New Intern
1178 Words
Kate stared at the laptop screen, her heart pounding. Her breath caught in her throat as the words before her confirmed what she had barely dared to hope.
“Yessssssss!!!” she screamed, jumping up from her seat and spinning in excitement. “Yessssss!”
Her voice carried through the house, loud enough to draw Megan and Pat rushing up the stairs. They burst into her room, alarm written all over their faces.
“What’s the matter?” Megan asked, scanning the room as if expecting to see a fire.
“Have you finally lost it?” Pat quipped, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.
“Mom!” Kate exclaimed, her face glowing with joy. She’d grown used to calling Megan “Mom” over the last few weeks, and now it felt almost natural. “I’ve been hired! They’ve hired me!”
Megan’s eyes widened, and she pulled Kate into a hug. “Really? Oh my God, Anna, I’m so proud of you! Which company was it?”
Kate hesitated briefly, then answered, “Gilmore Empire.”
Megan’s smile grew even wider. “Gilmore Empire? That’s incredible! I told you, didn’t I? You’d get it eventually. Who’s my girl?”
Kate beamed, unable to contain her joy. She wasn’t just happy for the validation—this was her company, her empire, and getting this job was the first step in dismantling Peter and Lisa’s world. The relief she felt was immeasurable.
Pat, still standing by the door, raised an eyebrow. “You’re making it sound like you won an Oscar.”
“Maybe she did!” Megan shot back, playfully nudging him as she pulled Kate back into a hug.
Kate savored the moment. Megan’s pride felt genuine, a stark contrast to the loneliness she had endured in her former life.
---
The weekend dragged on. Hours felt like days as Kate counted down to Monday morning. Her anticipation built with every passing moment, her mind swirling with plans and possibilities.
By 8:00 AM Monday, Kate was dressed and ready. She looked stunning in her carefully chosen outfit—a balance of professional polish and effortless glamour. Her dark hair was styled to perfection, and her makeup subtly enhanced her natural features.
Megan was setting the table for breakfast when Kate came down the stairs. Steve and Pat were already seated, their cups of coffee steaming in front of them.
“Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!” Kate called as she headed toward the door.
“Anna, wait!” Megan called after her, hurrying to catch up. “Aren’t you going to eat breakfast?”
“Sorry, Mom!” Kate said, pausing briefly. “I don’t want to be late on my first day.”
Without waiting for a reply, she stepped outside and hailed a cab.
---
The towering Gilmore Empire building loomed ahead as the cab pulled to a stop. Kate stepped out, her heels clicking against the pavement as she gazed up at the familiar structure.
“It’s been so long,” she whispered to herself.
She inhaled deeply and started toward the entrance. Just as she reached the revolving doors, someone barreled into her, nearly knocking her off balance.
“Hey!” she yelled, turning to glare at the offender. “Watch where you’re going, dumbass!”
“Maybe you should get out of the way!” the man shot back without stopping, disappearing into the building.
Kate gritted her teeth but forced herself to stay calm. This wasn’t the time to cause a scene.
As a former CEO, Kate knew the layout of the building like the back of her hand. She rode the elevator to the interns’ floor, where a group of recruits had already gathered. Excited murmurs filled the room, but Kate kept to herself, uninterested in making small talk. She wasn’t here to make friends—she had a mission to fulfill.
She picked a seat near the middle of the room and waited. Minutes ticked by as more interns arrived, the room growing increasingly crowded.
“Mind if I sit here?”
Kate turned to see an auburn-haired girl standing beside her, a friendly smile on her face.
“Go ahead,” Kate said, gesturing to the empty seat.
“Thanks,” the girl said as she settled in. She extended a hand. “I’m Helen.”
Kate hesitated briefly before shaking her hand. “Anna.”
“Nice to meet you,” Helen said.
“Likewise,” Kate replied, though her tone was more reserved.
The chatter died down as the HR manager, Elaine Brooks, entered the room. Dressed in a tailored navy suit, Elaine exuded authority and professionalism.
“Good morning, everyone!” she began, her voice warm and confident. “On behalf of Gilmore Empire, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all of you. We’re thrilled to have you join our internship program.”
Her words were met with polite applause.
“I know some of you might be nervous,” Elaine continued. “It’s natural. Believe me, as confident as I may seem now, I was a nervous wreck on my first day. But you’re in good hands. We’re here to support you every step of the way.”
The orientation that followed was comprehensive. Elaine covered everything from the company’s history and policies to department overviews and employee benefits. While some of the interns began to lose interest, Kate found herself impressed. Elaine had been her employee, and it was clear she had grown into a capable leader.
When the orientation ended, Elaine opened the floor to questions. Afterward, she announced, “The new CEO would like to say a few words of encouragement.”
The room buzzed with excitement as Peter entered, greeted by a round of applause.
Kate’s eyes locked onto him.
He was as polished and charismatic as ever, his tailored suit and confident demeanor captivating the room. But all Kate saw was the man who had betrayed her, his charm a façade masking his true nature.
He spoke briefly, delivering a speech about ambition and opportunity that drew smiles and nods from the interns. Kate barely listened, too busy seething at the sight of him.
After Peter left, Elaine resumed the orientation, assigning the interns to their respective departments and teams. Kate waited patiently for her turn, her mind racing with anticipation.
When her name was called, she discovered she had been placed in the HR department, Team 2, under the supervision of Tom McCombs. Her teammates included Helen and, to her annoyance, the guy who had bumped into her earlier whose name was Ken.
Tom greeted the new interns warmly, introducing them to the rest of the team. The group consisted of five other employees, each offering a polite nod or smile.
Kate was shown to her workspace—a modest desk in the corner of the room. She sat down, her heart swelling with a mix of triumph and determination.
This was it. The first step had been taken.
Her revenge had officially begun.
- Writer
