Chapter64:

Chapter 64 Max’s Point of View The boardroom was tense, a heavy silence pressing down on everyone as I strode in, trying to appear calm and unaffected, though the weight of our company’s troubles sat like lead in my chest. The directors sat around the gleaming, dark-wood table, their eyes shifting between me and the reports spread out before them. For once, they looked at me not with respect, but with the same cold calculation they’d turn toward a stranger. I knew what was coming. I took my seat at the head of the table, squaring my shoulders. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice. Let’s get straight to it. What concerns need to be addressed?” My tone was steady, but inside, I braced for the worst. A murmur of voices rippled through the room until Geoffrey, one of our senior directors, cleared his throat and leaned forward. “Maximilian, it’s no secret why we’re here. Our stocks have taken a severe hit over the last few days. We’re looking at a drop that’s… well, unprecedented.