"Knock knock," Jerry says, walking in.
"What are you doing here, Jerry?" you ask. Your anger shows in your voice.
Jerry holds up his hands in mock defense. "Hey, now, don't be like that." He looks around your office, runs his fingers over the dusty surfaces.
"Nice space," he says. "Very you."
"What do you want?"
Is it just you, or is there something anxious about him? As if he doesn't actually want to be here.
"I have an offer for you."
"Oh?"
He shifts his weight from one foot to the other and studies your rug, as if to avoid facing you. When he looks up, there is a glint in his eye. Something small and scared, like a cornered animal.
You've never seen him like this before.
"OK, so, here it is," he says. "I'm willing to forget your debt to me, if you let this whole VE thing go."