The moment we entered the room, I felt that familiar hum of tension in the air. Director Hansley sat at the head of a long polished table, her white-streaked hair pulled back neatly.
Surrounding her, a full panel of government officials and council members watched us intently, flipping through notes or taking quick glances at their tablets. Among them, a man I hadn't seen before—a sharp-eyed older gentleman with a trimmed mustache—flipped through a folder, giving off the air of someone who expected nothing but precision.
The room had that distinct corporate gravity, where every gesture, every word, and every glance carried weight. This wasn't just a meeting; it was a full-scale evaluation.
Hale led us forward, his posture calm but authoritative. "Good morning, Director Hansley, and members of the Urban Development Council," he said, his voice steady. "We are Gray & Milton, and we are here to present our final proposal for the Meridian Development Initiative."
