“You’re thinking about the review,” he says.
I look at him.
He looks back.
The man has a gift for making employment feel negotiable.
“No,” I say.
Julien’s eyebrows rise. “That was almost convincing.”
“You have work to do.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then do it.”
“In a moment,” Julien says. “Claire called me.”
“Unfortunate for you.”
“She says you’re not returning her messages.”
“That is inaccurate.”
“You returned two.”
“Then I’m returning her messages.”
“She left seventeen.”
“Then she is leaving too many messages.”
Julien looks toward the dining room, then back at me.
“She wants the press plan approved before noon.”
“She can want things.”
“She says the launch will suffer without a controlled press strategy.”
“The launch will suffer if the fish is poor.”
“That is not what she means.”
“I know what she means.”
“She thinks you are being difficult.”
“Claire is intelligent. I’m sure she’s moved past thinking and into certainty.”
Julien places the folder on the pass. “She also said three critics are already trying to get in.”
“Good for them.”
“You may want to know which ones.”
“I may not.”
