The hum of the air conditioner whirred constantly, trying to dispel the scorching heat that had filled the executive's office. After Leo turned off the television screen showing the plummeting stock charts, the atmosphere around them suddenly froze. Mark still refused his assistant's offer of help, clinging to his stubborn nature to stand on his own.
However, his defenses had a cruel limit. His consciousness suddenly faded, leaving only a blurred and spinning vision. The once-sturdy body swayed unsteadily, then simply collapsed onto the floor without being able to support its own weight. Acute dehydration and the mental exhaustion gnawing at his soul finally shattered the last of the leader's strength.
