In the conference room, Julian was presiding over the morning meeting when Laura walked in, phone in hand.

Julian glanced at her, surprised, then took the phone from her extended hand.

The voice on the other end was one of the housekeepers. “Sir, Madam is ill—she’s been running a fever of 102 degrees. I’m really worried; I don’t think she can handle this much longer.”

Though the woman’s tone was dramatic, the concern beneath it was ...