"Alex! What game are you playing?" he roared. The entire open-plan office fell silent. "You have all the previous concepts and materials! Send them to me, now! If we lose this client, can you handle the fallout?"
Heads turned. Some colleagues watched with gloating smirks, others with morbid curiosity.
I slowly raised my head.
"William." I kept my voice low, forcing him to lean in. "That proposal is your project. From initial planning to client coordination, you've handled the entire process. I don't have any materials."
I paused, letting the silence stretch.
"As for the fallout... whoever owns the project owns the consequences. Simple principle."
"Bullshit!" He jabbed a finger toward my face, shaking with rage. "When have I ever done the grunt work? It's always me coming up with creative direction and you handling execution!"
"And now you want to change the rules?"
"I'm telling you, if this proposal isn't ready today, neither of us survives this!"
"In the past, I helped you," I corrected him, my gaze cold. "But it wasn't my duty. It was a favor. And I'm done doing favors. Now, please let me work."
I turned back to my monitor, dismissing him completely.