For two hours, Catherine—otherwise unremarkable intern—led what would become Meridian’s most talked-about tour.
They started in creative. Designers clustered around as Catherine turned quick banter into quick, bright hands. Robert studied mood boards like blueprints, nodding with wonder. Word leapt from desk to desk: The CEO’s dad is here. He signs. That intern is amazing.
Catherine’s phone buzzed nonstop. Where are you? from her supervisor. We need those books. Notifications piled up like hailstones.
Every time she considered stopping, Robert’s face—alive, eager to understand his son’s world—kept her going.
In analytics, the hairs on her neck lifted. On the mezzanine above, half in shadow, stood Michael Hartwell. Hands in pockets. Watchful, unreadable.
Her stomach dropped. Fired by lunch, she thought. When she looked back, he was gone.
