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Chapter 20:
Ryan paced back and forth in the sleek, modern boardroom, his sharp gaze fixed on the vast window that overlooked the city skyline. The weight of the conversation was bearing down on him, each word exchanged feeling like another layer of pressure added to his already burdened shoulders. His voice, usually composed, was now a low growl, thick with frustration.
"I understand your concerns, Mr. Henderson," Ryan said, his tone measured but edged with exhaustion. "But this is a critical time for the company, and we need to act decisively." His words hung in the air, filled with authority, but even he knew the weight of the situation. The company's future seemed to teeter on a razor's edge.
The series of accidents that had plagued the company over the past few months had left a trail of chaos and financial strain. Ryan had been working nonstop, fielding calls, making decisions, trying to control the spiraling mess. Each call seemed to add another layer of complexity to the already overwhelming situation. The board was nervous, investors were losing faith, and every corner of his company seemed to be under attack.
His mind was a whirlwind of strategies, solutions, and half-formed ideas. He couldn't afford to lose focus—not now, not when everything was at stake. He knew that the company needed clear leadership, someone with vision to guide them through the storm. And yet, no matter how much he tried to remain composed, the exhaustion was starting to show.
The phone in his hand buzzed again, its sharp ring slicing through the tension in the room. Ryan glanced at the screen, seeing the name flash across it. His fingers tightened around the device instinctively, the irritation rising in his chest. It was the same number that had been calling him all day, each ring a reminder of the outside world intruding on his carefully constructed bubble of control.
He exhaled slowly, taking a deep breath as he resisted the urge to pick it up. The call could wait—he had more pressing matters at hand. But the phone kept ringing, louder and more insistent, as if demanding his attention. With each buzz, his resolve weakened, the walls of his concentration beginning to crack. He couldn't help but feel a gnawing sense of frustration; there was no escape, no pause button to reset his mind.
"Mr. Henderson," Ryan said again, his voice now sharper, as he turned back to the man across the table. "We need to address this issue head-on. We don't have the luxury of time. Decisions need to be made now, or we risk everything."
He paused, his gaze flickering toward the phone once more. He could feel the weight of the unanswered call pressing on him, but he fought to push it from his mind. The company's future—his own future—hung in the balance.
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