"Effie, help me."


    Annabel spotted Effie and seized on her as if she were a lifeline, reaching out as she hurried over.


    Effie jumped, startled. If she hadn''t recognized Annabel''s voice, she might have thought she''d bumped into a zombie in broad daylight.


    "Annabel, are you okay?" Effie asked, her face etched with concern.


    "I''m fine, just a little groggy," Annabel replied, rubbing her eyes. "Could you run to the break room in your department and make me a cup of coffee? That''ll fix everything."


    Effie nced Annabel up and down. Did she just look tired? Somehow, it didn''t seem that simple.


    Just then, Luther hurried over, a small box of painkillers in his hand.


    "Ms. Annabel, Mr. Etheridge asked me to bring these to you. He said you probably didn''t get much sleep and have a headache," Luther said, holding out the box.


    Annabel''s head was pounding. She took the meds gratefully and muttered, "At least he has a heart."


    She turned to Effie. "Effie, please, could you fetch me some coffee? I need something to wash these down."


    Effie''s lips twitched. Coffee with painkillers? That didn''t sound right.


    Just as she was about to protest, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye-a shadow darted past.


    Effie froze, suspicion flickering in her gaze. Someone was hiding in the corner, but it didn''t look like Lyman.


    Besides, if it were Lyman, he''d just walk right out. He wasn''t the type to skulk around.


    Annabel called out again, "Effie, please, I''m begging you!"


    Flustered, Effie slipped into the break room and returned with a ss of water.


    Annabel stared at it, exasperated. "Seriously? Water?"


    Effie shrugged. "Coffee isn''t great for taking pills. Drink this first-once you''re feeling better, I''ll get you that coffee."


    "All right, fine," Annabel relented.


    She swallowed the pills with the water, and after a few minutes, some color returned to her face.


    .nět


    "Last night was out negotiating a deal," she exined. "Had a few drinks with the clients, and woke i


    feeling like my head was splitting open. I finally feel human again."


    "Just a few drinks, huh?" Effie raised an eyebrow.


    up


    Annabel''s smile froze. She gave a sheepishugh. "Well... it''s not like wanted to. You know how these meetings go-nobody takes you seriously unless you y along."


    Effie shook her head. "You can''t keep doing this to yourself. Next time, just drink less. Or bring Lyman with you-no one would dare push you around if he was there."


    Annabelughed. "Oh,e on. You wouldn''t rely on him yourself, but you expect me to?"


    Effie blushed, embarrassed that Annabel had seen right through her.


    "By the way, what brings you here? Is there someone in Lyman''s office you''re trying to avoid?"


    Annabel thought, Effie really is sharp-no wonder Lyman likes her.


    "There''s a mad dog in there. Didn''t want to risk getting bitten," Annabel replied dryly.


    Effie burst outughing. "Who is it this time-who''s so bad you have to call them a mad dog?"


    "Anyway," Annabel continued, changing the subject, "I''m bringing a team over here today for the jewelry shoot. Isabel''s the face of the campaign. You know her, right?"


    Effie nodded. Of course she knew.


    She wasn''t even supposed to be in charge of this project, but Irving Butler remembered the tension between her and Isabel, so he''d


    deliberately assigned Bably


    hoping Isabel would give her a hard time.  s?novel


    But it was all just part of the job. Effie wasn''t about toin.


    Annabel and Effie headed for the studio together.


    But when they arrived, Isabel was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where''s the leadingdy?" a crew member called out. "She''ste!"


    A flicker of worry crossed Annabel''s eyes. She seemed to realize something.