I handed Chloe a green paper straw and took a sip of my own drink.

The bitter espresso hit my empty stomach like a rock.

Chloe took a long drink and set her cup down exactly on the ring of condensation it had left behind.

“Tell me exactly what’s happening with the timeline,” Chloe said.

“Is Vanessa actually helping you coordinate with the vendors?” I asked.

Chloe leaned forward and tapped her phone screen nonstop on the tabletop.

“Nobody has heard a single word from her about the timeline since last month,” Chloe said.