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This time his eyebrows rise up until they’re almost touching his messy, thick hair. “Because you asked so bloody nicely.”
* * *
An hour later I’m sat in a boardroom with the other interns attending our induction session. At the front of the room, next to what might just be the most boring PowerPoint presentation ever, is the HR Manager for Richards and Morgan, Diana Joseph. She’s already made each of us stand up in turn and introduce ourselves. I’ve discovered I’m the only intern that doesn’t go to either Oxford or Cambridge, and the only one that doesn’t know the others.
“In a few minutes your placement managers will be coming in to introduce themselves, and then they’ll take you to your desks to get you started. Your log-in details are in the folders in front of you, along with a list of online training that you’ll need to do before the end of the week.”
Diana brushes a lock of blonde hair out of her eyes. She looks around thirty-something, with the porcelain complexion of the upper-middle class. “There’s one last thing I need you to do. As you know, Richards and Morgan is an American company, and we follow the rules they set down for us. One of those is that we expect all our employees to follow the highest standards of conduct, and I’d like you all to sign the policy that’s in your folders and return it to me before you leave.”
Pulling the three-page policy from my folder, I skim read. It covers dress code, politeness and emphasises that no office romances should take place. Glancing around the room—at the three rich boys who form part of the intern group—I have no hesitation in scribbling my name across the bottom.
Diana collects the papers and shuffles them into a neat pile. Then she opens the door and calls our managers in. They stand up to say hello, explaining what part of the firm they work in, and their main responsibilities. I listen avidly, wondering which one will end up being my boss, hoping against hope that it’s Maria Giles, who heads up technology services.
When they’ve finished, Diana stands again. “Okay, so let’s start with Miranda Vesey.” The girl sitting opposite me stands up. “Your placement is in Corporate Tax and your manager will be Stephen Spiller.”
One by one she calls the interns until I’m the last person left. That’s when she realises there isn’t a manager to assign me to. Her panic is almost comical, as she glances down at her sheet then back at me, her brows drawing together as she stares.
“There appears to be an error.”
The need to laugh disappears, replaced by a quivering inside my chest. I wait for her to tell me that I shouldn’t have been offered the internship, for her to ask me to leave the building. By the time she starts to speak I’m already planning what I’ll tell my tutor.
“You were supposed to be assigned to Sandra Davies in Organisational Development, but she’s taken early maternity leave. Stay here while I make a couple of calls.” With that Diana all but runs out of the room, leaving me sitting here on my own.
Leaning back in my chair, I run a hand over my tied-up hair, checking it’s still smooth. Then I look around the room, at the polished wood table and state-of-the-art screens on the wall, and wonder what the hell is going to happen
to me today. I’m too nervous to keep still, too antsy to do nothing, so I end up pouring myself another lukewarm coffee from the dispenser on the sideboard and sip away until Diana comes back.
It takes her ten minutes, and when she sweeps back in the harassed look is still painted on her face. Inclining her head, she indicates for me to follow, and I stand up and gather my things.
“I’ve found you a placement in Technology Integration. They’re a head down due to a recent resignation, so you’ll be working temporarily as Personal Assistant until they’ve sorted out a project for you. Am I right in thinking you have PA experience?”
She’s marching along the corridor, and I have to run to keep up. “Yes, but I need to work on a project in order to get my degree.”
Diana huffs. “I just said you’ll be given a project, it will just take a few days, that’s all.”
Chastened, I nod. “Okay.”
“Well, this isn’t always the easiest department to work in. The techies tend to be a bit abrasive and rude, but I can promise you’ll get some excellent experience during your time here.”
Eventually we reach the end of the corridor, and she leads me into a block of offices. Each one is fronted with glass. Diana points at a desk. “This is where you’ll sit. Mr Ferguson sits in there.” She gestures to a door, which leads into the main office. “He’s the head partner for the Technology Integration division, so he’s a very busy man.”
For the first time, Diana smiles at me, and it seems to contain an apology. Then she raps at the door with her knuckles, taking a step back and waiting for a reply.
“What?”
“Mr Ferguson?” Her voice wobbles as she pushes the frosted glass door. “I have your new PA, Amy Cartwright.” Turning to me, she gestures with her hand, telling me to go in. “She’s a new intern, full of enthusiasm and ready to go.”
Standing in the doorway, I see Mr Ferguson for the first time. He’s bent over three LCD screens, hammering his fingers on the impressive keyboard that seems to cover half his desk. Slowly, he raises his head, and I notice the thick, dark red hair that falls across his brow, and the piercing green eyes that seemed to bore into me earlier.
“I know you,” he says, still staring. This time there’s no hint of a smile to his lips, just a granite-set jaw that tells me he isn’t very pleased to see me. “You’re the lift-shouter.”
Nodding, I step forward, trying to hide the tremble in my legs. “I’m Amy Cartwright.” I offer him my hand, but he ignores it.
“I don’t take on interns, Diana, you know that. Doesn’t HR have any slots?” He sounds almost bored.
“Amy’s skills lie in the technical side, Mr Ferguson, and we’ve not been able to recruit a PA for you yet. It’s only temporary, until we fill the vacancy and then we can move Amy to her new job.”
Mr Ferguson drops his head to the side, studying me. “How much experience do you have?”
