Summit PR Is Calling

My phone rang at 8:07 a.m. Which was already suspicious, because no one with good news calls before nine. I was standing in the kitchen in one of Victor’s old T-shirts—ironic, considering I was actively planning his downfall—staring at the espresso machine like it held answers to the universe when my screen lit up: Unknown Number – San Francisco Great. Either a spam call… or another plot twist. I swiped to answer. “Hello?” A crisp, confident voice came through, the kind that sounded like it walked fast and signed important contracts before breakfast. “Good morning. Is this Renee?” “…Yes?” “This is Vanessa Keller from Summit PR. Natalie Chen passed your contact information to me.” Ah. There it was. Another domino tipping over the edge. I straightened instinctively, even though no one could see me. “Of course. Hi, Vanessa.” Her tone was smooth, polished, PR-perfection—but also slightly thrilled, like she already smelled the scandal and success brewing in equal parts. “I’ve reviewed the preliminary details Natalie sent,” Vanessa began, “and let me say—your situation has the potential to be… significant.” Significant was PR-speak for explosive enough to put her on the cover of a trade magazine. I rubbed my forehead. “That’s one word for it.” “I imagine things are moving quickly on your end,” she continued. “Natalie informed me you signed the media statement yesterday?” “Yes,” I said, heartbeat kicking up at the memory. “It’s ready.” “Excellent. Then we need to talk strategy.” Of course we did. Victor had his investors. His lawyers. His curated public persona. But now? I had Summit PR. Vanessa’s voice sharpened like a scalpel. “My job is to make sure your story lands exactly the way it should. You deserve control over the narrative, Renee—and we’re going to take it.” Something in my chest loosened. A slow, fierce confidence poured through the cracks. “What do you need from me?” I asked. “First,” Vanessa said, “I’d like to schedule a media briefing with you and Natalie. Preferably today. The press is already circling—someone leaked that a high-profile statement is coming.” That someone was absolutely Natalie. And honestly? Respect. “I’m available,” I said. “Good. I’ll send over a calendar link and a draft agenda within the hour. And Renee?” “Yes?” “You’re doing the right thing. And Summit PR is very, very good at cleaning up messes created by men who think they’re untouchable.” A laugh escaped me—sharp, humorless, but real. “That’s perfect,” I said. “Victor definitely thinks he’s untouchable.” “Not for long,” Vanessa replied. The call ended. I lowered the phone and stared at the quiet kitchen around me—sunlight cutting across the marble, espresso still steaming, a silence that felt like it was waiting for my next move. This wasn’t fear anymore. It was momentum. A storm building behind me instead of against me. And today, I wasn’t running from it. I was steering it.