Frequency of love

he largest poster, which featured her silhouette opposite a male figure with a question mark where his face s

gestured proudly at the display. "We're ro

searched for the rig

"Exactly! Drama sells. The audience

ra protested. "We're jus

y-eight percent," Marcus pointed out. "Whatever you're doing,

l campaign too. Snippets of your exchanges, polls asking if p

d like we're in some kind o

tertainment, whether it's TV or radio. People want cha

Nora insisted. "I'm giving

d soothingly. "This just helps

raphics. "Look at this. You're reaching a whole new audience segm

than ever. But something about commodifying her interactions with Alex felt wrong. Those conversations

next week," Jenna continued. "And there's talk about featur

of a few phone c

one talking. That's the radio business, Nora. Cr

he faceless man. She realized with a start that she was as cu

d been working on for weeks was going nowhere. Every melody line he tried felt forced, every chord progre

at The Basement-the third gig he'd lost this month. At this rate, h

After Hours with Nora." The latest episode featured a p

's show on impulse, challenging advice he found simplistic. Now there were hashtags,

opinions, his supposed "chemistry" with a woman he'd never

The way she laughed when he surprised her. How quickly she adapted to his challenges, never de

a calendar reminder:

ight-it was beginning to feel like a performance rather than a conversa

tered, setting the phone dow

es on everything from relationships to career choices to family dynamics.

air was the same as the woman off air. Or if

ncholy minor key, then transitioned to something more hopeful. For the first time i

night. Let the mystery man rem

. Nora rarely used the main entrance, preferring the staff door that led directly to the studios. But today she'd

too fast to notice what

approaching from the reception desk. Tall, impeccably dressed,

r voice neutral. "Wha

ned in for a hug that she reluctantly returned, his expens

listen to

widened. "Everyone is. Your mys

was about the buzz. Typical Darre

session," she said, step

e her. "Your station manager and I had a very interesting co

ou met with Marc

cial series-the works." His media company had grown rapidly over the past two year

alking to

exploratory conversations. Marcus said you'

he stepped in, hoping he wo

e. But audio only gets you so far. Imagine the possibilities if we added vis

what my sh

d her floor, and he followed her out. "We could make you a

me a constant refrain in their final months together. Radio wa

darkness," she said. "And I

sleek business card. "Professional collabor

watching as he pressed the elevat

find me," he called

g slightly off-balance, as if the floor had tilted a few degrees. Three years post

production room, determined to focus on the work rat

River Walk-her favorite thinking spot. The gentle sound o

tween the marketing campaign, Darren's unexpected appearance, and her own

h week helping strangers navigate their complex e

m Tess: "Got something to show y

it about Alex that had gotten under her skin? Was it just the mental stimulation of their

rren still rattle her

te the current. The river didn't offer answers, but its steady flow

found Tess hunched over her computer, a

instructed as Nora en

bout to commit a crime?" No

policy." Tess lowered her voice. "But as your produc

inform

lexander Reid, age 32. Guitar teacher and co

shot of a man with dark, slightly tousled hair and thoughtful

did

trategic social media searching. Turns out he's got a modest fol

the face behind the voice, seeing him was surreal. He looked simul

his," she said, even as she

But aren't yo

d that realizati

e was supposed to, but apparently he canceled recently. And..." She paused drama

snapped up.

ium subscribers last week. His name

Nora finished, her stomach

udied her friend's expression. "The question is, do you wa

Meeting Alex would change everything-the dynamic of th

n they shared on air didn

k about this,"

't think too long. The

break room, where several staff members were gath

l booth for Mystery Man

where people can record t

to do a prediction wall

essing down on her. Everyone seemed to have ideas about her connecti

f. Would he want this much scrutiny? Would he embrace

l moments, that the smartest thing would be to end the calls

erials for "Mystery Man Mondays." Beside them, Darren's business card, a tangible reminder o

nstead, she set it down and turned to her show notes. Tonight, she would focus on being

uldn't help wondering if he would call t