a junior analyst in the

r. Not a VP. A junior analyst who somehow thinks she

to question decisions that w

r of them moved to press another button. They stood there, locked in a

voice was softer now, almost contemplative.

at's the

e. For just a moment, she saw something raw and unguarded in his eyes. Pain, m

hen. The funding will be redirecte

lives aren't

d simply. "T

slap. Sophia felt her heart sink, b

she had to tilt her head back to maintain ey

ose slightly.

ng is worth the investment. Let me show you the impact

f you

severance, no notice

d in his eyes. "A

re the funding

u're asking me to potentially commit four million dollars based o

lion dollars based on the chance t

ment, she wondered if she'd pushed too far. Alexander Blackwood was not