"You've changed," Star said to Ivan.
"I think you're delusional," Ivan answered his secretary, who was also his younger sister.
"I miss the years before we moved," she said, sitting in front of her brother. "I wonder if Mia is still here too."
Ivan shrugged, and Star rolled her eyes. "Looks like our auctioneer is already prepared for the next auction," Ivan said.
"It's easy peasy," Star answered. "I don't know why you chose me to do it five years ago when you made this company, but it was a good choice, brother."
—
The next evening came by, with Callistus continuing to transfer the information into the computer. He never stopped typing until noon hit, by then he had only finished a quarter of the book. The office was silent as everyone else had gone out to eat.
"Callistus?"
He looked up, seeing Myiesha and Ivan's secretary, who hadn't left yet.
"What are you still doing up here?" Myiesha continued. "Aren't you eating?"
"I wish, but I have to finish this by tomorrow evening." Callistus replied before his stomach began to grumble.
"Come, let's go," Myiesha and the secretary walked over to him. "You can't work on an empty stomach."
"Alright," Callistus followed them.
When they reached the cafeteria, Callistus got a simple drink and a burger while Myiesha and the secretary got a full meal.
"Are you sure that's all you're going to eat?" the secretary asked.
Callistus nodded, "I haven't met you formally but what's your name?"
"Star Chase," Star answered him as she shook his hand. "I'm Ivan Chase's younger sister and secretary."
"Amazing to meet you, Star," Callistus replied.
The three ate their food as they talked. Myiesha Agnes was very calm and gentle, while Star was quite outgoing with the people she knew, otherwise she might seem unsociable to strangers.
Callistus kept asking questions about the company to Myiesha and Star, which they happily answered. He was fascinated to know that this company was only made five years ago.
The CEO, COO, CFO, Chairman, and Compliance Officer were friends when they entered college. They all had the same dream of opening an auction company, but Ivan was the one who started it all.
They all invested their savings into the company at 20. It was a big risk with loans Ivan had borrowed, but sometimes, the bigger the risk, the higher the chance of success, and he achieved just that.
The auction house skyrocketed, dealing in precious jewels, antiques, real estate, and much more. They held some of the world's record-breaking prices, and it became internationally renowned.
The five friends remained loyal to each other over the years and never fought over their positions. Callistus was amazed to know this information, never realizing the company was that young.
"Did you support your brother in doing this?" Callistus asked Star.
"Our parents fought for quite a while when Ivan told them he had taken huge loans from the bank and other people," Star answered. "I believed in him, and I promised to be his secretary so he wouldn't need to hire other people. Although he's generous enough to give me a salary now."
After lunch, they went their separate ways.
He continued his work, finishing half of the book by the end of the day, but he decided to work overtime as going home would ruin his mood and make him end up doing nothing.
"Not leaving too?" Star asked.
Callistus shook his head. "Your brother wants me to finish this by tomorrow."
Star shook her head, annoyed by her brother. "He didn't even come to work physically today. Good luck to you, though."
Callistus thanked her before she left. As the sun set, more and more people left until he was the only one there, still typing.
He fell asleep a couple of times but always somehow managed to wake up. He told himself to do two more pages before going home when he heard footsteps walking into the office.
The office lights were off, and Callistus had his glasses on. Who would come in at 12 in the morning?
The glass doors swung open, and a silhouette of a man appeared. The moonlight from the huge glass windows illuminated the figure, revealing a tall man in a simple t-shirt and long pants.
Callistus continued his work, thinking it was one of his colleagues, but the voice sounded unfamiliar.
"Callistus?" the voice called.
"Sir?" Callistus replied.
It was Ivan, coming in to get something Star had forgotten, but he didn't expect to find Callistus working overtime.
Callistus ignored him, not wanting to disturb Ivan. Besides, he didn't know much about the CEO. Although, since their first meeting, Callistus had been surprised that Ivan knew how to pronounce his name correctly from a blank piece of paper.
Ivan was not far from Callistus' desk, as Star's office was on the same floor. When he heard the door open again, Callistus had only finished one more page.
"How long do you plan to stay here?" Ivan asked.
Callistus was surprised by the sudden question but answered, "Not much longer. I'll finish up one more page before packing up."
"Then, I'll wait for you," Ivan responded. "It's just one page, correct?"
"Yes, but—"
"Please continue."
Callistus didn't answer and quickly typed into the computer so he wouldn't waste the CEO's time. As he continued to type, Ivan went from staring at the city lights behind Callistus to watching Callistus himself.
Ivan stood up and walked away, making Callistus think he was heading home earlier. So, he slowed his typing.
"Why did you slow down all of a sudden?" Ivan asked, his voice closer than Callistus expected.