" he whispered.
She kissed the top of his head. "I'm okay, sweetie."
But she wasn't.
A harassment case? Unreported? How? She pulled out her phone and dialled Chris immediately.
"Get me the head of HR now," she snapped, "Find out everything about any possible complaints in the last two months. Especially anything buried or unresolved."
"Yes, ma'am," Chris replied, concern clear in his voice.
Kamila ended the call and leaned back against the seat, staring out the window as the city rolled by.
Someone's playing a new game, she thought grimly. And I don't like not knowing the rules.
The warmth of the ice cream moment had vanished, replaced by a chill creeping up her spine.
Whatever was coming next… she had to be ready