if I was friends with Andrew?
“Friends in school?”
“No.”
“Oh. That’s a shame. I’m sure that Andrew had a friend called Clara or Claire... Ara... Lara... who knows...” She shrugs as if it doesn’t matter; it matters to me though, “he used to talk about her a lot. My brother Jacob used to tease him about her all the time.” I wait for her to continue but she just stays there looking thoughtfully right at me with an ease that is clearly inherited. She’s more like Andrew than she realises.
I want to ask her about what she has just told me but I’m scared that anything I say to her or any questions I ask her will get back to her brother. I don’t know her and I can’t trust her. Instead I get straight to work. “As my intern you will need to be here each week day at nine am.”
“Yes Ms Delos,” She’s polite unlike her brother. Perhaps we will get on after all.
“You can call me Clara,” My tone is kind yet professional; slightly clipped.
“Thank you Clara.”
“You are welcome,” I smile, “I think we’ll work well together... so long as you aren’t too much like your brother...” I say it almost as an afterthought and I blush when I realise she has heard me.
“Nothing a like at all,” her smile isn’t mocking or teasing but bright. She’s genuinely happy about being different, and she’s not angry with me for my rudeness, “I’m nothing like either of my brothers.”
“Good. Then I imagine we’ll do just fine,” might as well be honest. She’s going to realise soon enough that me and her brother do not get on. “Why did you get this job? Do you have an interest in advertising?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Then why?” I’m frustrated that it’s beginning to look like Andrew is just trying to get me to babysit his little sister. As nice as she is, I don’t have time for babysitting and perhaps more importantly I want him to take me seriously. I’m not Clara the girl he knew in school any more. I’m Clara Delos, an accounts director for one of the largest advertising companies in the United Kingdom.
“My brothers... they are a little overprotective. I’m twenty one. I’ve just finished university. They think that my choices aren’t...” She seems to struggle for words. I don’t think I’m the only one who is cross. “I want to be a singer but they don’t think it’s a financially viable means of supporting myself.”
“Your brothers sound very heavy handed.” I don’t know why I’m commenting. I know I shouldn’t. The last thing I should do is get involved in their family disputes. To be frank; it’s none of my business and I quite like it that way. I need to stay detached from Andrew and now Maya too.
“You have no idea.” She has no idea; I know her brother of old. I know just how heavy handed he can be. Except in the physical sense. He’s never once hit me.
I stand up and grab a file off of my desk, “I’ll introduce you to Katie. She’s my assistant. You’ll have the cubicle next to hers. If there is anything you need don’t hesitate to ask her and of course if I’m around, feel free to ask me for help.” Please don’t. I’m going to be making it my life’s ambition to avoid you and your family like the plague.
She’s nodding her head and following me out of the office. “I’ll leave you to sort out your paperwork... there’s so much of it. I’m pretty new here too... Katie,” I turn to my assistant, “this is Maya. She’ll be interning with us for the foreseeable future. Could you show her around, help her with her paperwork and perhaps show her where the coffee machine is. I’m going into the directors meeting now, so hold my calls.”
“Yes Miss Delos,” Katie nods.
“Katie,” I chastise her, “Call me Clara, please.”
“Sorry Clara...”
I nod to them both before turning on my heels towards the lift. Andrew is waiting for the lift when I arrive. The last thing I want to do is make small talk with