Brad fumbled for the remote, clicking wildly as if speed could reverse embarrassment. Slide thirty was a pie chart labeled Sources of Success divided into slices named “Luck,” “Vibes,” and “Brad’s Vision.” The HR director covered her mouth. Ethan pressed his lips together until they trembled.
Desperation drove Brad faster. Each new slide dug deeper into absurdity. One included a meme of Leonardo DiCaprio raising a champagne glass with the caption Cheers to Q2 Wins! Another featured an animated GIF of fireworks that refused to stop looping. “This is… dynamic design,” Brad said weakly.