The Boss Babes exchange looks. The kind of silent communication that happens when you've known someone long enough to skip entire conversations.
Nadia leans forward, resting her elbows on the table. "Wait. Are you actually going to plan this with him, or are you just doing his homework so you can boss him around?"
My answer comes too fast. "I'm making sure we don't look unprepared."
Liv's eyes narrow. "That's not what she asked."
My hands tighten on the cup. "If I don't run the presentation, it falls apart."
Priya's voice is calm. Steady.
"That's how it worked when you were solo. You're not solo anymore."
I look at her. "So what? I just hand him the presentation and hope he doesn't improvise us into disaster?"
Nadia shakes her head. "No. You ask him what he needs to do his job well. Then you build the structure together."
The resistance rises in my chest before I can stop it. "And if he says he doesn't need structure?"
Liv's response is immediate. "Then you learn what his version of preparation looks like. Because competent people don't wing flagship presentations. They just don't prep the way you do."
I stare at my coffee. I don't like that answer.
I like it even less because it might be right.
Priya tilts her head. "Okay, worst-case scenario. What actually happens if you just step back and let the guy do his job?"
My throat tightens.
"That he'll make us look disorganized. That the Board will see the friction. That they'll question whether we can deliver if we can't even present cohesively."
Nadia rolls her eyes, taking a sip of her coffee. "Please. You're just terrified he's going to crush it, and you won't get to be the sole savior of the Harbor project."
The table goes quiet.
Behind the counter, the espresso machine hisses.
Liv doesn't break eye contact.
Priya breaks the silence. "Okay. Let's vote."
She sits up straighter. Her voice shifts into the formal register we use when we're making it official.
"Question: Do you draft the presentation structure alone and hand it to him, or do you ask him to co-draft it with you?"
Liv goes first. "Co-draft. You're already tethered. Stop fighting it."
Nadia nods. "Co-draft. You don't have enough data on how he works under Board pressure. You need to see his process."
Priya doesn't speak right away.
She just looks at me.
I stare at the table.
Then she says,
"Alone."
