Chapter 74 The Workaholic.
Josh’s POV
The keyboard clicked beneath my fingers in a steady, relentless rhythm, the only sound in my apartment besides the faint hum of the city outside.
I had a lot of documents that needs my signature, projects to sign and not to speak of the many many meetings I would have to attend starting tomorrow.
All my life I've only really known work. My parent died when I was twelve leaving me with their two construction companies, hotels and restaurants all over the city and shares in many companies. I was left in the care of my grandmother, but she died two months after I turned eighteen.
Since then, I have been under the care of my butler Mr Andrew. He literally raised me, but now he's sick and had to return back to his home town.
After that I had no one except my three friends. Adrian, Drake and Maya, but I rarely see them these days because they were as busy as I was. Drake is a big time Hollywood director. He has won more awards than I could count. Maya is a supermodel who has probably travelled the world, while Adrian is still being pampered by his Dad.
The fact is, all my friends are busy people and I've always been lonely. Work was my only companion. It was where I functioned best. Work made my life make sense.
I leaned back slightly in my chair, rubbing a hand over my face before returning to the screen. It was past midnight again. I knew that without needing to check the time. Nights blurred into mornings these days, stitched together by caffeine and deadlines. I never really cared how time passes as long as I get my work done.
I was thirty-two years old. A multi-billionaire. CEO of a company my parents had built from nothing, and I kind of lived like a raccoon.
Paperwork littered the coffee table. Empty takeout containers stacked in the corner, clothes, clean and dirty, I honestly couldn’t tell anymore, were draped over chairs, the couch, even the floor. I noticed none of it, until the door opened.
“Jesus Christ, Josh!” Adrian's voice exclaimed.
I didn’t need to look up to know that it was him. He's the only one who always barged into my apartment without a warning. “You didn't knock again Adrian.” I mumbled nonchalantly.
“I didn’t knock,” Adrian said flatly. “Because I knew you wouldn’t hear it. And because this...” he paused dramatically, “...this crime scene doesn’t deserve courtesy.”
I sighed knowing he was right. Whenever I work, I never really paid much attention to my surrounding. Even as Adrian spoke, my eyes hasn't left my laptop screen not even once.
"You're seriously just going to ignore me?" Adrian groaned in annoyance.
“Its good to see you man." I greeted just to get him to shut up and leave me the fuck alone.
He walked farther into my apartment, and I heard his expensive shoes crunching against something that might have once been a snack wrapper. “Your place is disgusting.” He shuddered.
“I think I'll say its productive instead of disgusting.” I corrected.
He scoffed. “You live like you’re allergic to joy.”
I finally glanced up at him. Adrian stood in the middle of my living room, arms crossed, face twisted in open disgust. He was the kind of guy girls would be all over because he looks like a celebrity. He had this Perfect blond hair which he died blue, and he always wore designer clothes thanks to his Dad's money. Moreover, he's a big ass player.
“I don’t have time to clean,” I said plainly. “I have deadlines to meet at work and you know it. If you've forgotten, let me remind you that I'm the president of various enterprises in the country.”
“I know that. But all you do is work, work, work, its frustrating!” he said, throwing his hands in the air. “Do you even remember what fun is?”
“Yes,” I replied simply and returned my attention to my computer. “It’s when quarterly reports balance.”
He stared at me like I’d just confessed to a crime. "You don’t date. You don’t go out. You don’t even pretend to have a life,” he said. “You know that sucks, right?”
“I’m aware.”
“And you’re… okay with that?” He asked squinting at me.
I paused. Just for a second as I thought it over. I've never really been okay about work. Its just a way to stop myself from drowning in loneliness. But I can never let my friends know that.
“I’m not ready for distractions,” I said finally. “Relationships take time and energy, and those are things I don’t have.”
Adrian let out a long, disappointed sigh. “You’re hopeless.” He pushed aside my clothes on the couch and slumped down on it.
He looked around again, pinching the bridge of his nose. “If you can’t clean, at least hire someone. A maid would actually help to make this room look like a human being lives in it."
I shrugged, already turning back to my laptop. “Maybe, I'll think about it.”
“There's no time to think about shit Josh. Maya and Drake wants to come over for a proper catch up. When we all graduated, we barely had time for our get together because of our amazing jobs."
"You don't have a job Adrian." I deadpanned and he glared at me.
"I'm busy with the ladies. That counts!"
I ignored him thinking about Maya and Drake. It's been so long since we last saw each other, and I don't think I'll mind a little get to together with the only people I consider my family.
“When are they coming? And why does it have to be at my place?" I asked confused.
“We'll all be here the day after tomorrow. And it has to be here because I have to make you clean this dirt hole for once in your life." He glared at me. "You better hire a maid dude."
"Whatever." I answered just as his phone chimmed.
"I have to go." He announced standing up excitedly. "Get a house maid man and don't stay up late." With that he left and I sighed in relief.
The apartment fell silent again. I leaned back and looked around properly for the first time in months, and I realized Adrian wasn’t wrong.
With a quiet sigh, I opened a browser and searched for cleaning services. One name caught my eye.
Ashley Adams.
She's in her mid fifties and she's a professional. It even says she had a five years experience in housekeeping.
I glanced back at my work.
I'll just finish this before giving Ashley Adams a call.