Heart Affairs| On Going (Office Romance)

chapter 2

Joshua's P.O.V

"The list of the three new interns is out, Mr. Pierce." Alexa, my secretary, stepped into my office, holding a neat stack of papers. She placed them on my desk, adding, "I've already emailed them their schedules."

"Thank you, Alexa." I kept my tone firm as I glanced at her.

"Have you prepared the tasks for their first three months here?" I adjusted my glasses, keeping my gaze on her.

She hesitated, a faint tension flickering in her expression. "I did, but... isn't it a bit too much work for interns?" Her voice carried a note of unease.

I held her gaze, unyielding. "This isn't a playground. It's a serious company with serious business to run." My words landed heavily, and I caught the slight wince in her reaction. "If they can't handle the workload, they're free to walk away. Now, unless you have more to add, I have work to do." I dismissed her with a curt nod, my attention already shifting back to the screen in front of me.

Alexa straightened, smoothing her posture. "Yes, sir." She left quietly, closing the door behind her.

Every year, it's the same: three interns, And three months of the same routine headaches. Even though we handpick only the most promising graduates, intern season is always a dreaded time for me. Corporate wannabes swarming around, They think they're ready, but they've never known real work. I've been running JPL since I was twenty-two. No breaks, no handouts, no safety nets. Just relentless hours and brutal decisions. Now, at thirty-one, I barely remember the last time I took a day off. And yet, every year, the cycle repeats, with a new crop of kids who think 'playing office' means they're ready for what I've built from nothing.

Just then, my phone buzzed, interrupting my thoughts. I glanced down at the screen

Mom.

I could practically smell the guilt trip before I even answered.

"This is Joshua Pierce speaking," I said.

"Do you really have to introduce yourself every single time you pick up?" she huffed on the other end.

"Shouldn't you just be thankful I answered?" I replied, keeping my tone flat.

"Why wouldn't you? I'm your mother," she shot back, irritation clear in her voice.

"I'm busy with work," I said, bracing myself.

"You're always too busy. When was the last time you actually came to visit me?" she asked, slipping into a wounded tone.

"Two days ago," I said, feeling my patience start to thin.

She's been in the hospital for three months now, going through breast cancer treatment. I make time to visit her, but it's never enough for her.

"You should come every day, you jerk."

"Mom, you know that's impossible with my schedule."

She sighed, then shifted her tone to one that only hinted at her usual theatrics. "Well, at least get a girlfriend. I wouldn't mind if you were too busy visiting her. I just want to see grandkids before I die."

"Can you stop talking about dying? The doctor said you're going to be discharged in two weeks."

"You never know what might happen," she replied, and I could practically hear her rolling her eyes.

"Nothing's going to happen, Mom."

"Oh, really? The doctor said I'm very sick. I haven't even been eating. If only I could see you with a nice girl, I could finally rest in peace." She let out a fake sob.