His cell phone buzzed across the scratched wooden table.

Carla’s name lit up on the screen.

Michael answered and held the phone to his right ear.

“The executive board watched the security footage of you running out of the building,” Carla said.

Carla used her usual crisp business language, but she was talking noticeably slower than she did at the office.

“There was a medical emergency in my family,” Michael said.

“I know you did,” Carla said.