Otis stared at me, tapping two fingers against the table.
"Where's the business plan?"
I stood where I was, my expression calm. "I threw it away."
The conference room went silent for a full second.
"What did you just say?"
Otis's voice dropped low.
"I said I threw it away." I repeated myself. "Yesterday, in the hallway. Tossed it in the trash."
Steve shot upright in his chair. "Are you out of your mind? The board's been waiting on that, and you threw it away?"
"Joseph, what is that supposed to mean?" Valerie's voice pitched higher. "Did you do this on purpose?"
Otis raised a hand, cutting them both off.
"Joseph, I'm going to give you one chance to explain yourself."
Seven years. In seven years, he had never once spoken to me in that tone.
It wasn't anger. It wasn't disappointment. It was the condescension of I'm giving you a chance. As if my standing here at all was some kind of gift he'd bestowed.
"There's nothing to explain. I threw it away."
"You—!"
Steve shot to his feet, eyes blazing like he wanted to tear me apart.
Otis told him to sit down.
Steve glanced at his father, then dropped back into his seat.
Otis turned to me, tapping the table twice more.