Edward slips a document on my desk. Now there is trouble, I thought.

"I need you to review this financier by the end of the day. If impossible, by the end of this week," he instructs. It was Thursday at six-thirty pm. And most desks are already vacant. I groaned in protest but I knew there is no way around it. I might have to burn my weekends to get this assignment completed.

I stand up from my desk to stretch and picked up my phone from the desk to order coffee. I figured in order to not burn my weekends; I will just work through tonight and tomorrow. Luckily there are beanbags in the leisure room just one-floor downstairs. This can work, I thought optimistically.

Edward pushes the glass doors and heads home without an inch of guilt. He has already done his part after all. He is unusually cold about work matters and particularly strict when it comes to performance. He knew we needed to earn our keep in order to keep the air-conditioners running.

Once Edward is out of sight, I swiftly rest my face on the cold wooden desk. The office is an open-concept workspace with no privacy whatsoever. Anyone can and do look at what we are up to just by standing up and walking around. There is no one in my immediate periphery, when suddenly-

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"Hey, you're enjoying yourself, huh!" the high-pitched voice of my manager emerges from beside me. I got jolted awake from my brief slumber and almost fell out of my chair. When I turn my face to face him, it just turns out to be Ashley. She was mimicking his voice.

Despite being the director of communications, Ashley is so very friendly to all of the workers regardless of their position. It is a great breath of fresh air in a usually quiet and orthodox office. Still, I will not want to overstep her kindness. I instantly apologise for my lack of attention and promise to resume my work without delay.

"I will take half of that assignment," she states honestly. "we will finish it together before the weekends arrive."

This is just one out of a list of reasons why Ashley is so popular among our rank-and-file. She is considerate of our individual workload and well-being. Voicing out against the unfair treatment we receive in the boardroom is a common routine for her. She is our knight in armour.

I pretended to decline her generous offer by saying no, while knowing she will insist on taking on the assignment. I glance up to look at her, she is all smiles. Sure enough, Ashley argues for taking on the assignment in addition to the workload that she faces.

I handed her the second half of the stack of documents. They are harder to complete. Ashley thanks me and skips away. I massage my temple and adjust my round glasses. The remaining week will be hell.