Neumann

Everything happened as planned. Danielle successfully moved into her brother's apartment in New York City last night. And today is her first day of internship at Neumann Holdings Corporation.

"Dee! Hurry up!" Dylan, her eldest brother, yelled from the hallway of their apartment floor.

He works as an accountant at the New York City Bank just a few blocks from Neumann. He's dropping her off before going to work so they had to leave half an hour before the bank opens.

She took a mouthful of pancakes and forked two slices of strawberries into her mouth before heading for the door.

"You wouldn't want to make a bad impression on your first day as an intern, Danie." Dylan raised his right eyebrow looking at Danielle while waiting for the lift, intentionally using that annoying nickname 'cause it sounded like a guy's like her real name.

She even cried over her it when she was five. Telling her parents that they wanted another baby boy and that she's unwanted. But it eventually became their inside joke during holidays.

She nodded and swallowed the food in her mouth. "Geez, Dylan! Too early for a pep talk." She rolled her eyes.

He smiled in response and started tapping on his iPhone.

"Where's Daryl?" She remembered.

"Wait up!" Daryl comes running after he made sure the apartment door is locked behind him. He adjusted his knapsack when he joined them waiting for the lift to reach their floor. “So, are you nervous on your first day, little sis?" He tousled her hair with his left hand.

"Daryl!" She moved her head away from him and tried fixing her hair.

Between her two older brothers, Daryl is childish one and playful while Dylan is too cool to mess around. "Are you riding with us?" She asked while sipping from her coffee tumbler.

Daryl took her drink to take a sip before answering. "No. I prefer taking my bike. Heavy traffic jams my way to work. I bet I'll reach work faster than you two with my bike!" He winked. He works as an IT engineer for a Gaming Company near Time Square.

The lift dinged and they all went in. The way down to the lobby was quiet. Daryl prepping his gear for riding his bike and Dylan is busy tapping on his phone - probably making an email of some sort.

She suddenly felt anxious thinking that in a few hours she’ll start her internship at Neumann. She started tapping her heels. "You'll do great, Dee," Dylan said with concern written all over his face, noticing her mannerism when feeling uneasy. She smiled weakly.

"Yeah, sis! You're working for Neumann! That's one of the largest and prestigious companies in New York! What are the odds?" Daryl exclaimed, thinking it would boost her ego working for a prestigious company. Then later realized that it only made her feel worse given that expectations are high for anyone who works there.

"That did not help, Daryl," Dylan remarked, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Oops! Sorry, sis! Err, you'll do great!" Daryl slightly rested his hand on her shoulder.

"Dylan just said that." She rolled her eyes.

"I just said that." Dylan said almost in unison.

They laughed at Daryl while going out of the lift. "Hey! Come on. Who said I can't say that again?" He asked pouting.

Dylan drove his Range Rover down to street going to Neumann and it only made Danielle feel worse than what Daryl had said earlier, thinking she'll be at Neumann in less than an hour. Scenarios are playing in her head about the terrible events that can happen on her first day at Neumann.

Then the car stopped in front of the high-rise building on that busy street. The company name, Neumann, in its glory was situated right in front of it. The company looked so sleek and grandeur. Even the facade around the building is relatively grandiose.

“This is you." Dylan announced.

She looked outside of the tinted window of his car, suddenly feeling hesitant to get off.

"Dee? You'll be late if you don't move from your seat."

She faced him, looking enthralled by the company’s level of excellence. "Wow!" She mouthed slowly. She did not expect that's how the building actually looks like. She only sent her internship application through their school registrar and had an interview over Skye since she was still back home in Connecticut for their finals.

"Come on. If you don't get off the car we'll both be late. Or do I have to walk you inside your building?" Her brother chuckled seeing her expression.

"Geez! I should have agreed to come here yesterday and see the company as you suggested. I'm just speechless." She started gathering her things before she reached out to him and kissed his right cheek. "Thank you, Dylan. Pick me up at five?"

"You bet!" He smiled.

She closed the door of his Range Rover and started walking up the stairs towards the entrance when she heard Dylan calling her. "Dee! You forgot your coffee." He got off and walked around the front of his car with her pink tumbler in his hand.

She met him halfway down the stairs and reached for it before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks!" She smiled with relief on her face.

He smiled and waved goodbye as he left. She then turned back and started walking up the stairs while checking her pink tumbler, making sure it’s sealed shut when he bumped into something or... someone.

“S—sorry." She stuttered, apologetically, trying to balance herself on her black heels when she felt one strong hand gripped her right arm, saving her from a fall. She looked up and found her gaze locked on a pair of piercing, deep-set grey eyes with his left eyebrow raised and his lips in a straight line. Her heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth but lost her voice. She found herself looking at a masterpiece. He is devastatingly good-looking!

But the man doesn't look pleased. She tried to get her balance back and stand on her feet. “T—Thank you.” She could hear her heart pounding so loud, she feared it would pop out of her chest. Her mouth suddenly went dry. She unconsciously moistened it with her tongue.

His grip slightly tightened on her arm when a big guy wearing a crisp black suit and dark sunglasses looking like a bodyguard came towards them and whispered something on the man’s right ear. He didn’t take his eyes off of her, making her feel uncomfortable as she noticed some people looking at them. But there's something in him that drew her eyes back, looking at his gorgeous face. She saw him nodding, as if agreeing with what the big guy told him as he lets her go.

He then walked past her before she realized that she was gasping for breath. She couldn't help but look at him leaving. He's obviously wearing an expensive custom made slim-fit dark blue suit that fits him perfectly, a thin black tie and an expensive dark brown brogue oxfords.

She had to breathe hard until her heartbeat is back to normal. Geez! Get a grip, Dee! You sure have to get used to seeing hot guys wearing suits and ties on this side of the earth! No more plain t-shirts, torn jeans and sneaker guys around here! Says her excited inner slutty muse.

She sighed heavily and went straight to the entrance, feeling like she's lost part of her teenage years and really starting to experience the real world!