Maynard Ngu, CEO of Cherry Mobile, sat slumped in his office chair, staring blankly at the framed photos on his desk. They were reminders of better days, when his company was at the peak of its success. Cherry Mobile had once been a household name in the Philippines, known for providing affordable smartphones that appealed to the masses. Now, the company was struggling to keep its head above water, overshadowed by international giants and besieged by quality control issues.
The door to his office creaked open, and Maynard's assistant, Anna, stepped in cautiously. She held a stack of papers in her hands and wore a concerned expression.
"Good morning, Mr. Ngu," she said softly.
Maynard forced a weak smile. "Morning, Anna. What do you have for me?"
Anna hesitated before speaking, her eyes filled with empathy. "It's the sales report for this quarter, sir. I'm afraid it's not good news."
Maynard sighed heavily. "Go ahead. Let's get it over with."