Page 1 of Collin: Episodes 1-3
Episode 1
Who even put cafés on the seventeenth floor of a skyscraper?
Collin looked down at the email on his phone for the twelfth time and frowned. It was right there in the address. He’d been in such a hurry answering the invitation he hadn’t bothered to read that detail until today.
Was he even dressed for this?
Collin brushed his hands down the front of his blazer. It was blue. And secondhand. But he’d traded two evenings of babysitting a classmate’s toddler so she could go on a date and study for the tailored fit, so at least it sat on him right. She’d even replaced the buttons so they all matched. And he’d made sure to wear black socks. He was pretty sure they were a match. At least, being black, there wouldn’t be much to see. And his pants were brown. Brown and blue were acceptable, or so the handbook pdf at the career center website had agreed.
The elevator went up. Collin closed his eyes. At least he was lucky. Somehow, he’d ended up on an internship list and been invited for this interview without even applying. Something about a recommendation. The least he could do was show up and try to make a good impression. And pray the position either paid or was good with his other two jobs.
The last two internships he’d lost out on because he couldn’t fully commit for zero dollars.
Time to read the email one last time. Evidently, the CEO of the company himself was running the interview. Richard Reevesworth, Reevesworth Industries. Not that Richard Reevesworth had sent the email. His personal assistant had, or so it appeared.
The elevator dinged. Collin stepped out into a hallway of white granite floors and dark paneled walls. A simple, hand-carved wooden sign with a spotlight at the end of the hall bore the name of the café. Collin checked the time. He was five minutes early. At least he’d gotten here on time. And not wet. The rain had been merciful and held off.
The café was a mix of modern Asian influences and someone’s idea of eco-friendly. There were plants and stained wood everywhere with water features and privacy screens placed in such a way that each table was almost in its own private room. An elderly woman in a green dress greeted him at a small hostess stand by the front.
“Just you?”
“I’m meeting someone.”
“Ah.” She ran her finger down a list. “What’s the name?”
“Reevesworth. Richard Reevesworth.”
“He’s already here. I’ll show you over.” She motioned him to follow.
Was he early enough?
The space they entered was on the other side of the café by floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over the downtown toward the water. The clouds were dark but still not raining. There were two egg chairs softly upholstered in white, placed on either side of a low round table. A tall man with brown, almost black, hair and a touch of gray at the temples sat in one of them.
“Your companion is here, Mr. Reevesworth.”
“Auntie, thank you.” Mr. Reevesworth buttoned his suit as he stood and held out his hand. “Collin Ryker, I assume.”
“Yes. Mr. Reevesworth. Thank you for inviting me. I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
“I wait only as long as I like. And you are early.”
Collin smiled. Safe, maybe. “Had to beat the rain.”
Mr. Reevesworth glanced out the window as if surprised. “Yes, I suppose. Take a seat. What do you drink?”
Collin hesitated. “I’m not picky. Coffee, black, would be lovely.”
Auntie leaned forward on her toes. “Do you have dietary restrictions?”
“No, ma’am. Not at all. Just haven’t looked at a menu.”
She drew one out from a spot under the table and set it on the table. There were no prices. Collin’s stomach churned. That was not good. That was not good at all.
Did he order something and risk the cost in hopes of showing he was serious, or did he just take it on the chin now and admit that he was the wrong sort of candidate?
Mr. Reevesworth unbuttoned his suit jacket as he reclaimed his seat and motioned Collin to sit across from him.
Collin acquiesced, trying a smile at the serving lady as he also unbuttoned and adjusted his blazer. “Honestly, just a water for now, please. I ate breakfast late.”
