Page 339 of Double or Nothing

“A man you invited here under false pretences. That was not what was ever discussed, Bill, and you know it.”

My boss places both hands on my desk.

“You should be on your knees trying to repair this.”

My old reflex surges. The need to apologise. Explain. Promise to fix it. Do whatever is required to restore his approval.

I can almost feel the words assembling. Instincts rising.

But fuck that shit.

I look at Christopher.

This is my future if I stay. Not restoration. Erasure. It’s already a work in progress.

“You’ve caused a fucking almighty uproar,” Bill continues. “Adrian will contact the Landia board within the hour. Do you understand what you’ve cost us?”

“Yes,” I say. “An extra percentage on a deal that would’ve been worth millions regardless.”

“An extra percentage you had no fucking right to be costing us. Start making calls. Now!”

“No.”

The word is so quiet he almost misses it.

Bill straightens up. Tries his imposing stance.

“What did you say?”

“I said no.”

Christopher gives a short laugh.

“This is pathetic. Are you trying to prove a point here, Bryce? That you own the Landia project?”

I look at him.

“No. Pathetic was listening to you explain Landia from the start, and stumbling over every fucking equation.”

Bill slams a palm against my desk.

“Enough of this. Make the calls. NOW!”

The sound travels through the glass windows to the corridor, I can see the people outside pretending not to hear it.

“You will contact Adrian,” Bill says. “You will tell him you misunderstood the direction of the meeting. Then you will call Northmere and explain that you spoke without authority.”

“I didn’t misunderstand anything.”

“I’m giving you the opportunity to save your fucking position here, Bryce. Do you not see that?”

Aha.

There it is.

Opportunity.

His favourite word.