Darkest Devotion

Chapter 2 (edited)

Zaide's POV

I run my hand over my face, feeling the slight stubble on my jaw from endless nights at work, the exhaustion getting to me. Ever since my assistant left to retire, I've been picking up most of the slack since no one here is qualified enough for the workload the position requires. I was lucky to have my last assistant. Not only was he capable in practically anything I handed to him, he made the workload seem like child's play. After handling practically all of his old duties myself since his departure, I've realized that perhaps I just need to hire more people. He was one in a million with great wok ethic and the ability to handle multiple tasks with efficient timing and accuracy. Recently, I hired a temp just to take a little bit off of my plate until I can find another person to take over the tasks I'm doing but the workload is proving to be out of his depth. 

A sigh escapes my lips as I try to calm down. I'm just overworked, tired and frustrated, it's not his fault. Hopefully, I'll be able to find another assistant and soon to help my current temp with all of the tasks. Until then, it's just me to help out along with my other CEO requirements. With that thought in mind, I straighten my spine and get back to work. 

Over the rest of the day, the piles of paperwork started to lessen, making the room feel less cluttered. It's been an arduous tasks to clear up as many assistant duties as possible alongside my usual workload, but I refuse to let anything affect my company. I worked too hard to get this place off the ground and I will do everything I need to in order to ensure it stays as successful as it has.

While my head is buried in work, a knock sounds at the door. 

"Come in." I call out, my tone flat and focused.

Timidly, the door opens and the temp assistant walks in with his head down, the curly mess of dirty blonde hair falling over his glasses. "Sir, it's 5 o'clock, may I clock out for the day?"

He's always been fairly timid, especially around me. I know I seem like the large and scary boss man, but I do my best to treat my workers to the best of my ability. Looking down to the black expensive watch on my wrist, I see that it is about that time. "How much paperwork is left over?" 

The hazel of his eyes dart to the side, avoiding my gaze as slight guilt filters his features, making his bottom lip catch between his teeth. "One stack, sir."

With a long breath, I remind myself that I don't like making my employees work overtime before responding. "I will finish it, please bring it in here before you leave."

This company is my dream and mine to keep afloat, not my employees. Their lives aren't meant to be dedicated to this company the way mine is, it's simply here to give them a living and, hopefully, a safe space to do so.

"Yes, sir." With that, the temp walks out before returning moments after with an astronomically large pile of paper in his arms. He sets it down gently onto my desk with surprising ease before looking down again, playing with his fingers. I can tell he feels bad for leaving me with the leftover work, but I knew when hiring him that he wasn't qualified for all parts of the job and that I would need to hire someone else to help cover the rest. For what he accomplished, he did well.

"Good work today, James."

Surprise paints his features as he lifts his gaze to look at me, eyes wide. "Oh, um, yes, sir, you're welcome. I'll be off now, have a good weekend."

"You too." With those words, James departs, leaving me alone in my building. 

I created this building from the ground up. When I was in college, I got a degree in business and was slowly curating my company so that I could get it started up when I graduated, wanting my own place to lean on instead of working for someone else. Thankfully, I was successful with a lot of hard work, making some other projects so I could sell them for money in order to get the funding I needed myself to start the business. After a few years, Castellan Co. was born.