A New Life

32.

(Grace's POV)

"Sore heads?" I chuckle to myself as I work through an office full of hungover looking interns, in return I get a few grunts. "Well, get your shit together because we have work to do!" I clap my hands together twice in quick succession to gain their attention and all I see are painful winces on their faces. Holly as quickly as she can rises to her feet to follow me into my office. "Please...don't slam!" Holly whispers as I let my files fall onto my desk with an almighty thud. "Lesson 1, no obsessive drinking on a work night." I say, chucking her a bottle of water from my mini fridge below my desk. "Lesson 2, hydrate! I need you focused today. No fuck ups!" I say raising my brow as I watch Holly down her water like a goldfish. 

"Let me see your notes from the Liu case." Holly opens her own folder and hands me a few sheets of paper. I sit at my desk and skim through her highlighted notes and thoughts. "Lesson 3, proof read. You have highlighted the same issue multiple times." I am going hard on Holly because she is a very bright girl, she will excel in this role. But if she is coming in this hungover every other day she is not going to last long. "Got it." she says without argument. "How did you even get that drunk anyway?" I ask as I continue skimming through the notes. "2 for 1 cocktails" Holly says shamefully. "Do you have my schedule for today?" I ask Holly as I finish up my reading. Her eyes bulge wide. "You don't have it?" I ask, already knowing the answer. "Th-they're in my car." she gulps. "And where is your car?" I ask, unimpressed. "I-In the company carpark." she says fiddling with her fingers. Before I can berate her, there is a knock at the door. "Hi, sorry to bother you." Finley peers his head around the corner. "That's okay, come in!" Thank god there is one sober intern in this office.

"I hope you don't mind, but I have some thoughts on the Liu case? I showed Tom, but he said I could come and show you." I wave him into the office. Holly is looking very awkward. "Holly. Schedule." I say, she leaps up from her chair, her face draining with colour, she quickly covers her mouth with her hand as if she is having to stop herself from spewing. "Sorry about her." I apologise on Holly's behalf to Finley as he sits in the chair she was once in. "Let me see." Finley gives me a warm smile as he hands me the paper, I find myself smiling back. "Th-they're just thoughts, I am totally open to criticism, your opinion means a lot to me." he chuckles nervously. I smile again as I draw my eyes to his notes. "Mmm" I say. "You have a really good point here, what is their role in society? Yes they manufacture cars, but they're arguing they do more...but nowhere specifies what more is." I say. "Exactly, I am sure you would have thought of that anyway." he says, as if he isn't trying to condescend me. "Finley, you have made a really good point, something neither I or my wild intern had thought of yet this early on. Well done, that is some great work." I say handing Finley back his notes. 

"Thank you Grace." he smiles warmly at me, he looks like a rewarded puppy. "Anymore notes you have, send them over to me." I say as he gets up to the leave my office. A breathless Holly storms back in with her iPad which holds my schedule for today on it. "Here...you...go." she says breathless. "Lesson number 4, don't be outshone by someone else's intern." I say giving her a warning look, whilst throwing her another bottle of chilled water. "Now get to work." I dismiss her from my office. At this moment in time I really wish Finley was my intern and not Holly. He is a sweet and charming guy and clearly has a talent and an eye for detail, he would flourish under me.

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(Lunchtime)

"I suggest you go and eat something, busy afternoon ahead." I say tapping at Holly's desk. "It's fine, I'll work through." she says nervously. "Lesson number 5, eat. You need brain food." I say more sternly than I probably would have intended. "I will be back in an hour." I step into the elevator ready to go to my favourite bagel house down the street. "Hold it!" I hear a familiar voice shouting out, I put my hand on the elevator door to hold it open. "Oh hey! Thanks." It's Finley. "No problem" I smile. "Heading out for lunch?" I ask him. "Nah, I have left over pasta. I got to get it from my car." he smiles back. "Oh come on! You can't eat left over pasta. I'll get lunch, my treat." I offer. "I-I couldn't accept, honestly it's okay." he says trying to refuse my offer. "Don't be silly. You have worked hard today, come on. Just one bagel." I try to persuade him. "Fine, thank you." he chuckles.