Page 103 of Partner Pursuit
Max:Do u still have rock star costume?
She laughed, which turned into a hacking cough.
Audrey:Max, you were rock star. I was groupie.
Max:You’re always a rock star to me!
Audrey:Except that I can’tsing.
Max: You canlip-sync—can’t you? We’ll talk soon! Will work on this. Chin up!JJ
She was sure it was just her feverish mind playing tricks on her, but those smiling faces looked like little devils grinning. She needed to get better soon so she had some strength to stop Max’s latest machinations.
Around 8 p.m., she woke up again. Eve had texted and said she would bring over the soup whenever Audrey felt like it. She texted Eve that she was going to take a shower, but she would lovesomesoup.
After the shower, seeing her phone blinking red, she picked it up. She shouldn’t check it. She had given herself the day off. Still, shedid.
To:Audrey Willems
From:Lawrence Malaburn
Date:December
Subject: Associate MentoringCommittee
Audrey, I would like to meet with you today about the associate mentoringcommittee.
Lawrence M. Malaburn
Well, that wasn’t urgent.He must have seen herout-of-officemessage.
Except there were two more messages fromMalaburn.
To:Audrey Willems
From:Lawrence Malaburn
Date:December
Subject: Associate MentoringCommittee
Audrey, please respond immediately. I need to talk to you today about the associate mentoring committee. I left you a voicemail on your work number.
Lawrence M. Malaburn
Because that would be the best way to reach a sick person who isn’t checking their email—by calling that person in their office.
To:Audrey Willems
From:Lawrence Malaburn
Date:December
Subject: Associate MentoringCommittee
Audrey, I left you a voicemail on your work phone and wrote you three emails. As you know, it is firm policy to respond within 24 hoursto emails.
Lawrence M. Malaburn
