That night I went to bed with Azmir Jacobs Fever and reluctantly loved every moment of it.
The next morning I went to work and about my day as normal. At around nine thirty a.m. I got a page from Sharon. “Ms. Brimm, a delivery just came for you.”
“I’ll be right out to get it once I’m done with Mr. Peters. Thanks,” I replied. I had a great disposition. Similar to the day before, I operated with a little more zest than usual. I didn’t even think of what to attribute it to, I just basked in it.
When I walked Mr. Peters out I asked Sharon to set his next appointment. After bidding him a good day and reminding him to take it easy for the next few days, Sharon handed me a FedEx package and I walked into my office to open it. I had a ten fifteen conference call with the bosses that I didn’t want to be late for. After dialing into the call, I put the phone on speaker, then muted the call and started to open the package. Removing the postal package, I settled on a thick square box and read the graphics. I couldn’t believe it. It was an iPhone5! I almost screamed. I did scream under my breath. The call was muted so there was just a one-way sound but I didn’t want to alarm the office. I couldn’t believe he’d schemed it up so quickly.
I spent the next hour on the call contemplating my next move with Azmir. Suddenly, I wanted to play the game with him. I had to respond strategically, I’d never experienced this before and wanted my next move to be well calculated. I paged Sharon asking her the time of my next appointment and she told me I had no more until after lunch. Miracle of all miracles. I’d thought that was the case but needed to confirm.
I called over to the recreation center and asked for Azmir. I was transferred and put on hold a hundred times. Finally, I was put through to his receptionist. Nasally she informed, “Mr. Jacobs is unavailable right now. May I take a message?”
I had to think quickly. “I was wondering if it’s too late to make an appointment to see him. Does he have an opening today?” I damn-near begged.
“What’s this appointment in reference to, ma’am?”
Think…think, Rayna…think!
“My name is Rayna Brimm. I’m the office administrator of the Smith, Katz & Adams Sports Medicine practice next door. Mr. Jacobs asked me to meet with him regarding a few changes in the leasing contract as soon as possible,” I lied. That’s what desperate people do.
“It seems to me that this meeting would require his attorneys and accountants. I would have to schedule it for two weeks out to include them—” she attempted.
I cut her off, “He specifically said that we’d determine who’d need to be there by the changes agreed upon. This would be a preliminary conference.”
She paused for a while, obviously annoyed, before saying, “How long do you foresee this meeting being?”
Yes!
“…thirty minutes…forty-five minutes tops.” I felt immense relief. I could tell she was going to grant my request.
“I can only offer eleven forty-five until a quarter after. He has a business luncheon at one p.m. that he has to travel to. Can I have your name again?”