“You’ll call Alan Vance on speakerphone with me standing right next to you.

You’ll tell him you have a non-negotiable family emergency, and that your senior team lead will run the launch presentation without you.”

Ethan stared at me, his mouth slightly open.

“Alan will cancel my annual bonus.

He might fire me on the spot.”

“Then you’ll look for another job,” I said.

“Because if you walk out that front door at seven thirty to go to that meeting, June and I won’t be here when you get back.”

The refrigerator compressor kicked on with a low vibration in the quiet room.