“All right, my love. We’re safe here.”
Bia opened her dark eyes, confused by the strange place, but didn’t cry. She was a quiet baby, as if she’d already learned that noise brings trouble and the world isn’t always gentle with those who need it most.
Amanda set up a makeshift corner with blankets, left water and crackers nearby, and placed the teddy bear in Bia’s arms.
“Mommy will work fast. You stay here, okay? If you need me… you cry and I’ll come running.”
Then, as she reached the main hallway, she heard male voices coming from the executive elevator.
Her blood froze. She checked the time: 9:40.
“The meeting has been rescheduled. Everyone in the room in five minutes. We have a two-million-dollar hole to fix tonight,” a deep, sharp voice said.
Amanda recognized it from internal announcements. Arthur Albuquerque. The president. The man people spoke of in whispers. The man who never smiled. Who fired people without blinking. Made of glass and ice.
I have to leave. Now. I have to grab Bia and disappear.
She ran back to the locker room—
and found the door locked from the outside.
Security had sealed it, unaware a baby was inside. Amanda yanked the handle in panic.
“No… no, no, no…”