* song that goes with the chapter. I'm Just a Girl - No Doubt

Screeching against the floor, Ryan's chair was the only sound in the room. Mr Leone laughed as he looked at his daughter, who was getting red in the face. Everyone respected Alexandra around here; she was the CEO's daughter and won many of her cases, and it didn't help that she was a bit scary, and being 6'0 with heels on didn't help. He was as proud as any father could be. Lorenzo knew that after he passed away, he could leave it all to Alexandra, and everything would be okay, but he wanted love for her; he wanted someone to take her head out of the game for a while and feel the love that he felt when he met his late wife and Alexandra's mother.

Alexandra had a boyfriend, but he was a good-for-nothing model, and Lorenzo knew he cheated on her when he was away on business. Yeah, he made money now, but what about when looks fade? Where is he going to be in 20 years? Washed up with nothing to offer her, and Lorenzo didn't want that. 

"You didn't tell me I was supposed to stand up," Ryan whispered to Lorenzo, winking at her.

 "It's your first day; you have to learn the ropes just like everyone else did," he said as he patted her back. 

"You may all sit," Alexandra said as she motioned to everyone's seat.

 Ryan swore she had just stepped into the military the way everyone sat down at once.

 "If you didn't notice, we have a new intern here named Ryan. From what I've heard, she's best in her class, but we will see about that, won't we?" She said that, as she studied Ryan, having not met the girl yet, she was slightly intrigued by her dad's willingness to divulge in conversation with the new girl. He never really talked to anyone at the office unless it was about business, but she could tell their conversation was light-hearted.

As Alexandra continued talking, Ryan got to study the woman before her. Flawless olive skin that was inherited from being Italian, Perfectly manicured nails, a suit that was meticulously tailored to her long, slender body, and a Chopard watch that sat on her wrist. She was the picture of perfection, but her voice was stern, her jaw was sharp, and it wasn't a coincidence that her last name meant lion in Italian; it was very evident in how she carried herself. The rest of the meeting was about new cases, what we can do to make the clients feel comfortable, and a reminder that everyone should use their company-paid Rosetta Stone in their downtime to at least greet their clients in their native language.

"Ryan, I would like to see you in my office at the end of the day. Sophia, please make sure you show her to her desk and give her the lay of the land so she doesn't fuck up." And with that, Alexandra walked out of the conference room, hair swaying side to side, almost seeming dramatic.

 A girl with shoulder-length black hair walked to Ryan with a big smile. 

"Hi, my name is Sophia, and I'll be training you today. I hope you're ready because it's for one day and one day only." Sophia seemed sweet, trying to be hard like Alexandra, but her voice was squeaky and nerdy. 

Ryan followed her through the halls, and she was met with a singular desk in front of Mr. Lorenzo's office. It was small, but it had the latest iMac computer and a nice desk chair, so there wasn't anything she could complain about. 

Sophia showed her how to access client folders, which books to use for research and fact investigation, and a list of all cases everyone is working on so I can contact clients if more information is needed.

 "We all take lunch at noon every day. A cafe downstairs is free for all workers, but you can always get something outside if that's what you prefer." Sophia said with a smile. "Other than that, you are pretty much all set. If you have any questions, you can always ask me, Nick, or Antonni, and we will help!" 

The other two people she pointed at were sitting at desks a few feet from mine. Nick looked like he had walked out of Tommy Hilfiger's summer prep collection, and Antonni was an older gentleman, kind of chubby with a balding coif. They both looked up and waved when Sophia mentioned their names.

Most of Ryan's day consisted of sending emails to clients, making phone calls, and answering emails that were forwarded to her. She decided not to eat lunch and explore the office, getting the lay of the land on her own. She would only be here two days out of the week, but she wanted to feel comfortable in the workplace. Ryan always believed in work first and friends later, but when she met Emma during her first year at Yale, she helped her get out of her shell a little bit. They would go to frat parties and hang out with people from school, but Ryan knew when to limit herself; she had to succeed for her family. She wanted to make them proud and believe that coming to this country to give their kids a better life was not a waste, but Ryan was also doing this for her community. There were so many undocumented people back home in the Bronx that Ryan felt the need to help. Her community meant so much to her, and she couldn't give up, no matter how much she wanted to sometimes. Going to college wasn't just about her; it was about everyone she knew. 

When the day was almost over, Ryan organized her desk and made little post-it notes on some documents she would give her coworkers so they could finish them up the next day. Off to see the boss, Ryan thought as she placed the documents on Sophia's desk. Ryan figured she was being watched all day due to being the new person in the office, and half expected to be yelled at once she got to the boss's office for not getting to those documents, but it was her first day, so could she be mad?

Ryan reached Alexandra's office, gently knocking on the door. 

"Come in." She heard her voice say from the other side of the door, and Ryan did just that. 

Alexandra's office was just as pristine as the suit she wore. Everything was nice and organized, and she even had some pictures on her desk of what seemed to be her mom and dad on their wedding day. Alexandra was sitting at her desk, hands folded over her chest and an unamused expression. 

"So. How was your first day? Any trouble?" She asked as she leaned back. 

Her stare sent shivers up Ryan's spine, making her slightly shudder. 

"No, ma'am, everything was good," Ryan said as she looked around the office, trying to avoid eye contact. 

"Please don't call me ma'am; I'm not old," Alexandra said with a smirk. 

Ryan nodded quickly. "Yes, ma- I mean boss." 

Alexandra rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Boss is fine, I guess. I hope you enjoy it here; my dad has been talking nonstop about the girl from Yale who was coming today." 

Ryan couldn't help but blush. She didn't know that she was such a commodity in the workplace.

 "He read your application for the position and was impressed by your story. Make the six months that you are here worth your time. Ask questions and take notes. We are at your beck and call with anything you need." And for the first time that day, Ryan saw Alexandra smile, and it wasn't fake; it was genuine and made Ryan feel more at ease.

"Thank you for giving me a chance. It means a lot to me, and I promise I won't let you down, boss." Ryan said as she sat up straight, excited knowing Mr. Leone had spoken so highly of her to his daughter. 

"Well, I'll see you Friday, correct? You're only here two days a week, right?" Alexandra asked as she looked at the time on her watch. 

"no boss, three days a week. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday." Alexandra nodded, seeming distracted for a second, and then looked back at Ryan. 

"Well, I don't know your living situation, but if you ever need a quiet space to study, feel free to come into the office and use one of the conference rooms; plenty of books are here to help you with exams. As long as you have your badge, you can access the building no matter the time of day or night, but I have to go, so I will see you Wednesday."

 With that, they stood up and headed for the door. Ryan walked out first, and Ms. Leone followed her. 

***
Ryan got home at about 9 p.m. that night. Thankfully, she didn't have an exam the next day, so she dropped her bag, changed into sweats and a hoodie, made dinner, and called her mom. 

Bueno. Her mom said as she answered the phone. 

Hola mami, cómo estás?  
(Hi Mom, how are you)

Estoy bien mi amor, ¿cómo estuvo tu primer día de trabajo? ¿Fueron agradables?
(I'm doing good, my love. How was your first day at work? Were they pleasant?)

Ryan's mom always had a concerned tone of voice. She knew her daughter was strong, but Ryan took that as a sign of a concerned mother wanting her daughter to be alright. 

Sí,mamá, todos fueron muy amables, ¡la oficina era hermosa! Ojalá pudieras haberlo visto. 
(Yes, Mom, everyone was very friendly. The office was beautiful! I wish you could have seen it.)

Ryan talked to her mom for about an hour before it was time to go to bed. She only had two classes tomorrow, but they were long lectures and needed rest.