Irish Gem

Pulling up outside Dublin Airport; after spending 2 hours in the car with my teenage twin brother and sister playing on their phones. Jumping out at the departures drop off lane, mum and dad helping me with my bags Daisy, my wee sis gave me a great big hug and kiss, took lots of pictures off us for her social media and jumped back into the car to post them all. Dylan my wee bro, he gives me awkward hug and a very quick kiss on the cheek, I know this wasn’t easy for a 14-year-old boy, but I loved taking the mickey out of him. “Aww, I love you baby bro you’re my favorite brother in the whole wide wold and I’m going to miss you sooooo sooooo much” I tried hugging him more while he struggled repulced by my PDA. “Get off me Em you’re being a weirdo,” he cries pushing me away. I laugh at how uncomfortable I’m making him giggeling as mum and Dad shout at me to leave him alone. Dad gives me a big bear hug and mum is now crying “Wise up mum its only 6 months till Christmas, I’ll be back ok,” I try to reassure her. “I love you sweetie look after yourself… and stop drinking so much you’ll get yourself arrested one off these days” she shouts accordingly, “well that just means I’ll come home sooner and I’ll never allowed back in the state again!!” I smiled. I said my goodbye and dragged my bags into the check in hall. “here goes nothing” I thought begrudgingly. I’m Emily Patterson I come from a small town outside Belfast. I’m 22 with long cooper hair down to my bra strap with dark brown eyes. I’m 5ft 7” with biggish boobs E’ Cups, I haven’t got a big frame but have a nice shape. I think I’m good looking as I’ve never been told that, I’m not so I’m not shy in saying so. I have been studying at Queens University for the past 3 years studying the Global Development Studies. I have just received a degree in marketing and finance. I have applied to UNIVERSITY COLLEGE of DUBLIN but couldn’t get in this year to do my masters. I am not your typical smart student, I love to learn but I love working with the public and socializing. In other words, I love to party and get s**t faced. I heard of an American company that recruits 3 pupils from UCD every year to work as interns for a year. This year they opened up 3 applications from Queens University. I jump at the opportunity as I had to wait a year for UCD. The company was call OC Marketing, deals in Marketing Publications and shipping. It worked with the international market of winery, distilleries, brewery and many more import and export products. Well if there one thing I know its drink. “good start” I thought. The internship was for 12 months it provided accommodation and a small apartment. I thought why not live a bit. I boarded the flight and went to my seat. There was a pretty girl sitting beside me, with a full head of red curly hair, brown eyes and a sweet smile. “hi ya” she says “What about ya” I replied. “Heading on holidays?” she asked “No work, wat about yourself?” “Same, the names Sinead by the way. Sinead O'reilly.” she stated holding out her hand “I’m Emily Patterson but you can call me Em. Where you from, Sinead?” I asked. “Donegal, Yourself” “Belfast well just outside it, in the country” I replied. “Awe not too far from myself” she says in her beautiful Irish brog. It’s different from the Northern Irish brog, its nicer, most people would agree. We got to talking, turns out she was from UCD and was on the same internship as myself. We decided to start drinking to ease our nerves. Bollox, we just wanted to get drunk. After a 6-hour flight we decided to order lots of junk food and coffee to sober up before we arrived, costing a fortune by the way. We had to admit the craic was 90’ on the flight. Even some off the other passage joined in. But we had to catch ourselves on, we were heading here for work We arrived in JFK around lunch time. We went to ‘baggage reclaim’ and made are way to the meeting area. After a half ‘n hour, 4 other people joined us. I knew 2 of the fellows from Queens, Richard and Dermot. I didn’t really like these guys as they were always rude and dry towards me. So, I secretly called them ‘d**k & dumb’, or dumdick just under my breath of course. Sinead knew the other two only by seeing them around campus. We walked over to them, “Are you guys with OC internship” Sinead asked. “Yes, hi we are. I’m Roisin Slane and this is Sean Mooney” Roisin said extending her hand to us both. “I’m Sinead O’Brian and this is Emily Patterson,” Sinead introduced us. I shook their hands. “call me Em please” I requested “No problem Em” Sean replied. “What about the other two guys” Sinead asked. I didn’t give her a head up about these two I want to see if it was just me, they were rude too. We all went over to dumdick. All the guys from UCD students introduce themselves to the lads. They weren’t rude but still quite dry towards us all. Ok so it’s not just me its them there just anti-social to everyone. We had to hang about for another hour so I got to know Roisin and Sean better. They are both from Dublin, Roisin has shoulder length hair that was brown with blue eyes. She looks so cute because she 5’2” while myself and Sinead are 5’ 7’. Sean is 6ft; very pretty for a guy but being very gay he can pull it off. He has Black comb back hair that’s dark brown hair, but I can see a wee highlight growing out. These guys are really funny and laid back. I do love the southren Irish accent it’s so cool its softer spoken then the northern irish accent. We were waiting for an hour when a lady came running in holding a sign saying ‘OC Marketing INTERNSHIPS’. “YO over here” I called out to her she looked flushed and annoyed. She didn’t say much just “follow me”. instructed the lady with an insufferable professionalism about her ‘Please’ I thought ‘what’s with the manners here.’ We all followed her to a waiting mini bus. We all put our bags in the hold and climb in. when were all seated the woman got on the bus and addressed us all. “I am Nina Thompson, I am the reperceived from OC. Sorry for being late traffic is never predictable in New York” she continued after catching her breath.” When we arrive at office you will all receive a letter with you work details and placements, along with you living accommodation information. We will be going straight to the security proceedings and you will receive your security passes. When you are all done you are free to go to your new homes Please bring your bags off the bus and collect from reception when you are all done.” Nina finishes speaking and takes her seat. The journey took us another 40 minutes before we arrived outside a large office tower block. We all left the bus and followed Nina into the building carrying our belongings with us. She looked like she needed a piss because this woman was on a mission, not even giving us a minute to take in our surroundings. She escorted us across the large main entrance, her Stiletto’s ominously clicking on the tile ground as she marched to the reception. She shouts to a girl behind the desk. “New interns!” the receptionist nodded her head to ok it. We leave our bags and follow her into an elevator, she pushed the 3rd floor button almost aggressively. ‘looks like somebody got out of the wrong side of the bed' I grumbled in my head. We arrived on the third floor just to be stuck in a room to watch an hour-long video on ‘safety and security’ and fill in millions of useless forms. Well not exactly useless just boring information nobody really cares about. After that we got our visa’s and passport’s processed, before finally getting our security passes, job descriptions and accommodation information. We were free to go! It was 3:30pm in New York but back home it was 8:30am. Our mental clocks were all over the place. Me and Sinead decided to eat before going off too find the place we’re calling home for the next year. Sean and Roisen joined us while d**k and dumb went their own way. We all walked over to the subway we discovered was just across the road from OC building and took our seats. We all sat eating our foot-longs. Absolutely famished. When we finished, we cleaned off out table’s we were occupying and opened our brown envelopes, to figure out where we would be staying for the next year. Sinead and myself were allocated studio apartments, each in the same building as Roisin. Mine was on the first floor Sinead on the third and Roisin on the fifth. ‘not bad’ I thought…but we haven’t seen then in person yet. Sean was given a shared apartment fifteen minutes from the office and ours was another four blocks away. After lunch…or dinner…breakfast? Whatever it was, we googled the address to our new homes and started our track there. Just so you remember we are all still carrying our ridiculous amount of luggage making the supposedly ‘easy walk’ to the apartment block feel like climbing a mountain carrying bricks, bare foot. f*****g nightmare. It took us 35 minutes to find our new apartment. It was nearly 6:00 PM and we didn't know our arse from our elbow. We had arrived to find 12 key holders. with the flat numbers on them. The door just looked lost between a grocery store and a man's suit store. The door was just there in between them. Ransacking though the envelopes checking for our codes for the boxes. To get our keys, we notice that there was an added note. It said.’ If you lose your keys, it's $150 to replace them. s**t, i thought we better make copies. The girls Agreed. I was never so happy that we had made it to the flat, being on the 1st floor with only one flight of stairs. I opened the door to my apartment. And once I opened the door, the two girls were falling in on top of me.” Piss off you two this is my gaff.” I snapped at them.” Not fair, we have to drag our Arses up more flights of stairs.” sinead complaint. But Roisin looked at her. ”Clear off, you two I'm on the 5th floor ***hole.” This made us all laugh. We had a good look around the apartment. That's all I could do. It was a room L shaped room with a kitchen with an island. With two stools, behind the door was a two-seater sofa, no TV, at the end of the kitchen that went into a small shower room ,no bath. facing the kitchen was a raised-up area with three steps and a 10 ft long and 3ft high rail with a double bed. A dresser and a wardrobe. It wasn't much, but I could be very cozy here. The girls agreed it wasn't the worst. We checked out the kitchen. Having a cooker, a fridge, and a washing machine. No need to find a dry cleaner here, just need a good clothes horse I thought. In one of the cupboards, we found a box. It had two cups 2 glasses, too small plants, two large plates and a frying pan and a small saucepan and some cutlery. Well, it was a start. Sitting on the bed with two pillows, 2 sheets and two blankets. Where was the quilt I thought? After the girls help me drag my suitcase over to my room. We went up to Sineads and Roisin apartments. They were the same Roisin did have the best view, but All in all it was somewhere to call home. After we all parted ways, I headed straight to bed. Made it up with the blankets Provided and crawled right in. Ready for a good night's sleep. It was around 7:00 PM and I didn't even put down the blinds down that were On the far wall there was three windows that looked in to the appartment. Sleep came too easy. I woke with a startlied feeling thinking I was late for my first day of work. To my relief, it was only 5:00 AM. I got up and started to unpack. Thankfully, there was hangers in the wardrobe. I didn't have an iron. And I would need the wrinkles dropped out of my outfits. I picked up a fitted knee length black dress. Very professional officeware. I hung it on the back of the bathroom door while I showered. Hopefully too dropped out the wrinkle's, genius, I thought. After I had finished in the bathroom, I worked straight across the room up the three steps into my bedroom. With just a towel on. Thank goodness I brought two with me. That is, when I realized the sun was coming up and all the blinds were up. f*** that could have been a sight to see. First thing in the morning. I run to close them all. On one of the windows there was a big cream-colored machine half in and half out the window. It looked like a heating system. I'll have to get someone to show me how this bad boy works, I thought. After getting ready, I w******p up the girls to wake them up. As we were still. Working on our Irish mobile. This saved us some money. It was 6:15 and I knew I had to leave by 7:15. So to be on time to start work at 8:00 and after the carry on yesterday, I wasn't taking my chances. So this gave us good time. To get to work. While the girls were getting ready, I popped to the grocery store that was below us. I grabbed us some eggs and bread. And coffee and milk. I went back to my apartment and made scrambled eggs and toast for the girls. Before we all left for work together. We all met up at my gaff and had breakfast. Roisin Being a genius brought teabags from home. The best Teasting Tea ever. I could kiss this girl. After breakfast we headed out and our new adventure. God love anyone who had to work with us lot. As we had discovered, we were a handful. We have made it to work at 7:50am. We were asked at reception to give our names and to scan our passes. We had to register what department and boss we were allocated to. Roisin was signed in under HR on the 11th floor under a woman called Layla Baker. Sinead was assigned to purchasing on the 20th floor under Paul Campbell. And when I approached the counter, the lady on it was very dry. And almost bored of all the Irish. She asked me "What department and under what manager.” I replied "Marketing and shipping management. Under Daniel O'Connell” her face was a picture. He was the CEO and I knew this already. I did do my homework before coming here. The girl called Gail looked me up and down with a look of confusion. But I too thought it strange why an intern was being assigned to the CEO of the company. But I knew I would find out the answer soon enough. She scanned our passes and sent us to the elevators. When the doors closed, we burst out laughing at the state of the woman. Her face was priceless. Roisin got off the 11th floor and Sinead got off on the 20th. I stayed on until the 23th floor. It was high up which I am not great with heights, but I would have to suck it up. When the elevator opened, I was met with a very pretty lady outside the left. She smiled and asked. "Emily Patterson," “yes". I replied. And put my hand out and i met with hers.” Hi, I'm Lacey Stevenson. I'm Mr O'Connell secretary. I was his PA but got married last year and want a family so have stepped down to be a secretary “she said.” Oh now it makes sense. “I said aloud. Realizing now why I was sent to this department. Lacey explained to me. That they. Had no time to replace her. So while I was here for a year, it gives them time to find a replacement. So in this time being I was his general dogsbody (personal sleeve). Lacey was lovely. She was really helpful and showed me around the office space. She had the front desk and I had got her side office across from the conference room. Beside me was a kitchen and at the end of the hall was the bosses office, Mr O'connell's. With that name you thought that he was Irish, but already knew his grandfathers started the business in the 50s and his father improved it in the 70s and after his father died four years ago, he stepped up as the CEO at the age 23. Poor dude, so much responsibility at such a young age. After 30 minutes of being shown around everything, the copying room and down another hallway there was two spare offices that he used for international clients. Lacey then said.” Brace yourself, you are now going to meet the boss.” I didn't even know that he was there. As I hadn't seen another person, she explained that no matter what time she had arrived, he was always there. He never liked to be interrupted until 8:30. His coffee break so here it goes. Lacey knocks on the door and waits. "Come in" came a deep voice. We opened the door and entered his office. What i was met with was a kind of surprise. There sat behind a large white desk, was a young good looking man with a full beard. Dark green eyes with dark rings around them. Not much sleep I thought. He was very handsome. He had a lovely face, 6 feet in height. With quite a sexy persona coming from him. Lacey introduced me.” Mr O'Connell this is Emily Patterson, your new intern from Ireland.” She announced. Lifted his eyes from his screen. Looked at me, I gave him a big, toothy smile. He slowly made a small smile, crossed his face to acknowledge my presence in the room. He stood up with his hand outstretched for me to shake it as I moved to shake his hand. I nearly tripped over the chair. In front of his desk. Nice one Em I thought. “Oh, sorry about that falling for you already". I laughed trying to make a joke. He did not look amused. Oh s*** what did I say? “EM for short. It's a pleasure to meet you”. I tried to rescue myself fast. He smirked, shook my hand and said “ Welcome aboard. Lacey will give you a copy of your office policy on your schedule for the week.” “Well, that's grand thank you.” Looking from Daniel to Lacey, then Daniel said. “Coffee.” I said “Yes please” without thinking. He looked me straight in the face and said “Coffee Now.” I replied with “ Please and thank you.” S*** S*** S***. Why do I always speak before I think? “Excuse me,” Daniel said. Quite P****d OFF at me. Way to go 5 minutes into my new job and I've already pissed off the boss. “Sorry, it's a bad habit of mine while helping to bring up my brother and sister to remind them that manners are very important and they should always use them at all times” I said politely. Daniel looked at me with a fairy stern stare. But all I could think is. No go f*** yourself. I wasn't dragged up. I was brought up. And manners are a very important thing to me. Lacey broke the silence with “Right away” and ushered me out off the office. As we were leaving, we heard Daniel say aloud. “Please Can I have coffee. Thank you.” result I thought. But before I get answered back, Lacey closed the door with her eyes wide open looking at me. Crap I have balled this up already. She moved me into the kitchen. And took a deep breath. “Thank goodness for your Irish accent. I thought he was going to explode. No one has spoke to him like that. No one has got a please or a Thank you”, she said. “I'm sorry but I was rared with manners and I'm not being funny. I may be an intern, but I'm a human being and not a slave, so if it's not going to work. Send me to another department 'cause I don't really take s*** from anyone. CEO or not, please and thank you. Is a must.” I replied hoping not sound to aggressive or come off too cheeky. She was taken back by my forwardness and I couldn't care less, but she smiled and replied. “Thank you a bit of saz around here, only the Irish can get away with that s**t”. She laughed and I joined her. I wanted to see if I still had a job. So I brought Daniel, his coffee, knocking the door and waited. “ Come in please.” I heard and I smiled. I entered his office and walked over to his desk, not wanting to trip myself up again I said, ”Your coffee, Sir. Where would you like me to set it?” He placed a coaster on his desk “Just here please” he said. I smiled a big toothy smile and set the coffee down. ”Is there anything else I could get you before lacey goes over everything with me?” I asked him with a smiled. “ Where are you from? That's not an Irish brogue,” he asked. “I'm from Northern Ireland, just outside Belfast, same island, different accent, different politics.” I replied. “Oh yes, you're a Queens University student. Yes, I have some new contacts in Belfast. I’ve always Wanted to visit it, is it nice?” Daniel ask with curiosity. “Yes, it's great craic. The city is dead on. And the countryside around us is class. Best views ever.” I replied all pleased with myself talking about home. He looked terrified. Oh crap, I talk too fast and in my own slang, any wonder he was confused looking. “Sorry I have to learn to dail my speech down and speak more clearly. I do apologize.” I said terrified not to upset him again. “That's not what the problem was. It's when you talked about crack and dead on. I got lost.” He replied. “Oh sorry, well the word craic means Good, fun and Happy. And dead on means easy going and very nice”. I replied. “Again, will you please slow down and think about what you're going to say? It's like another language.” He said with a confused look. “Sorry no bother. I will try to think before I think from now on.” “Yes, that would be very much appreciated.” He smiled and then i knew. It wasn't getting kicked out just yet whew.... Daniel's POV What the hell? Have they placed me with? I was told I was getting some guy called Richard. But Lacey assures me he was not a good fit. So I get this crazy fast talking bombshell of a woman instead. What was she thinking? I must ask. “Lacey phone Layla. In HR. To find out what's going on please” I odder lacey. with out hestition i has layla on the line.”Hey. Layla, what is with this girl you've put in my office with me” I snap.” Is there a problem? Emily was the only student that has marketing experience and has also worked in hospitality. To understand the customer and the product,” she replied with her criteria before I could even ask. ” But why not the other guy” I asked. "Because he is a Pen pusher with no personality at all.” She answered me. Layla was in charge of hirng in HR. And was very good at what she did, especially reading people. “I knew you had business in Belfast and I thought maybe this is a good fit to understand the accent and the personality a wee bit more as it is different from Southerner ireland and that you are used to working with.” she added. Fine, I thought she had good points. I’m just going to have to suck it up and watch my manners. After I got off the call with layla, I thought over how the girl in the first 5 minutes of meeting her had managed to make me feel like an i***t. Like an arrogant prick. Never did I think of why and how often I said please and thank you. What a wake up call. My mother and my sister would have called me out on my S*** but never employee. And listening to her beautiful accent talking 20 mile an hour, the language and terms she uses. What was with that? I feel a need to order myself a Northern Irish dictionary. I can tell this girl has sass. And I feel she will be taking no prisoners. This could be interesting. Emily's POV. After my quick Chat with Daniel. Lacey went over the office policy with me and my schedule. It was alright. Until she told me some stupid rules that made me think we were in the 1980s. ‘No in-house company relationships. No relationship with clients or shareholders. If these are breached, there may end in disciplinary or dismissal’. What the hell? He has the rights to play with people's love lifes and futures. I thought to myself. Then they had a company policy on drink and drugs. ‘The company has the right to do drink and drug testing. At random.’ Well. I can pass the drug test no problem, but the drinking tests not a chance. I drank more wine than my body weight and I wasn't about to stop. I have been working and studying for five years. Flat out. I have worked part time in Belfast City hotels in all departments and when I'm done with work it doesn't matter what time we finished at we Could always find ourselves in a lock in, in many different bars and clubs throughout Belfast. I worked hard and play hard and never once let a hangover win. I was a pro at hiding a hangover, even when I only had four hours sleep. I sat most of my exams, halfcut and dying on the inside so they want me to p*** in a cup. They sure better have a return ticket home for me. After making one too many jokes about the do's and don'ts in the workplace. Lacey was crying, laughing. I thought she was gonna piss herself. She ran over my schedule for the next week. I had two dinner meetings. Starting on Monday night at 7:00 PM. When would I see my friends but a free meal yippee. I thought. Daniel came around the door of the office and seen Lacey drying away, tears with a concerned look on his face. “What's happening, what's going on?” He asked with a confused look at both of us. We couldn't help but burst out laughing again. He did not take that too well. I quickly stood up and apologized for outburst. Still, the look of concern on his face, he looked back at Lacey and asked was she alright? She sniffled and replied. ”Yes, yes. I'm crying from laughter. I'm sorry it won't happen again. I will call you Em when I’m going for lunch, and when I get back you can go" She smiled. Lacey laughed leaving my office, still sniffing and laughing. Daniel looked at me strangely. He said. ” I have worked with Lacey for three years and I have never seen her cry, let alone cry through laughter.” “What can I say? I have that effect on people. Sorry, I'll try and keep my banter out of the office.” I replied with a small grin. He didn't seem to know how to reply. Before leaving, I asked “Did you want something, Sir,” Sir, who am I kidding? I'm not skill in school anymore “Sorry, Daniel.”