"Oh, one more thing," he says, as if it occurred to him at the last moment- but you know he's been meaning to bring it up since you called. "What do you have planned for lunch? I have a free day and would love to catch up."

This, of course, is Darin-speak for "it's time for our post-meeting budget plan." For a long time now, you and Darin meet privately the day after the first underboss meeting of the month. When it's been bad news, it happens in your office. When it's been good news, you usually go out to lunch.