Black Mail

Intern

"Zayn, come in." Zayn, my newest intern. Tender age of 18, and an incredible sketcher. He was absolutely fantastic, and yet my manager Heather gave him so much grieve, sending him back again and again to fix the tiny details.

Zayn stepped into my office slowly. "Did Heather tell you that she wants me in here with you, everyday for the coming project. She wants you to check my work thoroughly as I go along.  Before it comes to her." He had such a deep set frown on his face, I seriously pitied him. He was a good looking kid, with a good head of thick hair that was cut into a trendy faux hawk. He was dark, and covered in arm tattoos. His big brown eyes where hidden behind big square glasses.  They made him look extremely hipster. 

"If we even get the go on this new project." I replied. I took a seat across from me. I sighed at his saddened expression. "Heather told me. Let me see."

He immediately reached out, handing me his sketches. I smirked a little to myself. He was so obedient, he did exactly what you told him, instantly. I had my theories about him. I thought he was closet gay. And my point always seemed to prove itself by the way his slender finger would push his glasses up his nose every time they slide down while he drew. I shifted through his sketches, still smiling. They were really very good, but I saw what Heather saw.

"Okay, I know this is very hard to hear, and I know you hate it, but I do have to agree with Heather. Now," I added quickly at the panicked look on his face. "You are fantastic, you really are, however this is the problem Heather has. These parts, they don't look like they have life. Something about the shading is just a tiny bit..."

I put the paper down on my desk between us, showing him one of his fairy drawings. "You see her leg, from this picture to this picture, it doesn't look like its moved. She is beautiful, but she's missing a dimension. What I want you to do is start this drawing over again, and when you get to the leg let me know."

He looked like he was about to cry, but nodded like a good employee. "I understand, thank you for your honesty."

"Hey, Zayn," I caught his hand. "This doesn't mean this is bad work, or that you've made a mistake. Don't let me or Heather ever tell you that this drawing isn't incredible, because it is."

"Thank you." Blushing, he nodded again.

"Alright, get to work, I'm right here if you have questions."

And so we sat like that for a good little while, me replying to emails and Zayn drawing until there was a new knock on my door. Harry's head popped between my door and the wall. "Hey Niall, I'm sorry to just show up."

Was it really lunch time already? "No Harry come in. Harry, Zayn. Zayn, Harry." I introduced. "Harry do you mind taking a seat for a few minutes before we go."

"Of course mate. I brought you lunch." He smiled sheepishly as he held up two bags of nandos. I smiled gratefully at him. He took a seat on my windowsill, opening up his food and munching immediately. Harry was here all the time, this was no new sight. However, Zayn suddenly looked extremely nervous

"Uh Mr. Horan-,"

"Niall, please!" I almost bulked.

"Niall, I've just sketched out her leg." He explained.

"Great!" I stood up, coming around to stand behind him. "Oh look at that, isn't that lovely."

The back of his neck blushed. "Thank you."

"Okay, do you mind?" I reached over him, plucking his pencil from his hands. "Alright, you see this, if you bring in shading right here, and you open up this... add a little dimension there..."

"You are undeniably amazing. How did you do that?" Zayn looked up at me in shock.

I laughed, brushing him off. "Just a little tempering. Zayn, you have the talent. You did this. I put in some shading and made this look an inch different than this. You can do that. It's all the trick of the light." I padded his shoulder. "Her facial expression is absolutely perfect."

"It never works for me. I've always done stills. I can't do-," Zayn was getting upset.

"Don't you dare say you can't. Look what you just drew in two hours. Except for the moving dimension she is perfect. We're going to work on that shading. You are going to get so good that Heather is never going to send you here for a second opinion."

"I-," He seemed at a loss for words.

"Listen Zayn, I've got to run, but when I get back we'll continue, yeah?"

"Do you think we could do a little after work?" Zayn piped up quickly. "I know that that's really strange but Heather said she wants these by tomorrow. Please?"

"Me and my buddies are having a BBQ tonight. Why don't you come over and join? We can work and play. Bring your sketches." I looked up at Harry, motioning for him to get a move on. "Come on Harry. I'll see you soon Zayn. Stay in my office in you need the quiet."

Then Harry and I were leaving, Zayn mumbling a thank you behind us. I didn't look back at him as Harry and I left.

"You know that kid has a crush on you right?" Harry piped up as we got into the parking lot.

"What the hell Harry, what are you even saying? He's my intern." I snorted, climbing into my car.

"You know how good looking that kid is right," Harry deadpanned.

"So? What's your point?" We clambered into the car. 

"We could use a guy that wouldn't be scared to go after the men."

I blanched. "Harry, what the hell! The kid is 18!"

"We were 18." Harry stated.

"Regardless, who even says he's gay?"

"You're kidding, right?" Harry's eyes literally popped out of his head.

"Harry, get that sick idea out of your head. There is no way he is going to start doing what we do. Don't even give me a reply. This conversation is over." I was serious, and think Harry picked up on that, because he settled down into his seat, started tracing his rose tattoo absentmindedly, and avoided looking at me. 

A/N: 

Hope you loved that as much as I did! 

Can't wait to see where that goes!! 

Michelle