“Ethan, good,” Alan Vance said, his tone urgent and direct.

“Tell me the slide deck for the quarterly launch is finalized and loaded on the server.

We have seventy stakeholders logging into the conference bridge at nine sharp.”

Ethan took a step toward the kitchen window, looking out at the gray winter rain tapping on the glass.

“The slide deck was uploaded to the shared folder at six this morning,” Ethan said.

“I’m calling to tell you I won’t be leading the presentation today.”