Hearing their words, Adam couldn't help but smile. In that moment, the room seemed to glow with a quiet light of hope and determination. He extended his hand toward the center of the table as a sign of unity, inviting everyone to join in the new journey they were beginning together.
"Welcome to Fire Corporation," Adam announced, his voice calm yet full of purpose.
Kim immediately placed his hand over Adam's and nodded in agreement. "This is no longer just your dream, Adam. It's mine too," he said.
His tone was warm but carried a weight that spoke of shared commitment. Kim's eyes shone with the promise of partnership, a bond forged in trust and the common goal of building something lasting.
Monica, with a hint of playful authority, smirked as she reached over and placed her hand over Kim's. "If any of you slack off, I'll personally show you what true hell looks like," she declared.
Her voice was firm and laced with both humor and determination. It was clear that Monica was not one to tolerate laziness. She expected nothing less than full dedication from everyone in the team.
Raven, always the composed one, slowly moved his hand to rest over Monica's. His voice was soft yet sincere as he said, "Thank you for allowing me to be part of this team, Madam." Though his words carried little outward emotion, his eyes showed that he meant every word.
Raven's calm acceptance spoke volumes about his steady character, even if he never let his feelings show too openly.
Bubbling with excitement, Lisa quickly placed her hand over Raven's in a bright, eager gesture. "I'll give it my all to bring this dream to life!" she exclaimed.
Her smile was infectious, and it seemed as if her excitement could light up even the darkest corner of the room. Lisa's energy was like a spark, igniting hope in the hearts of everyone present.
Lee, who had been quietly observing, stood up and brought both of his hands to rest over Lisa's while also ensuring that his hands joined those at the base of the pile of joined hands.
With a firm, resolute voice, he declared, "And I will protect this corporation—no matter what. Legally, of course." Lee's words were simple and to the point. His handshake with Lisa and the joining of hands at the table symbolized that he would be a steadfast guardian for the team, ready to tackle any legal or practical challenges that might arise.
As smiles spread across everyone's faces, a strong feeling of unity filled the room. Not long ago, each one of them had been working in different directions, each focused on their own pursuits and dreams.
Now, they were all gathered around a single table, sharing a common goal and a common hope for the future. The energy in the room was infectious, and every pair of eyes shone with determination.
In that small, humble room, it was as if the past differences had been erased, leaving only a shared vision and the determination to work as one. No one knew what the future held; the path ahead was uncertain and filled with challenges.
But in that moment, each person felt the spark of determination burning brightly. It was a moment of transformation, the point where individuals became a team, and a team became a family.
After the warm and unifying moment, everyone slowly returned to their seats. The air was filled with a mix of relief and focused anticipation, as if each person knew that the real work was just about to begin.
Monica wasted no time. She reached into her bag and pulled out a thick stack of papers.
With deliberate care, she spread the papers across the table so that everyone could see them clearly. These papers were more than just sheets of paper—they represented plans, strategies, and the foundation for what they hoped to build.
Not wanting to be outdone, Kim retrieved several documents from his bag and joined Monica in placing the important paperwork in front of the team. Soon enough, every team member had a neat stack of documents and papers spread out before them.
Adam blinked in surprise and thought to himself, 'I didn't expect them to come this prepared.'
The level of organization and commitment in that room was greater than he had imagined.
Before Adam could say anything about his surprise, Kim looked up at the group with a thoughtful expression and asked, "Do I need to explain everyone's roles?" His question hung in the air for a moment, as if waiting for someone to answer or for someone to take the lead.
Almost immediately, Monica cut in sharply, "No, wait. If we randomly assign roles and start working without a structured approach, we'll get nowhere."
Her voice was clear and confident as she continued, "We need a solid strategy and a plan to follow. A company's core principles and set of rules shape its identity. Without them, even the most profitable business won't last long." Her words were both a reminder of the hard truths of business and an invitation to build something strong and lasting.
As Monica spoke, Adam fell into deep thought. The seriousness in her tone reminded him that every decision they made now would impact the future of the company.
Suddenly, a long-forgotten memory surfaced—a memory he had buried deep inside his heart. For a moment, the lively discussion faded into the background as he was drawn back to that painful past.
A memory of a bloodstained floor came unbidden to his mind. He remembered the harsh pain that had coursed through his body. In that dark moment, John's father had stood above him with a cruel smirk on his face.
Adam recalled how John and his friends had watched silently from behind as he lay there, bleeding out. The memory was sharp and vivid, a reminder of a time when he had been at his lowest point.
Lying on that cold floor, with blood slowly spreading beneath him, Adam had pleaded, "What was my mistake?Was I more talented? Was your son less talented than me, and that's why you ruined my life?" His voice had trembled with desperation as he sought answers to the pain and injustice he had suffered.
John's father had simply chuckled—a cold, chilling laugh that seemed to echo in Adam's memory.
Taking slow, deliberate steps toward him, he had knelt down beside Adam and spoken in a calm yet chilling tone,
"It doesn't matter how talented or genius you are. If I want to defeat you, I only need to buy two talented individuals like you. They will outperform you and develop a strategy to crush you. I hold true power—the power to control those more talented than me."
That promise of control had left a deep scar in Adam's soul. It was a reminder that sometimes, even brilliance could be overpowered by the right kind of manipulation.
Snapping back to the present, Adam clenched his fists under the table as the memory faded away.
His mind raced with conflicting thoughts. He knew that his unique abilities were both a gift and a curse. While they had given him incredible power, they also left him feeling vulnerable.
Deep inside, he realized the painful truth: 'I'm still powerless in some ways.' Power, he knew, was not just about talent—it was also about control, strategy, and the right partnerships.
Before Adam could dwell on these thoughts any longer, Monica's voice sliced through the tension. "Adam? Where did you go just now? Did you even listen to what I said?" Her tone was sharp, tinged with both impatience and concern.
Adam looked up, meeting Monica's piercing gaze. "Sorry, I was thinking about something else," he replied quickly, trying to mask the storm of emotions behind his calm exterior.
Monica sighed, her face softening just a bit as she asked, "Do I need to explain everything again?" It was clear that she was frustrated, but also that she cared about him understanding the full picture.
Adam shook his head slowly. "No, just give me an overview," he said, hoping to regain his focus and move past the painful memory. His eyes searched hers, silently asking for guidance.
Monica studied him for a few long seconds before nodding in understanding. "Alright. Here's what we've established so far," she began, her voice steady and clear. All eyes in the room shifted toward her, waiting for her to continue.
"Our main company will be Fire Corporation," Monica explained. "Under it, we'll have multiple branches. The first subsidiary will be the refinery. We want the refinery to have its own identity, its own name.
It is important that when people think of our work, they see strength, innovation, and excellence. We cannot simply call it 'the refinery' every time—it needs a name that reflects our ambition and vision."
Adam leaned forward, his chin resting thoughtfully on his hand as he considered her words. The room was quiet except for the soft scratch of pens and the rustle of paper. Everyone was focused, ready to build a strong foundation for the future.
After a moment of thoughtful silence, Adam allowed a small, confident smirk to spread across his face. "Let's call it… Red Fire Refinery," he declared. His words were simple but filled with meaning.
Red was a bold color—full of life, passion, and energy. It was a name that suggested strength and determination, and it fit perfectly with the image they wanted to project.
At that moment, the room filled with murmurs of approval. Kim's eyes brightened, and even Raven allowed himself a slight nod of satisfaction. Lisa's smile grew wider, and Lee's firm expression softened into one of genuine pride.
They all saw that Adam's suggestion was not just a name—it was a symbol of their new beginning, a sign that they were ready to take on the challenges ahead with heart and unity.
As the group sat back down, the energy in the room felt more focused than ever. The papers, the documents, and the carefully planned strategies were not just words on paper; they were the first steps toward building an empire.
Every person at that table had now committed not only their time and effort, but also their hopes for a future where Fire Corporation and its subsidiaries would stand as a beacon of innovation and strength.