Chapter 5 - Jenna

Excitement mixed with nerves as I stood outside the impressive office building that housed the even more impressive lobbying firm. I was really going to get to be a part of it. There was no promise of being kept on in any capacity after my internship was over, but my hopeful heart couldn't help but imagine doing such an amazing job they'd beg me to become permanent.

I'd arrived early to get coffee at the shop down the street. It was something I couldn't really afford in my current circumstances. Even the bus fare stressed me out. But I couldn't get my mind off that handsome, charismatic guy who'd bought me a coffee instead of chewing me out for ruining his suit. After all, he'd wished me luck, and I'd gotten the job.

If I caught another glimpse of him, that would surely mean it was going to be a great day. At least, I was using my newfound superstitious nature as a cover for just plain wanting to see him again. In between tossing and turning with nerves over my first day at the firm, I'd tossed and turned from the memory of that dazzling smile. Those blue eyes. The voice that still reverberated through my bones with its deep rumble.

After dawdling at the coffee shop for as long as possible, I gave up and headed to face my first day. It was time to go in there and show them what I was made of.

The front lobby I'd been waiting in with all the other hopefuls the day before was empty except for the receptionist at her big, curving desk. Gleaming metal letters behind her spelled out the firm's name, and it took every ounce of willpower not to ask if I could take a selfie in front of it.

But who would I send it to? As much as it pained me, I had to distance myself from Katie, and Aunt Marjorie had been trying to get me to lighten up ever since I fled from the Christmas party. Yes, even Aunt Marjorie had chosen to be on board with Katie's new family. It brought my mood down a little, remembering how alone I was in the world, but it was my own choice and the right thing to do.

The receptionist looked up and smiled, much friendlier than yesterday, and told me to go right on back. The actual office was open plan and bustling with people talking on their phones or tapping away at computers.

Vera was in her office at the corner of the vast space, wearing a lipstick-red power suit and heels that I would have broken my neck trying to take one step in. Her sleek dark hair hung loose to her shoulders today, and she smoothed it behind her ear as she gave me a once over.

The only really nice thing I had that would be appropriate for an office like that would have been the same suit I wore to the interview, and my pride wouldn't let me do that. Instead, I chose a navy pencil skirt that wasn't quite as crisp and dark as it was when it was new two years ago, and a simple white blouse. Her assessment was so severe I glanced down to see if I'd dribbled coffee on myself.

Gone were the easy and open smiles from yesterday. Vera was my boss now, and it seemed like she was the type to really crack the whip. I straightened my shoulders and asked where I should get started.

With a snap of her fingers, she called over a lanky guy who might have been a couple years older than me. He wore round glasses and already had a slightly receding hairline.

"Theo will show you your responsibilities," Vera said. "We run a tight ship and work until the work is finished. I do understand you have your classes to attend, so you'll be given some leeway, but don't expect this to be a walk in the park."

"No, not at all," I said, then bit my lip. Was that right? "I mean, I'm looking forward to the challenge."

She finally gave me a smile, and Theo turned and trudged out of the office. I followed him to the break room, where he asked if I wanted to grab a bagel or some coffee before we got started. I didn't want anything since I was still nervous and had already had my caffeine hit, but he started slathering cream cheese on a bagel.

"Sure, thanks," I said, following him to a table.

"I know you think you're early, but you're actually late," he informed me. "That's just the way it is. Do you expect to get hired on permanently?"

"Not at all," I told him, because wishes and expectations were two different things. "I'm just happy for the experience and the class credit."

He seemed to relax knowing I wasn't after his job, and dove into explaining what I was supposed to do. He wasn't exactly a ray of sunshine, but he seemed happy about me being there. It probably meant he was no longer the lowest man on the totem pole.

After we finished our breakfast, he gave me a tour of the office, leaving out the biggest office opposite Vera's. A glimpse inside the slim window next to the closed door showed a lavish layout, much more luxurious than Vera's high-end simplicity.

"Does the big boss come around often?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Often enough," Theo said with a wry twist of his mouth.

He set me up with a series of mundane tasks that seemed neverending, and he assured me there'd be more to come when I was done, and I spent most of my shift scanning in documents. Afterward, Theo asked if I'd ever used an online calendar. I goggled at him, and he shrugged.

"You'd be surprised."

When I proved I could indeed find my way around a calendar app, he grinned the first genuine smile I'd seen on his dour face.

"Fantastic. This will help me a lot. Just go through the emails in this folder and add any dates of appointments or meetings onto the calendar."

He seemed thrilled to offload what was clearly the bane of his existence onto me, and hovered around behind my shoulder for a bit until he was sure I grasped the concept. After about an hour of that, I missed scanning. My enthusiasm was wearing off, and I began to wonder how people did this eight hours a day, every day, for their entire lives. Since I was a student, I was only doing half days and even then, the time seemed to tick by backward.

It was all the more reason to knuckle down and stay in school to achieve my dreams.

Just when my eyes were closing of their own accord, Theo reappeared with a rolling cart full of papers. "Come on, more scanning."

"Great," I said, actually meaning it. I jumped up and followed him, taking a pile of folders off the cart as they started to slide to the floor.

We were about to leave the open work area and move down the hall toward the equipment room when Theo stopped dead. I looked up to see why, and my jaw started dropping.

It was my guy. The mysterious man from the coffee shop. He looked even larger than life in that setting, striding down the hall in a dark gray suit that fit him like a glove. His shoulders seemed broader, he appeared even taller than I remembered, and I'd daydreamed about him so long that I was sure I was building him up to godlike proportions in my imagination.

As he passed, his eyes swept the work area. Even from a distance, I could see how blue they were, full of fire and determination today, instead of the hint of mischief I picked up yesterday. His gaze settled on me for a second, but before I could smile, it was already gone. He continued past as if he hadn't seen me. Or recognized me. I craned my neck to watch him go into Vera's office, and yes, I checked out his ass. It was amazing. What in the heck was wrong with me?

"Put your tongue back in your mouth," Theo said bitterly.

My cheeks flamed, that he noticed my obvious interest. "Who is that?" I asked, trying to be cool.

"That's the big boss, Mr. Volkov."

"Are you serious?" I was astounded at this turn of events. "I actually met him in a coffee shop yesterday, and he's really nice."

Theo snorted. "No, he's really not. He's hard as nails and extremely exacting. If you want to complete this internship, you better not screw anything up."

He might have been alluding to my unprofessional display of ogling our boss, and I sniffed primly before slumping along behind him to finish out the day scanning.

I couldn't afford to screw up. Couldn't lose the credit, or my scholarship was out the door and never coming back. Just that morning, when I was all amped up on finally getting a job, I'd decided to start paying for my classes going forward. Aleks and Katie had been sneakily generous, prepaying up until my graduation date, and until I learned where that money came from, it had seemed like a dream come true.

Now, I was going to refuse it all, going so far as to sign up for all my new classes under a different name if that's what it took. That would surely break Katie's heart. She took so much pride in being a provider, and as much as it bothered me over the years to watch her work herself to exhaustion so I could get where I was today, I would have kept accepting that.

Because it was honest. It made her happy, and I fully intended to return the favor once I graduated and was settled. Fokin money was a different story. I just wished Katie and Aunt Marjorie would understand why I was so unyielding.

If I ever wanted to achieve my dreams, I had to stay squeaky clean and above reproach. All it would take was one reporter finding out my college tuition had been paid for by mafia money, and any chance at being elected for anything was annihilated.

I'd get six jobs before I let that happen. Brooke somehow managed it all on her own, and so would I.

I was halfway through the cartload of papers when it was time for me to leave. Remembering Vera's words earlier, I wondered if I was expected to finish. It was at least two more hours of work, and I had a class down in Berkeley to get to. I was torn on what to do when Theo stuck his head in the door and begrudgingly told me I did a good job and he'd see me tomorrow.

"Thanks a lot, Theo," I said. "Have a great evening."

After all that drudge work I could kind of see why there was no spark in his eyes, and I was determined not to ever get that way. Most of all, I was grateful to have the internship, as dull as it was turning out to be.

As I left, I once again caught sight of Mr. Volkov, striding toward the exit like a glorious wild stallion. We seemed to be leaving at the same time, which made images of another coffee shop interlude dance in my head. If only I didn't have to race back down to Berkeley for my class.

Once again, he turned to peruse the work area, and this time, his eyes met mine, seeming to capture me. Since Theo had such a bad attitude, I assumed he was wrong about my new boss, and I smiled, even lifted my hand to wave.

It was like I wasn't even there as he hurried past, dropping his blue gaze. He either didn't see me or was ignoring me, or worst of all, really didn't remember me. Maybe Theo was right, and he was a hardass, but could I have misinterpreted his flirty friendliness from yesterday so badly?

It seemed so, and it was a blow since I'd wasted some real daydream energy on him.

I wasn't there for romance, so I headed out to the bus stop, nursing my bruised ego.