“Not again,” Tara chuckles out.
“Damn right,” I reply as seriously as I can, looking around the open space. Where are these damn interns?
Tara giggles as I do half a lunge to discreetly try and get the tiny running shorts I've squeezed into out of my asscheeks.
“I thought you'd have grown up a little when you hit your thirties,” Freya groans.
She's known me since I was a teenager. She used to work for my father in his law firm as his PA. I was always around my father when I wasn't in class, trying to gain the insider info to get a step-up: I learned from the best.
“You're only as young as you feel. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun and hazing the newbies.” My gaze flicks over to the front doors as three fresh faces walk in and I grin. Game on. “Gentlemen, nice of you to join us.”
I try to keep a straight face as they all glance over my attire and back at each other. One even checks their watch before stepping ahead of the rest of them and clearing their throat. I like the confident ones.
“Excuse me, sir, we're the interns starting today. We're supposed to meet—”
“Me. You're supposed to meet me.”
“Erm…” He looks over at Freya and Tara who shrug and run their gazes back to their computers. When he doesn't get any help from them, he turns back toward me. “We’re actually here to meet Ms. Raine.”
“My partner may have interviewed you all but she's far too busy this morning, so you have me instead.” Recognition dawns on their faces and I smirk, motioning toward the waiting area.
They follow me and sit down in the seats I point toward. “My name is Nathan Cole, but you can call me Mr. Cole until you earn your position in this company.” They all nod and stare at me blankly. “I am the other half of this firm as well as many of our prestigious lawyers under the Raine, Cole and Associates umbrella. You’ll be put under the interns from last year to learn the ropes, but I requested to show you around.”
One of them raises their hand but I ignore it. It’s showtime.
I raise my leg onto a chair in a stretch, the running shorts I’m adorning pressing tightly into my thighs. One of the interns bites back a laugh with a quick cough.
“Something amusing?”
He startles, his eyes widening. “Erm, I… no, not at all.”
“Good. Then follow me, and don’t forget to take notes.” I take off in a jog toward the hallway the running track is on, turning to run backward as I watch them fumble with all of their belongings, briefcases probably containing nothing slowing them all down. “Gotta learn to keep up.”
When they catch up and we’re running the bright-red track, I start my speech, pointing to things they need to know along the way.
“The main offices are all contained in the middle of the building on the inside of the track. Don’t step on this track unless you intend to run or you’ll be trampled by someone. It goes all the way to the very top of the building in a spiral shape. There are stairs and an elevator in the center, but we try to encourage our staff to stay active and healthy.”
They’re furiously writing everything I’m saying down with confused looks on their faces as they stumble along the track and I barely contain my laughter. This is all part of me checking out their characters—and livening up my boring day simply because I can.
“Any questions so far?” I ask.
One of them closes his notepad. “Please don’t think I’m questioning your authority, but what does any of this have to do with the company or us for that matter?”
I hold back a smirk. “Do you not think it’s important to keep up a healthy lifestyle?”
“Well… yes, but in our personal time. Not at the workplace.”
I slow down. “What’s your name?”
“Steve.”
“Well, Steve, that’s your first wrong answer.” I look at all of them in turn. “You have all chosen a profession that involves lots of paperwork and long, grueling hours. Many of those hours you’ll be spending sitting at a desk and eating whatever is on hand. You won’t have a lot of time for the gym unless you want to sacrifice the precious few hours of sleep or any social time you may find you have. We’re always looking for ways to improve our work environment and one of our interns came up with this very running track. You may think it unnecessary and irrelevant now, but trust me, you’ll thank us when you still fit into your expensive, tailored suits.”
I turn back around without acknowledging anymore comments from them, but I can tell the running is taking its toll from their heavy breathing.
We reach the middle of the building and I start jogging on the spot outside one of the three conference rooms.
“The label on the door is pretty self-explanatory; this is the main conference room where we will have meetings. There’s two more, learn where each are and ingrain them into your memory, you’ll be doing a lot of back and forth between them.” I start walking at a fast pace on the track again, them following behind me. “As interns you will be assisting us all as well as putting forward your own ideas and input. This is very important. Learn to have a voice or you know where the doors are. Here at Raine, Cole and Associates, we’re looking for people who will speak up and are innovative. We—”