“I want you to make exactly what Yomenoba Farma needs. The leadership came straight here yesterday and asked for submissions. Please read carefully, Chiba-san!”
Her tone is always high and sounds commanding. As usual, this woman never gets tired of making my heart flutter.
She pushed two sheets of paper towards my desk. Standing in a haughty manner, wearing an expensive coat of red color with a corduroy texture, upright folding her arms across her chest while putting on a stern face.
Yumi Tomiko, 31 years old but don’t say or guess her age directly by mouth if you don’t want get slapped. A woman with blonde hair in buns, wearing high heels and thick red lipstick. The rumour that she is the prima donna and idol of all employees because of her achievements and leadership aura. Pfft, let just put it simple, others seeing her as cold but really beautiful. Even I can compared to a model. Basically she is indeed the head of the branch. Her face is very competent indeed.
Well, even though rumors are rumors. The reality is…
"The Queen crossed the bridge on the backs of her slaves lined up to the edge."
That's the analogy.
How come? I just sat in my place for a minute, 04.27 in the morning, intending to have tea while eating yakisoba bread that bought from Dai-san for breakfast, this woman who doesn't care about time suddenly comes.
What else do you want, right? As a slave, obeying my master is an obligation. I immediately checked the two sheets of the proposal.
(Oh my… I knew it was always like this.)
"Let me guess, this other sheet is your own version?" I looked back at her with a cold gaze. In fact, I've never seen her happy.
“You understood me well these 3 years, Chiba-san,” she smiled, and only this part her tone was low and subtle.
This is of course very annoying. Her proposal version are always more troublesome. I mean, when a client asks for an A, it should only be given an A. Not AB. Apart from wasting energy and time, the client's budget is only up to A.
I'm tired of advising this cranky woman. Because she always had an excuse like this,
"Well, of course they only get A. But, with the addition of B, it is an offer to get more value,"
“Okay… I understand the outline,” I replied. "If the client end up buying A?"
"Well, sometimes negotiations don't always go smoothly one hundred percent,"
(Negotiations don't always go, your ass! That's just a waste of my energy, don't you? Besides, working hours haven't even started yet!) I thought at that moment angrily and there was no subtlety.
That's how Yumi Tomiko appreciates the performance of her employees. Of course, if I protested again, there was always some other bullshit.
“I understand, Tomiko-san. Let me have breakfast first. Besides, it's not time for work yet."
"Fine, see you later." As she was about to walk away from me, she then turned around and came closer to say some more nonsense. Too bad her movements have been read.
“Eh-ahem…! Y-you should eat more breakfast instead of bread. If I may suggest better fish and rice. Miso soup is also relatively easy, you can cook it at the office. Then there is also blabalabla….”
(Shut up b**ch! Wanted to say it like that…)
There's nothing wrong with that suggestion anyway. First off, I've always heard her bullshit about breakfast being good and true. The problem is with those dopey hours. Instead of eating healthy, wouldn't a longer sleep schedule be better?
"If you want what if I-"
“Sorry, thank you, Tomiko-san.” I rejected it outright while putting the headshet on my ears, Surprisingly, Tomiko-san wasn't angry. Well, of course her face looks disappointed after I ignored her.
Actually Tomiko-san often cooks and has breakfast in the office kitchen. The office I work has facilities that are considered very luxurious. In fact, I might not have rented an apartment. Office facilities have a room that is half the size of the apartment I rented. Complete with bathroom, fridge and personal computer.
How come? Because this company is number one in Japan.
***
Thornstack Cybersecurity's Osaka branch, located in the Kita ward commercial district. The third-party companies that are the number one trusted for other companies in protecting databases. In fact, starting this year the government has also implemented our product.
Thornstack Cybersecurity does not only sell antivirus software, but several software for business databases.
I, Chiba Takeichi, I am a Thornstack Cybersecurity software engineer for the Osaka branch, and also the lead of a project.
The project offered by Tomiko-san early in the morning belongs to Yomenoba Farma. One of the most prestigious private hospitals in Japan. Yesterday, they just signed an agreement to buy a package of all Thornstack Cybersecurity software.
The problem is, one of those products under contract, a complex custom business administration software, was only given two weeks. No need to get down to my team, I can predict they will grumble, protest and grumble again. Despite being work for an health company, this project obviously totally was not healthy for my team mental.
Yumi Tomiko's negotiations are always visible to both the client and the central leadership. However, it is slowly killing us.
This is the true definition of slavery. Working very early, coming home very late, then getting back into the rhythm.
Because of this stupid hour, I only had time to make warm porridge for Ventine-san and left without saying goodbye. I didn't even get to tell her anything about what Ventine-san should and shouldn't do. Of course that worries me a little.
At 09.00 am…
Our work space is the size of a basketball stadium with a red carpet floor and seven software engineer team posts. In the middle, where Tomiko-san works and receives reports.
Me, with my three trusted subordinates, of course they have one assistant each, working on the project. Those of us who were focused were told to temporarily stop listening to other nonsense.
Tomiko-san said through the mic, that this month she had a special gift for employees. She was boasting that when the project was finished, everyone would get a free vacation in Okinawa for three days. Almost everyone, except my post, cheered happily.
“Huh… they're always excited,” said Kunihiko-kun.
Shoji Kunihiko wears glasses and is gloomy every day after a year working at this place. Don't worry, he's just a game enthusiast who can't manage time.
"I just thought it was weird. Why are they happy? After all, recreation can't replace a sleep schedule!” said Kiyoko-kun protested.
Asako Kiyoko, my other subordinate, an otaku woman with pigtails and short black hair. Kiyoko-kun, the woman who puts logic first.
“Mmmmph… do they have less timetable than us, Chiba-senpai?” Nao-kun turned towards me.
Aki Nao, a woman who is always pessimistic. Well, she is my right hand. Just so you know, Nao-kun has been working with me for a long time. She is motherly at heart and often supports the team.
“No, they're just the same as us, Nao-kun. They're just masochists."
The speech was about an hour long. Automatically it delayed our return home which was very late from the start. My subordinates, without the exception of their assistants are all grumbling.
That's enough to make a conclusion in my mind. If someone gives a gift, then of course it's only natural that we return it, right? Because of that…
I had prepared another “Gift” in return, in advance steadily.
***
01.45 AM…
I've ordered all my men to be home at seven o'clock last night. But they insisted to work with me until 10 pm. They stayed in the office, sixteen floors above. Oh yes, this building has 20 floors. The place where we work is on the fourth floor. Meanwhile, the employees' rooms are located on floors 14 to 20. Especially for software engineering employees.
In fact, my right hand, Aki Nao, is more stubborn than the others. She has a child who is still in elementary school and insists on working with me until 12 at night. It's nice to have understanding subordinates, but sometimes I feel guilty.
I redeemed all of that in the “Gift” I meant earlier.
I have completed the business database software for Yomenoba Farma. The rest is left for my subordinates to do the testing even though it's not necessary. Because I spent the night with Nao-kun debugging the software. Until now, I have retested it up to a hundred times.
(Luckily there's no error. Huh…. So tired! I’m about to die exhaustingg!!!! Ughh….)
I stood up and moved my waist. Lightly twisting the wrist, going back and forth around, turning the head comfortably, to other small gymnastic movements. My muscles and bones ache and sometimes even feel numb.
#Tongteng~
Right after fifteen minutes of little gymnastics, my cell phone notification rang. Reading and understanding the contents of the message I read, I took a deep breath.
Then blow as comfortably as possible. My mind feels much lighter and looser.
"Yosh~ now it's just a matter of telling Tomiko-san."
I immediately got on the elevator, pressed the number twenty button. After the elevator door opened, I quickly turned left and passed four rooms from the elevator. I knocked on the door to my left.
“Tomiko-san? Tomiko-san?”
About three minutes, Tomiko-san who was wearing pink pajamas with her chest slightly protruding her ballistic missiles looked sleepy.
"What's wrong, Chiba-san? Can't we just do it tomorrow?" Tomiko-san yawned while rubbing her eyes.
(What is she talking about? It's obvious now it's tomorrow!)
“Ah… sorry, but this is just one time.” I showed her my phone notification message.
Chiba Takeichi – Age 30 years
Length of service: 8 years
Position : Chief – Engineering Software – Team 3
Status : Resignation – accepted (central HRD)
Reading that, Tomiko-san's expression tightened and forgot her sleepiness. I mean, I enjoyed Tomiko-san's worried face one last time. I can feel the worry from the wrinkles on her forehead and her mouth that wants to say but is rather reluctant.
“Bu-but… whereas earlier… I was about to give gifts to the employees…. Yo-you- since when? Why?!” I was surprised she looked so devastated. On top of that, she is even look almost crying.
"That's why, I want to quickly return the favor as well,"
Of course. With that "gift".
Without a touching goodbye, or a small consolation, I left the queen who now... looks so broken.
I don't even know and don't want to know what brokes her. Because during these three years anyway... she doesn't even know what I feel.
She… even show little smile, knowing my wife…
Has died.
With I think…, her sad face that she made with a very natural look.
ns 15.158.61.12da2
