Page 13 of Lovely War
From: Ben
To: Annie
Stats are on the website
He can’t even spare me a period to go along with his assumption that I didn’t look in the most obvious place first. This is someone who’s supposed to know me.
Tuesday, 3:57p.m.
From: Annie
To: Ben
Thanks, I did check the website before I emailed you since I like to think I’m not totally incompetent, but it actually didn’t have everything I needed. The list I sent you yesterday (reattached here) is everything I couldn’t find on the website and need you to send me.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Then nothing. I finish the parts of the video I can complete without his information and use my notes from Monday’s meeting to fill in my calendar while I wait. And wait.
Wednesday, 4:07p.m.
From: Annie
To: Ben
Hi Ben, just a reminder that as I mentioned in my prior emails, I need those stats (list attached here again) by the end of the day today. Thanks.
My deadline floats by. I write and rewrite my next email. I’d like to talk to him in person, but he’s always hurrying in the opposite direction or hiding in his office with the door closed. I try knocking, but he doesn’t answer. Once I manage to corner him in the kitchen, but his dark, stony gaze barely settles on me for a millisecond before he says, “Email me,” and slips away as I call after him, “I did.”
I make a great effort to restrain myself. It’s only week one.
Thursday, 9:02a.m.
From: Annie
To: Ben
Ben—Please forward me the stats I requested ASAP, no later than 5 pm today. The reason I asked for them by yesterday afternoon was that the video needs to be finalized by tonight. Everything is now ready to go except the stats. It’s going to be a great video.
I’m sure you are super busy doing many important things, but this video is scheduled to go up by tomorrow morning, so please let me know if there is anything I can do to help get this done.
I’m relieved when his name pops up, until I read the email.
Thursday, 4:55p.m.
From: Ben
To: Annie
Annie, I’ve been in meetings all day on some more urgent matters. What specifically are you looking for? Your last email didn’t have an attachment.
I drag my hands down my face. It’s pretty brazen of him to feign the inability to search his inbox.
Thursday, 4:57p.m.
From: Annie
To: Ben
