Folding For You

Chapter 14: Killian

I sat at the head of the table, listening to the same lines I'd heard more times than I cared to count. Eli was going on about large-cap stocks again, flashing charts and figures that, while impressive, weren't surprising. It was always the same song: U.S. equities are strong, tech is growing, and it's all looking "solid."

"We should double down on these positions," Eli said, his voice steady with confidence. "The tech sector is driving reliable returns, and there's no reason to pull away from what's working."

Irene, ever the careful strategist, nodded along as if on cue. "Bonds are strong too. Developed markets offer us good yields, and with current conditions, it's stable. Safe."

There it was again: safe. The word that made my fingers itch with impatience. We weren't here to coast by, playing in the same sandbox as everyone else.

Melissa, always eager to jump in, backed them up. "Our clients are satisfied with these results. This is what they want—low-risk, high-reward. We're in a great position to pull in even more high-net-worth individuals by keeping things steady."

Derek leaned forward, his expression serious. "Killian, these asset classes offer us exactly what we need: predictability and security. We're generating stable returns while managing risk. It's smart to continue reinforcing these positions."

Predictable. Stable. Safe. Words that were slowly grinding at me. I looked over at Shankar, our CFO, who was quiet but watching everything unfold. I could tell he was calculating—running numbers in his head, seeing if this status quo held water. Smart guy, Shankar, but we weren't just here to run the numbers.

I leaned back, letting my fingers tap the table's edge as their words washed over me. These were intelligent people, no doubt about it. But they were all looking at the same map, navigating by the same compass. The problem was that the treasure wasn't buried there anymore.

I stood up and walked to the window, glancing at the city below. The afternoon sun was high in the sky, bathing the buildings in a brilliant, golden light. The glass reflected the bright rays, making the skyline shimmer as if the whole city was glowing.

Everyone was playing it safe—following the same path, all chasing the same rewards. And what was left? Predictable returns in predictable markets. We couldn't keep walking this road if we wanted to stay ahead.

I turned around and faced them. "Why aren't we talking about emerging markets?"

The room quieted instantly. They all looked at me—some curious, some cautious. Derek leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, while Shankar stayed perfectly still, watching me closely.

Eli was the first to break the silence. "Emerging markets are... risky. There's political instability, currency volatility, and liquidity concerns. We've seen other funds burn themselves by over-committing to those regions."

"He's right," Irene added. "We'd have to be careful. These markets don't follow the same rules. The regulations, the infrastructures, they're unpredictable."

I nodded, letting their words sink in, but I could see it now. That hesitation, that fear of the unknown. That's why everyone else was still stuck in the same place.

"Exactly," I said, "they're unpredictable. Complex. And full of potential. Look, everyone is piling into the same asset classes. It's the safe play for U.S. equities, bonds, and real estate.

But the real growth? It's out there in the places no one is looking at yet. Latin America, Southeast Asia, Africa. These regions are young, growing fast, and innovating. That's where the future is."

I glanced around the room. I could see their heads turning and their posture shifting slightly as they realised what I was getting at.

"Eli, Irene," I continued, "we have the resources to mitigate these risks. We have the expertise to navigate emerging markets. But we need the vision to move into them before everyone else does."

Derek, always the voice of practical operations, crossed his arms and leaned forward. "Killian, you know as well as I do if we pivot into emerging markets, we'd have to overhaul our entire risk management strategy. This isn't a small move. Are we ready to make that kind of shift?"

Shankar finally spoke, his voice calm but pointed. "From a financial perspective, it's a big leap. The risk models would need to be restructured. We'd expose ourselves to volatility we're not currently factoring in."

I nodded, leaning forward now, locking eyes with Derek first and then Shankar. "We need to be more than ready. Because if we don't make this move, someone else will. And they'll capture the growth that should have been ours."

Silence. I let it hang there, watching as they processed the shift. I knew they could see it. The world wasn't waiting for us to catch up.

"I want a detailed analysis of emerging market opportunities on my desk by the end of next week," I said, shifting gears. "Irene, Eli, work with your teams. Find the high-potential sectors. Melissa, start looking into partnerships in these regions. Derek, you and Shankar work out what changes we must make on the operational and financial fronts. We're not sitting around and following the same playbook anymore."

Melissa, always the first to jump at a challenge, nodded quickly. "I'll get the business units moving on this right away."

Irene exchanged a glance with Eli before she spoke, a little reluctant but on board. "We'll look into it. See how we can balance the risk."

Eli nodded. "We'll assess how we can support this shift without jeopardising the broader portfolio."

Shankar was quiet, but I could see the wheels turning in his head, numbers already being run. I knew he'd get there.

Derek, ever the realist, gave a measured nod. "Alright, we'll work through the logistics. Let's see what the numbers say."

I leaned back, satisfied. They were starting to see it. Finally.

"We're going where others won't," I said, my voice low but firm. "That's how we stay ahead."

The room shifted. I could feel the energy change. We weren't playing it safe anymore. We were taking the lead.

As soon as the meeting wrapped up and everyone filed out of the room, I didn't waste a second. My hand instinctively reached for my phone, and I scrolled through my messages to check on Sabrina.

There it was.

"Baby, Kaleb's taking me to lunch. Want to come with?"

What the hell... Kaleb thinks he can take my girlfriend out without asking me?

I shot off a response instantly.

"Send me the address. Now."

The second her reply came through, I was already up, grabbing my jacket without a second thought. I wasn't about to let Kaleb have a minute alone with Sabrina. Not on my watch.