it, baby,” he coos and tightens his grip around me, holding me up as my vision blurs and I moan his name.
When my eyes open again, Hardin kisses my temple and tucks a curl behind my ear before tugging my skirt back down my thighs. I turn around to face him and check the clock. It’s only seven thirty-five.
He really did only need five minutes, I think to myself and smile.
“See, you’re much more relaxed and ready to take on corporate America, right?” He beams, obviously proud of himself. I don’t blame him.
“Yes, actually. But you make a terrible American,” I tease and grab my bag.
“I don’t claim to be otherwise,” he says. “Last chance for me to drive you. Well, since my car isn’t here, I could drive you in your car?”
“No; thank you, though.”
“Good luck; you’ll do great.”
He kisses me again and I thank him and gather my things, leaving him in my room. This morning has turned out to be great despite my alarm being ten minutes off. The drive is quick and clear, so when I pull into the parking lot it’s only eight thirty. I decide to call Hardin to pass the time.
“You okay?” he says on the other end.
“Yeah, I’m already here,” I tell him. I can picture his self-satisfied expression.
“Told you. You could have stayed for ten more minutes and given me a blow job.”
I giggle. “Always such a pervert, even this early in the morning.”
“Yep, I am nothing but consistent.”
“I won’t argue with that.” We banter back and forth about his lack of virtue until it’s time for me to go inside. I make my way to the top floor, where Christian Vance’s office is located, and give the woman in the front my name.
She gives someone a call and a few moments later gives me a huge smile. “Mr. Vance would like to come out himself; he will see you in a second.”
The door to the office I was interviewed in opens, and Mr. Vance himself comes out. “Ms. Young!” he greets me. He is dressed in such a nice suit that I’m a little intimidated, but thankful that I dressed professionally. He is holding a thick folder under his arm.
“Hello, Mr. Vance.” I smile and reach out to shake his hand.
“Go ahead and call me Christian. I will show you to your office.”
“Office?” I blurt out.
“Yes, you will need your own space. It’s not much, but it’ll be yours. Let’s go over your paperwork there.” He smiles and then walks off so quickly that I strain to keep up in my heels. He makes a left turn into a hallway full of small offices.
“Here we are,” he announces. There is a black tag with my name in bold white letters next to the door.
I must be dreaming. The office is as big as my dorm room. Mr. Vance and I have different ideas of “not much.” Inside, there is a medium-sized cherry desk, two filing cabinets, two chairs, a bookshelf, a computer—and a window! He takes a seat in front of the desk, so I go and sit behind it. It’s going to take some getting used to the idea that this is actually my office.
“So, Ms. Young, let’s go over what your duties will include,” he says. “You will be expected to go over at least two manuscripts a week; if they are excellent and fit in with what we publish here, then you will send them to me. If they aren’t worth me looking at, toss them.”
My mouth falls open. This internship is literally a dream come true. I will be paid and receive college credit to read.
“You will start out at two hundred a week, and if you do well after ninety days, you will receive a raise.”
Two hundred a week! That should be enough for me to get my own apartment, albeit a tiny one.
“Thank you so much; this is all so much more than I expected,” I tell him. I can’t wait to call Hardin and tell him about all of this.
“It’s my pleasure. I have it on good authority that you are a very hard worker. Maybe you can even tell Hardin how great it is, so he’ll come back and work for me again,” he says jokingly.
“What?”
“Hardin, he used to work for us before Bolthouse snatched him up. He started as an intern here last year, did great work, and I quickly hired him. But they offered him more money—and let him work