COLE

“Mirela, this better be really important. I was in a very—” I overheard Mr. Gomez say as he and his wife walked down the hallway toward where I stood.

“I promise you, my darling, I would never pull you out of your meeting over something trivial. This is equally important—if not more significant—than the meeting you just left,” came the reply, and I shifted my weight from one foot to the other.

“What could possibly be more important than my meeting? Why couldn’t you tell me while I was in there? Do I really have to step out of my office to hear it? It better be a life-or-death...