Chapter 12
Richard
The moment the last candidate left the room, I was already halfway down the corridor. I didn’t stop for a
handshake or closing remarks. I shouldn’t have even been there. The intern screening was never supposed to be
on my agenda-not with a day this packed.
Behind me, my Beta hustled, trying not to drop the stack of folders he’d been juggling all morning. “Sir, the
car’s out front. We’ve got seven minutes before the Bramble Finance call.”
I didn’t answer. Just stepped into the sunlight and climbed into the car.
The Beta followed, already flipping pages open across his lap. “I have the briefs you need to sign before the next
meeting. Also, the Henderson delegation was pushed for this screening-why attend a mere assistant
interview?”
I glanced at him, flipping open a file with practiced disinterest. “Casual observation. I want to personally sign
off on everyone on the team. Especially on campaign placements.”
He blinked, clearly unsatisfied. “Casual? You rearranged your whole schedule for something ‘casual’? We moved the Henderson meeting, and now you’re nearly late for-”
I cut him off with silence, just a look and he shut up immediately.
The car pulled into motion.
Then he glanced out the window, almost too casually. “Oh, that’s Miss Amelia,” he said, clearly trying to poke at something-pressing just enough to see if it would get a reaction.
I didn’t look at first. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I knew once I did, I wouldn’t look away.
Eventually, I glanced up. She was walking across the courtyard, squinting against the sunlight, a folder hugged to her chest. Her movements were quick and sharp, but there was a lightness to them today. Excitement, confidence, her first day.
I watched her until she disappeared behind the columns.
The Beta looked at me again, careful this time. “This wouldn’t happen to be… about her, would it?”
I didn’t respond.
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He pushed further. “But if Princess Jenny were to find out-”
“I’m taking an interest in young leadership on the campaign trail,” I cut in smoothly, not even bothering to hide the edge in my voice. “That’s all.”
His stare was too knowing.
I turned my gaze back to the window. “Last night’s events were a one-time thing.”
That silenced him, good.
Because I couldn’t stop watching until the car turned the corner and Amelia was no longer in view.
Amelia
I hadn’t even taken off my shoes last night before Adam started in on me again.
“You didn’t even text me back. All night?”
“I had an interview. It ran late.”
“An interview?”
“Yeah, actually. And I got the job.”
He kept talking, but I tuned it out. It didn’t matter. Nothing he could say was going to touch the high I was
riding.
This morning, I walked into the intern wing feeling proud. I’d earned this. I was ready to prove myself.
Until I saw Jason.
“Surprise,” he said with a wink. “Looks like we’re teammates now.”
Apparently, the third pick dropped out last minute, and Jason-the sixth alternate-got the call. Of course he
did.
The others were already mingling, trading resumes and name-dropping family members. Everyone seemed to have some kind of experience-communications coordinators, council liaisons, campaign volunteers. One girl
had interned in a diplomatic office overseas.
And then there was me.
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T20 BUNUS
No connections. No résumé full of perfect bullet points. Just me, trying not to sweat through my blouse.
Jason, for some reason, had decided he was now everyone’s best friend. All smiles, all charm, like he hadn’t tried to buy his way into my spot and insult me in the same breath two days ago.
He even nodded at me. “No hard feelings, right?”
I gave him a flat smile. “Sure. Clean slate.” It bothered me more than I wanted to admit-how easily he pretended yesterday hadn’t happened, how quickly everyone else was falling for it. But I wasn’t going to be the one to start drama among the interns. Not on my first day.
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