Brendan’s smile faded, but his attention remained transfixed on Deirdre. “I was just thinking… I’m not that great of a boss, after all.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because if I were, if I did everything as well as I could, why would any of my subordinates want to betray me? In fact, he would rather die than let me know anything?”

He did not sound too emotive, but Deirdre could hear forlornness and melancholy undergirding his tone.

“I admit to being a terrible, unforgivable husband, Deirdre,