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Chapter 5
The investors had already arrived, each of them looking increasingly displeased as they took in the scene before them.
The projector hadn’t been set up. Half the staff were missing. The entire room was a mess.
These were all things I used to handle myself–adjusting the AC, checking the projector, preparing the refreshments.
Today, the investors had been sitting there for ages, and no one had even brought them a glass of water.
Madeline finally walked in, lipstick smudged, giggling as she stuck out her tongue.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone. Here are the snacks I prepared for you.”
She placed rows of Yoo–hoo and trays of frosted animal crackerss in front of the investors.
Their expressions darkened immediately.
One of the older slammed his prayer beads onto the table with a thunderous crack.
“What the hell is going on here? Gavin, explain this! And where the hell is Sloane?”
Before Gavin could say a word, Madeline jumped in.
“Sloane’s been fired.”
“Fired?” The investors exchanged looks. “Are you kidding me? Without Sloane, why should we invest in your company?”
These were investors I had personally recruited, one by one. I’d built the company’s entire roadmap myself. Some of these men had been nearly impossible to reach–I’d camped outside one of their homes for a month just to get a five–minute conversation.
Over time, I’d grown close to them. We’d even met privately during holidays.
Gavin tried to salvage the moment. “Everyone, please. You’re here because you believe in the company. Let’s move on to the
presentation.”
Out of respect, the investors reluctantly remained seated.
But the sight of Yoo–hoo was clearly offensive. One investor tossed his can straight across the room–it exploded at Madeline’s feet.
“My skirt!”
Rather than continue the meeting, she crouched down and began fussing over her outfit.
Gavin rushed to comfort her, brushing dirt from her hem.
“We didn’t come here to watch you flirt. Do you have anything real to show us? If not, we’re pulling out.”
“Wait–please don’t pull out. Just give us a minute. We’ll begin now.”
“Let’s not make this worse. Madeline, get on with it.”
Only now, sensing how upset the investors truly were, did the other board members begin to panic.
Madeline stood and pouted, then started presenting.
But as she stumbled over her words, the investors‘ brows drew tighter and tighter. She didn’t even know where the data came from. Her report was a disjointed mess.
“That’s enough. We’ve seen enough to understand your current management. We’ll reconsider our investment.”
He stood, motioning to leave.
The shareholders scrambled to stop him.
“Please, don’t leave yet–we haven’t finished showing you our growth plan. Madeline, say something!”
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“Gavin, jump in! Don’t let them walk out like this!”
Gavin sprang up, hurrying after them.
“Mr. Zimmerman, please–don’t go. You haven’t heard about our future outlook or expansion plans.”
Zimmerman turned around, sneering.
“Do you even understand your own company? Seems to me the only one who does is Sloane.”
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Chapter 5
