I took a deep breath. The cold screen in front of me still showed my carefully crafted business proposal — and those blinding signatures: Claire and Jason.
My phone rang again. Claire’s name flashed across the screen.
I picked up, keeping my voice as even as possible. “Hello.”
“Ethan...”
Her voice came softly through the receiver. “How’s the new proposal coming along? Any ideas yet?”
“Drop the fake concern, Claire. I’ve been sitting for less than ten minutes.”
“Oh, right.”
She paused, completely ignoring my sarcasm. “That’s perfect then — hold off on that and help Jason and me with something first.”
A cold laugh rose in my chest, though my face stayed expressionless. “What is it?”
“You know, the project from before.”
She spoke naturally, as if it really had become “their” project.
“Even though we’ve submitted the proposal, we still need five printed, bound copies for the review meeting.”
“Jason and I are swamped and can’t spare a minute. You haven’t found a new project yet, so can you go downstairs to the print shop and get them done for us?”
Printing. Binding. Running errands.