Daphne and Akako ended up staying for a few hours before they had to leave to go do their own things as it was getting late.

They seemed to enjoy spending time in the office with me, stating that after the launch, I should be able to have more free time to spend with them.

So they noticed that my time was evidently being taken over by the perfection of this launch.

Which is true for the most part, every launch, every part of my company has been perfected by me, the final details that people tend to overlook, the small crack workers or managers don't see.

I see everything and make sure that it's perfect and nothing can go wrong. I know that I have many workers and managers that can handle the task, but at the end of their day, this is just a little project for them and if they mess up or get fired, they can always go to another company.

But for me, this is life for me, my motivation to get up everyday, to push myself. My life's work, my dreams, so yes–Of course I'm going to continually put out the most perfect things that can reflect good within myself and my legacy moving forward.

I rather work for days straight than to half-ass things and hope for the best.

Some companies hope for the best whilst I know the best.

And thanks to my predictions on previous launches, this launch will be better than the last one.

After Daphne and Akako left, closing in on a hug. I continued to sit at my computer screen until the work day ended.

A few hours later, the work day ended for most people as I continued to hear mountains of footsteps roaming the halls and outside conversations as they discussed meaningless things such as going to bars, going home and relaxing on the couch and so on.

Looking at my computer screen, I realized once again that there is so much work that needs to be finished and I simply can't risk going home right this second. Otherwise, I'll fall behind and I would need to play catch up tomorrow–slowing the process down.

I groaned as I called Chopard into my office.

Chopard arrives as he calmly walks into my office, he appears to have relaxed that a day worth of running around as I heard from many people.

Looking up from my computer, fully giving him my attention, I informed him, "I need you to stay late tonight, there are some things that we need to get done tonight"

Now thinking about it, I think I would need to stay late as well, probably later than usual, as much as I want to jump into my bed and go to sleep. There is simply so much to do and if I slip up, something will not go right.

I can not let that happen.

As I kept seated at my desk, Liam was about to say something, "But I–''

Cutting him off, holding up my pointer finger, I said, "Let me rephrase that. I demand you stay late tonight Chopard, don't forget about your role here, you are my assistant and I get the final say. Going against my demands will have consequences"

He says nothing as he swallows nervously, his Adam's apple being visible from where I'm sitting, he deeply breathes in as he says, "Yes ma'am".

Leaving the office as I instructed him to, after he closes the door, I sink in my chair, sighing deeply.

Reminding myself again, I thought, This is the punishment he deserves and needs, sooner or later he will start to get it, this silent statement that he can't mess with me.

But will he get it though? A question lingering in my mind as I thought more and more about it, or will he think that this is all for no reason and he doesn't think any of this as a punishment but as fun for me?

Do I even know why I'm doing this? Questioning myself, it seemed so clear at first when I first thought about this. I needed to punish him because he thinks he is breaking my walls, my barriers that I worked hard to put up.

Before and during New York, he treated me like a friend instead of a boss. And sure, I have seen many bosses befriend their assistants and some of their workers, but that's just not me, I don't operate like that.

That's how what happened in New York almost became something I knew I would regret, that all happened because of my barriers slowly breaking down, falling for the friendly charm of Liam Chopard.

That's why we both need this, not just Chopard. I need to establish my role in his life and his role in my life and he needs to come to the conclusion that as long as he's working for me, we will never be friends, only boss and worker, and that is all.

I can't become a 'soft' person, even if I really wanted to–There is just so much cruelty in the world that I experience, a soft person wouldn't be able to survive this life of the industry. No room for that kind of person, none.

My character can't be a people-pleaser either, I can't allow myself to be that, not in this life.

People pleasers, to me, will always fail at life. I know it's cruel but it's true. They only do things that benefit other people, putting themselves last and the moment they realize that, it'll be too late and every sense of hope in people will be sucked out of them.

Plus people are not truly pleased with them, no one is ever pleased with anything or anybody.

And I won't let myself become either of those things. I won't risk it.

As time goes by, the sky is getting dark as the sun sets, indicating that people will be getting ready for the next day to come. The colorful sky is reflecting in the big windows behind my desk generating a shadow onto my desk.

Gazing among the orange, or yellowish sky. I squint my eyes, taking in the beauty.

Sometimes, I forget to take in the things that are in front of me and actually observe it. I live so much in the future that I forget about the past completely and ignore the present, my life being dedicated to the future that I dream of in the past.

Now I'm dreaming right now of more for my future, whilst the present doesn't have any room to be in my life.

I sat back down in my chair after closing the blinds, shielding away the beautiful moment. I can focus on the sky after I get some of these paperwork done.

Mostly everyone in the office has officially gone home, I mean, why would they stay? To them, this is just a dead end job or an internship to them that offers them benefits.

Even Ruby has gone home, which I respect because of the work she puts into being a secretary but still.

Since hardly no one is in the office, excluding me, Chopard and a few workers who I don't know about or their names, the hallways are quiet and yet loud as I continue to hear the footsteps of Chopard as he's going back and forth between the tasks I assigned to him.

I'm not really feeling sorry for him as the punishment is only within the business hours he has.

Hopefully I can finish these tasks and get to go home before the constant tapping of his shoes drives me to utter violence, that will only go off inside my head.

                                           *

The time has officially hit twelve o-clock, it's the next day and I'm still glued to my seat typing on my computer. I've been here for at least twelve hours now.

My brain has become fried but I keep going, my fingers are cramping but I keep typing away and I feel myself almost going to sleep, but I keep pushing myself.

Just a few more things, I told myself, you're almost there, then you can go home.

Something interrupts me and my train of thoughts, a sudden knock on the door.

Telling them to come in whilst I don't take my eyes off my computer, the door opens as someone walks in, clearing their throat.

"Ms. Cantrell" I heard, immediately recognizing the voice as I voluntarily looked up and spotted Chopard, he questioned, "Is there anything I have to do before I can go?"

I look at him with such complexity as I was taken aback by the bold statement. The audacity he has, to consider that he would go home immediately whenever he feels like it.

It's like a slap in the face.

And I guess I can see from his point of view, you're been at work all day running away, and your boss says to stay late and get some work done. And you want to go home and sleep.

But to boldly state that you flat out want to go home just indicates that you're not passionate about a job and just want to bullshit your way through projects and assignments.

I don't know about some business people but I don't want a lazy worker that is supposed to assist me with the workload that comes with being in this position. A worker that doesn't give a second thought to what is happening around them and does not care about the company.

That's not what I want. Certainly considering I have been suspicious of him from the very start, now this.

I took my hands completely off the keyboard as I fully looked at him. His hair is disheveled as he grows faint bags under his eyes. He keeps shifting his feet as if they are in pain from walking around and standing all day.

I started to say, "You know, that might be the most offensive thing I heard all day, probably all week at least, Chopard" Leaning back in my chair.

He doesn't say anything as he just looks at me with tired eyes. So tired that I might even think that he might drop down onto my floor and pass out.

I confronted, "If I wanted to hire a lazy person for the job, then I would", I paused, searching his face for any expression, any emotion, "I think you couldn't even bother to care for the work you do and you just want to go home quickly"

Chopard quick to deny, "No, Ms. Cantrell" He shakes his head, "It's just that–It's late and I'm just getting tired and a little sloppy" He paused as he looks at me, "I assume that you're getting tired as well"

I stand up quickly as my chair scrapes against the floor, causing my ears to ring as the sound is sudden and loud.

I don't know why but I take offense to this. He doesn't even know me and yet he's talking like he knows what I'm feeling. Hell, I might feel energetic or something.

It's funny that people can automatically assume that someone is feeling the same way because someone else is feeling like it. I know I shouldn't get angry about this, but it angers me that someone thinks they know someone about a person they truly haven't met at all.

Understanding the culture behind the media and how it portrays people is not any different, but this is different.

This feels personal.

I dispute, "It's none of your business whether or not I feel tired. In fact, it shouldn't even be any of your concern, Chopard. My state of sleepiness is not something you should be even focusing on" I caught my breath as I continued, "And if you're so concerned about staying late and losing your precious sleep–Then why don't you quit and settle down for a fast food or retail job?"

Chopard looks taken aback as if what I said had struck a nerve in him.

I do admit, it was harsh but what's the point of being soft? People aren't going to take you seriously if what you said had no meaning. Being harsh and mean is how people's point get across.

And plus–I rather my employees take me for being a mean boss rather than a nice one, because there's no greater insult than people not taking you seriously and probably going to laugh behind your back about it.

"How about then you can complain about working late?" I suggested it to him.

To that, it's true. Fast food and retail managers don't care about whether you're staying late or not, they just want the job to be done.

They can make you stay late even if you don't want to, and nine times out of ten, you're working almost everyday due to stores being mostly understaffed.

But at a corporation like mine, you actually have a set time when you can go home. But then one day I make him stay is where he wants to bring up the concern about being tired and rushing to go home.

Chopard harshly lets out a sigh as he turns and walks towards the door. Instead of walking out like I assumed, he slams the door to which he strongly heads for my desk, his expression now is a heated manner.

Just what I was waiting for, the moment he's going to crack. The moment where he's going to screw up and realize it. I might have to call Ruby first thing in the morning to see if there's an alternative to his position.

He stops shortly at my desk as I sneak a smile as I thought, here it comes.