When Jeff arrived, Clare and Bobby were already in his uncle's office, an unspectacular room that Bob refused to modernize or decorate since the company was founded. His wife referred to its style as “1970s Construction,” which suited her husband just fine.

Bobby was sitting behind the big wooden desk, and he didn't look happy.

“Sit down, Jeff.” It felt like an order.

Clare went first. “Jeff, I think you know that we're not the kind of people who smile at someone in person and then talk about them behind their backs. We're going to be up front with you, whether you like it or not.”

Before Jeff could say sure, Bobby took over.

“The thing is, we're not too thrilled about you being our new boss.”

Jeff froze. He would tell his wife later that night that he felt like he was in a scene from a bad movie.

Bobby paused to let the words hang there before continuing. “I've worked my ass off for more than a decade for your blowhard uncle, and how does he reward me? By giving the top job to his nephew?”

Jeff was stunned, and looked at Clare to see if she shared any of his shock at the harsh words coming out of Bobby's mouth. Apparently she didn't, because she just stared at Jeff, who tried to defend himself.

“Listen, I didn't expect—”

Bobby interrupted him. “I don't want to hear it. You knew when you came here that you had the inside track. Bob must have known when he hired you that he'd be leaving.”

“No, he said that he just met with the doctor yesterday, and that he—”

Now Clare interrupted. “Come on, Jeff. Do you think we were born yesterday?”

It seemed like Clare had more to say, but she suddenly stopped, stood up, and turned away from Jeff toward the windows.

Bobby looked at her with a mix of concern and disappointment on his face. With greater intensity than before, he continued the tirade directed at Jeff. “So here's the deal. If you're going to be the boss, we're out of here.”

Jeff was spinning. Speechless.

As angry as he should have been, Bobby seemed distracted by Clare, glancing over at her.

Jeff turned to see why and noticed that Clare was visibly shaking.

Is she crying? He wondered.

“Good luck making this place work on your own, buddy!” Bobby stood and moved toward the door. “Let's go, Clare.”

And that's when Clare seemed to break. Bending over to put her face in her hands, she started shaking even more.

Jeff was as confused as ever.

And that's when he heard the sound of Clare choking back laughter.

“Shit, Clare!” Bobby shouted at his colleague.

She turned toward Bobby and broke down laughing. “I'm sorry, I just couldn't.”

“You blew it! We had him going!” Bobby was shaking his head at Clare.

Finally, Jeff came to terms with the prank that had just been pulled on him.

“You guys are bastards!” Jeff's indignation was more than tempered by his relief. Smiling, he picked up a bottle of water from the table in front of him and threw it at Bobby, who caught it.

“Admit it. We got you,” Bobby teased.

“I'm so sorry, Jeff,” Clare pleaded with her new boss. “He made me do it.”

Jeff teased her. “So, I guess you'll be handling your own termination?”

She winced. “Bob is going to be so pissed at us when he hears about this.”

“No he's not,” Bobby countered. “He'll think it's hilarious.”

Jeff agreed with him. “Yeah, he will. The blowhard.”