I was in the process of tidying up when the phone rang. I walk over to my desk and pick up the phone, bracing myself.

“Hello, Mr. Jensen’s office, this is Katharine speaking,” I say as politely as I can manage.

“I need to speak to Mr. Jensen!” a brass voice yells at me through the phone.

“I’m sorry he’s not available right now. Can I take a message?”

“Will you just set up a meeting with him? And as soon as possible,” he asks. “Goddamn useless secretaries” he mutters under his breath.

“I’ll see what I can do. It looks like his schedule is pretty much empty for a while, just a funeral coming up.”

“Fine, that’s great, can you just email me with an appointment please?”

“Yes sir, have a nice day.”

I hang up and look to the floor, where a life-less Mr. Jensen lies, and smile.