We then assembled in the meeting room, a tense air of anticipation hanging around us, ready for a presentation from a man who was a complete stranger. I felt a wave of cowardice wash over me, sinking deeper into my seat, which was several rows away from him. I furrowed my brow and lowered my head, trying to avoid any accidental eye contact, though it was clear he had no intention of engaging with me. His eyes were devoid of life, utterly vacant and stripped of all the emotions I had once been fortunate enough to witness in him.
Roman, the investor, leaned back in his chair, a bored expression etched on his face as he flicked his gaze toward the projector. "What has been the financial performance of the company over the last two years?" he asked, his voice cutting through the dim room.
