Chapter 4 - Overtime #2
We both started laughing.
Adrian barely looked up when I entered.
"Close the door."
I closed it.
"Sit."
I sat.
He slid a set of drawings toward me.
Of course.
Work.
We spent the next fifteen minutes discussing revisions.
Nothing unusual.
Nothing personal.
Nothing remotely birthday-related.
He wanted two options developed.
I needed to coordinate a few changes.
He wanted them Monday morning.
Naturally.
I wrote everything down.
"Anything else?"
"No."
I stood.
"Okay."
I reached the door.
"Ms. Stone."
I stopped with my hand on the handle.
"Yes?"
Silence.
I looked back.
Adrian was looking at his computer.
Not me.
Then, without changing expression, he said,
"Happy birthday."
I stared at him.
Two words.
That was it.
No smile.
No warmth.
He didn't even look at me again.
But for some ridiculous reason, I stood there like Adrian Vale had just recited a sonnet.
I genuinely hadn't expected that.
He'd walked past the entire party looking like he couldn't care less.
I wasn't even sure he'd registered what it was for.
"Thank you."
He nodded once.
And apparently that was the end of that.
I opened the door.
Walked out.
Closed it behind me.
Then stood there for a second.
Adrian Vale knew how to say happy birthday.
Who knew?
The following Tuesday, I left work at 8:12.
Wednesday, 7:46.
Thursday was better.
7:21.
At this rate, by Christmas I might see daylight again.
The problem wasn't any single assignment.
It was all of them together.
Solara was already demanding.
Then Adrian added reviews.
Then revisions.
Then another package.
Then something else he'd apparently decided only I could do.
And he kept calling me into his office.
Sometimes twice a day.
Sometimes five.
Sometimes he simply appeared beside my desk with another question.
Everyone had noticed.
Nobody questioned why.
I had sent the wrong attachment to a client.
Adrian Vale had apparently decided rehabilitation would be achieved through labor.
Friday evening, the office slowly emptied around me.
"Angel, we're leaving."
I looked up.
Maya had her bag over her shoulder.
Ben stood beside her.
"Go."
"You coming?"
I looked at my screen.
"Nope."
Maya frowned.
"Again?"
"Almost done."
"You said that yesterday."
"And eventually I was."
Ben leaned against the partition.
"Come get food."
"Can't."
"Food is necessary for life."
"So is employment."
Maya looked at the stack beside me.
"Vale?"
I nodded.
She sighed.
"Asshole."
"Don't say that too loudly. He'll hear you from whatever cave he sleeps in."
Ben laughed.
Maya didn't.
"Seriously, don't stay forever."
"I won't."
"Text me when you leave."
"Yes, Mom."
"I'm serious."
"I know. Go."
She hugged me quickly.
"Happy belated birthday again."
"That was a week ago."
"I'll stop in November."
"Please do."
They left.
A few other people called goodnight on their way out.
I answered each one.
Eventually, the office became quiet.
Then quieter.
Then silent.
I actually liked it.
No phones.
No conversations.
No Ben stealing things from my desk.
No Maya appearing with gossip.
No Daniel asking if I wanted coffee.
Just me.
My computer.
And the enormous amount of work Adrian Vale had apparently assigned in pursuit of my early death.
I put my headphones in.
Worked.
Lost track of time.
Then a voice behind me said,
"What are you still doing here?"
I nearly launched myself through my monitor.
I ripped one earbud out and spun around.
"Holy-"
Adrian.
Of course.
He stood several feet behind me.
Tie gone.
Sleeves rolled up.
Hair slightly less perfect than it had been that morning.
One hand in his pocket.
I pressed a hand against my chest.
"Oh God. You scared me."
His eyes moved over my desk.
"What are you doing?"
I stared at him.
"Working."
"It's almost eight."
I looked at the clock.
7:53.
Well.
Fuck.
"So it is."
His gaze returned to me.
"Why are you still here?"
I stared at him.
Was he serious?
"Because apparently my boss has developed a personal vendetta against free time."
Something flickered in his expression.
Gone immediately.
"Your boss?"
"You."
"I'm aware of who your boss is, Ms. Stone."
"Then I'm confused about which part we're struggling with."
His eyes narrowed.
I pointed at my screen.
"I have to finish the Solara revisions, review the package you gave me this morning, and make the changes you asked for at four thirty."
"You don't have to finish all of that tonight."
"The package is due Monday."
"Yes."
"And you asked for the revisions first thing Monday."
"Yes."
"And unless you've recently added Sunday to our normal working week-"
"Ms. Stone."
I stopped.
He looked at the screen again.
Then the papers beside me.
His expression was impossible to read.
"Finish what you need to finish."
"That was the plan."
His eyes came back to mine.
"Don't stay unnecessarily late."
I stared at him.
"You gave me the work."
A pause.
"Goodnight, Ms. Stone."
And he walked away.
I watched him go.
What the Hell?
He gave me enough work to keep me here until eight and then wandered over to question why I was here until eight.
Perfectly reasonable.
Completely normal.
I put my earbud back in.
Twenty minutes later, I finally finished.
I shut down my computer.
Packed my bag.
Stood.
The office was dark except for the low evening lights.
And one office across the building.
Adrian's.
His light was still on.
I stared at it.
Of course he was still here.
The man probably slept suspended upside down from the ceiling.
I shook my head, grabbed my bag, and headed toward the elevators.
Behind me, the office stayed quiet.
Adrian's light stayed on.
And I went home without thinking about it again.