Chapter 509 She Still Hasn’t Mentioned Your Name

Katia’s POV

“But I haven’t forgotten what happened that day, and neither has my source,” Tessa continued. “That’s why I’m telling you now that Gail Windsor is not the real Catwoman. Someone else has been hiding behind that name. Someone much closer to the Windsor family than people realize. And I believe it’s time everyone learned the truth.”

She stared directly into the camera, her expression suddenly serious.

“And when I’m ready, I’ll reveal exactly who she is,” Tessa promised.

The live broadcast ended. Sam switched off the tablet and placed it on my desk.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke. I stared at the dark screen, trying to understand how Tessa had managed to discover that Gail wasn’t the real Catwoman.

“Katia,” Sam finally called, breaking the silence.

“I know,” I replied quietly.

“She still hasn’t mentioned your name,” Sam pointed out.

“She doesn’t need to, Sam,” I answered. “She’s already making people suspicious of Gail, and sooner or later, they’re going to start asking questions about me.”

Sam got up from my desk and walked toward the window. She looked outside for a moment before turning back to face me.

“Do you think we should hold a press conference and explain what’s going on?” she suggested.

I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I looked down at the documents scattered across my desk. The Meridian distribution agreement was still waiting for my signature, along with several supplier contracts. My pens and laptop were exactly where I had left them. Everything around me looked normal, yet I could barely concentrate on my work.

“I don’t know, Sam,” I admitted. “I genuinely don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Katia,” Sam began, noticing how upset I was.

“I’ve already put Gail under so much pressure,” I interrupted. “She stepped forward and claimed to be Catwoman because of me. Now Tessa is accusing her of lying, and I don’t want Gail to suffer because of my decisions. Maybe it’s time I finally reveal that I’m the real Catwoman.”

Sam remained silent for a moment before firmly shaking her head. “No, Katia. You’re not revealing your identity. At least not yet, and certainly not because Tessa is trying to provoke you.”

“Why not?” I asked, frustrated.

“Because Tessa doesn’t know for certain that you’re Catwoman,” Sam explained. “She’s making accusations and hoping someone will react. If you reveal your identity now, you’ll confirm everything she has been suggesting without forcing her to provide any evidence. You’ll be giving her exactly what she wants.”

“But she said she knows who Catwoman is,” I argued.

“That’s what she claims,” Sam replied. “But did you notice that she never actually mentioned a name? Saying she knows something and proving it are two different things. Don’t let her frighten you into making a decision you’ll regret.”

I pushed my chair back and walked toward the window. Outside, the city looked as busy as ever. Cars moved along the streets, and people hurried between buildings, going about their daily routines. None of them seemed concerned about the trouble Tessa was causing. I wished I could forget about it as easily.

“Sam,” I asked quietly, “what if she really does know I’m Catwoman?”

“Then we’ll deal with it when the time comes,” Sam assured me. “But we’re not going to make things worse by rushing into a decision while you’re upset.”

“I’m not upset,” I protested.

“Then why are your hands shaking?” Sam asked, glancing down.

I looked at my hands and realized she was right. They were trembling. Embarrassed, I quickly slipped them into my pockets.

“I’m fine, Sam,” I insisted.

“Of course you are,” she replied, raising an eyebrow. “Your hands are shaking, but you’re perfectly fine. I understand.”

Despite everything, I almost laughed at her response. Almost.

“Then what do you suggest we do?” I asked.

“First, we keep an eye on Tessa,” Sam explained. “We need to find out who contacted her and what information that person actually has. For all we know, she’s exaggerating to attract attention. Until we understand what we’re dealing with, we shouldn’t make any public statements.”

“And what about Gail?” I asked. “What should I tell her?”

“Gail needs to stay out of this for now,” Sam replied firmly. “No interviews, no public statements, and definitely no responding to Tessa’s videos. The last thing we need is for her to say something that makes people even more suspicious.”

“But Gail has already made a public statement,” I reminded her. “She stood in front of everyone and announced that she was Catwoman.”

“I know,” Sam answered. “But that was before Tessa started questioning her story. Things are different now, and we need to be more careful about what we say.”

I returned to my desk and sat down. I picked up my pen, intending to continue working, but I couldn’t concentrate enough to sign anything.

“Sam,” I called, looking up at her. “What if Tessa is telling the truth?”

“Just because she’s making a lot of noise doesn’t mean she knows everything,” Sam replied. “Don’t confuse her confidence with actual evidence.”

“But what if she’s right about Gail?” I pressed. “What if she really has proof that Gail isn’t Catwoman?”

“Of course Gail isn’t Catwoman, Katia,” Sam reminded me. “You are. We both know that. The important question is whether Tessa has enough evidence to prove it.”

I stared at Sam for a moment. She wasn’t smiling or trying to make me feel better with empty promises. She was simply reminding me of the facts, just as she always did.

“Okay,” I finally agreed.

“Okay, what?” Sam asked, wanting to make sure I understood.

“Okay. We’ll keep an eye on Tessa, find out who her source is, and make sure Gail doesn’t respond to any of these accusations,” I replied. “And I won’t reveal my identity unless we have a good reason to.”

“Good,” Sam said, looking relieved.

Sam picked up the tablet again and studied the screen for a moment. Then she placed it back on my desk, looking thoughtful.

“Katia, there’s something else I want to ask you,” she said.

“What is it?” I asked.