Starting the workday

Jenni is already heading toward the elevators in the office building lobby, the last few sips of Pops’s consistently delicious coffee remaining in her paper cup. A busy day lies ahead for Jenni, and Benji has asked to see her after work. Benji’s paintings are being exhibited at a renowned Paris gallery; he requested the meeting hoping that Jenni—who has visited Paris several times, given that the company employing her has a branch office there—could offer advice on what to see, where to go, and what to focus on during his limited free time. Jenni is always wary when Benji wants to meet one-on-one; she has kept her distance from him ever since a confession of his went awry on July 14th. This is painful for Jenni, too, as she considers Benji a wonderful person and an excellent friend, yet she does not view him as a suitable romantic partner. And that remains a constant burden on their relationship.