Chapter 441

Camille and Chloe were immersed in their game at the flashing arcade when Damien's phone suddenly vibrated. Glancing at the screen, he excused himself to take the call. Selene's name flashed across the display. Ever since the Virelia press conference, she'd been restless - partly because of Camille's unexpected presence, but mostly due to growing concerns about Vertex Dynamics's future prospects. The fact that Damien hadn't contacted her since yesterday afternoon, not even a brief text by mid-morning, only amplified her unease.

To maintain her composure, Selene had deliberately left her phone in her office during morning meetings and lunch. Yet her resolve crumbled the moment she returned. Her fingers trembled slightly as she checked for missed calls - discovering Damien had tried reaching her around 11:00 am. More surprisingly, a comprehensive market analysis on autonomous vehicles now occupied her desk.

As she pored through the pages, realization dawned. She'd never truly grasped the immense scale of this emerging market. The potential far exceeded her initial estimates, meaning Vertex Dynamics still had substantial room for growth. Damien had even included detailed technical development roadmaps in the appendix.

The weight lifting from her shoulders was almost physical. Drawing a steadying breath, she dialed back. "I was in back-to-back meetings and left my phone behind," she explained. "Mmm, I figured," came Damien's calm response. He must have checked with her assistant when she didn't answer - that thoughtful attention to detail that always disarmed her.

Selene's lips curved slightly. "I've reviewed the report. The path forward is clearer now."

"The autonomous vehicle sector is expanding exponentially," Damien affirmed. "Addressing current product limitations could position Vertex Dynamics for substantial growth."

Warmth seeped into Selene's voice. "Understood." She hesitated, then added, "How was Chloe's parent-teacher conference? Have you eaten?"

"All taken care of."

Just as Selene considered prolonging the conversation, another call demanded her attention. With reluctant professionalism, she ended their call.

Meanwhile, Camille remained blissfully unaware of Damien's phone conversation, her focus entirely on Chloe. Noticing the time, she gently concluded their game session. "Sweetheart, your afternoon class starts soon."

Chloe clung to her mother's arm. "Please take me back to school, Mommy?"

Damien remained silent, observing Camille's reaction. Since the school was just blocks away, Camille nodded. This time, Damien didn't follow. Instead, he met Camille's gaze with quiet intensity. "Thank you."

For what? An occasional school run hardly compared to the years of solo parenting. Camille simply tousled Chloe's hair. "Let's go."

Chloe's delighted grin could've powered the arcade lights. After waving goodbye to Damien, she skipped hand-in-hand with Camille to the car. Damien watched until their vehicle disappeared around the corner before finally entering his own. The engine purred to life, carrying him toward an afternoon of decisions that would shape all their futures.