Chapter 21: Project Phoenix
The sky was grey that morning, clouds hanging low like the weight on Phillip's shoulders.
Inside the grand headquarters of ADIG Group of Companies, the atmosphere was tense. Security personnel in sharp black suits stood alert as a line of luxury cars began pulling into the gated compound. Mercedes. Range Rovers. BMWs. The kind of cars only company executives and powerful CEOs could afford.
It was the day.
The Project Phoenix presentation.
And the entire board of directors, regional heads, shareholders, and even founding members, were arriving.
The air in the building was thick with whispers and tension. Staff members spoke in hushed tones. Some peeked into the conference wing as they passed by, wondering why there was so much movement. Why was everyone here? Why was the chairman, who barely attended board meetings, coming in person?
Something serious was about to happen.
Inside the main boardroom, long and elegantly lit, Phillip stood alone at the far end of a polished wooden table, his hands slightly trembling as he arranged his presentation remote and notes. The room was massive, and he looked small in it but determined.
The board members began entering, one by one.
Men and women in suits that are well-fitted. Some carried iPads, others briefcases. Their faces were unreadable. Their expressions are cool and firm, like the marble floor beneath them.
Phillip gave them polite nods. Some returned it. Most didn't.