I blink. "What?"
"Not because that's the right thing to do." Her voice is calm. Matter-of-fact. "But because that's what you're going to do anyway. And I'd rather you own it than pretend you're collaborating when you're not."
She pauses. Lets that settle.
"But don't be surprised when he shows up Wednesday and refuses to use your deck."
My face burns.She's right.
I was already planning to draft it alone.
Liv sighs. "If you're going to manage him, own it. But don't call it partnership when it's control."
Nadia adds the last piece. "And don't be surprised when he pushes back."
I nod.
I don't say anything. I'm already building the deck in my head. Slide order. Talking points. Timing cues.
I tell myself it's preparation.
It feels a lot more like defense.
**
I'm halfway to the subway when my phone buzzes. A delivery truck beeps in reverse somewhere behind me. I pull out my phone without slowing my pace.
Tom
Wednesday 7 AM work for you? We should talk through the Board structure before I start editing visuals.
I stop walking on the crowded sidewalk.
Talk through the structure.
He doesn't want me to hand him a plan; he wants to build it with me.
My thumb hovers over the keyboard. I can feel the shape of the right answer. The collaborative answer. The one Liv and Nadia told me to choose.
But then I picture him standing next to me, confidently adjusting my angles, completely immune to my color-coded calendar. If I let him build this with me, I lose my only leverage.
Me
7 AM works. I'll have a draft deck ready.
I hit send before I can hear Priya's voice in my head.
I already know what she'd ask.
I already know my answer.
Three dots appear instantly.
Tom
Can't wait to tear it apart.
My pulse spikes, a sharp, terrifying mix of fury and anticipation.
