Kaia let out a dramatic sigh. "I specifically changed our dinner meeting to the morning to avoid spending any unnecessary time with that creep. But the man just can't take a hint. I ended up having lunch with him anyway." She shrugged. "At least I got what I needed."
She straightened in her chair, her expression turning serious. "Phoenix Industries is circling the drain."
"I'm listening," I replied, not particularly surprised.
"The company's been around forever, but they've hit their ceiling," Kaia explained. "Their financials look decent on paper, but they're hemorrhaging cash. The banks have caught on and are running for the hills—no more credit lines, no more favorable interest rates. Bottom line: they're going under."
"That sounds dire." I processed this information, my w
