Jacob rose early the next morning, the city still cloaked in the quiet of dawn. As he adjusted his tie in the mirror, his reflection looked back at him with the same mix of exhaustion and determination that had carried him through the last few months. Today’s meeting with Meridian Energy would either solidify his position at Sims Enterprises or push him closer to ruin.
His assistant, Megan, was waiting by the elevator when he arrived at the office. She handed him a fresh coffee and a folder containing the final presentation.
"Everything’s ready, sir," she said, her voice steady.
"Good," Jacob replied. "Make sure the team is prepped. No missteps today."
The elevator ride to the boardroom felt interminable. His thoughts were a whirlwind of facts, figures, and counterarguments. The stakes
