likely reading my thoughts on my face.
“Yeah,” I say. “It’s a shame we didn’t get to meet anyone.”
“I’m not too worried. I don’t think I would have remembered all these names,” Jack jokes.
I grin, some of the bitterness in my heart lifting a little. Allison is one of those friends that I will sorely miss when we all leave. I know we’ll all keep in contact, but it really won't be the same as seeing each other every day and gossiping over the sink in our kitchenette. Jack, too, is someone that I’ve gotten along very well with. I hope we can continue to be friends afterward, regardless of whatever is waiting in store for us all.
We file into the meeting room and, as a group, the interns respectfully step back against the far wall. Most of us won’t really need any of this information by tomorrow, so it’s better for us to move aside to allow those who do need to hear to get closer.
Paula, of course, breezed right by us and went to sit near Sandra at the front. I roll my eyes, unable to help smirking when I see several of the other employees frowning at her boldness. She’s acting like she’s already been hired which isn’t even the case yet.
Several minutes drag on as employees flow into the room and find somewhere to sit or stand. I find myself shifting from foot to foot and resisting the urge to yawn widely. I really don’t want to be here right now, especially when I still need to work on how to present my complaints in a manner that will get me listened to.
Then the room falls silent. I look up just as a tall man with snow-white hair enters the room. His shoulders are broad and his face is heavily wrinkled, but he carries himself with a quiet strength that I can’t help but be drawn to. He smiles at a few people as he walks past, heading to the front of the room.
It’s only when he reaches the front that I feel his spell crack enough to realize just who is following him. My eyes widen as I set my sights on Jason McNamara. Of course he would be here. Somehow, though, I hadn’t expected him to be just a step behind Harold McNamara.
“Good afternoon, everyone,” Harold says, smiling around at everyone. “I have a few announcements to make, but I’ll try not to take up too much of your time. To start with, production has…”
I allow myself to tune out his words. Production means very little to me. My main job, as an intern, was with marketing and the media. And if I’m leaving after today, none of that’s going to matter, anyway.
I glance around the room. Everyone else is watching Harold in rapt attention, hanging onto his every word. Someone in the corner is typing the meeting’s minutes, fingers flying over the keyboard.
Then I hear Sandra’s name, and I drag myself back to the present.
“…the interns over the last three months,” Harold says. “The reports that I’ve gotten have been amazingly detailed. As such, it’s with great pleasure that I would like to officially welcome Paula Simmonds into our employ.”
I clap reluctantly. I had expected it, of course, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. Paula stands up and nods to the gathering as Sandra watches proudly from beside her.
Because I’m watching him, I see the flicker of a thoughtful frown on Harold’s face. Is he noting the oddity of Paula sitting with Sandra when all the other interns are obviously congregated together?
“Thank you,” Harold says as Paula sits, and the applause dies away. “Now, for one last announcement. Many of you have been aware of my thoughts over the last few years, and I haven’t made my intentions secret!”
A laugh runs through the room. I look around, wondering what’s so funny and why so many of the employees are exchanging sad smiles.
“I would like to announce that, as of tomorrow, these plans will be put into action,” Harold says. “After this afternoon, I am stepping down as the CEO of McNamara Enterprises.”
I feel a jolt of shock. Stepping down? I hadn’t expected that! I blink at Allison and Jack who look just as stunned as I am. Growing up, Harold McNamara had always been the most powerful name in the country. It doesn’t feel real that we’re standing here, witnessing his retirement.
“I’d like to thank everyone for your support,” Harold continues. “And