A pause followed, sharp as broken glass.

“Margaret Coleman hasn’t requested anything in fifteen years. What did you do?” she asked.

“Maybe she has concerns about company management,” I suggested.

“Don’t play games with me, Cecily,” she snapped. Josephine’s composure cracked.

“If you’re trying to embarrass us, trying to make some kind of scene—”

“I’m just doing my job, Josephine. Same as always,” I said.