The obsidian table gleamed under the harsh Manhattan sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows,casting reflections onto the polished marble floor. Alaric Beaumont,handsome,intimidating,and towering over everyone at 6’3,stood at the head of the table,blue eyes flashing with fury.Eight percent revenue down this morning and his VPs already stumbling like amateurs made him grind his teeth.“This is unacceptable,”he barked.“I don’t care how many reports you’ve filed,you cannot have this level of incompetence in a multibillion-dollar company.I want solutions,not excuses!”He slammed a fist on the table,forcing papers to flutter and the room to flinch.He could feel his high school observers shifting nervously in their seats,PR’s bright-eyed idealistic children about to witness the empire crumble.But he inhaled sharply,forcing himself to relax,smiling thinly as the finance department was allowed to begin their presentation.

Group 3 from Finance,led by 3B and 3C,stood confidently.“Our projections indicate a 5% increase next quarter based on current trends and market growth,”3B said,smiling faintly.“We’ve adjusted for inflation and supply chain variables,and anticipate a positive yield across all sectors.”

Alaric’s jaw tightened.The numbers didn’t add up.He could see it,hear it,but the team was oblivious to the glaring errors.“Excuse me,but—”he began,but the words caught in his throat as a precise,calm yet sharp voice cut through the room,starting from the side where one of the high school kids,his eyes widening slightly,leaned on the window.

“Actually,”she began,voice steady and commanding,“your revenue projection assumes a 12% growth in sector A,which is unrealistic given last quarter’s decline of 8% in the same sector,combined with a 3% increase in raw materials costs.The adjusted gross margin should be calculated as G=M-R*C where G is growth, M is projected revenue, R is risk factor from market instability,and C is cost increase.Now,if we input the correct variables—sector A:10million less than projected,sector B:stable at 5.2 million,and operational overhead rising by 1.3 million—the real growth is negative 2.5% without intervention.”She paused,glancing out the window as sunlight caught her dark brown hair with golden highlights.“Additionally,the proposed 5% increase ignores the 0.8 million debt from delayed receivables and fails to hedge against the potential 0.5 million loss from market volatility.You need to increase investment in sector C by 1.2 million to offset the shortfall,and implement cost reduction of 0.7 million in administrative overhead,otherwise,you’ll continue the downward trend.”

Alaric blinked.The room was silent.Every VP,who had spoken with false confidence moments before,stared at her incredulously.She wasn’t using notes,sheets,or any digital aid. Every calculation came from her mind.She continued,rapidly,efficiently,her hands sketching invisible figures as if conducting an orchestra of numbers.“In summary,if you implement the following:increase sector C by 1.2 million,reduce administrative overhead by 0.7 million,hedge delayed receivables with a short-term liquidity buffer of 0.6 million,and adjust projected growth assumptions for sector A to 10% below last quarter’s numbers,you will not only recover the 8% revenue deficit but potentially exceed previous quarters by 1.2% while mitigating operational risk.”

Her voice,though calm,carried the weight of certainty,leaving no room for argument.

Alaric’s mouth went dry.She was…astonishing.He had been ready to fire the entire department mentally,but she dismantled their presentation effortlessly,corrected every miscalculation,and offered a precise,executable plan.He barely noticed the high school observers gaping at the display of pure intellectual dominance.

He leaned back,still silent,letting her words hang in the air.She turned slightly,meeting the horizon beyond the skyscrapers,oblivious to his attention,her pride and skill radiating as clearly as the New York sun on her olive-toned skin.