Richard was cleaning up the reports on his desk, making sure everything was in order before Michael could find something to criticize. The usual rhythm of his day—bowing to every demand, running around at Michael's every beck and call—had already drained him, but he wasn't done. Michael was meeting someone important today, someone Richard didn't know.
Michael had barked at him earlier in the day: "Don't come in unless I call for you. This one's delicate."
Richard stayed out of sight, working like a shadow, making sure he didn't attract any unwanted attention. He could hear muffled voices coming from Michael's office, the tone shifting between calm and heated. As the hours passed, the voices grew louder, more intense.
At some point, the shouting started.
