Mr. Thompson walked into the boardroom with an air of authority that was hard to ignore. The room fell silent, and the tension was almost palpable.

Everyone looked uneasy, their eyes darting nervously between each other and the door. His presence alone seemed to cast a shadow of panic over the attendees. His tall figure and stern expression did nothing to alleviate the anxiety that had already dwelled in the room.

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"I apologize for the delay," Mr. Thompson said, his voice steady but hurried. He moved to his seat at the table and began rifling through a stack of papers, his movements quick and efficient.

The rustling of the...