tion to Senior Analyst at his firm, a position he desperately wanted.

is my shot. I have to n

thy. Just a cold, calculating calm. I remembered this day from my first life. He had been just

, I had o

g out the door, a frantic look on

him his coffee. "Don't forget your presentation fil

I'd forget my head if it wa

cheek, a quick, dist

the one with the finalized, crucial data charts he needed, which I ha

called

. "I have a bit of a problem. Matthew was in such a rush this morn

ed. "That boy! He's go

aid something before he left... he said, 'Don't let Mom bring them. She w

g. It was a blatant lie, but it was perfectly designed to trigger her deepest inse

Her voice was da

"He's just stressed. But I don't want to cause

er. I will bring him his files. I know exactl

le," I said. "Thank you, D

ow smile spreading across

phone buzzed. It was

? DEBRA IS HERE.

n't r

sn't just angry; he was a defeated, raging bull. He sla

ting a trembling finger

ked, looking up from th

You sent my mot

d insisted on "helping." She marched into the bullpen and started giving unsolicited advice to his colleagues. She t

e cornered a female executive who

erful that you have a career. But a woman's real fulfillment comes from her fam

ent from the corporate headquarters. She was in town specifically to ov

im his presentation was adequate, but his judgment was a serious conce

delivering her tirade about a

or creating a hostile environment, even by proxy. His car

his face pale. He looked at me, expecting.

t nei

original source. He grabbed h

med into the phone. "You ruined me!

ust trying to help you, Matty! I just wanted to make sure yo

never seen him direct at her before. He slu

him. I put a hand on his back,

id, my voice calm and even, "She's your

tting the wo

ou getting

sbelief. He recognized the words. They were the same empty

iving end of his mother's "help." And