He cleared his throat, looking for an answer. He wasn't about to tell her - no, if she disliked him now, telling her all the thoughts he was now having about why he was sketching her in the first place, about why he wanted her around but didn't, about why he hired her but avoided her...no, he couldn't explain. He coughed again, and offered a weak smile.
"Sorry, I just remembered something I have to do. It's..."
think think think think
"-my son's birthday this week. I forgot to get him a present,"
And that wasn't a lie. It was Bobby's birthday this week, and up until this morning, he had forgotten to get a present. He had remembered just as he walked into his office that morning. It seemed as good a cover up as any.