Sam, with a heaviness in his heart, had several tasks to wrap up before he could allow himself the comfort of home.

He felt like a juggler, balancing too many things all at once.

Yet he found solace in the company of Eva, his steadfast confidante and right-hand woman.

She was always there, helping him keep the show going. He needed her.

"Hey, Eva," Sam started, his voice slightly softer than usual, his eyes a bit distant.

He had to return home. His parents, their memories, and their love were calling him.

Yet, how could he explain all this? So, he kept it simple.

"I need to take a break, go home for a bit. Family matters," he stated, leaving the explanation purposefully vague.

It wasn't like Sam to share much about his personal life.

He preferred to keep his cards close to his chest, so he just admitted, "I've been missing them a lot lately, you know?"

The simple confession carried the weight of his longing, his voice barely a whisper but filled with emotion.

Seeing Sam in such a state, Eva simply nodded, giving him the needed space.

Her understanding provided him a small comfort, and he pressed on, outlining what needed to be done in his absence.

"While I'm gone, I'll need you to hold down the fort. If anything urgent comes up, don't hesitate to give me a ring," he instructed.

There was a pause before he continued, "But for the most part, I trust our service & support team to handle the day-to-day."

Sam rubbed his forehead, thinking about the future and the challenges they might face.

Looking up at Eva, he added another task.

"Eva, we should probably have a reliable law firm on our side. Can you do some research, find us a good one, maybe one of the best in town?"

"Sure, Sam. Anything else?" Eva asked.

She held a notepad and pen, ready to jot down additional instructions.

She was his rock, always steady and prepared, even in turbulent times.

Sam exhaled, contemplating his following words.

He recalled a name, George Callum, that Gaia, his artificial intelligence, had introduced.

"There's this guy, George Callum. He owns Trion Labs. Word is, they're in some financial trouble, almost about to go belly-up," he shared, a note of concern lacing his words.

"Their resources and facilities could benefit our next big thing. Would you mind reaching out to him?"

Even though Eva was curious about 'the next big thing', she noted down the name and nodded her acknowledgment.

It was a daunting task, but she knew its importance. The future of their company could hinge on it.

Pausing, Sam added, "And Eva, if any legal issues crop up, immediately hand them over to the law firm. They'll know best how to navigate the maze."

A shadow of worry crossed his face, but it quickly vanished, replaced by a resolute look.

"And remember, if it's something personal or something you think I should know about, don't hesitate to call me."

Sam's trust in her felt reassuring, and Eva was determined to not let him down.

Eva gave an understanding nod, signaling her readiness to get started with the tasks Sam had assigned.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Sam was left alone with his thoughts as she got up to leave. He gazed around the office, feeling a touch of melancholy.

The space, which should have been buzzing with the energy of a company on the cusp of greatness, was eerily quiet.

'Only one visible department,' Sam thought, his gaze falling on the after-sales and service department, 'Just one. That can't be right.'

As Sam took in the sight, he found himself shaking his head, a sense of unease creeping into his mind.

His mind whirred with the realization that the company had grown.

'It's time,' he mused, 'Time for us to mirror that growth, to show that we've evolved.'

The vision for the company's growth took form in his thoughts.

A Human Resources department - 'We need that. We need to recruit, to nurture talent.'

A marketing team - 'We need our achievements to be heard, our victories celebrated.'

He toyed with the idea of a sales team, though he knew that wasn't an immediate need.

His thoughts veered toward a more urgent requirement - a Research and Development team.

'Innovation, that's what we thrive on,' he thought, the resolve hardening in his mind, 'We need dedicated minds to keep pushing boundaries.'

And to balance the creative chaos, the steadying presence of an Accounting and Finance department was essential.

His thoughts briefly paused as he realized how much Eva had been handling.

'Eva, always pulling her weight and more,' he reflected, his heart filling with gratitude for her, 'She brought us this far. But even she can't do everything.'

His mind was clear, the plan set.

They needed to expand and needed more hands on deck.

With this realization, Sam invited Eva back to the table for another round of discussions.

This time the topic was hiring plans.

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes thoughtful as he spoke, "Eva, we need a vibrant, diverse team. A mix of seasoned professionals with invaluable experience and fresh, eager graduates who can bring innovative ideas and energy."

Eva, always quick on the uptake, was on the same page.

She nodded in agreement, even offering her own perspective. "Yes, Sam, we could hire new graduates. They're a more affordable workforce and eager to prove themselves."

But Sam was already thinking a few steps ahead.

"Yes, new talent is crucial. But we also need people who've walked the path before us, who can mentor the freshers and help navigate any hurdles. We need a balance, Eva," he stressed, his voice firm and resolute.

His eyes held a glint of determination, thinking about the company's future.

"Let's take our time with this, do it right. We can't rush when it comes to building our team."

Sam knew that the foundation of any successful venture was its team.

It was vital to get the right people who would understand the company's ethos and contribute meaningfully towards its growth.

As their conversation concluded, Eva's forehead creased into a frown, as if battling with a troubling thought.

"Sam, there's something else. . ." she began, her eyes drifting around the room before finding their way back to him.

"If we're really going for this expansion, we're going to outgrow this place pretty fast. We'll need a much bigger office space to accommodate all the new hires."

Sam studied her momentarily before breaking into a gentle smile, his eyes twinkling with infectious excitement.

He reassured her, "Eva, don't you worry about that. Office space? That's my department."

There was a playful confidence in his tone that eased Eva's concern.

He was a man with a plan, and she had seen him transform seemingly impossible situations before.

With that final exchange, their meeting came to a close.

Sam pushed himself away from the table, his mind already racing with the tasks that lay ahead.

He could feel the familiar adrenaline of a new challenge beginning to surge within him.

As he stepped out of the office, he turned back to give Eva a confident nod.

They were both stepping into uncharted territory, and the journey ahead would be exciting.

Making his way back to his apartment, Sam replayed the conversation in his head, fine-tuning the plan as he navigated through the busy city.

The thought of a bustling office filled with bright minds and innovative ideas fueled his determination.

The potential hurdles they had discussed didn't intimidate him; instead, they only made the journey seem more thrilling.

Once he was back at his apartment, he went straight to his desk, ready to plunge into the next step of his grand plan.

"Gaia, we need to find a suitable building," he commanded, leaning back in his chair as he pictured the perfect space for his growing company.

As efficient as ever, Gaia wasted no time, and the details of a potential building popped up almost instantly on his screen.

[Here are the details!]