Chapter 9: Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

Philip’s POV

I was at my desk, head resting on my hands, staring at the piles of financial statements that lay before me, wondering how things had got this out of hand. I remember we were on the top and enjoying our success and now... bankruptcy? It didn't seem possible.

A knock on the door brought me out of my spin cycle of anxiety. “Come in,” I said as calmly as I could despite the stress building up in me.

Lillian, my secretary, leaned in through the door. ”Hello, Mr. Brooks, the conference room is free and available for the meeting.

Right. The meeting. I'd almost forgotten. “Thanks, Lil I will be there shortly.”

I sighed, adjusted my tie, and left for the conference. When I entered the conference room, it was quite evident that the heads of departments were stressed up. Everyone was looking at me with the expectation to deliver answers I was not certain I had.

“Okay, everyone,” I said, attempting to sound much more certain than I actually was. '‘There will be no need to mince