"I'm only doing this because you're both special." CEO Finn dropped his gaze. "I wouldn't dream of leaving him to someone else."

His wording as if Secretary Grey was his pet or child left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Of course, before you begin investigating it's important that you participate in the standard training courses and team-building exercises." He stood up and walked back towards his desk while speaking faster. "It's also a requirement that all employees in the Upper Division reality management departments live in our employee apartments. You should finish moving in by the end of the day tomorrow. Human Resources will coordinate the logistics. Keep an eye on your email for further instructions. That's all." Now sitting in his chair, he waved his hand as if to shoo me out and resumed swiping his communicator screen.

Secretary Grey and I both stood at the same time, then looked at one another as the coordinated movement was unexpected.

His face was pale and his eyes soulless and cold. I bowed towards him.

"I'll be in your care."

Those cold eyes turned dimensional as the upper half of his face tensed in surprise and something that resembled sadness or worry flashed through. I really couldn't read his thoughts.

"Yes," he replied softly then turned his gaze to the floor.

I bowed to CEO Finn who was still tapping at his communicator and then left. On my way back to Records, I decided to stop by the desk of administrative secretaries.

That young staff's eyes were already settled on me as I'd entered the hallway, but they widened once I directed my path towards them.

Smiling gently and relaxing my eyes to show I had no ill intent, I leaned on the desk. "Excuse me. May I ask why you looked at me and laughed earlier?"

The young secretary smiled back but fidgeted in their chair. "I'm sorry, you'd looked at Secretary Grey's office and your face had just suddenly turned so green... so to speak—it seemed like your imagination had returned from war." They snickered again, then stifled it and covered their mouth. "It was just interesting to see someone with such elevated looks make that sort of mortal expression."

The other secretary tapped the desk with a reproachful gaze but the one before me just pouted, still amused.

The language of this staff used all sorts of trendy slang, they were definitely as young as I suspected. I wondered how they'd made it to such a high position in admin so early, considering that in this classist world, education and familial connections may have played a role.

"May I ask what your title is?"

They nodded once. "We're Assistant and Clerical Secretaries supervised by Executive Secretary Grey. "

"What kind of boss is he?"

Perhaps worried their coworker was going to respond too casually, the first secretary interrupted. "Assistant Loren, is there something in particular we can assist you with?"

I stepped over as if ready to speak and covertly placed my work communicator on the desk's built-in reader. The staff habitually looked at the monitor and then blinked several times.

It seemed I didn't need to explain my actions. I wondered if perhaps updating my info had been part of the swiping CEO Finn was doing before sending me off.

Seeing their always-poised coworker staring blankly at the screen, the younger one rolled the chair over to take a look.

"Oh!"

The first swallowed and corrected themselves by reciting, "Investigator Loren, Reality Rip Resolution Department."

The younger one gasped again. "S-s-s—," they stuttered, pointing a trembling finger at the screen.

"What does it say?" I asked, genuinely unsure of what other information was displayed.

The poised staff cleared their throat. "Those in RRR fieldwork positions are partnered, always working in pairs. The work relationship is very important, so partner information is always displayed in tandem."

I nodded. "Then I have to apologize. It seems I'll be borrowing your boss indefinitely."

The two exchanged looks.

"And I think we're in the same boat, so would it be alright if I learn your information?"

The two snatched up their work communicators and immediately sent their IDs to mine.

The poised one was Singer, Assistant Secretary, Administration, she/her/hers.

The younger was Garcia, Clerical Secretary, Administration, he/him/his.

As I gathered the names of the other three staff at the long desk, one of whom had stepped away, my work communicator pinged. There was a message in the chat app from Garcia. It was an emoji of an excitedly squealing hamster. I didn't even know CenUMR's chat system supported emoji. Then there was an invite link to a private chat group titled 'Grey's peons.'

Just from the name, I didn't want to join. Instead, I headed to the elevator and found an email from HR with a list of instructions for tying loose ends in Records and moving into the employee apartments. I then sent a private message to Darcy via the work comm.

M. Loren, RRRLG: .

C. Darcy, Tech7: !!!!!!!!!!!!!

C. Darcy, Tech7: Duck but with an F.

C. Darcy, Tech7: I'm actually in RRR right now running diagnostics on a computer. Sob.

C. Darcy, Tech7: I told them my friend got promoted and asked how I can get transferred to work closer to you. They just patted my shoulder and told me to cherish my freedom. Wth but with an f.

My personal comm pinged with a message from Darcy.

Darcy: I'm so sick of the censoring. F*ck. I bet it's a conspiracy. They're jealous of my hair and baby face. I'm no monster like you, but I do my jobs well.

I put my personal communicator away to let Darcy rant and looked back at my work device. I clicked the invite then looked at the top of the interface and froze. The name of the private group chat had changed since I first received the invite.

Grey's Peons + 1 God

T. Yong, Admin1: God!

P. Garcia, Admin1: The God has arrived!

B. Justice, Admin1: Welcome God Loren!

Hesitancy and confusion rising, I could only continue towards the Records Department and reply.

M. Loren, RRRLG: ? You seem very excited?

U. Singer, Admin1: This is unprecedented. Change is coming.

B. Justice, Admin1: Roses will bloom.

T. Yong, Admin1: The foundation will crack.

P. Garcia, Admin1: It's an absolute treat. I'm wrecked.

I stared at the message, understanding the general emotion but having no clue as to the reason behind it. My silence likely gave away my thoughts as another message came in.

P. Garcia, Admin1: You'll understand soon enough. Oh and huge tip for getting along with Secretary Grey [smirking hamster emoji]

P. Garcia, Admin1: When in doubt, smile at him.

B. Justice, Admin1: $10 for Investigator Loren's smile.

P. Garcia, Admin1: No bets if we all agree.

B. Justice, Admin1: I'm not betting. I'm buying.

T. Yong, Admin1: I don't think I've ever seen Sec. Grey smile.

Q. Singer, Admin1: I saw him smile eating a pastry once.

T. Yong, Admin1: [shocked]

P. Garcia, Admin1: [shocked +1]

B. Justice, Admin1: [shocked +2]

Q. Singer, Admin1: It was blueberry.

M. Loren, RRRLG: [shocked +3]

The 'someone is typing' message area was blank for several seconds. Then it picked up again in a flood.

P. Garcia, Admin1: Ahhhhh I'm wrecked. Just ashes.

B. Justice, Admin1: Omg we've got a gem.

T. Yong, Admin1: Sorrynotsorry Records Dept

R. Chandra, Admin1: Hello R.R.I. Loren. Welcome. You all, I just delivered coffee to the Big Thumb and the atmosphere was tense! [terrified hamster emoji]

R. Chandra, Admin1: But get this—it was actually reversed. As if Big Thumb had been scolded. Except he was smiling. But the point is that Sec. Grey looked absolutely frigid leaving the office. His eyes are so scary when he's like that. I think we should all be careful with our jobs today.

Q. Singer, Admin1: Ah, the old Grey. I miss it. I'll go take a peek.

T. Yong, Admin1: Fangirl.

B. Justice, Admin1: God has already started working his magic. Thank you.

M. Loren, RRRLG: All of this is the CEO's doing. I can't take credit.---Why I would want to take credit for Secretary Grey's foul mood or why his staff saw it as positive was beyond me.---Also, sorry but why is the CEO nicknamed Big Thumb?

The chat went momentarily silent again.

P. Garcia, Admin1: This can only be explained in person.

T. Yong, Admin1: Please redact.

R. Chandra, Admin1: Um, just wondering how old are you? [sweating bullets]

I was confused but redacted my question anyway.