“But,” he continues, “there’s one thing I’ll need from you. Before I can approve the transfer.”
I eye him with misgiving. “What isit?”
“Just a formality, really. A box-ticking exercise, if you will.” He indulges in a dramatic pause, then comes out with it. “Admit I was right you couldn’t pass the skills test. And you were wrong.”
I re-cross my arms. “You know that already.”
“I do,” he says, head bobbing. “But I’m still going to need to hear you sayit.”
“Surely that’s not necessary.”
“Humorme.”
He waits expectantly. I have a feeling he would sit here all day. It’s so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
“FINE,” I say, sounding like a surly teenager.
He rolls his wrist like,goon.
I grind myjaw.
“You were…right.”
“And?”
“And I was wrong.” It comes out barely above a whisper.
He gives me a huge grin, full-wattage. His delight is palpable. I have never seen a person smile sobig.
“Truly incredible to witness. I should have recorded that. I have a feeling it’s the first and last apology I’ll get from you.”
I roll my eyes. “OK, Mr. Fancy Data Scientist. I’ve been working here for six years, I’m notthatuseless.”
“You bombed a coding quiz for five-year-olds.”
“I can’t have done that badly.”
“Instead of a line of code, you wrotethis is hardon the last question.”
“I…didn’t realize you’d be able to see that.”
He laughs, the sound of it pulling a reluctant smile out of me in return. “You’ve got to admit. It was funny.”
“It wasn’t funny.”
“It was a little bit funny.”
“Says you,” I tell him. “I’m the one who failed the dino quiz.”
We both stand to leave, and he holds the door open for me, saying just before I pass through, “I’m not going to lie, I pictured this going very differently. I thought there’d be a lot more of you saying things likethank you, Connor, you’re amazing.”
“Thank you, Connor, you’re amazing,” I deadpan.
“I’m sorry I swore at you at the start of this meeting,” he says, obviously wanting me to repeat it. I scowl as I walk past.
“You know what, never mind,” he calls from behind me. “I accept your half-smile in lieu of apology.”
Seven
