“I’ve got falling quarter-end metrics to deal with,” he said, rubbing his temple.

“I can’t have my operation caught in the middle of your legal fights.”

He pushed a sheet of company letterhead across the desk.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“Official notice of administrative leave,” he said.

“Unpaid.

Effective as of nine fifteen this morning.”

“David, I’ve put in four hundred hours of overtime for you this year.”