AN: Hi everyone! Thank you to those who reviewed and wanted more. I hope you all find this chapter to your liking. I don't plan to give up on this story anytime soon, so (un)fortunately you're stuck with me!

Also, big thanks to AnaFrost for the art! You rock my socks!

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own…

Chapter one: Well-Oiled Machine

Trunks was currently sitting in a meeting with all of his Directors, who all looked as tired as he felt. The young lavender-haired man almost groaned outwardly while listening to his Supply Chain Director give his latest excuse as to why the orders of one of his major retail clients, Best Electronics, were not met.

"Mr. Briefs," Mr. Yamish began, "We were currently working on five huge contracts. Their demand for Capsule Corporation products exceeded our current supply!"

The lavender-haired man leaned back in his leather chair and looked the middle-aged man directly in the eye before smoothly replying. "I fail to see how product demand exceeded our supply, when we have a huge factory full of capable workers."

"Sir, please understand, these people are already overworked! Most already work ten plus hours! These people have families that they barely see!" At this, all present in the meeting immediately cringed and glanced warily at their young boss, whose look turned to ice. Mr. Yamish, having realized his mistake immediately tried to backtrack. "Sir, I didn't mean-"

"Mr. Yamish," the young lavender-haired man began carefully while leaning forward in his chair, "do you think I, of all people, don't know how it feels to not see my family?"

The salt and pepper haired man gulped. "No sir, I would never-! "

"I may not see my family, but I still manage to get my job done!" Everyone winced as the young man's tone went from cool to ice-cold. No one dared to point out that their boss didn't have to option of going home to his family, whereas everyone else did.

They were overworked. Not stupid.

"Sir, I-"

"Mr. Yamish," the young boss continued as if not interrupted. He once again leaned back in his seat, folded his hands against his midsection, and glanced cooly at his employee, "you do know you are a manager, correct?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. That means you would know what a manager's primary function is?"

The middle-aged man nodded. Where was this going?

"What is your primary function Mr. Yamish?"

Mr. Yamish took a deep breath before answering. "My job is to make sure the orders are complete. "

"And?"

"And keep up correspondence with all of the venders to make sure the orders are satisfactory?" The middle-aged man answered.

Trunks sighed as he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Seriously, why was he surrounded by such incompetence? "Mr. Yamish, you just gave me part of your job description. What is your actual job as a manager?"

The middle-aged man gulped before meekly answering. "I thought my job description was my actual job, sir."

Trunks actually did roll his eyes this time. "Mr. Yamish, a manager's job, in its simplest definition, is to be efficient, effective, and get the job done." The lavender-haired man then leaned forward in his seat and looked his employee directly in the eye.

"Now, were you efficient and effective in sending that the shipment to Best Electronics?"

Mr. Yamish fidgeted causing Trunks to inwardly smirk. He enjoyed making his employees squirm.

"That wasn't a rhetorical question."

"No sir I wasn't, bu-"

The young boss continued before Mr. Yamish could offer up another lame excuse. "So you were neither efficient nor effective, which then means you did not get the job done. So, are you telling me that you are not capable of getting the job done?"

There was silence in the room as the silent threat hung in the air.

"No sir," the man replied, properly chastised.

"'No sir' I'm not capable, or 'No sir' I am capable?"

"No sir, I am capable."

The blue-eyed man nodded in response. "Good, so that means you can call back Best Electronics, and tell them they can expect the shipment within the week?"

"Yes sir."

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After the meeting the young lavender-haired man rode the elevator by himself to his office. On the outside, he had his normal stoic appearance. On the inside, however, he was agitated.

How dare Yamish even bring up family as an excuse! What a prick!

Trunks almost fired him on the spot. The only reason the middle-aged man was spared was because Trunks never made rash decisions when it came to business.

His mother taught him that.

Contrary to popular belief, Trunks did care if his employees had families to care for. Contrary to popular belief, he wasn't completely heartless. He just didn't give a shit.

Trunks also knew he could be an asshole. In fact, he was proud of the fact that when his employees saw him, they immediately scrambled to get out of his way. Not that they should be standing around in the first place. The young man didn't pay anyone to stand around and gossip; he paid people to work. Capsule Corporation ran like a well-oiled machine. That is what Capsule Corporation the best damn company in the country.

And if Trunks had anything to do with it, it will stay that way.

The elevator dinged signaling it had arrived to its destination. The well-dressed man stepped out of the elevator and walked towards his office.

"Oh, Mr. Briefs!" Trunks looked over to see his secretary scurrying to catch up to him.

"Yes, Mrs. Himura?" Trunks tersely asked the young woman as he continued his trek to his office.

"I know this is last minute, but my son and his soccer team made it to nationals. I was wondering if I could maybe have tomorrow off?" She asked timidly.

Trunks barely spared the woman a glance as he stopped just outside of his office. "Did you get the forms I asked for?"

"Yes sir. They're on your desk"

"My calendar updated?"

"Yes sir."

"Messages and emails answered?"

"Yes sir."

"Will you be in the position to answer the phone if needed?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. You can have tomorrow off," Trunks said while opening his office door. See, he wasn't completely heartless. The only reason he granted his secretary the time she asked for was because all of her work is done. 'If only everyone had her work ethic.'

The young secretary smiled in relief and exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Thank you so much sir!"

Trunks nodded while stepping into his office. "Oh, and Mrs. Himura?"

"Yes sir?"

"Please make sure I am not disturbed for the remainder of the day."

The secretary nodded. "Will do, sir."

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Trunks Briefs rubbed his eyes as he looked at the clock. 8:00pm. He'd been at work for a full twelve hours. Judging by the stack of papers on his desk, he'd be there for at least another four hours. Sighing and standing up, the young man stretched and glanced out the window. He could remember being captivated by the view from the office when he was younger.

~Flashback~

Bulma Briefs worked diligently at her desk while her six year old son sat on a chair to the side and played with his newest electronic game. The blue-haired woman felt bad having her son sit to the side as she worked, but there wasn't much choice. Vegeta, one of the best martial artists in West City, was currently working out in preparation for an upcoming competition and her parents were on vacation. Bulma would've called a babysitter, but it was such short notice. Not to mention her darling son scared off any half-way descent babysitters. It wasn't that Trunks was bad, he was just curious and that curiosity often got him into trouble.

Bulma smiled as her lavender-haired son huffed under his breath. He was getting frustrated every time he lost a level. Eventually the young lavender-haired boy tossed his game to the side in frustration.

"Mom, are you almost done yet?"

Bulma glanced at her son. "No Trunks, I have to get through all of this," she said as she gestured to the high stack of paperwork on her desk."

"Oh. Then why'd you stop writing?" Bulma smiled. 'Always so attentive.'

"I was just lost in thought for a little while."

The little lavender-haired boy smirked, looking much like his father. "Lost for a while mom? Did you enter into unfamiliar territory?"

Bulma glared playfully at her son as he burst into a fit of giggles. "I take it you got that little quip from your father?" She stated rather than asked.

Trunks grinned proudly. "The one and only."

Bulma shook her head. What was she going to do with the two men in her life?

"Are you hungry?"

At this, the young boy's stomach growled, bringing a blush to his tan cheeks. "A little."

Bulma smiled at him. "I'll order take-out."

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An hour later mother and son were sitting behind the desk on the floor eating dinner together, both enjoying the view from the window that covered the back wall in the office. Bulma smiled to herself as Trunks stared in awe of the city.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Bulma asked her son.

Trunks nodded. "I've always liked the view here, especially when it's time for the festival. You can see the fireworks really well from up here."

"When I was younger my dad would let me watch the fireworks from his office also, only because I don't like crowds though. Then, it just sort of became our way of spending time together," Bulma said as she smiled fondly at the memory.

Trunks looked from the captivating view to his mother. "Next time can I bring Goten? I'm sure he'd love it up here!"

"We'll see." Bulma said as she took a bite of her food. Trunks and Goten together in her office? At the same time? Absolutely not.

"Woman, where's mine?!"

Trunks and Bulma both turned their heads to the doorway. There stood Vegeta in a pair of black pants and a black tank top. Bulma rolled her eyes at her husband while Trunks grinned as he stood up and ran to his father. Vegeta affectionately patted his son on the head.

"Dad! You're back!"

Vegeta smirked crossed his arms over his chest. "I was only gone for a few hours Trunks. Besides, I offered you to come with me."

Trunks pouted slightly. "I would've been even more bored. Besides, I figured since Goku was there you'd be there for hours."

"Yeah, why are you back so early?" Bulma asked as she went to stand by her son and husband.

"Goku's wife came to the gym and dragged him out. Literally."

Bulma and Trunks laughed at the mental image.

"So, where's my food?"

Bulma rolled her eyes and went over to the bag of food. "You're lucky I love you."

Together, the family sat together in Bulma's office and had dinner together. The blue-haired woman looked at her watch and saw it was well past 9pm. She then looked at the documents still currently occupying her desks before sighing.

"Mom, are we going now?"

Bulma saw her son and husband standing by the door. Trunks looked hopeful and excited while Vegeta just cocked an eyebrow. Bulma sighed. 'Oh well, I'll just stay late tomorrow after my meetings.'

~End Flashback~

Trunks' daydream was cut short at the ringing of his work phone. Blinking in confusion, he walked from the window to his desk to answer the phone. The caller ID registered as Son Chi-Chi. Trunks rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile that came to his lips. If there was one person who could bring a reluctant smile to his face, it was his best friend. Trunks pick up the phone.

"What do you want?"

"Is that any way to speak to your bestest friend in the whole wide world?" Trunks rolled his eyes at the static-y voice on the other line.

"Seriously Goten, 'bestest?' What are you, five?"

Goten laughed. "Whatever man. I was just calling to see how you're doing. I haven't heard from you in what, six months?"

Trunks blinked. Had it really been six months? The last time they hung out had been on the anniversary of his parent's…

"I didn't even realize it's been that long. I've been busy," Trunks said, effectively cutting that thought off.

"Dude, you seriously work way too much. When's the last time you got out?"

"When's the last time we hung out?"

Trunks heard Goten sigh on the other end of the phone. "Okay, so this is how this is going to go. Saturday night, we're going out. You and me. I'm going to call up some friends and you are going to enjoy yourself."

"Goten…" Trunks said in warning. He really wasn't in the mood to hang out.

"Don't you 'Goten' me! You're 26 years old! You need to get out and sow your wild oats!"

"My 'oats' are fine being un-sowed thank you very much."

"Dude, have you even tested your oats?"

"Which ones? Organic or processed?" Trunks grinned. He could practically hear Goten's confusion over the phone.

"Umm, I'm not sure how to answer that…"

"Good."

"Still a smartass, I see."

"You know what they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same."

"Yeah, I never understood that saying."

"You wouldn't buddy, you wouldn't."

"Anyway, stop trying to distract me. Trunks, we are going out Saturday night and we are gonna have fun! And you are going to sow you oats, both organic and processed!"

Trunks sighed. "Goten, honestly I-"

"What if I call up a couple of girls to hang with us?"

Trunks mentally sighed. "Goten, the last time you called up couple of girls to hang out a brawl broke out in the theatre."

"Ok, so we won't go drinking before seeing a movie."

"They were fighting over you."

"Oh yeah. Well, it's not my fault I'm so irresistible."

"Of course it's not," Trunks said sarcastically while rolling his eyes in exasperation. Goten would continuously badger him until he caved. He was like a gnat. The more you swatted and batted, the more the gnat would annoy the shit out of you.

"-meet."

Trunks blinked. "What did you say Goten?"

"I said it'll just be four of us. We'll eat, have a few drink and see where the night takes us. Besides, there's someone I really want you to meet."

Trunks shrugged. If it was just dinner it should be fine. "Fine Goten. Where and what time?"

"Yes! I was thinking Sushi Palace? We could all meet up there at 8?"

Trunks shrugged. "Ok, sounds good."

"Awesome! Now, I know how you get sidetracked, so I'll be calling you up until it's time to meet."

Trunks rolled his eyes. Was he really that bad? "I'll put it in my phone."

"Great! See you then buddy! We have a lot to catch up on!" Goten said before hanging up the phone. Trunks shook his head and hung up the phone. Goten really will be calling him up until it was time to go.

Trunks smiled at the thought of his best friend. Son Goten was the only person in his life he could not run off, or rather, who refused to run off. No matter how long they go without talking or seeing each other, they always pick back up where they left off. No matter how crazy Trunks' life gets, he could always count on Goten to be there.

Goten was the one constant in his life, and for that, he was grateful.