Content Warning: Both the source text and this guide contain descriptions of sexually explicit scenes, child abandonment, death, food insecurity, and disordered eating.

Dr. Rue Siebert and her best friend, Tisha, are anxious because they have been told that Kline, the biotech startup where they work, is having its loan reassigned. They call on Tisha’s younger sister, Nyota, to explain this term, and she states that the CEO of the company, Florence Kline, originally received a large loan to start the company, and now, the entity that loaned her the money is selling the loan to a private equity firm called the Harkness Group.

Rue and Tisha hope that this loan assignment will not change their day-to-day work, but they have noticed other coworkers behaving strangely and even looking for other jobs. Nyota tells them that it wouldn’t hurt to update their resumes.

Rue remembers that Florence texted her the night before, but Rue declined her request for a meeting in favor of going on a date with a man instead. Now, she feels guilty because she knows that Florence probably wanted to talk to her about this situation.