I step inside the elevator pushing the button for the fourth floor. Like bees, the elevator is buzzing with people. Some talking over the phone, some talking among themselves while others waiting quietly for their floors. As the elevator dings on the fourth floor, I step out along with some other people who pass by me in a hurry to get to their work.

My eyes widen with amazement by the scene in front of. There is a bookshelf in one corner and an antique clock lies on the opposite wall. In the centre of the room lies a big work table which has heaps of charts and stuff. 

I see a man, holding up two pieces of fur and showing them to his co-workers, maybe asking for their opinions. Some people are roaming around with files in one hand while balancing a coffee mug in another. Some are chatting with one another, gossiping about other people's life. The liveliness and the hustle around fills me with energy. 

This is what I had been waiting for. For what I have been working my ass off for so many years. When I entered as a junior in high school, I decided that I wanted to go into Interior designing.

I remember the days when I was in the designing college. The hard work I put in, toiling day and night, juggling between classes and tour and making portfolios for submissions. There were days when I had only a little time to sleep trying to complete my shifts as a barista. 

I always wanted to do my internship here at 'G+B Designing Co'. The one of the biggest interior designing firms here in Los Angeles. Everybody at home said I am not going to make it. That I am not cut out for the real working world but I did.

Suddenly, I feel a shove from behind making me just lose my balance. Keyword being 'just'. It would have been so embarrassing to trip on your first day. But my phone wasn't so lucky in this regard as it fell on the wooden floor making a thud sound. 

"Oh My God. I am so sorry. I didn't mean that," I hear a shrill feminine voice from behind me.

I bend down to pick up my phone. Please, please don't be broken! I can't afford a new one right now. I pick it up to see that there is not a single crack on it. Thank God!

"Is it alright? Please tell me it is not broken. I would feel awful for breaking someone's cell phone on my very first day."

I turn around to see a blonde haired girl in front of me. She is dressed in a black knee length dress with a bag in her hand.

"Hey, I am Grace Handerson. New intern here. Is it okay?" She says extending her hand to me. Her eyes flickering towards the phone in my hand and all the while biting her bottom lip waiting for me to answer.

"Yeah, it survived," I tell her chuckling. She takes a deep breath feeling relieved for not murdering my phone. 

"Hello, Ariella Campbell. I am also a new intern," I give her a smile, now shaking her hand.

We walk together at the reception desk talking about random stuff like about the college we went to, families etc. I learned that she completed her designing course in New York where she lived with her parents. She has a younger sister who is still in high school. She applied to various companies for an internship and was thrilled when she was selected here. 

I realise that she likes to talk a lot. Throughout our conversation, she was the one talking. I spoke occasionally, only to answer the questions she asked. While her lips didn't stop moving, stopping only when we reached the desk.

"Excuse me," Grace calls to the middle aged woman behind the reception desk who was typing something on her computer. She stopped and looked at us. 

"Yes, how can I help you?" She asked, giving us a pearly smile.

"Good morning. We are here for the internship program," Grace tells the lady.

"Okay, can I please have your names? And any of your ID with the internship acceptance letter." 

"Grace Rose Handerson. Here," She says, handing her college ID and letter.

I take out the envelope and my driving license as the ID from my bag. Unfolding the acceptance letter, I stare at it once again. I have already seen and read it over fifty times. But seeing it again gives me a sense of accomplishment.

"Ariella Reese Campbell," I tell the receptionist my name as I hand her what she asked. 

I peek over to see a photo of a younger version of the lady, with her name Emma written on an office ID hanging from her neck. She inputs some information and a screen pops up in front of her with a list of 3 other names on it beside mine under the G+B Co. DESIGNING INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. 

"Welcome to the family," Emma says smiling, which I find as a positive and beautiful start to this journey here. She hands us a similar looking office ID with our names and photographs along with Intern written in bold capital letters. 

"You can wait here in the waiting room along with others. I will inform someone that all the interns are here and they will be here soon," She tells us.

"Thank you Emma," I say. Her eyes widens with surprise as if this was the first time that someone has thanked her in a while. Her face breaks into a wide smile as she nods.

Grace and I make our way inside the little room just about the corner putting the ID around our neck. As we reach inside, we see two boys already inside talking with each other. They quickly stand up smoothening the wrinkles on their shirt.

"Relax, we are the same as you," Grace tells them. Their straightened posture seems to relax as she introduces herself and shakes their hand.

"Hello, my name is Ariella," I do a quick wave towards them. 

They both are dressed in formal clothing. A buttoned shirt, tie and pants with formal shoes. One of them is tall, moderately built with blue eyes and black hair who introduces himself as Ryan Brown. 

The other guy is also tall but falls a little shorter than Ryan. He has grey eyes with black wavy hairs.

"Hey, my name is Asher," He says, extending his hand towards me, which I shake gladly.

"Pleasure to meet you," He says, smiling. Just at that very moment, the door opens revealing a tall lean man, dressed in a shirt and jeans. Following behind him is another short guy with a tablet in his hand.

"Good morning. My name is Vince Morgan, Head of Advertising and Public Relations. Congratulations to all four of you for getting the internship program here at G+B Designing Co. Here, we welcome young budding designers and help them to see beside those boring college assignments. What working in the actual real world means. You four made out from about I guess hundreds of applications. So, well done!" He says like he had been repeating the same words for years, over and over again. However, as far as I have learnt G+B started its internship program only 3 years before.

"Now, let's get down to work. First thing first, Always be on time, ALWAYS. Gaby and Bruce are rigid on that thing. Second, just know the basic ethics and etiquettes and the rest is fine. Nothing is rigid. You guys are here to learn and work. You will be assigned to different mentors to work under them. The mentors have chosen you themselves after seeing your portfolios. So, basically the mentor you are paired with will help exploring you. Also, you can always see around the office at various projects and stuff people are working on. Ask them politely. Don't be too pressing. Because we also have time constraints and deadlines. But everyone here will teach you something," We all nod in understanding.

"Don't mind too much when people ask you to fetch coffee or ask you to do some petty work. You are interns after all. We all have been there and done that. And believe me, it gives a lesson, if you figure it out. And this year, Gaby and Bruce have decided that after six months, two out of you will have an opportunity to officially be a part of G+B Co. Details of this will be given afterwards. Now, let me tell you your mentors," He says, taking the tablet from the hands of the guy beside him.

I feel my heartbeat quicken. When I was in college, I followed works of various designers. Whenever and wherever possible, I would try going to those places which they designed. Clicking pictures, taking notes of how they played with lights, shadows, placement of furnitures and everything. And over time, I found more and more influenced by Gaby and Bruce's works. Every assignment I did in college had a hint of them. I always wanted to be here. And now that I am standing here, I am feeling more greedy. I want to work under none other than them. Please God! 

"Ariella Reese Campbell, you will be mentored by...." My heart rate quickens and I shut my eyes tightly waiting for the response.

"....none other than Gaby. Next, we have Grace," Just as those words left Vince's mouth, I felt ecstasy run through my whole body, his voice disappearing into the background. I can't believe my ears. I feel like a teen girl fangirling over a boyband.

"Henry will show you to your desks. So, Everybody Ready!!! Any questions?" Vince's voice booms with excitement, bringing me back from my happy trance. Everybody shakes their head as a no.

"Good." 

He begins to walk out of the door when he suddenly stops and turns around saying, "Also, You don't need to dress so over formal unless you are attending a meeting. But just don't come wearing a t-shirt and always keep a backup here at the office's closet," And then he leaves.

Office's closet? What even is that? We all look at each other as if he just spoke some alien language. 

Henry, Vince's assistant, showed us around the office. He told us that the whole building has been divided between two companies. The ground three floors belong to some business publishing company while the above four floors belong to 'G+B Design Co.'

We follow him trying to remember all the places he is showing us, the coffee machine, canteen, meeting room, conference room, library, photocopy machine and finally, the office's closet. 

It was a room with lockers like we have in highschool, except they have more vertical space. It is meant for keeping a formal outfit, for cases of emergency. Henry showed us our respective 'closet' and gave us the combination. I type it in my phone, so I don't forget it.

There were two most exciting places for me in the whole office, one of them being the library. It is full of books about designing. Along with archives of work done by the company ranging from the first design draft of the project to the final draft. 

The second place is called 'The Design Enclave'. The room has a collection of various kinds of materials with mini models of various furniture and artistic pieces. It has paint templates, wallpaper samples, tiles etc. Everything you could possibly need!

He told us that anybody who finds something interesting that one thinks could somehow be incorporated into designing, could get a little sample or photograph in the office and stash it in that room with details of where they found it. So, if anybody who decides to use it as an inspiration can go and do their own research starting from that place. I found this such a creative idea. One can learn so much here. 

"G+B Design Co. not only produces great interior designs but also helps their employees to learn and grow," Henry says before leading us to our desks.

I, Ariella Reese Campbell, am here to explore, experiment, learn and experience all that I can. I will try to make full use of this opportunity and at the end of these six months, I want to be the one of those two who end up working here at 'G+B' and absolutely nothing can get in my way. 

Author's note : Hey there! I used to go by username- thecrazyreader08. But now I changed it to @subconsicous_bitch.

This is my second work here. And I hope this turns out to be good. I really worked hard on it. Please do read, vote and comment. It would mean a lot. Tell me your views. Suggestions and criticism are welcomed. 

It would be great if you could check out my already published book 'Serendipity'. That is my first work ever, a little cliche and badly written,if I say so. But it would mean a lot.

Please give this story a chance. Happy reading <3