Chapter 40 The New Intern

"Absolutely, I'm tougher than you think. And hey, I've been chilling at home for days. Got to get back to work, or I'll be way behind." Luke was kind of worried about Charlotte heading back to work so soon. He did what he could online to keep the gossip at bay, but he couldn't shut everyone up. He was stressing that Charlotte might catch wind of some nasty rumors at work. So, he hit up Lawson with a secret text, telling everyone at the office to zip it about the whole mess. When they got to the office, Lorna tried to play it cool, but she was a bit green with envy seeing Luke and Charlotte as thick as thieves. They had both got the lowdown on the Frank drama recently. Lorna wasn't itching for another lecture, so she was biting her tongue big time. Then, Luke had a lightbulb moment about the yearly deal with Luxemvale Design Institute. He spun around to Charlotte. "We got a new intern today, a girl. It'd be kind of awkward to stick her with someone else. If you're not swamped, could you give her the grand tour?" "Sure thing." Thanks to Luke's heads-up, the office crew didn't dare gab about the scandal. Back in the work groove, Charlotte was too slammed to bother with anything else. Not long after, Lawson came in with the intern in tow. "Mrs. Allen, really appreciate the help." The intern, Alice More, gazed nervously at Charlotte. 'She seems about my age. But why does the boss's assistant call her Mrs.?' As Alice puzzled over this, Lawson turned to her, offering some insight. "She's our boss's wife. Relax, there's no need to be uptight. Feel free to ask her anything if you're unsure." Charlotte, eager to be welcoming, stood up and approached Alice. "Hi, I'm Charlotte Hall." "Hello, Mrs. Allen, my name is Alice More." Charlotte felt a bit odd being called that way. She had checked Alice's resume before she arrived; Alice was just two years younger than her. "You don't have to call me Mrs. Allen. Call me Charlotte if you'd like." It was Alice's first day on the job. Seeing how easygoing this impressive woman was, she couldn't contain her excitement. "Really?" "Yes, really." Charlotte was fond of this young girl. "There's no need to be so formal around me." "Then I'm going to call you Charlotte from now on." Alice's eyes shone with the simplicity and excitement of a university student newly introduced to the professional world. Alice was pretty nervous about working at a company known for its tough-as-nails boss. She kept thinking, 'What if I just can't cut it here?' But after she met Charlotte, those worries seemed to melt away. Charlotte pointed to a cozy sofa. "Alrighty, grab a seat there. I'll finish up my work, then take you for a little tour." Alice was eager to be helpful. "Maybe I could make you a coffee? It feels odd just sitting around while you're all busy." "Sounds great." Charlotte agreed, and Lawson showed Alice to the kitchenette. Soon enough, Alice came back, gently setting down a cup of coffee on Charlotte's desk. Charlotte stretched comfortably. "So, how old are you?" Alice seemed a bit shy. "I just turned twenty-two." "And your major was?" "Jewelry design." Charlotte nodded, seeing a bit of her younger self in Alice. 'To be young! Time sure zips by.' Charlotte quickly grew fond of Alice, charmed by her thoughtful and understanding nature. During Alice's initial days at the company, Charlotte always included her in her plans, eager to help her get a feel for the business. From the outset, Charlotte sensed a special bond with Alice. One day, Luke opened Charlotte's office door. "I've got some free time for lunch today. How about we go out?" "Sounds good," Charlotte replied. "Sofia also wanted to meet up. I'll give her a call." Luke was amused by the timing. "That's quite the coincidence. I just got off the phone with Caelan. He's coming over too." "Perfect, they can meet each other." Charlotte turned off her computer, then glanced at Alice. "Want to join us?" Alice hesitated and politely declined. She was comfortable with Charlotte, but still a bit uneasy around the boss. "Alright then." Charlotte understood Alice's feelings. "We'll leave you to your work this time." Hand-in-hand, Luke and Charlotte left the office. Outside, Caelan had his car parked, ready to join them as they emerged. Charlotte thought Caelan and Sofia might hit it off, given their shared taste for eye-catching cars. Both were under familial pressure to settle down, so she hoped they would find common ground. Caelan greeted her warmly, "Hi there, Charlotte." Charlotte smiled. "Hello." Caelan, not a regular in the area, was uncertain about where to dine. "What's good around here?" Charlotte and Luke looked at each other, undecided. "Let's see," Charlotte said. "I have a place in mind. Hope you'll like it." She called Sofia to join them and booked a table at a French restaurant they often visited during their student days. Charlotte reminisced about those times when Sofia would invite her for weekend meals and wondered if the restaurant had maintained its allure. Conveniently located near their office, they walked over to find Sofia just parking her car. Sofia, spotting Luke with Charlotte, seemed slightly envious. "This is the first time you've called me out since you moved. Miss me much?" Charlotte laughed off the insinuation. "Work has been crazy! After office hours, I rush home to my kids. Remember how it was when I lived close by? Hardly any time for socializing." Sofia nodded, understandingly. "We should plan a vacation together. I've been feeling really drained lately." Sofia had recently returned from a demanding business trip, having had to personally attend due to meetings with top executives from various companies.