The alarm blared at 6:00 a.m., sharp and unrelenting. I groaned, slapping at the nightstand until my hand found the offending device and silenced it. The room was still dark, the heavy curtains blocking out the early morning light. I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, the faint outline of the chandelier above me barely visible in the gloom.  

“Another day,” I muttered to myself, swinging my legs over the side of the bed.  

The mansion was quiet at this hour, the kind of quiet that felt almost oppressive. My footsteps echoed as I padded across the marble floor to the bathroom. The mirror greeted me with a reflection I barely recognised dark circles under my eyes, hair a mess, and a faint stubble that I hadn’t bothered to shave. I splashed cold water on my face, trying to shake off the lingering fog of sleep.  

“Ethan!” My mother’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and commanding. “You’re going to be late!”  

“I’m up, I’m up!” I called back, though I doubted she could hear me from the other side of the house.  I grabbed a towel and headed back to my room, the faint scent of jasmine from the garden wafting through the open window. The mansion was too big for just the three of us, my parents and me. It always had been. But my father insisted on it. “Appearances matter,” he’d say, as if the size of our house could somehow compensate for the emptiness inside it. I dressed quickly, pulling on the crisp white shirt and tailored suit my mother had laid out for me the night before. “First impressions are everything,” she’d said, her tone leaving no room for argument.  Downstairs, the dining room was bathed in golden light, the chandelier casting a warm glow over the long mahogany table. My father sat at the head, his nose buried in the morning paper, a cup of coffee steaming beside him. My mother was at the other end, sipping tea and scrolling through her tablet.  

“Morning,” I said, sliding into my usual seat.  

“Good morning, Ethan,” my mother replied, not looking up. “Did you sleep well?”  

“Not really,” I admitted, reaching for the carafe of orange juice.  “Nerves?” my father asked, finally lowering the paper. His sharp blue eyes bore into mine, and I felt the familiar weight of his expectations pressing down on me.  

“A little,” I said, shrugging. “It’s my first day. I don’t want to mess it up.”  

“You won’t,” he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “Just remember what I told you. Keep your head down, work hard, and don’t draw attention to yourself.”  

“Yes, sir,” I said, nodding.  

My mother sighed, setting her tablet down. “Honestly, Ethan, I don’t know why you insisted on taking this internship. You could have stayed here, worked with your father”  

“I want to do this on my own,” I interrupted, my voice firmer than I intended. “I need to prove I can make it without the family name.” 

My father raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Good. That’s the kind of attitude that will take you far.”   I finished my breakfast in silence, the clink of silverware against china the only sound in the room. When I stood to leave, my mother reached out and squeezed my hand.  

“Good luck, sweetheart,” she said, her voice softening. “You’ll do great.”  

“Thanks, Mom,” I said, forcing a smile.  

The drive to the office was uneventful, the city slowly coming to life around me. I parked in the underground garage and took the elevator up to the lobby, my heart pounding in my chest. The building was sleek and modern, all glass and steel, a stark contrast to the old-world opulence of the mansion.   The receptionist greeted me with a smile. “Ethan, right? Welcome to your first day. I’ll let Mr. Carter know you’re here.”  

“Thanks,” I said, trying to sound confident.  

A few minutes later, a tall man in his late thirties approached me, his hand outstretched. “Ethan, I’m Daniel Carter. I’ll be your supervisor during your internship. Welcome to the team.”  

“Thank you, Mr. Carter,” I said, shaking his hand.  

“Call me Daniel,” he said with a grin. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”  

As we walked through the office, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with apprehension. This was it my chance to prove myself, to step out of my family’s shadow and make a name for myself.  But as I glanced out the window at the city skyline, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered, *What if I’m not ready?*  

Daniel led me to a conference room where a group of young people, around my age, were seated around a large table. They looked up as we entered, their expressions a mix of curiosity and nervousness.  “Everyone, this is Ethan,” Daniel said, gesturing to me. “He’ll be joining you as part of this year’s internship program. Ethan, why don’t you take a seat?”  

I nodded and slid into an empty chair, offering a small smile to the group. There were five other interns: a girl with curly brown hair and glasses, a guy with a buzz cut and a confident smirk, a quiet-looking girl with a notebook already open in front of her, a tall guy with a friendly smile, and another girl with sharp features and an air of determination.  

“Alright,” Daniel said, clapping his hands together. “Let’s go around the table and introduce ourselves. Name, school, and why you’re here.”  

The curly-haired girl went first. “I’m Mia, from State University. I’m here because I want to learn how to make a real impact in the marketing world.”  The guy with the buzz cut leaned back in his chair. “I’m Jake, from Westwood College. I’m here to network and get my foot in the door.”  

The quiet girl spoke softly. “I’m Sarah, from Greenfield University. I’m here to gain experience and improve my skills.”  The tall guy grinned. “I’m Ryan, from City College. I’m here because I love a challenge.”  The determined girl looked around the table. “I’m Claire, from Eastridge University. I’m here to prove that I belong in this industry.”  All eyes turned to me. I cleared my throat. “I’m Ethan, from… uh, Crestwood University. I’m here to learn and grow.”  Daniel nodded approvingly. “Great. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get started.”  After the introductions, Daniel led us to our workspace a bright, open area with desks arranged in clusters. Each desk was equipped with a computer, a notebook, and a small plant. It felt… welcoming, in a way I hadn’t expected.  

“This will be your home for the next few months,” Daniel said. “You’ll be working on a project together, so collaboration is key. Your first task is to brainstorm ideas for a new marketing campaign. I’ll check in with you later to see how you’re doing.”  We settled into our desks, and the room quickly filled with the sound of keyboards clicking and pens scratching against paper. I glanced around, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. This was it my chance to prove myself.  

By the time lunch rolled around, I was starting to feel more comfortable. The group had fallen into an easy rhythm, tossing ideas back and forth and building on each other’s thoughts.  “Let’s take a break,” Mia suggested, standing up and stretching. “I’m starving.”  We headed to the break room, a cozy space with a few tables, a microwave, and a vending machine. As we unpacked our lunches, the conversation turned to lighter topics favourite movies, weekend plans, and the best coffee shops in the city.  

“So, Ethan,” Jake said, leaning back in his chair. “You’re from Crestwood, huh? That’s a pretty fancy school.”  

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, it’s alright.”  

Claire narrowed her eyes at me, studying my face. “Wait a minute… Ethan 'Harrington'? As in, the son of  THE Charles Harrington?”  The room went silent. All eyes turned to me.  

I froze, my sandwich halfway to my mouth. “Uh… yeah. That’s me.”  

Jake whistled. “No way. Your dad’s, like, the CEO of the biggest luxury brand in the country. What are you doing here?”  I set my sandwich down, my appetite suddenly gone. “I’m here to learn, just like everyone else.”  Claire crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. “Must be nice, having connections like that.”  Before I could respond, Daniel walked into the break room, his expression serious. “Ethan, can I see you in my office for a moment?”  

My stomach dropped. “Uh, sure.”  

I stood up, my heart pounding as I followed Daniel out of the room. The other interns watched me go, their eyes filled with curiosity and suspicion.  What could Daniel possibly want with me?