Ethan ran both hands through his hair, his fingers tangling in the brown locks.

“Rachel, please.

I know how terrible it looks, but I was completely underwater with this product launch.”

“You were not underwater,” I said.

“You were lying.”

I pulled out a wooden chair across from him and remained standing, resting my knuckles heavily on the high back of the seat.

“At eight o’clock, you are going to pick up the kitchen phone,” I said.

“You will call Alan Vance on speakerphone with me standing right beside you.