The fluorescent lights of the boardroom hummed, a sharp contrast to the suffocating silence. Elias sat across from the CEO of Miller Dynamics, his hand hovering near a fountain pen that suddenly felt like it weighed a hundred pounds. On the mahogany table lay the contract—a merger that would make Elias a multi-millionaire and secure his company’s legacy. Don’t get the deal.
Write a where the choice has immediate consequences. Don’t get the deal
Change the (e.g., a gritty underworld deal or a high-stakes sports trade). Focus on the aftermath of his decision a year later. The fluorescent lights of the boardroom hummed, a
"Everything looks in order, Elias," Marcus said, his voice smooth as oil. "Sign on the dotted line, and we can all go to lunch." Don’t get the deal
"You're walking away from forty million dollars over sentimentality?" Marcus laughed, a harsh, jagged sound. "You'll be bankrupt by Christmas."