“If I don’t get this back to the regional office by nine tomorrow morning, the bank freezes my payroll account.”

“I won’t sign a life insurance policy on my granddaughter while you’re lying to me about her doctor visits,” I said.

Julian stared at me for three long seconds without a word.

He picked up the document, folded the unsigned pages in half, and jammed them into the inside pocket of his coat with a cold, tight look on his face.

He was out the door before I had even gotten up from the table.