Andy had realised two things in the first 20 minutes. One he should have asked Rumi for help and two, it was just too much.
The files filled his desk to the point where most had to be placed on the floor. "Alright, you've got this Andy, just get it done." He told himself.
One by one, he flipped through the files, each report. "How?" he wondered, how did this go on for so long.
Each file he grabbed was a mess, missing stamps, signatures, approvals etc. He took his time, going through each of them with practiced ease.
After an hour figures stopped making sense, he didn't understand most of what he was even recording.
He looked at the clock on the wall, '13:54', "oh it's lunch time, maybe a break wouldn't hurt." He muttered.
But just as he was pondering on the decision, the office door opened and walked in Ms jade.
"Going somewhere Mr Matthews?" She asked with the same cold and emotionless tone she carried earlier.
Andy stummered a bit over his words, "W-well not really, i was just ... I just wanted to grab a coffee from the kitchen." He told her.
Jade walked forward, sitting on the edge of his desk, slowly but deliberately, she crossed one leg over the other.
She reached out and grabbed the incomplete file on his desk, and she flipped through the pages quickly.
"Oh.... i'm surprised, you actually know what you are doing, impressive." She told him, her voice softening just a bit.
Andy blushes and rubs the back of his head, "Oh thank you Ms Jade, i really put a lot ...." but he didn't finish, Ms Jade had already started speaking.
"But your conclusions and handwriting became sloppy by page 50, so I expect you to resolve that before making any final submissions." She tells him.
She turns for the door, her hand hovering just above the handle. "Oh and Andy?." She said, barely looking back at him.
"Yes Ms Jade?" He replied to her.
"Redo everything you've done, I like something competent, structured, well put together, you understand right?"
She asked him, her tone still sharp and authoritative.
Andy looked at the documents on the floor, he had done 60 already and now he had to start over.
He swallowed hard before answering, a few sweat drops sliding down his face. "Yes, I understand." He said.
His thoughts immediately went to Rumi. "Maybe she could help me, just a little, maybe a few hundred...." Andy thought.
Jade opened the office door but didn't leave, "And Mr Matthews, Rumi is your assistant, not your servant."
"She will provide you with whatever you'll need but that is all, i dont want to hear any rumors or gossip about you and Rumi."
She told him as she closed the door with a harsh 'thud', Andy took a deep breath after she left.
"How did she know.... Damn it!! Okay dont panic, i got this, yeah...." he told himself.
He grabbed the files on the floor and began redoing all his work, rewriting reports, approvals etc.
His comms buttons buzzed and beeped slightly, "um hello, this is Andy Matthews speaking.." he answered.
"Hey boss it's Rumi, I heard Ms grump-- I mean Ms Jade just left your office, is she ready, shall I pass by and collect everything."
She asked him while the sounds of her eating were heard in the background.
"No, I'm still very busy, actually right, could you just bring me some food and a latte? I really need one right now." Andy told her.
A few seconds of silence stretched on until she spoke.
"Sure thing boss man, i'll be there in a few...." she told him, cutting the call.
Andy's gaze returned to his work, at the massive pile of files at this desk. "One step at a time."
He muttered, flipping through pages far too quickly for someone who was definitely supposed to understand them.
The minutes soon stretched into hours as Andy's hands moved through the files one at a time.
His stomach growled louder each second he didn't receive sustenance, he reached out and was about to call Rumi when his front door opened.
"Sorry I'm a late boss, it took me a while to get everything. " she told him. She had placed the food on his desk, as well as a blanket and some extra clothes.
"There you go, if you need anything just tell me before I clock out." She told him, her body swaying to the left slightly.
"It's time to clock out, man. I didn't realize that it was late." He muttered.
"Yes us employees get to go home, but you supervisors aren't allowed that privilege until you fully complete your intended work load." She told him, turning and walking towards the door.
Andy didn't have time to process what she just said, a single word was the only thing that escaped his lips.
"Huh??" He muttered.