“But it’s on me, too. Because now I know you have no intention of moving forward with them.” “So?” “So what do I do? Go back to my office and tell my boss that you’re not talking to Vivant, that instead you and I are selling a book? It’s going to look like I went behind their backs, on company time, mind you, and stole their story for myself.” “That’s not really my problem,” Evelyn says. “But that’s why I have to think about it. Because it’s my problem.” Evelyn hears me. I can tell she’s taking me seriously from the way she puts her water glass down and looks directly at me, leaning with her forearms on the table. “You have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here, Monique. You can see that, right?” “Of course.” “So do yourself a favor and learn how to grab life by the balls, dear. Don’t be so tied up trying to do the right thing when the smart thing is so painfully clear.” “You don’t think that I should be forthright with my employers about this? They'll think I conspired to screw them over.” Evelyn shakes her head. “When my team specifically requested you, your company shot back with someone at a higher level. They only agreed to send you out once I made it clear that it was you or it was no one. Do you know why they did that?” “Because they don’t think I—” “Because they run a business. And so do you. And right now, your business stands to go through the roof. You have a choice to make. Are we writing a book together or not? You should know, if you won’t write it, ’'m not going to give it to anyone else. It will die with me in that case.” “Why would you tell only me your life story? You don’t even know me. That doesn’t make sense.” “T’m under absolutely no obligation to make sense to you.” “What are you after, Evelyn?” “You ask too many questions.”