THE RUMORS

Roman, however, fixated on one word. "Trust?" He scoffed. "That's a big word, isn't it? Trust can lead to ruin. What if I put my faith in you and it backfires?"

Lilian maintained her composure, her expression unwavering as she met his piercing gaze. "I am certain that we will work tirelessly to recover from this challenge. This isn't mere optimism; I'm confident we can succeed."

A thick silence enveloped the room until Roman's deep voice broke through once more, resonating powerfully as he concluded, "I'll think about it." With that, he rose from his seat, the finality in his actions unmistakable. He turned and walked out without another word, leaving us in a stunned silence.

"Then we'll await your favorable response," Lilian called after him, bowing slightly as he exited, her professional demeanor holding firm despite my own spiraling thoughts.

****