The boardroom was already full when I walked in.
That was intentional. I had timed it so every seat was taken and every face was already turned toward the door when I came through it. First impressions in a room like this are not about what you say. They are about what the room does when it sees you. This room went very quiet. I took that as a good sign.
I sat at the far end of the table, Lucas to my left, my restructuring proposal in a slim folder in front of me that I did not open. I had memorized every number six days ago. Opening it now would only suggest I needed reminding.
The board’s existing plan was cautious, committee-built, full of language that sounded decisive and meant nothing. Mine was simpler. Faster. Higher risk, higher return, restructuring three underperforming subsid
