Liam's heart raced as he stepped into the gleaming lobby of Cascade Enterprises. The Catalyst Report clutched in his sweaty palm felt like a ticking time bomb. He'd poured weeks into this analysis, and now it was time to present his findings to the executive team. The weight of potential career advancement – or spectacular failure – pressed down on his shoulders.

As he made his way across the polished marble floor, snippets of conversation drifted past. "Did you hear about the layoffs in marketing?" "I heard Elena's gunning for that new director position." The usual office chatter seemed charged with an extra layer of tension today.

Liam reached the bank of elevators, jabbing the "up" button with perhaps more force than necessary. He tried to steady his breathing, reminding himself that he knew this data inside and out. The elevator dinged, doors sliding open to reveal none other than Elena Kincaid.

"Liam!" Elena's voice was warm, but her eyes held a calculating glint. "Heading up to present that big report of yours?"

"That's right," Liam managed, stepping into the elevator. "Should be an... interesting meeting."

Elena's perfectly manicured hand hovered over the floor buttons. "I'm sure you'll do great. Your analyses are always so... thorough." There was something in her tone that made Liam's skin prickle.

Before he could respond, a hand shot out to catch the closing doors. Derek Malone sauntered in, his rebellious energy filling the small space. "Well, well," he drawled, "if it isn't the golden boy and the ice queen. What a delightful morning."

The tension in the elevator ratcheted up several notches. Elena's smile turned brittle, while Liam fought the urge to sink into the corner.

"Derek," Elena said coolly. "I see you've managed to drag yourself in before noon. Will wonders never cease?"

Derek's grin was sharp. "Oh, I wouldn't miss today's excitement for the world. I hear there are some pretty juicy revelations in a certain report." His gaze slid meaningfully to Liam.

Liam's mouth went dry. How did Derek know about the contents of his report? He'd been so careful to keep it under wraps.

The elevator dinged again, doors opening onto their floor. Elena strode out first, heels clicking purposefully. Derek gave Liam a mock salute before sauntering off in the opposite direction, leaving Liam feeling like he'd just survived a small hurricane.

Shaking off the encounter, Liam made his way to his desk in the Collaboration Corner. The open layout buzzed with activity, screens flickering with data and whiteboards covered in scribbled ideas. He spotted Maya Carter hunched over her keyboard, fingers flying at superhuman speeds.

"Morning, Maya," Liam ventured, setting down his bag.

Maya's eyes didn't leave her screen. "Liam. Big day, huh? You ready for this presentation?"

"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess," Liam replied, trying to inject some confidence into his voice.

Maya finally looked up, dark circles prominent under her eyes. "You've triple-checked all the data, right? Cross-referenced everything? Because if there's even one discrepancy–"

"I've been over it a million times," Liam assured her, though her words sent a fresh wave of anxiety through him. "It's solid."

"Good," Maya nodded, already turning back to her work. "Because careers have been made and broken on less."

Liam swallowed hard, pulling out his laptop. He had just opened the presentation file when a crisp voice cut through the ambient office noise.

"Liam! There you are." Olivia Brooks strode towards him, power suit immaculate and smile dazzling. "I wanted to catch you before the big meeting."

"Oh, hi Olivia," Liam said, wariness creeping in. Olivia's "help" often came with strings attached.

"I just wanted to give you a few pointers for your presentation," she said, perching on the edge of his desk. "First, make sure you really emphasize the potential ROI. The board loves that stuff. Oh, and don't forget to mention how this aligns with our Q3 objectives – that's crucial."

Liam blinked, trying to process the rapid-fire advice. "Um, thanks, Olivia. I'll keep that in mind."

"Of course! We're all rooting for you," Olivia beamed, though the warmth didn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, and if you're nervous, just picture everyone in their underwear. That always works for me!"

With a wink, she sashayed away, leaving Liam feeling even more overwhelmed than before. He turned back to his computer, determined to review his slides one last time.

The morning wore on, tension building like a coiled spring. Liam's nervousness had just about reached fever pitch when Ethan Patel's calm voice cut through the noise.

"Everyone, can I have your attention please?"

Heads popped up from cubicles as Ethan, their team leader, stood in the center of the Collaboration Corner.

"There's been a change of plans," Ethan announced, his expression unreadable. "I need everyone to gather in Vision Hall immediately. We have an urgent matter to discuss."

A ripple of murmurs swept through the office. Urgent meetings were never a good sign. Liam's stomach dropped as he gathered his things, following the stream of anxious colleagues towards Vision Hall.

As they filed into the sleek conference room, Liam caught sight of Elena and Derek already seated, both wearing expressions of barely concealed anticipation. Whatever was about to happen, it was clear they knew something he didn't.

Ethan closed the door behind the last person, the soft click sounding ominous in the hushed room. He turned to face the gathered employees, his usually warm eyes now serious.

"I'm afraid I have some rather shocking news," Ethan began. "It appears that sensitive company information has been leaked to our competitors."

A collective gasp filled the room. Liam felt the blood drain from his face as Ethan's gaze swept across the assembled group, finally coming to rest squarely on him.