Ethan burst into his office, his face pale and sweaty, his eyes wide with panic. His secretary's words hung in the air like a guillotine, ready to drop and sever his livelihood.

"What do you mean they're withdrawing?" he thundered, his voice echoing off the walls.

"They just decided to pull out, without warning? How could this happen?"

His secretary, a timid-looking woman with a sympathetic expression, shook her head.

"I don't know, sir. I was as surprised as you are. We didn't have any issues at our last conference meeting. Everything seemed fine."

Ethan's mind raced, his thoughts spiraling out of control. Bankruptcy. The very word sent a chill...