The Deadline King of the Machine
Arjun’s mind drifted back to a time when the world seemed simpler, when deadlines were the only thing that mattered. He was a cog in the machine of DataCorp, a faceless drone whose existence was defined by the endless stream of projects and deadlines.
For Arjun
Harold was the king of that machine, a man who seemed to defy the laws of time and productivity. Arjun watched him with a mix of awe and envy, marveling at his ability to juggle multiple tasks and deliver on time, every time.
Arjun had always wanted to be like Harold, to be the deadline king. But then he realized that the man behind the facade was far more complex than could be imagined.
He was a loner, a man who kept his secrets close to his chest. He worked long hours, often skipping meals and sacrificing sleep to meet his deadlines. But despite his relentless drive, there was a sadness in his eyes, a sense of emptiness that hinted at a life beyond the confines of the office.
They said he was a magician.
He didn’t correct them. He let them think it. It was easier that way. His real secret was far more mundane. He simply worked very hard. But there was no glory in that, so he let them think what they wanted. It helped him blend in, to not draw attention to himself. It helped him keep his real life a secret.
“Harold!”
He looked up from his screen, startled. Emily stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips, a familiar look of impatience on her face.
“Yes, Emily?” he asked, trying to mask his annoyance at being interrupted.
“How’s the Johnson project coming along?” she demanded.
“It’ll be done on time,” he assured her, though he hadn’t even started it yet.
She narrowed her eyes at him, clearly not convinced.
“You always say that,” she said, crossing her arms. “And you always deliver. But this time, Harold, it’s critical.”
“I know,” he replied, forcing a smile. “Trust me.”
Before she could respond, the door creaked open again and a young man shuffled in. He looked around nervously before his gaze settled on Emily.
“Ah, Arjun,” Emily said, her tone softening slightly. “Come in.”
Mark stepped forward hesitantly, his eyes darting between them.
“This is Arjun,” Emily introduced. “Our new intern.”
He nodded at him, trying to seem welcoming despite his irritation at the interruption.
“Harold,” Emily continued, turning to him. “I need you to mentor him.”
His heart sank. Mentoring an intern was the last thing he needed right now. But he nodded anyway.
“Of course,” he said through gritted teeth.
Emily smiled, satisfied.
“Great,” she said. “I’ll leave you two to get acquainted.”
With that, she turned and left the room, leaving Arjun and him alone.