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carefully. She did not wish to confide in Lisa738, who might easily pass on any information to Annabella. “I’m well, thanks. I need your help with some of my tasks. I’d like to complete them faster and take on more interesting assignments. Is there some kind of button that will give me more speed?”
    “What kind of tasks are we talking about here?”
    “I want to write faster.”
    “Write faster? That’s all you want to do?”
    “Yes, anything wrong with that?”
    “No, nothing at all.” Lisa738 looked flustered. “Now what type of factor do you want to apply?”
    “I want a factor of five.” Barbara calculated that she could easily write four pages each evening without the button. With a factor of five, she could write twenty pages a night and complete the first draft in less than a month. She smiled in anticipation as she picked up the shiny button that appeared on her tablet. She peeled off the coating, applied it to her left temple, and waited for the unsettling sensation.
    Lisa738 was watching her closely. “You are acting more confident and content in your new life. Have you met anyone?”
    “Thank you. I’m starting to adapt to my new world, and I am grateful for all your help.” Barbara deliberately yawned. “Now, I must get back to bed. I have a busy day ahead of me.”

Chapter 7
    Barbara accepted Hannah’s offer of a used laptop computer and started writing. She decided not to tell anyone else until the first draft was complete. Although she had sounded confident when speaking with Gillian, Barbara still had a few doubts about the book’s success. There were so many self-help books out there, and Hannah had told her that very few agents took on new, unpublished writers.
    After reading and studying various self-help books for businesswomen, Barbara decided to use a lighter approach. She found most of the popular business books dry and repetitive. Many of them were geared toward younger women or women with business degrees. There wasn’t much out there for middle-aged women who suddenly needed jobs but were forced to compete with younger, better-educated women.
    Barbara prepared an outline and mapped out twenty possible scenarios. Each chapter would open with a folk tale about an emerging butterfly. She would personify each stage of the metamorphosis—egg, caterpillar, imago, butterfly—and demonstrate how an egg evolves into a beautiful butterfly. The rest of the chapter would include tips and practical strategies for middle-aged women attempting to reinvent themselves. Each chapter would end with suggested exercises and references. The title was still up in the air. For now, she was using a working title— On Becoming a Butterfly .
    Barbara continued to see Graham on the weekends but limited the time she spent with him during the week. She discovered that the speed burst button also increased her speed with writing and producing work-related documents. To her chagrin, Barbara found herself looking for extra tasks. She reorganized files, tidied her desk, and started the monthly report two weeks before it was due. Janice also noticed her increased efficiency. After a few days, she called Barbara into her office.
    “I knew you would outgrow your job, but I didn’t think it would happen so quickly,” Janice said. “Are you bored, Barbara? If you want to look for another job, I would be more than happy to recommend you. I don’t want to hold you back.”
    Barbara panicked. She could not afford to lose her job. Not now. Not until the book was accepted by an agent. Darn that speed burst button! Unfortunately, she couldn’t turn it off.
    “I love my job here, and I enjoy working with you and the other ladies. I have no desire to go anywhere else.” Barbara paused. “Maybe I could take on an extra project or two. As I was cleaning out the cabinet, I noticed a large file on distance education. It looks like someone worked hard to collect a lot of information about middle-aged women taking