Chapter 26 Cornering The Newbie
The other interns in the office were stunned when they saw Christina’s designs posted on the announcement board. At first, their surprise was genuine, but it quickly shifted to jealousy. One of the designers, curious, approached to take a closer look. They found Christina’s work both creative and appealing, especially to a younger audience, though it didn’t entirely align with the company’s established style. Still, the quality of the designs exceeded expectations for a rookie.
Despite the clear skill in her work, Christina received no applause. Instead, she felt the weight of several eyes on her—meaningful looks from some of her colleagues. It was no surprise to her that having her design displayed on the noticeboard by Gina would stir up trouble. In a competitive environment like this, standing out was a double-edged sword. Like the bird that pokes its head out first, it became the target.
As the other interns viewed her as their primary competition, the air was thick with silent rivalry.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel, surprisingly, gave Christina space during her first week. Recognizing the hectic schedule of her internship, he refrained from interrupting her work, leaving her to focus entirely on settling in.
One morning, Christina was rushing to the elevator, a carton of milk in hand, nearly running late. She needed to catch the elevator to avoid being marked tardy.
“Wait up!” she called, as she sprinted toward the elevator. But despite her cry, the door was already closing, and one of the female interns inside hit the “close” button, leaving her behind.
Christina’s footsteps slowed in disappointment. The smug look on the woman’s face stung, as if Christina had been deliberately ostracized. She remembered the strict rules of Team A—anyone who showed up late twice would miss out on bonuses. She reluctantly took a sip of the milk, mentally preparing herself for the consequences.
But then, just as the elevator door was about to shut, it suddenly reopened.
“What are you waiting for?” a man’s voice asked, his eyebrows slightly arched.
The man who had opened the door was impeccably dressed in a sharp suit, his tall build exuding an air of authority and grace that momentarily captivated Christina. However, she quickly regained her composure and stepped inside, grateful for the chance to make it to work on time. “Thank you!” she managed, her voice tinged with relief.
The man simply glanced at her ID tag before responding with a curt grunt.
Curious, Christina stole a glance at his own ID, which read “Yosef Gunther—Leader of Team B.” The name was instantly recognizable. Christina had heard of him even back in school, as he had won several prestigious international awards. Never in a million years had she imagined running into someone she admired so much—let alone working for the same company.
Her heart raced as she took in his features. Yosef had shoulder-length hair and upturned eyes that were nothing short of enchanting. His high nose bridge and strong jawline gave him an almost ethereal quality. At six feet tall, he was a model-like figure, effortlessly commanding attention in any room.
The elevator ride was short, and their brief interaction was over as quickly as it began. Christina left the elevator with a smile, her mind still buzzing from the encounter. She arrived at her desk just in time to clock in.
However, the rest of the day wasn’t as smooth. When Christina arrived at her office, she was greeted by a nasty surprise—her desk was soaked, and the papers she had printed out were drenched in water. It was clear that someone had deliberately knocked over her cup.
Fuming, she scanned the room, locking eyes with her colleagues. “Who knocked over my cup?” she demanded, her voice sharp with anger.
The room fell silent as everyone looked up, but no one said a word. Behind the silence, Christina could feel the smug satisfaction of her colleagues who were secretly pleased to see her so flustered.
As expected, no one admitted to the prank. But Christina wasn’t interested in pointing fingers. She simply wanted to make it clear that this kind of behavior would not be tolerated. “If this happens again, I’ll call security,” she warned.
Her words echoed through the office. Everyone froze, surprised by the boldness of the usually quiet newcomer. Most interns, when faced with such challenges, would have endured the mistreatment in silence, but Christina was different. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself, and it showed.
After the incident, Christina retreated to the pantry to collect herself before returning to work. As the day drew to a close, Jade Salucci, the office assistant, approached her.
“They need help cleaning the top floor,” Jade said with a pointed smile. “You’re going to help with that. It’ll teach you a lesson about arrogance.”
Christina, sensing Jade’s intention to make her life more difficult, remained calm. “I’m an intern designer, not a cleaner,” she replied coolly, refusing to be intimidated.
Jade, experienced in putting rookies in their place, shot back, “You don’t have any work right now. Are you suggesting we should bother the senior designers with cleaning duties?” She then added, “If you don’t comply, I’ll file a complaint.”
Christina knew that a complaint against her could harm her future prospects at the company, so she reluctantly agreed. “Fine,” she said, walking toward the cleaning supplies.
She took the elevator up to the top floor, where the CEO’s office was. Using the access card given to her by the cleaning staff, she entered the pristine office. The CEO, as usual, was not present, leaving the room cold and empty. Christina wiped down the counters and dusted the furniture, finding the office to be impeccably clean but eerily quiet.
As she was working, she heard footsteps approaching. The first man to enter the room was Zachary Sacchetti, a man dressed in a striking red velvet suit. His fashion-forward outfit made him stand out, and his presence radiated confidence. His ash-grey hair and gold accessories gave him an almost regal air. He set down a business performance report on the table, saying with a grin, “I’ve already exceeded my target by fifty percent in just half a month.”
Nathaniel, sitting across from him with his legs casually crossed, gave him a subtle smile. “You do well when you put your energy into work instead of distractions,” he quipped.
Laughter followed from Ian Zimmerman, who sat next to Nathaniel. “Maybe he has some problems in other areas, which is why he’s focusing on work so much.”
Zachary, unfazed by the teasing, responded with a wry grin, “I’m just a little lost right now—not seeing anyone interesting.”
He turned to Nathaniel and added with a playful smirk, “Did you come to the office today because the company invited a few models, including Xandra, for the anniversary celebration? Are you here to meet her?”
At the mention of Nathaniel’s name, Christina, who had been dusting off the cupboard, jolted in surprise. The shock caused her to accidentally knock over a crystal ball nearby.
Thump!
The noise echoed through the room as the men continued to chat, oblivious to the startled Christina hidden in the corner.