Chapter 4
Minnie
I ’ve been at Excel for a week now, and it’s been uneventful.
After seeing Brad that first day during orientation, I never saw him afterwards.
Then again, what was I expecting? The billionaire is the CEO of a huge development and construction outfit.
By contrast, I’m a new intern who’s here to learn about the real estate business, with absolutely no experience.
We’re at opposite ends of the spectrum, so it’s no surprise that our paths haven’t crossed.
But I’m genuinely interested in learning the ins and outs of real estate marketing because the newspaper industry is spiraling down the drain.
I need to find a new career, stat, and yet none of the interns have been assigned any actual “work” to date.
As a result, we read the Employee Handbook, browse random sites online, and draw pictures on our Post-It notes.
A few people have already constructed elaborate flip-books using their stickies, and it’s quite clever, actually.
There’s one of Mickey Mouse dunking a basketball, and that person really should go into illustration and design, rather than real estate.
But here we are, twiddling our thumbs and bored out of our minds. I was hoping to get some Candy Crush in, but my roomie Lila convinced me not to.
“It’s too obvious,” she said the last time we were on the phone. “The jewel colors are too bright, and even if people can’t see your screen, they can see your eyes tracking. It’s a dead giveaway.”
“But I turn the volume off,” I protest. “And I’m very subtle. You can hardly see my fingers moving.”
“I hate to break it to you, Mins, but nobody’s that subtle,” Lila smirks.
“Especially after they level up or get some juicy bonus. Their eyes light up like a kid in a candy store, and it’s obvious what’s happening.
Besides, isn’t this your stepdad’s company?
It would be so shameful for his stepdaughter to be whiling away her time on video games when she’s supposed to be working. ”
I let out a gusty sigh.
“I hear you, but it’s okay because, one: Brad’s never around, so it’s not like he would know.
Two: none of us have any work, so it’s boring as heck here!
You have no idea what it’s like to hang out at an office for eight hours a day with absolutely zip to do.
My brain’s turning to mush and practically oozing out of my ears.
In fact, I can feel myself getting dumber with every passing minute. ”
“Okay, okay,” Lila laughed. “I get your point, girlfriend. Still, I think it’s better if you don’t play because it looks really bad. The optics are terrible, so why not avoid an obvious pitfall? You are getting paid after all.”
Lila’s right, and as a result, I deleted Candy Crush from my phone, as well as Animal Farm, Wordle, and a bunch of other games. I still do The New York Times Mini-Crossword, but I make it fast. I can finish that thing in under a minute, so it’s not likely to get me in trouble.
But still, how will I pass my time? My brain feels like it’s melting out of my skull, and I let out another huge, gusty sigh.
“Are you okay?” another intern, Juliette, asks.
Juliette is a very pretty French exchange student who speaks with a touch of a Parisian accent.
Her curly brown hair is tied up and she has the biggest, brightest hazel eyes.
We sit in an open work area with all the other interns, which is better than cubicles, I guess.
Everyone is respectful and either wears headphones or tries to keep their voices down.
Perhaps private offices are a thing of the past, and this is the future of work.
Meanwhile, I smile at Juliette.
“I’m good, thanks. I’m just wondering how long I can last at this place.”
The French girl giggles a bit.
“We just started, so I hope it’s at least another week. Otherwise, you’re going to leave me here on my own with these folks.”
“I know,” I say in a droll tone while casting my eyes about the sea of desks we sit in. “Well, at least some of the guys are kind of cute. Sort of,” I amend.
There’s truth to the statement, as Juliette giggles with agreement.
In the corner is Jonathan with an adorable fall of chestnut hair over his eyes that makes him resemble a big puppy.
Next to him is Brent, who fancies himself a macho football player, except that he’s at a Division II school and obviously jacked on roids.
And there’s my favorite, Johnny Little, who keeps asking if he can teach me chess.
I said that I don’t want to abuse our computer privileges, but Johnny insists that he can teach over our cell phones using a linked app.
Again, these men aren’t the type of guys I’m looking for, but a smarter girl would know her options and say yes to learning chess with Johnny, going to the gym with Brent, or taking Jonathan for a haircut at the local barber.
It’s just me who’s secretly fantasizing about my stepfather.
After all, what in the world is Brad doing?
Was orientation the only time I’m going to see him this summer?
I still remember how he strode into the conference room with confidence, causing the women to sigh and semi-wilt in his masculine presence.
He knew it too. Those piercing blue eyes took in the assembled crowd and flashed before he spoke in that assertive growl.
He filled out his suit with broad shoulders, a wide chest and long legs, his black hair brushed back in a sexy wave.
I melted inside, and I know the rest of the female population did too.
But Brad’s long gone, and I’m here, bored out of my mind at his company. How sad.
“Chess, Minnie?” a small voice to my left murmurs. I turn and sure enough, it’s Johnny Little. He seems even more petite than usual, with his child-size suit and perfectly combed hair.
I smile gently.
“No, I’m okay, Johnny,” I reply. “I think I’m going to read the Employee Handbook—”
That’s when a message pops up on my screen, and I squint. It’s from Nessie Trevors, at the Office of the CEO. Hmm, what could this be about?
“Excuse me,” I say to Johnny quickly before turning back to my monitor. Then, I click open the message, and to my surprise, the email isn’t from Nessie Trevors. It’s from Brad Landry himself.
Minnie , it reads. Come to my office immediately. The Executive Floor, CEO’s Suite.
I stare at the message. How in the world did my stepfather rig his email so that it looks like it comes from his secretary, but is actually from him? Do he and his secretary share an email address? Wait, is Nessie Trevors reading this email too?
Plus, Brad’s message is so demanding! What if I was in a meeting, and couldn’t step out right this very second? Heck, it’s eleven thirty a.m. Maybe I decided to take an early lunch and run a couple errands. Was I supposed to hop in my car and rush back to the office because of his summons?
Unfortunately, I know what the answer is. Of course, I’m supposed to jump when Brad says jump, and in fact, that’s what everyone at this company does because Excel belongs to my stepfather. I know what I have to do. I push away from my desk and smile kindly at Johnny.
“Sorry, I just need to step away for a minute. Work beckons.”
Then, I stand, straighten my skirt, and grab a notepad and pen so that I look professional.
“Work?” Johnny asks in a confused voice while tapping his own notebook. “But for whom? Where?”
I fib.
“My manager,” I say with a wink. “Who would have guessed?”
Then, I turn and head to the elevators because Brad Landry definitely has an assignment for me ... and I can’t wait to find out.
* * *
The elevator doors open and I step tentatively onto the executive floor.
It is different up here. Instead of fluorescent lighting, the sconces along the walls emit warm, white glows.
Instead of industrial beige carpet, the floor is polished stone of an elegant grayish-white marble.
My heels clack a bit as I make my way to reception, and immediately, I’m embarrassed by the loud sounds.
“Um hi,” I say. Then, I straighten my spine and paste a confident smile on my face because this is no way to behave. “Mary Alice Moreland, here to see Mr. Landry.”
The middle-aged woman at the desk taps at her computer for a moment, and then smiles.
“Ah yes, Miss Moreland,” she greets. “He’s expecting you. I’m Nessie Trevors, Mr. Landry’s secretary. “You may have gotten an email from me ... or from the boss.”
I immediately like her despite her outlandish red hair and vibrant blue eye shadow. I didn’t know people could present this way in corporate settings, but Nessie Trevors’ sparkling personality obviously makes up for it.
“I was a little confused by the email sender, but I figured it out,” I murmur with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
She nods and winks again.
“Go ahead to Mr. Landry’s office,” she says, indicating a long hallway to her left. “Last door at the end,” she says with another wink.
I nod and take a deep breath before clickety-clacking my way down the marble hallway to my stepfather’s office. Why did I wear these heels? I sound like a horse clip-clopping down a cobbled street. I swear, they should put some kind of hallway runner here, just to save me from embarrassment.
But finally, I’m at the end of the hallway and tap tentatively on the door.
“Come,” a deep voice speaks, and I push open the huge slab to my stepfather’s office. Brad sits at a desk on the far side, a bemused expression on his handsome face.
“I could hear you coming from a mile away,” he says in a low tone. “Come in, Minnie. Shut the door behind you.”
I do as he says and before I can stop myself, begin to speak.
“Sorry, I left my tap shoes at home,” I say in a semi-snarky tone. “Although I guess you couldn’t tell with all the commotion.”