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Maxwell nods, impressed. “Well played.”

No resistance.

Good.

“As for our upcoming launch,” I pull up the timeline on the screen, “we're maintaining our original schedule. The Lemon Glow Line will debut in twenty-nine days. Early testing is showing promising results and engagement rates are already trending above Q1’s projections.”

I wait for protests, but none come.

Louis Laurent asks, “Production timeline still on track?”

“Yes. Our manufacturers confirmed yesterday that all units will be ready for distribution next week.”

The tension in the room eases. This is already going better than our last tense meeting that left most investors unsure due to the scandal. I signal to Raj and Simone to take over, and they stand together.

Raj taps the screen, and a new slide appears.

“While the Glow Line prepares for launch, we've been developing our next innovation as we all know.”

Simon clicks to the next slide. “We're calling it SkinSense.”

“SkinSense uses proprietary AI algorithms to analyze facial photographs and environmental factors,” Raj explains. “Users receive personalized skincare diagnostics and product recommendations based on their unique skin profile. Think Shazam, but for your face.”

A few chuckles.

Simone jumps in. “It’ll integrate real-time facial scanning with AI-backed suggestions. We’re training the engine on a combination of dermatological data and user-submitted input, so we can offer hyper-targeted product recommendations. It’s skincare made personal.”

Eliza Chen leans forward. “And privacy?”

“We’re building it with a full zero-data policy,” Simone says. “All scans are processed locally on the user’s device unless they opt in to share.”

Raj nods. “It’s tech-forward without being invasive. That’s our edge.”

“The app will integrate with our product line, of course,” Simone adds, “but also provide value through a subscription model for advanced features.”

The technical details flow as they explain the machine learning process, market positioning, and revenue projections. I watch the investors' faces, noting the spark of interest in their eyes.

“We've completed initial programming,” Raj says, “and are ready to begin beta testing next month.”

“Development costs?” asks Siobhan Yutes, eyeing the financial breakdown.

“Eight-point-two million for full development and marketing launch,” Henry Cho, our head of finance, answers. “We're proposing a fifteen percent ROI within the first eighteen months.”

“That's ambitious,” Louis Laurent notes.

“But achievable,” Henry counters. “The market analysis shows clear demand for personalized skincare technology. SkinSense fills a gap our competitors haven't adequately addressed.”

The questions continue for another forty minutes. They’re probing questions but not hostile. When Maxwell checks his wristwatch and says, “I think we've covered everything,” I allow myself to breathe.

“We'll review the proposal and get back to you next week,” Eliza says, gathering her papers. “But I must say, this is a significant improvement from our last meeting.”

The room settles. I scan their faces. No one looks skeptical. No one looks angry. It’s the first time in months I don’t feel like I’m being watched under a microscope.

Approval glows in the air like light.

We finish strong. Talia gives me a discreet thumbs-up. I smile.

The investors file out, stopping to shake hands and exchange pleasantries. When the last one leaves, my team erupts into relieved smiles.