Henry showed us to our desk and then disappeared telling us that Vince had called him to prepare for a meeting.

I look around my empty mahogany wood desk, trying to think of all the ways that I could jazz it up. There is a cork board in front of me which I plan to fill with motivational quotes to keep me going. All sorts of ideas come rushing to my mind.

The only thing on the desk is a laptop with a sticker of 'G+B'. Henry told us that an email will pop up when the mentors will need us. I stare at the empty screen wishing to receive the said email. 

In front of me, there is Grace's desk who squeals in excitement, "I just got my mail from William, asking me to come to his office," I wish her a best of luck as she picks up a notepad along with a pen and walks away. 

William Westfield is the executive designer and has designed homes for various models and celebrities. He is known best for incorporating rustic vibes into the interiors.

I look to my left to see Ryan and Asher talking casually about something which I can't seem to hear. 

Ryan is being mentored by Morgan Sykes, another executive designer who is best known for interior designing corporate offices while Asher has been honoured like me to have an opportunity to be an intern of Bruce.

Gaby and Bruce Carmichael, are one of the influential power couples in business. They get contracts and assignments from all over the world for designing people's homes, offices etc. Not only that but they believe in philanthropy and hold many charity events during the year.

I feel my phone vibrating in my skirt pocket. I pull it out to see a text. 

Best of luck

- Dad and Mom

My fingers scan over the word mom, tears threatening to spill. I text back a quick reply telling him, I will call at night. I place it on the desk beside my bag and take a look around the room. My eyes scan the people around.

Sure, we four look way too formal just like Vince said. Everybody here is dressed casually in jeans or dresses while I am sitting here in a pencil skirt.

I glance at the boys only to learn that the tie on their necks is gone and now they look more blended with everybody else at the office. I see Ryan also leaving with a folder, supposedly to Morgan.

I take a glimpse at Asher, who also seems to be staring at the laptop screen in front of him waiting for his mail. He tilts his head towards me, catching me looking at him. I turn my face away, fidgeting with the pen, feeling embarrassed to have been caught staring.

"Haven't got mail too?" He asks. I nod my head in response. He moves his chair closer to me.

"Let me introduce myself properly. Asher Bradfort. Graduated from Winston Designing school, Burkley. I live with my elder brother here in LA who is a photographer. He is the one who helped me with all the portfolios. My parents live back in Burkley with our dog Donald," He chuckles. 

"Is this your way of trying to start a conversation with me and then escalate it to flirting?" I ask him in an amused tone.

"Good heavens! I am just being polite and friendly. Women these days, just assume that every guy is trying to hit on them. What is wrong in this world!" He responds, shaking his head dramatically. A small laugh escapes my lips at his terrible over-acting.

"Sorry. I am Ariella Campbell. I Graduated from Woodshire Interior Designing College, Los Angeles. I have an elder sister who is married and lives in Australia. I am originally from Portland, Oregon."

"Well, that's nice. Have you ever been to Australia?" 

"Oh no, I never got a chance. First in high school, trying to maintain my GPA, so to get a scholarship. Then in college studying and doing assignments. Between all those, doing a part time job to help myself. But I will someday. She tells me there are beautiful beaches," I remember the photo of her vacation, she sent me a while ago.

"That's good to hear." He moves a hand through his hair, smiling at me. 

I take a closer look at him. He has a narrow face with freckles around his nose and cheeks. His round grey eyes are covered with full eyelashes that make me envious. He has a wide cheeky smile and one can see a faint dimple making its way. He doesn't look like the brooding Greek god kind of guy that you read about in chick-flick novels. But he is definitely attractive with some striking features.

A notification sound brings me out of my observing state and I feel like I might have been staring at him for too long. I could see an amusing grin plastered on his face. He obviously caught me staring AGAIN!

I turn to look at the screen in front of me with a mail pop-up asking me to report into Gaby's office.

I excitedly pick the notebook up, I got for myself along with a pen, strolling towards her office. 

"Wait," I turn around to see Asher jogging towards me. 

"I have to go to the same place," He informs me and together we walk to our destination. I am nervous as hell that I might screw-up but my determination to achieve my goal is currently far more than my ability to screw it up. I think!

He knocks on the translucent glass door, pushing the door open when we hear a thick voice telling us to come in. Gesturing me to go in first, he follows behind me into the cabin.

In front of us on the long desks, sits Bruce and Gaby with their intimidating personalities. Bruce is wearing a navy blue suit with a red tie while his black hair are sleeked back neatly. Gaby who is typing something on her computer sits on his side, wearing a grey pantsuit along with a white button shirt inside. Her shoulder length blonde hair tied up in a sleek ponytail.

"Welcome to 'G+B Design Corporation' , " Gaby says looking up from her screen. I take a glimpse of her perfectly sculpted face with her makeup done to perfection. Her nude coloured lips turning up into a smile.

"Ariella and Asher. Right?" Bruce asks, confirming our name. We both nod a yes in response.

"Asher, could you go grab us both coffees and chicken sandwiches from the canteen. Tell them we ordered it. Chef will make it to our liking," He speaks and with that Asher is out of the door.

"So, Miss Ariella. Tell me why did you take up interior designing?" Gaby crosses her arms over her chest. She looks at me waiting for me to speak.

"Well," I take a deep breath before continuing. "When I was little and saw all those television shows and movies, I was fascinated by the lavish and luxurious houses they showed. Everything would be so polished and so well coordinated. Full of colours and artistic pieces.... And then I would look around my own house. White plain walls, just the necessary furniture, no fun or colour. We have decent sized houses but yet there was always cluttering. My mind always imagined what it would feel like to have our house look like those in the televisions."

"As I grew older, I came to know that there exists a field of work that allows me to pursue my passion. Each day wouldn't feel like a monotonous nine to five job because I would be doing what I love. I started studying about it. Exploring and searching through the internet. I would occasionally try to decorate around the house, doing DIY stuff. Arranging through shelves and cabinets in free time." I say, shifting from one foot to another.

"When I was in High school, one time I tried redecorating rooms of people living in old-age homes for summer. When I would show them their rooms afterwards, there were smiles on their face. Some hugged me affectionately. Some were excited to see the changed surroundings. And some just sounded like a kid on a Christmas morning. It just made me feel elated. That's what made me sure that I am meant to do this."

"And I feel thrilled to be here. I would have never thought that I would get this opportunity. I stared at my acceptance letter for God knows how many times that I even know the lines by heart now," There is a knock on the door and Asher comes with coffee mugs and sandwiches. I realise I may have started to rant but Asher's timing saved me from embarrassing myself, thankfully.

"Sorry." I mumble sheepishly, looking down at my feets.

"Mr. Asher, why did you take up interior designing?" Bruce repeats the same question to him, who placed the food on the table.

"I was always the creative one in my family. Thanks to the genes inherited from my mother. She always wanted to be an interior designer. But her dream wasn't able to get fulfilled. She loves decorating around our small home and I was influenced by seeing her. That sounds a little girly for me but I don't mind. She was so happy when she came to know that I wanted to pursue designing. And seeing her like that makes me happy." 

As I listen to him, telling his story, I notice how his lips turn into a goofy smile and his eyes shine with joy. I can't help but admire his thoughtful action. 

"You both remind me of someone," Gaby takes in her husband's hand in hers and then looks at us with a cheerful smile.

Before any of us could ask what she means by that, Bruce stands up from his chair and speaks.

"Well, enough with the chit-chat. We have a meeting in an hour. Rosie send any one of them the mail of the presentation and our schedule. We need twelve printouts of the presentation Ariella and Asher."

"Be present in the conference room in about fifty minutes. Now get going. Quick," Bruce says giving a dismissive wave with his hand and we bolt out of the door. 

"And Asher," He stops in his tracks and peeks inside. "Come to the meeting wearing a tie," Bruce says, now sipping on his coffee.

"Yes, sir!" And with that, we rush back to our desk. 

"Well, I guess that went well," I whisper to myself but Asher seems to have heard it.

"Yeah. Let's just get the printing done. And while that happens, we can also grab a coffee," He says, smiling cheekily.

I wait for the printouts standing beside the machine, while Asher brings us both a coffee along with a Nutella croissant. I thought of refusing it, remembering my workout this morning but then just decided against it. A little Nutella doesn't hurt anybody. Right! 

"This is delicious," I say between the bites, to which he gives me a lopsided grin.

We staple the pages together, arranging them neatly into a stack and walk towards the meeting room. All this while Asher keeps adjusting his tie while I carry the heavy stack in my hands. How gentlemanly!

We enter the room to find Gaby and Bruce already in there with their assistant Rosie. 

"Keep a copy in front of the chairs five here and four this side and hand one to us," Gaby tells her and then turns back to the projector. 

Asher takes the bundle from me. My hand hurts now. I start putting the files in front of the chairs as instructed. Upon reaching her, I hand one to Bruce. 

"And sir, these two?" I ask.

"These are for you both," He informs me in a matter-of-fact tone.

"You both stand where you can easily see the screen. Rosie asks Vince to accompany our clients here. Here goes nothing," He closes the button of his coat and looks back at his wife while me and Asher decide to stand behind the chairs, near the door with our pens ready.

A couple of minutes later, the door opens and Morgan and William enter inside. Following them behind are Grace and Ryan who join us.

"We hope we are not late," Morgan says, settling in one of the chairs.

"Just in time, for the show to begin!" Gaby chuckles.

My eyes land on Gaby talking to people in the room. I am reminded of my goal. The job here at the end of this internship. That has to be mine and I have to work for it. I want to be like her one day. A strong influential woman, matching shoulders with his man. I am no damsel in distress to be saved by someone. I will make myself a diamond on my own and shine bright.