The more I think about it, the more perfect it seems.
I call Logan. “Add GVM to the pitching list.”
A beat of silence. “The marketing firm? I'll have Sarah reach out.”
“Make sure Emma Sinclair is on their pitch team.”
The silence stretches longer. “Emma? Your Emma?”
“She's talented. She understands my priorities. It's a logical choice.”
“Kai, are you sure you want to merge these worlds?”
“Just add them to the list, Lo.”
“Kai—“
“I know what I'm doing.”
I hang up feeling a spark of satisfaction. Emma is struggling in the shadows while Miles buries her in spreadsheets. I have the power to change that.
Two days later, I'm in the ELK conference room with Ethan, Logan, and our head of communications, Sarah, when the GVM team arrives.
Thomas Hawthorne walks in first. Silver hair, expensive suit, the easy confidence of a man who's been closing deals for decades. Behind him two associates.
Then Emma.
She's in a sharp navy blazer, hair pulled back, portfolio tucked under her arm. Professional. Polished. She looks up, catches my gaze, freezes for a split second.
I offer a small smile. “Emma. Good to see you.”
Her eyes widen. Then her jaw tightens, nostrils flaring with a sharp inhale.
“Mr. Rhodes.” Her voice is cool. Formal.
We exchange introductions around the table. Sarah handles our side with practiced ease, presenting Logan as CEO, me as CFO, and Ethan as CTO.
Hawthorne gestures to his team. “Miles Porter, senior account manager. Diana Chen, analytics lead. And Emma Sinclair, creative lead.”
“Please, sit.” I gesture to the empty chairs. “We are looking forward to hearing your approach.”
Miles takes the seat closest to Hawthorne. He has the look of a man who believes he’s the smartest person in any room.
Hawthorne takes the lead, walking us through GVM's credentials, their crisis communications history. A polished performance. Miles jumps in at every opportunity, steering the conversation toward his own insights. Emma presses her lips together each time he speaks over her.
“Our approach would be three-pronged,” Miles says, clicking to the next slide. “Media training for executives, proactive outreach to sympathetic journalists, and?—“
“What about the community angle?” I interrupt, looking directly at Emma. “The parents and school board. What's your read?”
Miles blinks. “Well, I was getting to that in?—“
“I'd like to hear from Emma.”
The room goes quiet. Miles flushes red. Hawthorne's eyebrows rise.
Emma meets my gaze. For a heartbeat, I see the woman who told mefeet are personalbefore a mask slides into place.
“The parents are terrified,” she says. “When people are scared, they look for a target. Right now, that's you and your company.” She pauses. “Fear isn't the same as anger. They're not your enemies. They're potential allies.”
