Forever Comes in Threes, page 16
“Yes?”
She wanted to say more, but it was too soon, and she was too scared. “Pack an overnight bag.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
They stared at each other over the video link, both awkwardly searching for how to end the call. Finally, Ming touched her lips, then the screen. “Sweet dreams, Perry.”
A flirty reply about sexy dreams tripped over her tongue, but her mouth formed different words. “Always when they’re about you.” She mirrored Ming’s virtual kiss. “Until tomorrow.”
* * *
The sun crested the mountain and outlined Dr. Lee’s slim figure in a starburst of light as she completed a series of excruciatingly slow tai chi moves before extending her arms skyward to welcome the new day. She rotated so the warm sunlight illuminated her face, then smiled up at her second camera and greeted her audience.
“Good morning. Celebrate with me the awakening of this day, because each one brings fresh strength, new possibilities, and the opportunity for deeper understanding.” Ming closed her eyes, face still upturned toward the sun as she sank into a lotus position. “We must begin by opening ourselves to unclutter our minds and find our balance.”
And cut.
Ming marked the end of the video, satisfied with the edit of the intro for what might be the new video log to complement her podcast, which had been gaining subscribers hourly since the debate began between her podcast and Perry’s. The scene had been shot in Sedona several months before her life turned upside down at her practice and in her personal affairs. Now, she wasn’t sure she wanted a vlog. It would mean being recognizable to the general public after she’d scrubbed her website of all photos so her subscribers couldn’t find her. She was looking forward to the privacy of the farm, and sticking with only a podcast would ensure that reality. And did she really need the podcast any longer? She was certainly wealthy enough to live off her investments for the rest of her life. On the other hand, the podcast could be a valuable tool in launching her business farming medicinal plants for naturopathic medicine.
She glanced at her watch. Podcast. Right. She scrambled to acknowledge the chat message from her production assistant, Carl, advising that she had fifteen minutes until airtime. Water, bathroom, notes. She smiled to herself. She would have plenty of time if she could stop daydreaming about last night’s dinner and lovemaking with Perry. She didn’t have words for the depth of their connection because she’d never experienced anything like it before. She wanted to close her eyes, hit rewind, and experience every second—from the passionate kiss at the front door until the ten-minute good-bye make-out session before SHA alerted Perry of an incoming international call early that morning.
Not a fancy Smart Home Assistant, but a simple ping from Carl’s incoming chat let her know she had one minute for a quick sound check, so she donned her headphones and finished running through the checks just seconds before the opening music and intro began.
“Good morning. Today, I want to talk about changes. Life circumstances are never constant. A new pet, child, or love interest may be added to your household. You could lose a friend or family member through death or estrangement. Coworkers leave and new ones are added. Your health, finances can improve or decline. So, maintaining your natural balance will always require adjustments. Some will be small, but others could be huge.
“Why are we talking about change now? Because the so-called Great Resignation—workers quitting their jobs in search of better ones—is still happening a year after medical breakthroughs reduced the coronavirus threat to a manageable level. Federal supplements to state unemployment gave the working poor a glimpse of what it was like to be able to feed and clothe their children without having three jobs. When the pandemic restrictions lifted, those workers refused to go back to their old jobs with low pay and no benefits. Other workers balked at returning to long daily commutes. Basically, American workers said ‘no more’ to companies making large profits while refusing to pay a living wage or provide benefits like paid vacation and sick days, health insurance, holidays, and retirement plans. Salaried employees are tired of working sixty- and eighty-hour weeks so the boss can get a bonus for making or exceeding production goals.
“So, today, I want to hear about changes you’ve made to find or keep your natural balance. Also, we’ll talk about what questions you should ask if you’re considering a big change in the near future.”
Carl signaled a caller on line one.
“Hello. This is Dr. Lee. What did you want to share about change in your life?”
“Hi, Dr. Lee. I am Sonya from Miami. I was working two part-time hotel-housekeeping jobs during the day and waitressing at night, seven days a week. I never had a day off, and none of the three jobs offered benefits. When my mother died before the pandemic, I wasn’t paid for the three days I was off to travel and attend the wake and funeral. And when the pandemic closed everything down, I lost all three jobs. My kids and I would have starved without the churches and charities that offered groceries and gas money during the months it took to get my unemployment application through the crappy state government. So, when my benefits came through, I took classes online so I could get better employment. I don’t mind hard work, but I deserve a decent paycheck and health insurance for my children.”
“I agree with you, Sonya. According to reports, a lot of people aren’t going back to their old jobs because they also decided to use their months of unemployment to train for something better. Let’s see what our next caller has to add.”
Ming’s subscribers had a lot to say about making changes, so she let the podcast run ten minutes over the normal hour before she signaled Carl to start the closing music.
Carl: One more caller. You’re going to want to talk to this one.
Ming: Put it through, but this is absolutely the last.
“Hi, Dr. Lee. I’m Rayna Shine from Podcast Prattle, and I’ve been monitoring the apparent rivalry that has fueled the meteoric rise of your podcast and Dr. Perry Chandler’s Timed for Success.”
“Any debate, Ms. Shine, has been between our subscribers, who chose to air it on the two podcasts. It’s my understanding that Dr. Chandler uses her doctorate degree in business to help factories increase their production. I use my medical doctorate and naturopath license to help people achieve a more wholesome and satisfying life. I don’t see how you can compare the two.”
“Have you listened to Dr. Chandler’s podcasts?”
“Part of one when her name came up in a discussion during mine. I’m not really interested in how to squeeze more profit from a production line.”
“Were you listening when she told her listeners that an example you used was so depressing that it likely generated calls to the suicide hotline?”
“No. If she said that, I wasn’t listening.” She didn’t know whether to laugh at Perry’s overly dramatic statement or be angry at the obvious insult. “Did you have a question or something to add to our current discussion, Ms. Shine?”
“Some people are saying the conflict between the two podcasts is staged to suck in more listeners. I wanted to invite you to appear on a Podcast Prattle vlog with Dr. Chandler to make your separate cases so people can see your differing points of view are real, not scripted.”
Ming considered this proposal. Their competing podcasts had started to feel like an elephant was in the room no matter how much they ignored it. Maybe it would be better to talk openly about them, with the agreement they wouldn’t let work bleed into their personal lives. “Stay on the line, Ms. Shine, and my assistant Carl will get your contact information.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Dr. Chandler, if you’ll come with me, please.” A young woman wearing a headphone and mic set beckoned from the doorway.
Perry checked her reflection one last time and shifted her shoulders so that her blazer hung perfectly. She’d decided on business casual—a white, button-down Oxford and dark-blue chinos and blazer—hoping to give the impression this vlog was just another day at the office. She smiled at the mirror and gave in to the mesmerizing memories constantly invading her conscious thoughts. While work had been routine, the past month of long dog walks, dinners, and sleepovers with Ming had been spectacular. Perry’s interest in a woman usually fizzled after a few steamy nights, but each date with Ming was fuel to her burning desire to spend every minute of every day with the distracting doctor. The very thought of her left Perry breathless and her underwear damp.
“Dr. Chandler?” The production assistant’s query pulled her back to the dressing room and the vlog at hand. Focus. She needed to focus on the present.
She’d expected to be taping in a bedroom-converted-to-studio at Rayna Shine’s residence and was surprised to find Rayna had rented an auditorium owned by a local community-theater group. Although her dressing room was simply a space blocked off by eight-foot-tall, sound-softening partitions, it held a small, worn sofa and a hair and makeup station.
“Right behind you.”
The woman led her through a maze of theater set pieces, talking rapidly the entire time.
“We have a small audience of about a hundred. They’ve been warned they are only allowed to applaud and that hecklers will be immediately removed, but Rayna may take questions from a few if time permits toward the end of the vlog. You’ll be introduced first since your face is well known, and Rayna will chat with you for a few minutes. Then the mysterious Dr. Lee will be introduced and join you two. Rayna will chat with Dr. Lee for a few minutes, then draw you into the conversation about your competing podcasts.”
“Got it.”
They stopped just offstage, and Perry watched Rayna settle into the middle of three director’s chairs positioned in front of a huge projection screen. The theater setting made sense now. They were going to actually have a live audience. In fact, everything seemed like a real television set except for the iPhones fastened atop tripods and placed at strategic angles instead of huge television cameras on dollies. A second production person stood behind a podium covered with papers, an iPad, and two digital timers—one set for an hour, the other counting down to airtime. A stage manager? Did Rayna’s vlog generate enough revenue to pay all these staff members? The woman who led her from the dressing room seemed to read her thoughts.
“I’m one of Rayna’s two assistants. The rest of the staff belong to the theater group that owns this venue. They come as part of the rental fee, probably because they don’t want strangers breaking something in the expensive lighting or sound systems.” She handed Perry an earbud. “You’ll be able to hear the production chatter until you go onstage and are switched to a private channel so you’ll hear only stage directions intended for you.”
“Stage directions?”
“Maybe nothing, but you could hear instructions advising you to shift in a certain direction because you’re blocking a camera view.” She paused to giggle. “Or a warning that your hair dye is running down your face. God. Somebody should have handed Rudy Giuliani a handkerchief.”
Perry chuckled. “That was embarrassing. You have to feel bad for the guy, even if you don’t like him.”
The stage manager murmured instructions into her headset, and the theater lights blinked twice. “One minute, folks.”
Perry almost jumped when the warning came through her earbud even though the stage manager was only a few feet away.
“Ready checks. Lighting?”
“Ready.”
“Sound?”
“Yo. We’re good.”
“Guest number one?”
Perry gave a thumbs-up, but the assistant answered.
“Ready in the wings.”
“Guest number two?”
“Ready,” another voice answered.
“Stage?”
“All set.” Rayna flashed a thumbs-up while she adjusted her blouse.
“Live in five…four…three…two…cue curtain.” The stage manager reset both digital timers on her podium to zero.
Gears whirred and the heavy curtain lifted, exposing Rayna to the audience and an explosion of applause. The screen behind her showed the Podcast Prattle name and logo.
“Thank you, thanks.” Rayna smiled as she quieted the applause. “Hello again and welcome to a special episode of Podcast Prattle, being taped for the first time before a live audience. I’m excited today to introduce the hosts of two popular podcasts that have nearly tripled their subscribers over the past two months. A lot of other podcasters want to know their secret for rocketing from successful to incredible, and that’s what we’re here to talk about today.
“Our first guest is Dr. Perry Chandler, recognized internationally as an expert in work-flow efficiency in both a factory and a white-collar office environment. She’s also the author of two best-selling books and host of the very popular Timed for Success podcast.” During this introduction, pictures of Perry talking with workers on a production line, speaking at a conference, and signing books flashed on the large screen.
“Cue Dr. Chandler,” the stage manager murmured into her mic.
Perry stepped out onto the stage, waving at the enthusiastic crowd. She shook hands with Rayna, who had been warned that Perry wasn’t the hugging type and wouldn’t cooperate with a façade implying she and Rayna were friends. When the applause quieted, she spoke to the crowd rather than Rayna. “It’s awesome to be here today and actually see some of the faces behind the calls and chat remarks I get on Timed for Success.” She settled in her designated chair and looked to Rayna to begin.
“You started your own company while still studying for your graduate degrees at Columbia University. Is that correct?”
“Actually, I began while I was an undergrad. I was a business major and interned the summer before my senior year at a manufacturing company to get some experience in the field. After a few weeks, it was clear to me that their shipping-and-receiving department could be more efficient and cost-effective with just a few modifications in their workflow. I had a good boss, who was willing to listen to a college kid’s suggestions and try out my ideas. That department had been a constant problem for customer service, and when complaints dropped and their backlog of shipments cleared up, he rotated me through other departments for suggestions. After that summer, word of mouth spread to a few other companies, and I had several offers for jobs and internships when I finished my undergrad degree. That’s when I got the idea for starting my own consulting company.”
“Wow. You must have been a really busy student.”
“I was, but the experience helped me become more efficient with my own time. Also, my best friend and college roommate was a marketing major, so I hired her to take charge of my new company’s social media and marketing. Over the years, she’s evolved into basically my second-in-command, assisting me with correspondence, multimedia presentations, and a million other things.”
“Now you have a thriving company with several consulting teams you personally manage and two best sellers under your belt. You also have a full schedule of engagements as a public speaker. Why add a podcast to your already full work schedule?”
“The pandemic lockdown multiplied the need for an efficient lifestyle tenfold. Companies scrambled to modify their workflow so their employees could work from home. Other companies had to figure out how to accommodate pandemic protocols on their manufacturing lines, as well as find new sources for raw materials and ways to distribute their finished products as domestic and international shipping slowed to a crawl. Workers suddenly had to make workspace in their homes, parents became de facto teachers when schools had to go virtual, and many adults became overnight caregivers for virus-stricken family members.
“Basically, the traffic that had filled our streets and stores moved to the virtual world online. I’d been reaching thousands in the physical world but discovered I could influence millions in this virtual world. The podcast, where listeners can call in or join the chat line, also has become a great source of material for the book I’m working on now.”
“And what’s the subject of this new book?” Rayna asked.
“Thirty seconds until commercial break.” The stage manager’s voice came through Perry’s and, judging from her glance offstage, Rayna’s earbuds.
“Blurring the line between work and home revealed a lot of things we didn’t expect. For example, many were surprised they miss their hated commute because they’d unconsciously used that time for much-needed self-reflection, problem-solving, or just simple relaxation. I’m writing now about how we can get that time back by becoming more efficient at home as well as at work.”
“Balancing your work life and your personal life is the basis for our next guest’s podcast,” Rayna said. “We’ll discuss Finding Natural Balance with Dr. Lee and talk about why the rivalry between these two podcasters has caught the attention of millions of new listeners…right after this commercial break.”
“And you’re out. You have ninety seconds to relax,” the stage manager said.
“So, you’ve never met Dr. Lee?” Rayna asked.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Perry said carefully. The hair on her nape was beginning to rise as the gleam in Rayna’s eyes warned her something was afoot. “The voice is sort of androgenous. A lot of people seem to think Dr. Lee is female, but I’m convinced only a man could be that narcissistic.”
Rayna’s eyes grew even brighter after the declaration. “Well, you’re about to find out.”
“Back in five, four, three, two, one,” the stage manager announced.
The main camera person pointed to Rayna, and she began the introduction.
“Dr. Lee is both a general-practice physician and a licensed naturopath, augmenting her Western medical training with natural treatments common in Eastern medicine and alternative therapies such as acupuncture.” She read the definition off prompt cards held up by an assistant. “Her podcast Finding Natural Balance has drawn millions of listeners as pandemic shutdowns and workarounds magnified daily stress in most households around the world. So many followers, in fact, that she had to quit her practice, remove all photos from her podcast website, and relocate her home after hundreds of people found out where she lived and worked in Fresno, California, and camped out in her office’s parking lot and outside her home in hopes of seeing her. Although she agreed to appear here today, she’s asked that we not reveal her real name in the hope it will prevent stalkers from tracking her down again. Please welcome Dr. Lee.”
