Days after her mother had made the rounds of her daughters and grandchildren and left them all chastened by her infinite wisdom before quitting Los Angeles, Sora sneezed into the crook over her arm and just about toppled out of her office chair. Okay, this one has to go. It was only her flailing grab at the desk that saved her a nasty concussion and one more blow to her sorely wounded pride. I can't be sick. I don't have time to be sick.

Cristina offered Sora a Kleenex from the box on the corner of her desk. "You sure you don't want to head home? I can cancel the rest of your meetings for the day."

"These meetings have been on the books for weeks." Sora took the tissue to blow her nose, feeling every year of her life in her bones and lungs. I hate everything. Can't it be Saturday already? But no, it was only Wednesday.

"It's not the end of the world if you don't go. Mr. Himura would be happy to cover for you."

"Sam is not the CEO, though the board is probably going to wish he was if I start skipping conference calls." Sora'd head swam as she tried to set her chair to rights. The lights were suddenly too bright and her joints began to throb. Just great.

"You've missed three meetings out of dozens you've attended since stepping up as CEO. I wouldn't steer you wrong."

Someone I can actually believe. "That's the most comforting thing I've heard all week."

Cristina smiled. "No meetings?"

Sora threw up her hands—and nearly fell a second time. "All right, no meetings. Call Sam and have him sit in. Would you sit in with him and prepare a summary of the minutes for me? I'm sure he'll relay everything to me, but I'd feel a lot better knowing you were there to cover all the bases."

"Happy to do it." As a full on sneezing jag hit Sora, Cristina handed her the entire box. "You want me to call Aiko to pick Tommy up from daycare?"

"Cristina, you're a lifesaver."

"Remember me at Christmas."

"And your birthday. Trust me, you've more than earned your bonuses."

"Anything for you, boss."

...

...

Bzzzzzzt!

Sora grunted.

Bzzzzzt!

She whimpered.

Bzzzzzzt!

She prised open one red-rimmed eye in unadulterated disgust. Can't I be sick in peace?

Sora unfurled herself from her down duvet cocoon to claw for her vibrating phone. The buzzing was aggravating the pressure inside her head. This day couldn't get any worse. Don't be Anthony, don't be Hana, don't be Sam. Don't even be Aiko.

She blew her nose on a wad of tissues she'd been clutching in her other hand for the past forty-five minutes. Where is the box? She found it empty, overturned off the side of the bed. How? She didn't have the presence of mind to give it deep consideration.

Her fingers slipped on the touchscreen. Not today, damn it. Were it not for Ravi's face on the screen, she'd be ignoring the call to hibernate until the worst of her illness had passed.

She answered, sniffling, "Vat?" Congestion. Wonderful.

"I hear you're nursing the plague over there," Ravi said in lieu of a greeting.

"That would explain my generally corpse-like appearance." Sora burrowed under her covers with his voice on speaker.

"How would you like some company? I could order soup and bring it over. We could watch some movies."

Company sounded hellish. Sora was an introvert at the best of times and a hermit at the worst. She wanted to lick her pathetic wounds and recuperate without an audience. Ravi Misra the playboy and me with a blotchy face only a mother could love. Sora missed being babied on sick days.

"You can't come over, you'd get sick."

"I don't know about that. I've got a pretty strong constitution."

"You'd make everyone at Misra sick, too. As it is, this bug is doing a number on the staff at Himura. Half the office is out and even more are walking around like zombies with a head cold. Productivity is nil this week."

"Next week will be better."

Sora felt a miniscule smile take up residence on her face. "You'll see to it?"

"I'm not that good, but I know a thing or two about the common cold. It'll wear itself out soon enough. What about Tommy? You need me to pick him up?"

"Aiko got him from daycare after I went home for the day. I didn't want to risk him catching what I've got. It could be dangerous at his age. She'll keep him until I'm up and around again, which I'm hoping to be by Saturday."

"Don't push it. Give yourself enough time to recover or you'll be right back where you started on Sunday."

"I hate it when you're the voice of reason."

"Since it rarely happens, you won't have to get used to it. I'm bringing soup: beef or chicken?"

If she had to have company, she could envision worse. "Vegetarian."

"Done. I'll see you in a few."

"Ravi, you don't have to stay with me. I'll be miserable company feeling like this."

"I want to. I didn't get my daily dose of Sora. You're a hard habit to break."

Contrary to chills wracking her body, Sora was warmed. She wiped her nose.

"I'll leave the door unlocked."

"I hate it when you do that."

"If you're so worried, you'd better hurry over—and bring Kleenex, all the boxes you can get your hands on."

He hummed, obviously entertained by her grievous suffering. Devious bastard. "I will. See you soon."

"See ya."