Tom paced the length of the living room, his eyes darting to the clock every few seconds. It was 7:55 PM, and Emma would be arriving soon. The weight of what he needed to tell her pressed down on him, making each step feel heavier than the last.
The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of success for HM. The gamble with Project Phoenix had paid off beyond his wildest dreams. Not only had they retained Westridge Corp, but word had spread quickly through the industry about HM's revolutionary new software. Suddenly, companies that had never given HM a second glance were clamoring for meetings, eager to see what all the fuss was about.
But with success came complications. Tom ran a hand through his hair, remembering the meeting he'd had with his executive team earlier that day.
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"We've j
