The man hesitantly stepped forward and stroked his beard before licking his lips. “CEO Malik, I’ll cut to the chase.”

“I’d greatly appreciate it,” I replied. The control room and device—a platform with two rotating columns, surrounded by panels—looked normal.

Pressing his fingertips together and head turned to the tiled floor, Team Manager Noah announced, “The Timeline Travel Device will not be ready in time for the ceremony, as it stands.” He paused and glanced up at me.

I gave an encouraging static, calm expression.

He turned to another team member who handed him two sheets of paper which he then passed to Secretary Sara and me.

“This report lists all the risk factors we found upon this morning’s scan and their forecasted implications on the functionality and successful first run of the TTD. We ran diagnostics and have been working on upgrades since this morning but,” his gaze returned to the floor, “the projected resolution date seems to be two days after the scheduled unveiling and activation ceremony.” He rubbed his fingers together as the others hung their heads.

Secretary Sara asked, “So your proposed solution is that we postpone the ceremony?”

“U-uh, yes. Unfortunately. We understand how complicated it will be, but we’re—we are and we will do our utmost finish upgrades as close to the original date as possible—“

I held up my hand and their eyes all turned to me. “Have you discussed this with any other departments?”

“No sir,” Team Manager Noah replied as the others shook their heads. “No one who works outside of the TTD team has been informed. Not even the construction team providing materials or others in the newly founded Timeline Travel Department. Only those who work in the lab know.”

“Good.” Panic amongst the staff or Institution needed to be mitigated. From the way just this team was behaving, it was clear they would make a bigger deal out of the situation than it deserved. “Secretary Sara will send the staff an updated copy of the non-disclosure agreement. I’ll handle the ceremony postponement. You all just focus on the TTD. But I have one serious expectation.”

Their backs straightened as they gave me their full attention.

“No overtime.”

Pour your hearts into this during regular hours, but once the clock strikes five, leave your concerns in the building. Don’t take them home. That’s all. Is there anything else?”

Team Manager Noah wrinkled his nose and sucked in his chin as he blinked his glistening eyes. “No, sir. Thank you, CEO Malik.”

The others chimed an enthusiastic chorus of choked thanks and swarmed towards me in a pack. I perfunctorily grunted an acknowledgement while waving my hand as I beelined for the exit.

Leaving the lab, Secretary Sara on my heels, I could hear the staff recite a synchronized peppy-cheer.

“CEO Malik, you say you don’t like being popular yet your kindness is irrefutable. Are you sure you don’t like being worshipped?”

I shuddered. “Don’t like it, don’t like it.”

“In all seriousness,” she began, “this puts an enormous task on your plate. You’ll not only have to contact and legitimize the postponement to the Board of Directors and Realm Hall’s Mayor Alec, but also the Finance Department, the Arts Center, the Broadcast Station, and our contacts in the destination.” She pressed the button to the elevator. “Also, send emails to the School Board, parse the detailed reports from the TTD team—“

I folded my arms, frowning. “Yes, so?”

“So you will be working overtime.”

“I’m CEO. What, are you going to say it’s unfair?”

“No, just that I see why you have no time for a partner. What about me, sir? What time can I get off today?”

I glanced at her hopefully. “Seven?”

Her mouth and jaw tightened like earlier as she glared at the elevator door. “I’ll stay with you as long as you need me to, sir.”

I wondered if I should take the stairs; the elevator was taking too long again and my office was only a floor up. “Don’t be silly. How could I make a pregnant or sick person do overtime?”

At last, the elevator dinged and opened its doors just as Secretary Sara remarked, “Once this business is resolved, I’ll be sure to send you a report on why your words were thoughtless. CEO Malik, please read it thoroughly.”

Secretary Sara left at her usual 6:00, leaving me alone in my office with a to-do list that had barely taken a dent. I took a brief break to run downstairs to the sandwich shop on the corner before returning to the building for another hour or more of work. I greeted the employees on their way out, listening to them revel about my dedication or worry about my health in whispers. Few employees stayed later than six at WCOI; any other day I might peruse the floors to give encouragement or snacks to anyone still working, but there was no time for it that night.

I worked another hour until receiving a disappointed OK email from Mayor Alec’s office. Immediately after, my request for an emergency Board of Directors meeting got a notification that it’d been read by six out of eight recipients.

My phone rang and I picked it up mindlessly, stating a simple, “Noble Malik speaking.”

“Uh, yes, hello. This is Burns Fabio from Catty Corner Daycare.”

I looked at the phone I was holding to realize it was my personal smartphone and not my work phone, wondering how tired I had to be to make that mistake. Then I put the phone back to my ear to explain, “I’m sorry. I promise I didn’t forget about her. I’m working overtime and—“

“Oh, no, it’s okay. We know how busy you are, CEO Noble Malik. I figured that’s what it was, I was just calling to check in.”

“Yes, I’ll try to be done in an hour.”

“Um, are you at the office by yourself?”

“Unfortunately. But I’m the only one who can do this task.”

“Oh, isn’t it lonely?”

I tried to remember which staff of the cat daycare Burns Fabio was. A vague image in my mind gradually gained clarity. About the same skin tone as mine, so ginger brown adjacent. Curly hair in a bowl cut. Pink? Or was it blonde? They were a little flirty last time I’d dropped Darla off with them.

They continued, “If you want, Darla and I can come by? I could bring coffee too if you like.”

As much as I longed to squish Darla’s cute little paws, it’d be cruel to give the staff member false hope. “Mx. Burns Fabio, are you interested in me or do you offer this for all your clients?”

There was silence on the other end.

“If it’s the former, I’m sorry but I’m not interested in dating anyone so long as I’m CEO. If it’s the latter, thank you but I’m working on something important and classified, and would feel uncomfortable if anyone was in my office. “

The silence continued for a few more seconds, only marked by a stilted sigh, so I threw in for good measure, “Thank you for being so understanding and caring for Darla. I’ll try to pick her up in a hour.” And then I hung up the phone because two more seconds of silence made a full minute of time wasted.

Thirty minutes later, I was not done but decided to make a cup of coffee from the electronic brewer by the secretaries’ station. As the machine booted up, I read over the TTD data from the past few days. I still did not know how to respond to the postponement request from those few people in the research team. They’d come to learn of the postponement in due time but I did not want them to think it was because their request was approved.

The majority of leaders and Board of Directors in the management realm supported the TTD and its timeline for activation. I was a careful person but found their fears a little exaggerated. Based on their concerns, it’d be another century to half-millennia before it was “safe” for people to travel timelines. Risk was inextricably tied to travel. We were already well-versed in risk mitigation from traveling to the civilian realm for millennia.

The machine dispensed the coffee, and I drafted a reply that said just that. Then I sent it to Secretary Sara because she’s very good at telling me whether I’m being too honest. I thought perhaps that was her problem earlier that day. She might have been trying to hide her pregnancy/sickness and I ruined it by calling it out.

My thoughts were interrupted by a thump so loud that the floor vibrated beneath my feet.