“Okay, okay, I’m going to check how Jason’s part of the project is going. You should hurry and see if there’s another project you can grab...”
She seemed afraid I’d change my mind and didn’t dare linger for another second.
I took a deep breath. The cold screen in front of me still showed my carefully crafted business proposal — and those blinding signatures: Claire and Jason.
My phone rang again. Claire’s name flashed across the screen.
I picked up, keeping my voice as even as possible. “Hello.”
“Ethan...”
Her voice came softly through the receiver. “How’s the new proposal coming along? Any ideas yet?”
“Drop the fake concern, Claire. I’ve been sitting for less than ten minutes.”
“Oh, right.”
She paused, completely ignoring my sarcasm. “That’s perfect then — hold off on that and help Jason and me with something first.”
A cold laugh rose in my chest, though my face stayed expressionless. “What is it?”
“You know, the project from before.”
She spoke naturally, as if it really had become “their” project.
“Even though we’ve submitted the proposal, we still need five printed, bound copies for the review meeting.”
“Jason and I are swamped and can’t spare a minute. You haven’t found a new project yet, so can you go downstairs to the print shop and get them done for us?”
Printing. Binding. Running errands.
The proposal I spent three sleepless nights finishing — taken, signed by someone else — and now I was supposed to be their unpaid errand boy.
When I didn’t immediately respond, Claire’s tone turned urgent.
“Ethan? Did you hear me? It’s just a small thing — don’t tell me you’re going to refuse again? We’re colleagues, we should help each other out, right? Jason really can’t get away right now...”
My fingers felt icy around the phone.
I could faintly hear Jason’s voice in the background before Claire replied to him sweetly, “I’ll be right there.”
“Oh, and make sure the cover is printed on premium cardstock so it looks professional. Don’t use regular paper. Pay first — we’ll settle up later.”
Her instructions were meticulous, like she was talking to her assistant.
“Thanks! Once I’m done, I’ll take you out for something nice to eat and make it up to you. Gotta go!”
She hung up without waiting for an answer.
Almost immediately, my phone lit up again — Jason’s latest social media post.
No caption. Just two movie ticket stubs and a red heart emoji.
Location: Downtown Luxury Cinema.
Seconds later, Claire’s like and comment appeared beneath it:
“So nice to take a break from work together. Feeling so happy!”
My finger hovered over the screen for a moment.
Too busy? Couldn’t spare a moment?
So this was what they were busy with — going to the movies together, posting heart emojis, while expecting me, the one they stole from, to clean up after them?
I stared at the post, then typed my comment:
“So your ‘too busy to breathe’ schedule is just snuggling in a movie theater? Impressive.”
Moments later, my phone buzzed violently — another call from Claire.
