The Internship

Chapter 14 - drown out the pain with sorrows

"People are afraid of themselves, of their own reality; their feelings most of all. People talk about how great love is, but that's bullshit. Love hurts. Feelings are disturbing. People are taught that pain is evil and dangerous. How can they deal with love if they're afraid to feel? Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio. You feel your strength in the experience of pain. It's all in how you carry it. That's what matters. Pain is a feeling. Your feelings are a part of you. Your own reality. If you feel ashamed of them, and hide them, you're letting society destroy your reality. You should stand up for your right to feel your pain."
- Jim Morrison
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"I've gathered you all here today," Alex began, we were in the conference room just us and the other interns.
"Because I've made my decision on who I'm keeping and who's leaving the program early. With the new interns coming- I don't have enough time to mentor every single one of you. So the people I feel don't fit my business are leaving today." The energy shifted in the room.
I watched the girls faces, fear. Except for Jill who stood smirking.
Alex quickly noticed the smirk and frowned.
"Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Grant, you will be staying-"
I cut him off with a grin that spread from ear to ear, he couldn't help but smile a little.
"As interns at my business. Now this doesn't mean you can slack off, your going to still need to show me your better than the next group."
He turned to the two girls sympathetically.
"I'm sorry, this was a very hard decision, you are both very talented-"
"So it just came down to who you wanted to sleep with." Amy frowned obviously upset. Alex looked a little taken back from the comment.
"That's incorrect." He said shortly and opened the door for then to leave.
I couldn't figure out why Jillian was here- she must have passed his test.
The clock struck four and Alex's phone rang. He picked it up,
"Yeah Let them in."
About two minutes later, four new interns came into the room.
There were three guys and one girl.
"Introduce yourselves," Alex smiled,
"I'm Mr. Harrison-"
"Oh our boss!" The girl turned around and I think we were all hit in the face with her beauty. I was disappointed when I glanced over at Alex. He was stunned.
"I'm so excited to be working for such a popular beloved man!" She smiled.
"O-oh thank you." Alex blinked.
"What's your name?" He asked her, he was putting all his attention on her. I remember the first day he showed up he blew me off completely.
"Tia Mills." She smiled.
"That's a beautiful name." He complimented her and I coughed. He glanced at me and I rolled my eyes.
"What are your names?"
The first man came up, possibly the exact replica of a white frat boy. He wore light kakis and a light blue shirt. He also had sort of a ken doll face.
"My name is Todd Reuben."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Reuben." They hand-shook.
The next boy came up. He had short curls that danced upon his head with gorgeous dark skin and big brown eyes.
"My name is Foster Brant."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Brant." Alex shook his hand.
The last boy walked up. He was a bit smaller than the two other guys with large glasses.
"Jesse Miller." He smiled a little bit nervously and shook Alex's hand. All looked around my age.
They all seemed different and unique. I felt grey and dull compared to them.
After a few short seconds of silence, Alex glanced at me with a warm smile- something I've rarely seen.
"Do you want to show these interns around Mrs. Grant?" I sighed with disappointment which he luckily didn't notice.
"Id love to." I said with a grin.
.
"So this is the lobby, you'll need your key cards to access anything beyond this point- the stairwells, rooms, halls and elevators." I said feeling bored with the small task he gave me, though Jill stayed behind with him, why? Why wouldn't he get her to do a simple task like this, I must be far advanced in experience and practice after he moved me to his office and she made coffee runs, or maybe I had it all wrong.
"Yo Woman, did you die?"
I glanced back with a frown, at Foster Brant. He stood in front of the others,
"What?"
"You zoned out for a good minute there, thought maybe yo head, kinda just flipped the switch." He said.
"My names Mrs. Grant-"
"Don't talk like youis' above me! We are both interns here. I'm calling you Amanda."
I stared at him blankly for a second before flicking my key-pass in front of the scanner that opened the elevators.
"So is the boss always that dreamy?" Tia asked, her voice in a haze. Yes, obviously Tia, he is goddamn beautiful. I sighed.
"I don't know what your talking about."
"Ooh, T, sounds like Amanda ova here already claimed that man. You betta go and getcha finishin rod and cast again." Foster made the cast with his hands pretending to reel a new fish in. I hid my smile. Jesse laughed, Foster glanced over at Jesse and grinned.
The elevator doors opened on the first floor.
I walked them around until we were at the last floor where Alex thankfully met us.
I had become fond of Foster and his jokes. He was quite hilarious.
He sent them off to do meaningless tasks in which I was so happy for so I could get away.
"So What did you think of the others?" He asked me as he turned and walked down the hall. I followed beside him.
"They seem pretty good- I mean they haven't done anything yet so," I trailed off, thinking of Tia and Alex. They were both beautiful, they'd make a good couple.
"I agree." He said.
"I've got a question," Alex stopped his eyes meeting mine. They were so green today. Bright and enhanced.
"And it is?" I held back a laugh,
His mouth opened to speak but one of the two men from before rounded the corner and Alex was gone, his back to me, walking down the hall. I sighed and walked back to my desk. I guess it wasn't important.
I stayed at work till 9 pm and the place was dark. I didn't really have any work, maybe I was just afraid of going home. The only light on besides the emergency ones was in Alex's office.
I wondered down the hallway and knocked on his door.
He opened it and leaned against the doorframe. His tall broad shoulders curved to put his weight on the wood.
"Hey Brown Eyes." He slurred making my eyes wide. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"Why are you drinking, at work?" I whispered, he rolled his eyes and pulled me into his office while shutting the door with his foot.
"I'm just, relaxing." He mumbled grabbing his glass.
"Do you store you booze here?"
"I've got a few tucked away." He stared at me, draining the rest of the straight booze down his throat.
He stumbled towards me,
"Will you dance with me?" Alex asked a smile spreading across his wasted face. My heart skipped a beat, and butterflies scattered around my stomach. But with disappointment I knew, he's just drunk.
"I really must go, Mr. Harrison. I shouldn't have knocked I'm sorry." I turned to leave, but his hand slipped into mine and he pulled me to him with force. My hands balanced me on his chest as my face was just millimetres away from his. He stared down at me his hot breath hitting me face. My eyes wide with surprise and curiosity as I stared into his at ease ones. He was warm and he smelled good.
I felt the impact of his hands, loose at my waist.
We swayed back and forth, and he flicked his light off. We were mere silhouettes in the large window that streamed in the busy lights of New York. We were only silhouettes that danced to the sweet sound of silence except our hearts that beat to the same rhythm. We were just silhouettes, the warmth of him radiated me making my heart swell, but again, we were only silhouettes, just two people, not in love, not even close.