Friday.
The engagement dinner was tonight.
The building felt different.
Damian went through the day with careful purpose.
He reviewed the committee response.
All twelve pages.
He had been on page four yesterday.
He read the rest.
He emailed Walker legal with three specific questions about the language in section seven that needed clarifying before Monday.
He answered the four things in his inbox that required answers.
He organized his notes from the week into a structure that would be usable next week.
He did not think about tonight.
He was very focused on not thinking about tonight.
Lena texted at noon.
how are you doing
Working.
that means badly
He set the phone down.
He picked it up.
It means working, he typed.
She sent back a single emoji.
He knew which one she meant.
He put the phone in his desk drawer.
At 3pm, Marcus appeared in the doorway.
He knocked first.
He always knocked.
"You're welcome to use any part of the building this evening," he said.
