The day of the all-shareholder meeting had finally arrived, bringing with it a suffocating sense of finality. Bobo had dressed up specifically for the occasion, shedding her comfortable, familiar work attire. Instead of the loose researcher's lab coat she usually wore, a garment that made her feel capable and in control, she had donned a sharp, smart grey suit. Her hair was tied up in a tight, severe bun.
She felt like she was wearing armor for a battle she was already destined to lose. With each step she took down the long corridor toward the boardroom, she was forcing herself to take slow, deep breaths to keep her heart from hammering out of her chest.
Despite the arrogant warning from Ramon the day before, she hadn't simply rolled over. She had been awake all night, her eyes red and stinging, frantically trying to see if there was absolutely anything she could do to salvage her life's work. Her desk at home was littered with empty coffee cups and scattered legal documents.
