It was Sunday. I was driving back to my hometown of New Haven, Connecticut with my important personal belongings from school bundled up in the backseat of my car. Maya was supposed to join me on this road trip but she had bailed out saying she would prefer a flight over the long road trip, I just suspected she wanted to spend more time with her boyfriend before coming back home. Yeah, Maya and I were from the same hometown. We were the kind of best friends that were best friends right from middle school. It was a bit pathetic really, but Maya was like the sister I never had.

Now I was just about thirty minutes from pulling up in front of my house. The familiar sight of the buildings and parks I had spent most of my life growing up around hit me with a strange feeling of nostalgia. I hadn't been back to this place in about one and a half years, I actually considered NYU, or New York in general as my home for that period of time.

It hadn't always been like this. Once upon a time, it had been just me and my mom. I didn't really know my dad; mom said he abandoned us before I was born. And that was quite alright, I never had a father complex because my mom was all I needed. She was eccentric and over the top sometimes, but she was all mine. That changed a few months before I graduated from high school. She met and fell in love with this guy called Walden. They got married within four months of meeting and we moved into his big ole house with his two young kids.

I went to college and came back the first time, and discovered that my mom was now a perfect blend into this family. And I was the only outsider. I mean there was even a family picture with all of them blown up in the living room.

Sure, Walden was a great guy and his kids or my step siblings weren't so awful. I just couldn't shake the feeling that even at home, I was now the odd one out. I didn't know these people and they didn't know me either. I stayed with them for about a month before packing up and heading back to school. And I hadn't returned ever since, always making up excuses to stay in New York. Even last Christmas when mom called and practically begged me to come back, I told her I was picked to do some research with one of my professors, and would be spending Christmas with him. All a lie, of course.

I knew mom felt terribly guilty that her marriage to Walden had broken up our own little family and when she called me and told me that Walden had managed to get me a summer internship at Stinson $ Co., the biggest and most lucrative chemical engineering company in the tri-state area, I knew it was all her doing. And now here I was, heading back for a whole three months of summer because mom's offer was just too good to refuse. A summer internship at Stinson $ Co. would really boost my credentials and mom knew I was a sucker for good credentials.

I pulled into the driveway of the big sprawling house, and unbuckled my seat belt. I took a few minutes to compose myself; this was a bit scarier than I thought it would be.

Someone opened the front door and came out. It was mom, she looked as nervous as I felt. I braced myself, picked up my smaller suitcase containing my clothes and climbed out of my car.

"Ellie!" my mom's face broke into this huge smile once she saw me. She came forward just as I ascended the steps leading to the front door and enveloped me in a bone crushing hug "I've missed my baby", I could hear the tears in her voice "I can't believe I'm hugging you right now"

I wrenched myself from her tight embrace and sure enough, her eyes were all liquid and misty.

"I've missed you too, mom", I smiled, trying not to get misty eyed as well

Walden stepped out from behind the door. I suspected he had been there all the time, just trying to give us our space.

"Ellie, welcome home. It's great to see you, kid", he pulled me into his own less evasive hug "How was the drive?"

"Super long", I replied and Walden chuckled

"Can you see how tall she's gotten?" my mom chirped to Walden excitedly

I rolled my eyes. "I haven't gotten any taller mother"

"Your mom's just happy to see you", Walden said and looked at my luggage "I'm sure you have more stuff in your car. Let me have your keys and I'll go get them for you"

"Oh okay" I handed my car keys to him "Thanks, Walden"

"Oh come on in, Ellie. I'm sure you're really hungry"

"More tired than hungry. A cup of coffee and a lot of sleep will fix me right up", I told my mom, following her through the front doors and into the living room

"Nonsense. You're just in time for dinner", my mom informed me "I hope lasagne is still your favourite"

I didn't have time to reply as a pair of little arms rushed me. "Ellie!"

I bent down and pulled Karen, Walden's youngest kid into a hug. "Karen you're so huge now. How old is my little munch kin?"

Karen gave me a gap toothed smile and held up her fingers. "I'm eight!"

"Not too old for the Barbie I sent for your birthday I hope?"

"Not really", she tried to be coy and I ruffled her blonde hair teasingly.

"Trent!" my mom yelled "Time for dinner"

"Coming, mom!" Trent yelled back from upstairs.

I blinked at that. Trent was the thirteen year old with attitude; last time I was home he had been calling my mom Mary. For him to be calling her mom now was kind of a big deal.

Trent came down the stairs just as Walden came in with the rest of my luggage.

"Hi Trent", he made me a little nervous. I knew Karen liked me, but Trent was the tough nut I couldn't crack. I wouldn't say he didn't like me; he was just a little indifferent. I actually didn't expect anything else, teenagers you know.

"Oh hey Ellie", he nodded at me and looked around like my presence back home was not that big of a deal.

"Trent help me take some of this stuff back to Ellie's room", Walden said gesturing at my bags

Trent audibly groaned like that was the last thing he wanted to do. I cringed. Back five minutes and I was already messing up his life.

I walked into the dining room where my mom was setting up. Dinner looked great actually, my belly groaned at the sight of such a decadent home cooked meal.

"Need any help, mom?"

"No I'm done", my mom said wiping her hands on her apron "Just take a seat"

I sat down, hoping I wasn't disturbing any of their usual seating arrangements. My mom and Karen came and sat down as well. And soon Trent and Walden joined in.

Dinner was really good. I could tell my mom had really put a lot of time and effort into it. Everyone talked about their day and what they had been up to recently. Apparently Karen had started taking ballet and Trent was trying to get on the soccer team. It was a normal family dinner scene. I stayed mostly quiet through it, though. Walden noticed and tried to pull me into the conversation.

"So Ells, how's New York? How's Maya?" he asked after I had swallowed a forkful of lasagne

"New York is just fine. Maya is great; she'll be coming back sometime next week. She wished she could come with me and see everyone"

"Oh, we see Maya all the time. She actually comes back home. You on the other hand..." My mom shrugged like she was trying not to get deep. But I knew she couldn't help herself.

"Mom, don't start", I gave her a look from across the dining table "You know I've been busy"

"How busy could you really be Ellenore? I mean you and Maya have the same major and she manages to make time for her family"

"Well Maya doesn't bear the kind of responsibilities that I do", I filled my mouth with another fork of lasagne hoping my mom would just drop this issue.

She looked like she had more to get off her chest but Walden stepped in just then.

"Speaking of responsibilities, Ellie I'm afraid Mary forgot to inform you about the mandatory interview that comes before your internship at Stinson & Co" Walden told me "I hope that's not too much trouble for you, kid"

"Interview?" I turned to look at my mom "But you said I all but had the job"

She shrugged. "Oh it's not that big of a deal, I know you'll ace it. Besides, if I had told you the internship was actually a probability, you might have found an excuse to stay in New York for summer"

"Mom!" I slammed my fork against the table, feeling both angry and guilty because she was deliberately trying to make me feel bad and she was right to. "Can you not bring this up anymore?"

She shook her head and went back to her meal and the rest of the dinner continued in a bit of an awkward silence. Once everyone was done, I cleared up the dishes and followed my mom into the kitchen, feeling the need to apologise.

"Look mom, I'm sorry for yelling but you need to stop making me look like such a terrible person in front of them", I said as I helped load the plates into the dishwasher.

"By them I'm guessing you mean your family", she replied sourly

I let out a disgruntled groan. "You know what I mean"

"I know what you're up to, Ellenore", she said, looking at me straight on "I'm your mother and you can try to avoid this family all you want but we are still going to be your family!"

"I'm not avoiding anyone I told you..." I started to protest but she cut me off

"I know. You're busy. I know", she started to tear up and she wiped at her eyes but the tears still came anyway "But I just miss you so much, Ellie. Everyone asks me about my daughter, the valedictorian. I always tell them that you're fine, you're doing well. But the truth is that I never really know"

"We talk all the time. We Skype all the time, mom"

"That doesn't take the place of being in the same room together. We have been through thick and thin together, honey and I just don't understand why you would want to push me away", the tears flowed freely now and I could tell she was a little embarrassed by her outburst

I felt a deep kind of hurt to the pit of my stomach. I never realized my actions would make my mom feel this bad. "You never told me you felt this way" I said, which was shocking for such a speak-first, think later sort of woman.

"I guess it's not something I would want to say to my daughter over the phone"

I reached forward and hugged my mom, drying her tears on my t shirt. I was a bit choked up as well. "I'm sorry, mom. I'm really sorry... I'll try to be better"

She pulled away from me after a while. "Oh, okay enough of all of this sadness. We should be happy"

I nodded. "We should do something fun, just the two of us"

Her eyes sparkled and she immediately perked up at the idea. "I know! Let's go to the salon tomorrow and get makeovers! You'll need to look good for your interview, honey"

What? That was not what I had in mind.

But as my mom went on and on about her split ends, I smiled and went along with it. Anything to make her happy.

Two days later, I was driving to Stinson & Co. for my interview. I was a bit nervous but not scared, I knew I was qualified and I already had a little work experience with helping out my professors. I touched my hair, or rather the lack of it. My mom had convinced me to chop most of it off and go a shade darker, leaving me with this edgy cut. My mom and all the ladies at the salon assured me I looked better than ever, it really brought out the blue in my eyes and so on, but I was quite self conscious about it.

Well that was done now; I pulled up to the entrance of the company. Someone from security inspected my ID; they checked my car and let me in. I pulled into a parking spot and got out of the car, clutching my folder to my chest.

Damn, but this place was frigging huge. It was this tall skyscraper with glass walls everywhere. It was the corporate worker's fantasy.

Another coil of nerves found its way into my chest.

They'll be stupid not to want you. I tried to shake the apprehension off and I walked into the company, head held high. I got in, showed my ID to some more security personnel and they directed me to the receptionist's desk.

"Hi", I said brightly to the blonde sitting behind the reception desk. She looked up from her work over her glasses and gave me a bright smile in return.

"Hello. Welcome to Stinson & Co., How may I help you?" she asked in a kind voice "Love your hair, by the way"

Hmm if everyone was this nice, I might get used to working here.

"Uh... My name is Ellenore Wyatt; I actually have an interview for the internship program scheduled for today"

"That's okay", she typed what I assumed was my name into her computer "Yes, Ellenore. You should make your way to the top floor and look for Elena; she'll inform you of what you need to know"

"Okay. Thank you", I nodded and turned, making my way towards the elevators.

"Good luck!" she called out from behind me. I smiled. I would need all I could get.

I got into the elevators and began to mull over some standard interview questions in my head. It was a long elevator ride to the top so some people joined me, but I was too stuck in my own head to notice anyone.

The elevator doors dinged and opened up at the top floor. I got out along with a few people in suits. I looked around, rather than a series of adjoining offices as you would see on other floors, this one had quite a few offices. They had to belong to some top rankers in here.

"Hi", I tapped one of the people hovering around the elevator. He turned to look at me with a look that said he had better things to do "I'm sorry. Please can you direct me to Elena? I was sent up by the receptionist"

"Right. Just go straight forward, she's the PA to Mr Stinson, so you will probably see his label on the door of the office"

"Thank you", I thanked him politely and he walked away in a hurry. I walked straight forward as he said, and sure enough I saw an open door saying 'Office of Mr. Stinson. CEO and Managing Director, Stinson & Co.'

I walked in and saw Elena, or at least her head board said she was Elena. She was this exotic looking Latina with long legs and full wavy hair.

"Hi, Elena right?" I said with a polite smile

She looked up and glared at me with a look that said I had no right to be calling her name.

"Yes?" she sized me up and down with that annoyed glare. She probably decided I wasn't important enough to be nice to, by my look alone. I was dressed in a navy blue pencil skirt, peach coloured top and flats. Not up to her designer standards apparently, but nothing to be looked down on either.

"I'm Ellenore Wyatt. I have an interview for an internship. The receptionist said to meet you?"

"Ah yes. Good ole Rosie can't give anyone any good information around here", she clucked her tongue and typed something into her keyboard. She kept on typing for about two full minutes. I looked at her incredulously. Was this chick for real?

"Umm, excuse me. I'm still here", I told her matter-of-factly

"Your interview is with Mr Stinson. Mr Stinson is in a meeting, you can wait over there till he's done", she pointed at some chairs over by the wall and gave me a saccharine sweet smile

"My interview is with Mr Stinson?" I repeated. My heart began to beat loudly in my chest "I assumed it would be with the personnel manager"

"Ah well the personnel manager is on a baby moon with his wife and Mr Stinson likes to conduct some of these interviews on his own", she explained, not looking away from her computer.

I gulped. This news was not a very welcome development.

She looked up at me from under her false lashes. "Are you still standing here?"

I took the hint my presence was somehow annoying her. I walked over to one of the chairs and sat down. It was definitely better than hanging around Elena with her snarky attitude.

I sat there for about fifteen minutes, rearranging my folder and just thinking in general before some men dressed in suits walked out of Mr Stinson's office, presumably concluded with their meeting. Elena answered the telephone on her desk and signalled to me.

I walked over.

"Mr Stinson will see you now. You can go in", she informed me. I nodded and made my way towards the door leading to his office. I felt my hand tremble a bit as I pushed the door open by the handle and let myself in.

"Miss Wyatt... Come on in. Have a seat", Mr Stinson said looking up at me briefly from some documents he was studying. He looked to be a nice but serious man, in his late forties or early fifties with thinning hair more grey than blonde.

I took the seat opposite him, marvelled at the impeccable design of his office and also the stunning view. This was how it felt to roll with the big fish, I thought.

"Good day Mr Stinson. I must say it's such an honour meeting you, I really admire the work you do", I switched into my business mode.

Mr Stinson set down his documents with a chuckle. "It's okay Miss Wyatt. This isn't an inquisition... You can relax"

I tried to take a deep breath to calm my nerves. Being in this office with him was so intimidating.

"I must say I haven't quite had the time to have a look at your resume. Patterson, our HR manager was the one who received the recommendation about you as well as your resume and he just left for his baby moon yesterday", Mr Stinson explained saying the word baby moon like he thought it was incredibly ridiculous

"That's okay Mr Stinson, I actually have a copy right here", I fumbled in my folder for a bit and pulled out my resume and handed it to him. He accepted it, adjusted his glasses and began perusing through it. I nearly twisted my fingers off my hands in agitation as he silently read through and flipped from page to page.

"Hmm quite impressive Miss Wyatt", he murmured approvingly as he flipped "In the top three in your class, wonderful grades and with a number of your research work featured in books approved by your school"

"Thank you", I replied. Wow, this was already going well.

He got to the last page and paused, his face wrinkling into a frown.

"Exactly how old are you, Miss Wyatt?"

I gulped. Was this going to be a problem? "I'm nineteen; I'll turn twenty in a few months though"

"That's young", he handed me back my resume and I took it with fingers that were starting to tremble again "Have you had any definitive work experience?"

"I have, I..."

"I mean, of this magnitude?"

I shook my head. "Not really"

Mr Stinson leaned back in his chair and looked at me seriously, probably thinking of how to let me down easy.

"That might be a problem Miss Wyatt"

I could almost see my plans I had made around this summer internship crashing all around me. It couldn't end like this.

"Well Mr Stinson, that's why I want this internship, I am willing to learn, I can accept any challenge you throw at me if you give me the chance", I hoped my voice wasn't wavering

"I understand. But I also need you to understand that I run a serious corporation here, any little mistake in my operations could cost me millions of dollars and I'm not overly enthusiastic on the idea of including such a young and inexperienced person such as you into our delicate balance"

I didn't know what to say to that. My mouth felt like it was filled with cotton balls. Mr Stinson's phone rang, breaking the line of our discussion and he looked at it and picked up.

"Yes, son... Yes, I'm aware of our lunch plans... You will have to check if Elena made the reservations" He paused and looked at me. I was busy trying to regain my jumbled up thoughts. I really wanted this and I needed to find myself a new strategy "Yes, I am... I'm not very sure about that, son" He paused, looked at me again and let out a deep breath "That's true. I've heard you. I have to get back to my meeting. I'll see you later"

He ended the call and I immediately started talking. "Sir, I understand your concerns but if you could give me this opportunity I promise..."

He held his hand up, cutting me off. "That's quite alright Miss Wyatt. I've thought about it and your credentials are too good not to give you a shot"

"What? Really?" I broke into a half contained smile wondering what led to his change of mind

"Yes, really", he stood up, buttoning up his suit jacket and I stood up as well "Now, if you'll excuse me I have a lunch to get to"

He led me out of his office and once we were out he stopped me to speak to Elena.

"Elena I'll need you to see the janitor about setting up another desk over there", he gestured at the opposite side of the room where there was a lot of free space. Then he turned to me.

"I've always wanted another personal assistant, Miss Wyatt. Elena has a degree in business admin and doesn't always understand the engineering jargon we speak up here. I trust that you'll be up to the task?"

I nodded. Wait, PA? That's not what I signed up for. He may or may not have noticed the uncertainty in my eyes.

"And in a few weeks if you do well enough, we'll let you visit the labs and factories. You can even try your hand at a few of our operations with supervision. Is that okay Miss Wyatt?"

I smiled and nodded. That was more like it. "Yes, Mr Stinson. And you can call me Ellie"

He gave me a kind smile. "Get your information to Elena; she'll email you an official letter in a few days. You can start on Monday, dress code is business casual. Anything you're comfortable in, really"

Elena rolled her eyes. From her tight pencil skirt and killer heels, they apparently hadn't given her that memo when she started working here.

Mr Stinson glanced at his watch. "Now I'm really running late. Have a nice day, Ellie"

He walked off, leaving me with Elena. I looked at her and even the evil look she gave me could do nothing to dampen my mood.