Naturally, there’s a punch-code lock above the doorknob. Lapidus’s code gets me in. Managing Director goes everywhere.

Ten steps behind me, Charlie enters the six-person office. The rectangular room runs along the back wall of the fourth floor, but inside, it’s the same as the cubes: fluorescent lights, modular desks, gray carpet. The only differences are the industrial-sized adding machines that decorate everyone’s desks. Accounting’s version of Play-Doh.

“Why do you always have to blow up like that?” Charlie asks as he catches up.

“Can we please not talk about it here?”

“Just tell me why you-”

“Because I work here!” I shout, spinning around. “And you work here – and our personal lives should stay at home! Is that okay?” In his hands, he’s holding a pen and his small notepad. The student of life. “And don’t start writing this down,” I warn. “I don’t need this in one of your songs.”

Charlie stares at the floor, wondering if it’s worth an argument. “Whatever you want,” he says, lowering the pad. He never fights about his art.

“Thank you,” I offer, heading deeper into the office. But just as I approach Mary’s desk, I hear scribbling behind me. “What’re you doing?”

“I’m sorry,” he laughs, jotting a few final words in his notepad. “Okay, I’m done.”

“What’d you write?” I demand.

“Nothing, just a-”

“What’d you write!?”

He holds up the notepad. “I don’t need this in one of your songs,” he relays. “How good of an album title is that?”

Without responding, I once again look back at Mary’s desk. “Can you please just show me where she keeps her password?”

Strolling over to the neatest, most organized desk in the room, he mockingly brushes off Mary’s seat, slides into her chair, and reaches for the three plastic picture frames that stand next to her computer. There’s a twelve-year-old boy holding a football, a nine-year-old boy in a baseball uniform, and a six-year-old girl posing with a soccer ball. Charlie goes straight for the one with the football and turns it upside down. Under the base of the frame is her username and password: marydamski – 3BUG5E. Charlie shakes his head, smiling. “Firstborn kid – always loved the most.”