Short story series:

The Corporate

(Originally written in March 2026)

His name is V. Aditya, written in full as Aditya Vasudev. He is fondly called as Andy. Andy is a successful multi-millionaire who has ferociously built a real-estate portfolio both at his homeland and in the land he now calls home. He has got the looks to match his extravagance. He is a devoted father to his teenage daughter and to his two sons who are at primary school. A dotting husband who showers his wife with love equally enough to match their social outlook.

While his wife handles their real estate portfolio he enjoys his challenge as the regional head of operations for MERIT Group of companies. MERIT, a multi-national conglomerate with subsidiaries such as MERIT BANK, MERIT IT, MERIT REAL ESTATE, to name a few. He has been the regional head of operations for the past 7 years. It's customary for MERIT to hold mid-yearly leadership summit where all regional heads from various business divisions and countries convene at their MERIT RESORT based at MERIT’s base country. It is a 3-day event, where in-between fine wine and ‘executive’ yoga sessions, the organization’s strategic and long-term goals are also discussed and implemented. Upon his return, Andy had many great news to share to his regional staff. Most leaders at his level get groomed to neither be an extrovert nor an introvert. They look mostly polished and well put together and Andy is no different. However, he has made it a point to recognize his staff at all levels for their hard work, commitment and results to MERIT. After all, encouraging words from the higher ups are always morale boosters to any team. As such, apart from sharing news about strategies and goals, his emails to his staff also recognize and contain words of praise to those who have been recently promoted across various levels.

One such promotion is for Maggie. Maggie is in her mid-twenties, who started off at MERIT 2 years ago in the front line and now being promoted as an acting team leader. She is taking over her current team leader Tracey’s role who is going on her 12-month maternity break. This promotion means Maggie’s new salary increase would enable her eligibility for her first home mortgage. To be noted and congratulated by the regional head of operations sure boosted her motivation to work more smarter and be committed for MERIT at least in the foreseeable future.

Tracey, a supportive leader is elated to have Maggie join the ranks of the management team. She confides to Maggie that one of the deciding factors was her ability to discern and do what management wants based on what is right for MERIT. Prior to this promotion, Maggie has been assisting Tracey is everyday team leadership tasks and so is no stranger to most TL tasks. Hence the handover has become easy for Tracey, who is expecting to deliver her baby any time soon. In one such handover meetings, Tracey guides Maggie on setting up her new ‘company’ mobile which Maggie got as part of her new role. She loves her new Samsung Galaxy S21. Since it’s a‘company’ mobile, it comes with a handful of pre-downloaded apps that Maggie will use as part of her role. All ‘company’ mobile phones that are issued to the management are configured by their IT wing. Tracey quietly helps Maggie navigate few apps, and one such app is called, ‘Red’.

Tracey shows when and how to use ‘Red’. The room becomes quiet as less to no words are spoken between the two. ‘Red’ is a simple app with minimalist features. Maggie quickly understands what ‘Red’ is about without Tracey having to explain any functionality. Maggie enters a mobile number of one of her team staff in ‘Red’. ‘Red’ works like magic. To her delight. She can see through her employee’s mobile phone. While Maggie knew some of the surveillance devices and initiatives used, she never in her wildest dreams expected there could be an app that’s so simple to use using which one can monitor any mobile device. Tracey stops Maggie to correct her understanding. Tracey advises that while ‘Red’ is a great real time surveillance app on her teammates, it cannot function on any mobile device or on any mobile number. Her work phone is pre-programmed with this app to conduct surveillance only on set list of mobile numbers that belong to front-line team. Tracey further advises that her first point of contact for assistance on ‘Red’ would be Graeme (another seasoned team leader at MERIT). Their IT-wing would configure / update the app at regular time-periods.

Tracey warns however, that soon ‘Red’ can become additive and disrupt her work-life balance. She reminds her to clock off from work as well as from her work mobile. After few silent moments, Maggie questions, “is that why when I broke up with my ex-fiancé and took almost a week off work, as sick, you never asked for a med cert?” Tracey looked at Maggie and for a few seconds the room was filled with silence and understanding without a word spoken. Tracey notes however, that not all management staff have access to ‘Red’ and advised discretion. Tracey with a stern authoritative tone stated to Maggie that this conversation never took place. Between Tracey and Maggie, there wasn't a single conversation on the parameters of legality, let alone morality or ethical standards of using 'Red' as an app in monitoring employee's personal mobile devices or having control of their mobile devices. She further states, “I know what you are thinking. No. ‘Red’ is used only in relation to our frontline staff. Not used among ourselves. You are part of the management team now. So relax.”

Soon after, few weeks had passed. Tracey who successfully delivered her first child seem to be enjoying her new chaos at home as a mother. While Maggie has settled in well in her team leadership role. Maggie, in particular admires her regional head Andy and looks forward to his monthly ‘staff engagement’ emails. In his most recent email, Andy spoke about the importance of work-life balance. He explained how an act and commitment as simple as accompanying his daughter to her Saturday classical dance classes has helped to develop their father-daughter bond no matter what his work schedule demands. He has encouraged his staff to find little ways to achieve similar balance in their everyday lives.

Andy, on one such Saturday after his ‘family’ time enters his ‘work’ room at his home, rather we should call his home as a beautifully crafted three storey, triple glazed glass house mansion. While his wife’s artful indulgence and taste is evident at every corner of this luxury showpiece, his ‘work’ room is off limits even to his wife. Andy regards his ‘work’ as his meditation. While he hates bringing work to home, every Saturday between 3pm to 5pm are his work catch up sessions. This Saturday at his ‘work’ room, Andy is engrossed in reviewing the quarterly results, in particular focusing on areas that has achieved below-par results. He makes a 5-point analysis notes to discuss with his team, the coming week. He crafts a market revamp review to uplift sales on one such area which achieved below-par results. After finishing up with his work, he switches off his computer systems and walks towards the side wall. Slowly as he pushes the wall, a small cabinet room opens up and closes as he enters that secret room. The room is so small that only one person can comfortably occupy at any one time. He rather likes the darkness of this room. He opens up a small draw and switches on his Apple iPhone. Wasting no time, he opens an app called, ‘Blue’ and chooses a mobile number from the drop-down list. After few seconds, the app loads with camera view of that mobile number and we see Tracey breastfeeding her 4-week-old baby. Andy soon relieves himself off his stress while watching his iPhone camera view from ‘Blue’ app and we see a corner of that dark room get splashed with his white cream. He then swiftly, switches off his mobile, places it back at the drawer and comes out of his secret room.

Andy then takes a shower and gets ready as his wife is heard reminding Andy and the kids of their evening dinner appointments. Andy and his wife enjoy hosting their friends and it's an unwritten ritual every weekend, for their friends to gather at his house for barbeque. Their mansion brightens with the laughter of all the kids and adults alike. In his Secret room upstairs, Andy’s white cream lives on till next time.