Travis Turner sat at the head of the polished mahogany conference table, his piercing blue eyes scanning the room as department heads delivered their reports. The hum of the air conditioner and the shuffle of papers provided a monotonous backdrop to their voices. Travis's gaze never wavered from the speaker, but his thoughts churned with entrepreneurial strategies.

　　"Real estate values have surged this quarter," Marianne, the head of acquisitions, was saying. "Our latest ...