"We’re going to win the competition!" Liz said.
"Where is this drone company?" Carter asked.
"Alabama. It was started by some ex NASA and Air Force employees."
His computer beeped, and he read the incoming email.
"So we’re supposed to go to this reception thing in a little bit," he reminded them.
Allie and Liz grabbed their bags.
"I hope they have good food," Carter said as they waited for the elevator.
They rode it to the top floor, where there was an event space with a low stage. The whole room overlooked the New York City skyline.
"Pretty different from Les DesChamps," Carter said to Allie.
"Sure is."
Allie looked out over the skyline, but Carter was watching her instead. He liked being around her, he liked that she didn't fawn over him, and he really liked how it felt to be buried inside of her.
Down,he told himself and loaded a plate with food to distract himself from his desire for the tattooed bartender.
Vance and Digby passed by him and gave him fist bumps. He didn't want to have some sort of entourage, but it appeared that he had collected one inadvertently.
They stood around and listened politely while various higher-ups in the company gave speeches and welcomed the new interns.
"And now," Monique said, "for our final speaker, Grant Holbrook is going to talk to you about Holbrook Enterprises."
25
Allie
Allie almost choked on her food when Grant's name was announced. She had hoped she was going to avoid him. She watched Carter's cousin as he stepped onto the stage and pulled the microphone up.
"Good evening, everyone…" As he began his speech, he surveyed the room. Grant's eyes narrowed when he saw her, but he pressed on with his presentation.
Allie could barely concentrate on what he was saying. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She remembered how angry Carter's family was when Jack had returned to the estate with her after the accident. Would Grant make a scene? Would she be kicked out of the internship program? How would she graduate? Allie stomped those worries down. She decided that if she was going to be kicked out, she was going out with a bang. She didn't want any of the Holbrook men to bully her.
"Any questions?" Grant asked, concluding his talk.
Allie raised her hand. Grand nodded in her direction.
"The floor I’m on seems fairly empty," she said. "Usually, that is an indication that there’s something wrong at a company. Do you want to comment on that?"
She saw Grant's eyes widen. Carter clapped his hand over his mouth as he silently laughed next to her.
"Thank you for your question, Allie," Grant said after a moment's pause. "Yes, normally, that would be a bad sign in a company. However, we have other floors that are stuffed to the gills. It varies on a project-by-project basis. Don’t worry. Holbrook Enterprises is doing very well. We recently won another large defense contract, and I know some of you are working on that project. I hope to see great things from you all."
"That was ballsy," Liz said as Grant stepped off the dais and was immediately surrounded by the more ambitious, mostly male interns.
"Stupid MBAs," Carter muttered.
Liz raised an eyebrow.
"No offense to present company," Carter said to Liz with a slight bow.
"None taken," Liz sniffed.
