Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
Aria
Using Theo's money to DoorDash breakfast has to be the best perk of using his money. You mean I can order breakfast while doing my makeup, and it will be downstairs waiting for me when I get into the car, a car I don't even have to drive? When this ends, I think this is what I'm going to miss most.
Like clockwork, Angie shows up with my coffee and bagel, just as Stan pulls the SUV in front of my building.
“Good Morning, Ms. Mason.”
“Good Morning, Stan. Is Enzo not here today?” I didn't see him at his desk this morning. I have gotten used to him greeting me every morning.
“I will find out, but for now, let's get you to work. Don’t want to be late on your first day.” He opens the door and helps me in before closing the door and walking around the front of the vehicle.
The drive is uneventful, and before I have a chance to finish my coffee, we pull up to Castin Tower. Once out of the car, I walk into the foyer and run into Abigail.
“Do you always have a driver?” she asks, looking past me at Stan.
“Kind of, my boyfriend is extremely protective,” I respond, realizing boyfriend came out so easily. I guess I am telling people.
“Oh.” She pauses, making me think I said something wrong or that she is judging me for having access to money. “That's cool. Hey, did you get a chance to look over the client folder?”
“Yeah, I did.” I relax as we chat about our proposals while getting into the elevator. By the time we get to our floor, most of the interns are already at their desks. I set my things down and continue my conversation with Abigail. Jonathan stands up and walks between our desks.
“Ladies, ladies, it is too early to be discussing such complicated topics. At least let me treat us to some coffee first.”
“No thanks. I already had mine, since I came to work, to—what is it?” I look at Abigail, feigning to remember a word.
“Right, work.” I turn back to my new friend, who is clearly holding back a laugh.
We continue our conversation, ignoring the fact that Johnathon is standing directly next to us.
We head to the conference room for the morning meeting.
As I sit down with Abigail and one of the guys, Tucker, I am asked where I went to school.
“I graduated from Acadia University as salutatorian.” Tucker's eyes widen at the last word.
“Well, that explains it,” a snarky voice from behind me speaks. We all turn to look at Elle.
“Explains what?” I ask. I can already tell Elle is going to be a problem.
“Why you were given an exemption.”
“What exemption? What are you even talking about?”
“You were allowed to be an intern even though your paperwork wasn't in on time. They don't do that for everybody.” I knew that, I assumed it was because of my qualifications and a little help from Theo. What does my alma mater have to do with it?
“Half the execs of Castin Construction went to Acadia. If you had graduated anywhere else, you wouldn't be here.” She seems so proud of herself for figuring it out.
“Well, all that matters is I'm here now and did what took you three weeks in one night.” I pull out my proposal and place it in front of me. I didn’t technically do three weeks of work in one night, but this particular client had remarkable similarities to a project I completed in one of my courses.
I was easily able to make a few simple adjustments and have a completed proposal.
Mr. Castin walks in at that exact moment.
“Did I just hear you say your proposal is complete?” he asks as he stops behind me.
“Yes, I finished it last night. So, unless there is a part that was not given to me, it has been completed.”
“Mind if I take a look?”
“Not at all.” I hand him my portfolio. He flips through several pages.
“If any of you were wondering why she was allowed to start late, here is your answer.
Being a graduate of Acadia may have gotten our attention, but this right here is why she has the job.
This looks great, Aria. Later today, I'd like to set up a meeting to go over it and see where we can improve.” Again, Mr. Castin has me smiling from ear to ear.
His eyes look down at me, and all I can see is a gold shimmer I didn't see before.
He then walks to the head of the table and starts the meeting.
A large group of men in suits, I believe to be the board of executives, walks past the conference room window.
I look at all their faces, looking to see if I remember any of them.
Did they come speak in any of my lectures?
Did I see them at any alumni events? Did I speak with any at a networking event?
Once the meeting is over, we are excused back to our desks to work on our proposals. As I sit down to review it and take notes on things to improve for my meeting later, Elle walks up to my desk.
“I don't care that you're good at the job. You still shouldn't be here.”
“It’s a good thing your opinion doesn't matter then, does it? If you'll excuse me, I have work to do.”
“It’s not fair, we all started weeks ago after a grueling interview process. Do you understand that hundreds, if not thousands, of graduates apply, and they only take ten?”
“Eleven,” I correct.
“No, ten.”
I look around and count, “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,” and point my finger at my chest, “eleven.”
“They have never taken eleven before. So, I don't understand why they made an exception for you .” Her emphasis was definitely supposed to be a jab.
“You don't need to understand; that is not your job. Your job is to finish that proposal. Maybe if you spent less time worrying about why I am here and used this time to do your actual job, you could be done and have a meeting with Mr. Castin today. But instead of doing the job you are paid to do, you are at my desk keeping me from doing mine.” The crowd of interns is silent as they wait for Elle's response.
She finally groans and walks away. Everyone goes back to their business except Abigail and Johnathon.
“She is just worried you threaten her spot,” Abigail suggests.
“They added me, not replaced someone with me,” I counter.
“I think she means for the full-time position.” I look at Jonathan for more information. I know that a few interns are hired on after the year, but I don't understand how my being here changes anything.
“Yeah, they only hire three of us. And so it went from 3/10 to 3/11. And they have already shown that they favor you, giving you the exception to start late. So I think she is seeing it now as a twenty percent chance of getting hired at the end. Since you are probably guaranteed one.”
“I’m not guaranteed anything,” I argue.
“True, but you’re kicking ass on day one, it’s going to have to take a major fuck up for you to not be at the top of the intern ranking.”
“Still plausible,” I retort.
“Unlikely.” Johnathon smiles.
“Improbable,” Abigail retorts.
“Well, that's not my fault. If she works hard, I am sure she will be fine. Even if she doesn't get hired, she will have her pick of other companies that would literally be begging to hire her. This internship is a golden ticket.”
“She doesn't want to work anywhere else.” She pauses, looking at me like I just said she could work on Mars. “Her dad is on the board.”
“Wait, what?” That is a plot twist.
“Her dad helped start the company. Going anywhere else would be considered a failure.”
“Oh shit. But shouldn't she be the favorite for one of the spots then?”
“She was until you showed up,” she explains.
“Oh, I get why she hates me now.”
“Yeah,” they both say in unison.
“It will be fine, she has a year to figure it out,” Jonathan interjects, oblivious to the emotional roller coaster I am on. “But hey, a bunch of us interns are going to dinner tonight. Want to come?”
“Will Elle be there?” I really don't want to have to deal with snide comments all evening.
“Probably not if you come.” I drop my face into my hands.
“Sure, I will come.”
“Ms. Mason, can I speak with you?” Ms. Davidson interrupts.
“Absolutely,” I answer before walking to her desk.