Allie introduced herself then asked, "So what are you here for?"
"Risk management in logistics and operations," Liz said. "I used to work as a consultant, but then I decided to do my MBA at Stanford, and now I’m back on the East Coast."
"I see," Allie said. She saw that she was not in the same league as Liz and these people—that was clear.
"What are you here for?" the young woman said, following her to a table.
"Auditing and risk management," Allie replied.
Maybe you could see if she needs a roommate,Allie thought to herself.
"Where are you living?" Allie asked. "It sure is hard to find a place to live in this city."
"Oh," the girl said with a self-conscious laugh, "my family has a condo nearby, so I’m just living there."
"That’s convenient," Allie replied, hoping her envy didn't show on her face. She almost wanted to cry, thinking about where she was living.
"How about you?" Liz asked.
"Downtown," Allie said vaguely. "There’s not a lot of parking there, though."
"You brought your car?" Liz asked.
"Yeah, I don’t know what I’m going to do with it," Allie said. "I guess I could sell it."
"You can’t leave it with your parents?"
"No," she said. Allie didn’t want to go into why she had no contact with her mother.
A woman came into the room and stood in front of the group of interns.
More people had trickled in as Allie talked to Liz, and it looked as if there were over a hundred people in the room.
"Welcome to the Holbrook Enterprises internship program," the woman said. "I’m Monique, and if you follow me to the auditorium, we'll start the orientation."
She briefly wondered if she would see Carter but squashed down the desire and followed Liz to the auditorium.
22
Carter
Monday morning arrived too soon for Carter. He woke up and tried to pep talk himself into having a better attitude about the internship. Allie usually sent him a picture of Margot, but he hadn't had a message from her in a few days. He checked his phone, but there was nothing.
After dressing in his new suit, Carter stepped into the elevator with Grant and Kate. Kate was looking up at Grant adoringly. They were so in love. He was jealous of their relationship and how perfect they seemed together.
"Find a room," he said as Grant kissed his wife.
His cousin smirked at him. "Jealous?"
"I really need to find my own place."
"You know your parents don’t want you on your own right now," Grant told him. "You need to have someone to watch over you."
"Why? I’m an adult," Carter complained.
"Just in case," Kate said.
"In case of what?" Carter asked, daring them to say it. "Just because Grant was borderline suicidal when he came back from the military doesn’t mean I am."
