were standing along the walls. The air buzzed with nervous energy. The Apex employ
of folding chairs. She kept her head down, her hair falling forward to sh
to her could hear it. Her palms were slick with sweat. Sh
le doors
ked different here, in his element. He wore a dark gray cashmere sweater and t
r the crowd like a searchlight. Helena shrank back
of Nexus Dynamics, the strategic value of the Apex acquisition, and the "synergies" they would create. He was
ting in her gut. This was not the man she had left behind
shot up, asking safe, corporate questions about stock options and repo
drifted to the
that made her entire body tense. His eyes locked onto hers, and for a split second, h
ay. He leaned int
said, his voice casual but cutting through the room like
e weight of a hundred stares pressing down on
structed, his tone leavi
stood, her knees trembling, feeling li
introduce yourself. Tell us your name, your position, and... for the benefit of those wh
st words, a subtle c
e back of the chair in front of her, her knuckles white
ing from Baruch College. For the past four years, I've be
, sibilant, and cutting. In a room full of MBA graduates and certifie
degree, followed by a... significant career detour. Finance is the backbone of this or
"Cynthia, I trust our hiring criteria moving forward will be laser-focused on ca
to Helena, but to Cynthia. It was a
ed red. "Mr. Armstro
dismissive. "Welcome to Nexus, Ms. Ayers. Nexus is built on a foundation of excellence. As we integrate, we will be eva
The blood was rushing in her ears. She stood there, exposed a
with absolute certainty, that her time at Nexus Dynamics was over. Keven had jus
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