"Alright. One by one. We'll go around the table. Speak your vote clearly and say whether you agree to it or not."
The air in the room became filled with tension after Gray said those words. For a moment, no one moved first. Then the gray-haired man at the far left leaned forward, his hands folded firmly on the table.
As the oldest, he thought that it was just right for him to start first.
"I vote for no," he said straightly without any hesitation. "The risk is too great."
A soft murmur echoed around as people reacted to the answer. Then, it became silent as the woman beside him spoke.
"I vote yes," she said. Her tone was calm and soft. "We can't grow if we keep fearing risk."
The younger man at the far end didn't wait a second.
"I vote for yes too. Absolutely yes," he said, his eyes bright.
That brought the count to two yes, and one no.
The older woman who had spoken with doubt earlier shook her head.
"No," she muttered. "I can't trust Everett's terms."
Two and two.
