"I spent all my time working on the website design instead of doing the mobile application evaluation. I also had some tests to carry out for each website page. I would have been faster if you assisted me." After all, it was her freaking job anyways. The website, the testings, were all her assignments. I was only supposed to work on the heuristic evaluations for the app, but Seol Soomin delegated 85% of her workload to me. Now not only would I get in trouble for failing to do my actual tasks, but Seol Soomin would also get praised for all the work I did. But I had gotten used to it; this was how things worked around here. The devil and his henchmen triumphed while they treated the rest of us as servants.
It was just another day as Park Daisuke's subordinate.
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The warm rays of the morning light compelled me to get up and start getting ready for the day. Sitting up on my bed, I took in my surroundings. I remembered when I shared a room with six other kids; I never believed I could get an entire apartment to myself. I lived on the 12th floor in a one-bedroom unit. I had my own kitchen and laundry unit; I even had a balcony where I could grow my cacti. Waking up and seeing all I had achieved despite my terrible childhood, motivated me to accomplish more.
My parents had died in an accident when I was only 8. Their unfortunate death, accompanied by the fact that no one in my extended family wanted me, left me a very isolated and unloved child. My aunts and uncles all complained about not wanting to raise another child. And to make themselves feel better, they sent me to an orphanage. I have never since spoken to any of them. And I have no intention of ever doing so.
"Next!" Park Daisuke yawned as the next employee presented him with their designs for our client's latest app update.
"With our client's thoughts in mind, I designed-" the man beings to speak only to be caught off by Park Daisuke.
"Next!" He waved away the confused colleague. I was up after the next person, and so far, he had turned down all ideas and kicked out some employees from the meeting. He was in an extra pissy mood today. The next person sets up their presentation, and flashes of brilliant colours fill the room. Park Daisuke seemed interested he had put down his phone to pay attention to the presenter.
"I made my design to suit what our client had indicated" She begins, blushing like a schoolgirl, as Park Daisuke stares quietly at her. He sighs, rolls his eyes and...
"Next!" he picks his phone up again and continues doing whatever he usually does. My heart started to beat faster. I hated presentations, and I hated my demon manager. And now I had to present my designs to my demon manager. Why did he keep turning everyone away? Did they do something wrong? Did they show something wrong? These presentations are the best ways to prove yourself when working in a company. Your colleagues will see you as someone to reckon with, and your managers would recommend you for a promotion. Besides, if I was ever going to meet the CEO, I needed to start taking such chances very seriously. I couldn't afford to be discarded by the devil without even vocalizing my designs.
As I set up my presentation, I see Park Daisuke's attention shift back to his phone. I don't know why he turned away everyone that presented, especially when they only said a few words...A few words? Words?
WORDS!!!!
They all started the same way they all talked about the clients. To be more exact, they all talked about how their designs suited the client's thoughts. Clients rarely know what they want, and designing a product solely on the perception of what they need could result in days, if not weeks of wasted effort. If my reasoning is accurate and I avoid speaking on what the client wanted, he should hear me out. Right?
"Focusing on distancing the new application design from the past one, I made the following changes to the settings and home page feature." And just like that, Park Daisuke sets his phone down again and begins to listen to my presentation. I waited for him to shout the usual "next!" But he never did. After I finished presenting, he got up and stretched.
"We will do that. This meeting is over. The rest of you burn your designs because it's probably garbage. Only fools create designs solely on their client's thoughts." He then walked towards the stage where I stood stunned.
Park Daisuke chose my work. This wasn't a dream. Right?
We were using my designs for an actual client. Maybe the devil wasn't all that bad.
"Why are you staring into space?" His handsome features twisted as he arched a brow.
"I'm happy that you picked my designs. I can't wait to start polishing them." I beamed, nothing could ruin this for me. But then he chuckled.
"Don't get too excited," with his hands in his pockets, he turned around. "Soomin!" He called.
"Yes, Daisuke?" she meowed. They were on a first-name basis now. At first, we found it weird, but my colleagues and I have gotten used to it. He reaches for the documents in my hand and passes it to her.
"Why don't you render this into a finished product, I can trust you to perform as perfectly as always." He smiles softly, as Seol Soomin nods in agreement. Where was my smile? I did all the work, presented the damn work and Seol Soomin somehow still got the praise.
"I can work with Seol Soomin since I did the initial designs," I try to chime in. He turns towards me like he forgot I was still here.
"And who will do all the fun prototype tests?" He cocked his head as he mocked me.
"Me." I frown at the realization. Park Daisuke didn't trust anyone, except his favourite henchmen. Even if the devil picked my design, he would still give me all the grunt work. Progressing in the design department at Sunnies Reach was going to be tougher than I thought.