The Eternal Intern (Contemporary Romantic Comedy) (13 page)

Dude, Sarah is hot. Got a feeling someone is going to get lucky tonigh
t


I smiled and actually was only thinking of Loretta. She was returning from a business trip. I hadn’t seen her an entire week. She was home already as I arrived at her apartment.

“Where were you so long
?” she greeted me slightly worried at her door.

“I told you that I was out with friends
,” I replied in surprise as I gave her a kiss on her cheek.

I was actually aiming for her mouth but always when she was angry at me she only turned her cheek towards me.

“How was your trip?” I asked taking my jacket off.

“Good
, but I’m awfully tired,” she scratched her hip.

She was wearing the cute grey
Snoopy pajamas I gave her years ago for her birthday.

“Do you mind?
” she asked walking towards her bedroom yawning.

“No, I’ll be there in a minute
,” I replied slipping out of my shoes.

As I laid in bed beside her
, we started to talk about the future.

“Pat, any responses on your applications?
” she asked resting her head on my chest.

I hesitated to answer. I felt I had to be the man and impress.

”No, not yet,” my voice lacked its usual security.

“It’s not your fault
,” she eased my fear stroking my arm.

“Thanks. You are too nice to me
,” I replied patting her head. 

It’s weird. Always when she was nice to me or just talked to me I felt reborn. I really loved this woman. But I believed that I was not at the right place to find my dream job. The world is so big and has so many possibilities. There is more and I am worth more. That’s what I truly believe. Loretta on the other hand has a job here. She’s happy. She has a sister and a brother living
close by. Even though she always complains about them that they are annoying and always want to be with her. But as soon as her sister or brother are not around she starts missing them. It’s freaky. It’s the typical syndrome of the grass is greener on the other side. Taking all of this into account, I didn’t see her moving with me to another city not even to mention another country. Therefore, I only kept applying in the area.

A
s always she got up in a hurry rushing through the apartment getting her stuff organized.

“I can’t wait for you today. Let’s meet later
,” she said to me as she checked her bag to assure that she had everything.

Due to my drowsiness
, I barely followed what she said.

R
innnggggg, Rinnnggggg.

“Hello?” I said into my phone that pulled me out of my sleep. I glanced at the watch besides the bed. 11.32 a.m. Loretta left the house at 7.45 a.m. I felt like a loser for sleeping that long. Especially now being unemployed.

“Hello Mr. Wright. This is The Altana Group. You sent us your application and we liked what we read,” the other end answered friendly.

“Thank you
,” I replied stoked. 

“We would like to invite your for an interview this coming Wednesday at 4 p.m. Would that work for you?
” the female voice asked.

“Wednesday? Sure. That would work
,” I replied happily.

“I’ll send you an email with all the information later today
,” she added.

“Great. Thank you. See you next Wednesday then
,” I confirmed the meeting.

I was ecstatic. The Altana Group was a big international advertising agency. I felt good. If I got this I would be able to travel all over the planet and do something important. This was my chance. This place is serious. I would make money
, could move out of my parent’s house, and move in with Loretta.

On my way home I texted Loretta about the good news. I believed it was important to keep her in the loop to
let her see that I was trying to get something organized.

I
prepared all week for this interview: Memorizing the latest business deals the agency closed, checking the web about my interview partners in the hopes of finding similarities between them and me, and trying to predict their questions. 

As Wednesday approached I put my best suit on. Well, I only possessed one
, so I didn’t have a lot of choices. I thought I looked good in my black shiny suit. Maybe I should have dropped the white tissue peeking out of my outer jacket pocket, but you never get a second chance at a first impression.

That’s what all the motivational advisors say.

Entering the agency, I wasn’t that convinced of my clothing choice anymore. Everybody looked very creative. Jeans and T-shirt. That was their business attire.

“Hello, My name is Patrick Wright. I am expected by
Mr. Skladden,” I introduced myself to the lady at the front desk.

It was a very busy environment. People were walking around holding b
ig white paper rolls under their arms. The bright light gave the open office the charm of a shopping centre.

“Hi, just let me check the computer
,” the young lady replied with a smile.

“Please take a seat. Someone will be here in a minute
,” she pointed with her hand to a black leather couch at the wall.

“Thanks
!” I said turning to the couch.

Here I was now. I was trying to lose my nervousness by flipping through the dozens of magazines lying on the glass table in front of me. I arrived five minutes before my appointment and was actually expecting them to have me wait more than a half an hour. I sense
d they like to -play such games to demonstrate their power. As this thought went through my head a grey-headed man approached the couch. He was blinking over to the receptionist to assure her that I was the person he was meeting. After she nodded at him he threw a smile at me, reaching his hand out to me.

“Hello
Mr. Wright. Thanks for coming,” he greeted me friendly.

His other hand was resting in the pocket of his torn jeans. Even though he must have been past his forties he dressed like a trendy
hipster.

“Thanks for having me
,” I responded enthusiastically.

His eyes were screening me.

“You look nice but don’t you think you are a little overdressed?” he asked me sarcastically taking a step back looking up and down at me.

“You dress to impress
,” I responded quickly.

“Don’t worry. You don’t need to dress like that when you work here. Please follow me
,” he smiled walking into one of the many rooms around us.

He was bombarding me with the typical questions
: “Why do you want to work for us? Where did your prior experience give you the ability to do the job as a new business advisor? Where do you see yourself in five years? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Do you have any questions for us?”

I was prepared for these questions. My
initial nervousness turned into optimism. I was happy with my performance.

“
Mr. Wright. I like what I hear but I have to admit that we would like to offer you an internship first to see if you like it with us,” he said crushing all my hopes for a real job.

“OK
,” I replied dryly.

“To be honest, I am looking for a job not an internship
,” I said

confidently.

“Mhhh. OK. Well it’s up to you. The internship is paid but it would only pay your minimum expenses like train ticket and lunch,” he replied quickly. “Based on your experience and age our offer is fair,” he tried to sell his position leaning back into his chair.

“I have to think about it
,” I added, not able to hide my disappointment.    

“Sure. I understand. But you have to understand that we have

other people interviewing for the position as well,” he added to my stress level.

I entered the room feeling like a winner, leaving it as a loser.

I knew, I would not accept the position. Work as an intern for several months to be put on the streets again? That was not what I was looking for.

As I left the building I texted Loretta about what happened.

I had a whole week of interviews behind me and all I was able to get were internships. I was in Africa, I studied law, I really thought I was able to make it. You have to start somewhere but I wanted to start at the right place. To ease my fears, I constantly told myself that I am not married, don’t have any children, and do not have to support anyone. So why not try to find the right job.

But honestly, I was shocked. I didn’t study to only get these kind of offers. It just wasn’t right.

I was scheduled to meet my mother in town for lunch and to do some shopping after the interview. Even though I still lived in the same house as she did, she always liked to meet in town. Always when we did, she gave me the feeling as if I lived somewhere else and this is the only chance for her to see me. I felt bothered that I was still living at home with my parents. Nothing felt right this day.

“
I’ll have the Avocado burger with sweet potato fries, please,” my mom told the waiter.

“What are you having lovey?
” she looked at me as the waiter was writing down her order.

I felt five again when she called me like that.

“I’ll just have the Cheeseburger with regular fries. Thanks,” I told the waiter leaving with our order.

“How was your interview? You don’t seem too happy
,” she read from my agitated behaviour.

“It was terrible
,” I remarked playing with the fork.

“They offered me an internship. Again
, only a freaking internship. I just cannot believe it,” I complained.

“Well
, you were born ten years too late,” she tried to cheer me up.

“Not funny. Seriously, this isn’t good. I studied, I speak languages, I am smarter than a lot of them out there that have jobs, and most of all I am hungry and want to prove myself. I am capable of so much more
,” I whined.

“I know lovey. Gosh, I wish I could help you
,” she looked nearly as frustrated as me.

“You just have to keep trying. You are great. Never forget that
,” she stressed.

“Easier said than done
,” I complained.

“You have to start somewhere. You will achieve what you want eventually. But it takes time
,” she said.

“The Avocado
burger with sweet potato fries?” the waiter appeared, holding a large plate in his hand.

“That’s for me
,” my mom said, looking up to the waiter.

“Don’t feel discouraged. There are people that are blind, broke, and have no family to support them
, and they still manage,” she pointed out as she wrapped her hands around the burger bun.

“You’re right. But I am only asking for a normal life. I am so mad at these assholes. Especially this guy sitting there making tons of money offering me an internship
,” I complained shoving some fries into my mouth.

“How do you know he has a lot of money?
” she asked with a smile.

“Who cares? He’s still an asshole
,” I repeated myself.

T
he same evening I met with Loretta at a small pizzeria.

“You’re late
,” she greeted me as I sat beside her in the restaurant.

The dim light was complementing her tight black top. She liked to show her trimmed figure.

“Sorry. Had to help my dad with some stuff on his computer,” I apologized, taking her hand and kissing the palm.

“Don’t you think it’s time you moved out?
” she asked me.

Her eyes looked tired.

“I’m not moving out. I think it’s time that my parents moved out,” I joked trying to raise her spirit.

“Pat, be serious. You cannot be happy in this situation
,” her voice vibrated with intensity.

“Come on. It will be over soon
,” I tried to calm her down.

“You’ve been saying that since I know you
,” she bursted out in anger.

“You sound like a broken record
,” she added stroking swiftly with her hands through her hair and pulling it outwards.

She always does this when she’s stressed. I knew this is not going to be a fun night out.

“Loretta. Trust me. Everything will be fine and I will get a job very soon,” I started to lose my patience with her pessimism.

“I only want a normal life for the two of us
,” she gestured in frustration.