The hall gasped.
Not just a few people. Not just the employees in the back. The entire damn room. It was the kind of reaction reserved for stock crashes, last-minute firings, and discovering your ex is dating your worst enemy. Even Selena and Adams—the two who had spent actual hours crafting the perfect, safe, CEO-friendly speech for him—stiffened in their seats.
Because he hadn't read a single word of what they wrote.
Not. One.
Instead, he had done what Justin Black did best—walked in, taken over, and left everyone scrambling to keep up. Justin exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly as he reached for the mic stand. He adjusted it, tilting it with an almost bored flick of his fingers—the classic "I couldn't care less, but fine" move.
Then, to the absolute horror of the board members, he let out a low chuckle.
"That's what you expected, huh?"
Another pause.