Ava stood in the sleek, marble lobby of Vanguard Corporation, her heart pounding louder than she’d expected.
The crisp white blouse she wore felt suddenly constricting as she anxiously tugged at it, trying to smooth out wrinkles that weren’t there. Her hand instinctively went to her purse, double-checking for the essentials she had already checked multiple times: ID, phone, notepad, pen. Everything was in its place, but nothing felt right. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to breathe as she waited for the elevator to arrive.
Just breathe, she told herself, staring at the sleek silver doors in front of her. The hum of people bustling through the lobby did little to calm her nerves, and the ticking of her own watch seemed louder than usual. She wasn’t just starting any internship—this w
