And then the floodgates opened up, and I spilled. I told her about my company's financial predicament, about hiring Ms. Amber, my tropical retreat, and the astonishing changes I'd found when I returned. This torrent took over twenty minutes, while she only probed for more information a couple of times (such as 'When did this happen?') but otherwise, she just listened and took notes. I hated when she took notes... I always wondered what she was writing... I always wondered which highlights she was selecting from what I was telling her.

But once I'd given her the gist of everything, she conducted more of a point by point interview.

"Would...