From Frost to Flame

Chapter 19: First Day Of Internship-2

The morning blurred by for Pete. Standing in front of the sleek office building, his heart raced. It felt surreal to finally be here after months of hard work and anticipation. The modern glass facade gleamed in the sunlight, starkly contrasting to the older structures around it. Porsche had dropped him off earlier, offering a reassuring smile. "You'll do great, Pete. Don't stress," he had said, leaving Pete to face this new chapter of his journey.

Pete took a deep breath and entered. The lobby was clean, modern, and polished, setting the tone for the company. He approached the receptionist, who smiled warmly, confirming his internship before directing him to the fourth floor.

The elevator ride was quiet, but Pete could feel the nervous energy of the other interns around him. His stomach fluttered with every floor the elevator ascended. By the time the doors opened, the weight of this new opportunity was palpable.

The conference room hummed with low conversation as Pete entered. He smiled politely as a few pairs of eyes turned toward him. He walked over and took a seat next to Sky, another intern in the Design department. They exchanged brief glances, both trying to mask their nerves.

The door swung open, and in walked Lena, their team leader. Pete couldn't help but notice her commanding presence. She wore a tailored black blazer and sleek trousers, her dark hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. Her sharp gaze swept over the room, and there was an immediate sense of authority.

Lena's gaze lingered for a moment, and the room fell silent. She gave a small, professional smile. "Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the team. I know some of you are already familiar with the office, but for the new interns, let me give you a quick rundown. We'll start with introductions—please tell us your name and the department you'll be working in during your internship."

Pete's nerves surged as it was his turn. He stood up, offering a small smile. "Hi, I'm Pete, and I'll be in the Design department," he said simply before quickly sitting back down, feeling the eyes of the room on him.

Lena nodded, noting something on her tablet before gesturing to the next intern. One by one, the others introduced themselves—Sarah from Marketing, Jake from HR, Matt from Finance, and Emma from IT—all brief and polite. Sky, sitting next to Pete, stood next.

"I'm Sky, and I'll also be in the Design department," he said, his voice friendly and relaxed. He glanced at Pete with a small smile before sitting back down.

Lena acknowledged everyone with a nod. "Thank you, everyone. I'm Lena, your team leader. Our manager is currently on leave and will be joining us in a few days, so for now, I'll be overseeing the department's tasks. Your work is important to us, and we're here to make sure you have everything you need to succeed."

Pete felt a slight relief at the thought of Lena overseeing things for now. She seemed approachable enough, and with the manager away, he could take his time getting settled.

Lena explained the interns' roles, assigning them their first tasks based on the ongoing projects. Pete was eager to get started, though his attention wandered as Sky was introduced to some fascinating projects as well.

After the introductions, Lena handed out some introductory materials, explaining the office environment and the department's goals for the internship. "You'll be working closely with your teams, and I'll be checking in with you regularly. This is a learning experience, so don't hesitate to ask questions. And most importantly—have fun!"

The interns began chatting amongst themselves, and Pete turned to Sky. "Looks like we're working together," he said, smiling at his fellow intern.

Sky nodded, his eyes bright. "Yeah, seems like it. Should be interesting working with you."