“What’s it called?”
“Project Lighthouse.”
He blinked.
“That’s terrible.”
Evelyn stared.
“I like it.”
“Of course you do.”
“It communicates purpose.”
“It communicates that someone had a branding meeting.”
“There was no branding meeting.”
“That’s worse.”
Evelyn almost smiled.
Then became serious.
“I want you to lead it.”
Daniel leaned back.
“No.”
She did not flinch.
“I expected that.”
“Then why ask?”
“Because I also expect you to think about it.”
“I’m not going back.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“It’s Arcturus.”
“The role is remote.”
Daniel said nothing.
“Mostly remote,” she corrected. “You would come in for board reviews, training, and implementation sessions when necessary.”
“No travel?”
“Minimal.”
“No permanent Portland requirement?”
“No.”
“Hours?”
“Structured around outcomes, not presence.”
“Victor will hate it.”
“Yes.”
That answer was too fast.
Daniel looked at her.
“This is partly about him.”
“This is about a system.”
“Which he represents.”
“Currently.”
Daniel heard the implication.
He looked toward the screen door.
Lily was outside drawing.
“You really built this.”
“I’m trying to.”
“Why me?”
“Because you know operations.”
“There are hundreds of people who know operations.”
“You understand what failed.”
“That doesn’t make me qualified to redesign HR.”
“You won’t.”
Evelyn leaned forward.