He was shocked. His face paled, then reddened. His hands gripped the table tightly, but she could see they were shaking.
"How could you cancel the contract?"
"We have always had that right."
He pulled a untidy bundle of paper from his folder and started to flick through it.
"Show me where it says you can do that."
She silently took the papers and leafed through to the page. As she pointed out the clause, she noted irrelevantly that her fingernail was dirty and broken short.
He read the indicated words and nodded slowly.
"Got me there."
He scratched his head, sighed, and stood to leave, his chair grating on the linoleum.
"Better get moving then".
He seemed to take it calmly, but she knew there would be consequences.
