The laughter cut sharper than knives.

Elena stood at the head of the mahogany table, her survival plan spread neatly in front of her. charts, projections, carefully crafted slides she had worked on for nights without sleep. Her voice had been strong when she began. Her words had been clear.

“Our liquidity crisis is temporary,” she said, voice steady though her pulse roared. “With strict restructuring, asset reallocation, and a temporary freeze on non-essential expenditures, Rossi ...