Jade grabs Andy's hand and takes him away; he follows her closely, his grip on his hand tight.
"What's your name, rookie? We can't start all the soul-crushing labour without a name," she asked him.
Andy cleared his throat and spoke. "It's Andy Matthews, ma'am." He replied.
"Andy Matthews?? Strange name, I haven't really heard of a name like that before... So tell me why you want to join our company. Andy?."
She asked him as her finger pressed the elevator button. The elevator began its slow descent to the current floor.
"Well, I just wanted to work for the best company around." He responded, swaying back and forth.
"Damn. I hope that worked. I'm not good at answering questions." The thought rammed through his mind.
Jade stayed quiet for a few seconds, her hand on her chin as she processed what he just said.
She gave him a sharp side-eye, but it was gone in an instant. Andy saw it and swallowed hard. He adjusted his tie as he felt his throat close up.
"You wanted to work for the best, is that what you're saying, Mr Matthews?" She questions him, her heel tapping the floor.
"Y-yes, ma'am, that's exactly why I joined your company. Hehehehe..." Andy gave out a light chuckle as he responded.
The elevator was just a floor from them, and they felt loosened up a bit.
"Okay, this will soon be over." He thought to himself.
The elevator door opened, and they both stepped inside. Andy stood far from Jade, who waited until they were both inside.
Her hand hovered over the buttons until she pushed the 7th-floor button, and soon they ascended.
"But Andy, if you want to work for the best. Why didn't you just work for Aquarius Insurance? They have a better customer-to-service provider percentage rate." She asked.
"Well, I....." she didn't even let him finish.
"And why not YOLO insurance, better employee pay, better 401k plan, and so much more." She says as she starts approaching him.
Andy backs away slowly; he can feel the whole elevator get smaller as his Claustrophobia kicks in.
Jade notices the way he starts reacting and moves closer. "What's wrong, Mr Matthews? You don't look well. Is everything alright?"
She asks him, with a false sense of concern in her tone.
Andy's breathing hitches a bit, and he starts looking around, trying to look for a space large enough.
As the elevator reaches the 7th floor, Jade pulls Andy up onto his feet, her expression cold as she adjusts her clothes.
"Mr Matthews, this company has high expectations from you. Please don't disappoint us too soon....understood?" She asks.
Andy takes in rapid breaths, trying to steady his aggravated heart rate. "Y-yes, ma'am, I understand." He replies.
The elevator door opens, and Jade steps out first. "Oh, and it's Ms Jade." She tells him.
"Yeah, sure thing, Ms Jade..." he thought.
He followed her close behind, trying so hard to manage her pace.
Jade stops in the centre of the office and claps her hands together. The whole room freezes instantly.
"Everyone, this is your new supervisor and head of this section, Mr Andy Matthews."
"From today, all reports, records, and file management will be overseen by him. Mr Matthews, I suggest you tell them a bit about yourself." She told him.
Andy flinched a bit at the sheer number of employees he now oversaw; he fidgeted with his fingers.
"Oh well, umm, as you probably heard before, my name is Andy Matthews, and I'll be your boss from now on, so I hope to see some high cooperation from everyone." He told them.
There was not a single reaction from anyone in the crowd; they just stared and coughed slightly. Andy felt like he had just failed the biggest peep rally ever.
Jade clapped her hands again, "Alright, maggots, get back to work before I decrease your salaries again." She ordered as everyone went back to their cubicles.
A few stared at any event afterwards, their tired eyes following his movements. Jade led Andy towards a room at the end of the floor.
"Alright, young blood, this is your office, you have everything you'll need."
"And if you need anything like coffee or food, just ring the button and your assistant will come. She told him.
"I have an assistant, that's really cool," Andy said, but Jade just scowled in irritation.
"Yes. A little servant that complains every time you give them the simplest tasks, yes, really something you should thrive for...." she told him in the most "I don't care "tone.
Andy marvelled at the whole room; His joy couldn't really be contained at that moment; he had finally reached the big leagues.
Jade turned and started leaving. She held the door handle but didn't look back. "Andy..." she called out.
"Yes, Ms Jade?" He asked her.
"Don't screw up, I'd hate it if a young man like you ended up like the others..." she tells him before leaving.
Andy sits there, shocked for a few seconds, "Ms Jade has high expectations from me.... great." He thought.
Andy pushes one of the buttons on the comms, and it rings for a few seconds before someone finally picks it up.
"Hello....hello? Anyone there?" Andy asks. A few seconds pass, and someone responds.
"Yes, this is Rumi. How may I be of service to you, sir?" She asked him in the dullest voice he had ever heard.
"Oh, umm, could you bring me everything that was left incomplete from the previous I.S please?" He asks.
There is no answer, and the call ends. A few moments later, Rumi enters the room without even knocking.
She has stacks and stacks of files that she's carrying.
"You must be the new I.S, Rumi Yagi. I'll be your assistant until you get fired or replaced, whichever comes first." She tells him.
"Is that supposed to be a joke? That was really cold and creepy, though." He thought.
Rumi placed the files on his desk and handed him a few pens. "All this is from the time Mr Richards was fired."
"How long has that been?" Andy asked.
"2 weeks," Rumi told him, her expression empty and cold.
"I suggest starting now before 6pm, or else you'll have to stay here and work overtime, which doesn't include bonus pay."
She told him as she left the office. Andy just stared at the numerous files in front of him. "Well, shit..." he said, as he started working on them.