It was Samantha's first day at a large media company in New York City, and she was sitting quietly in the lobby, sitting ramrod straight on a sofa. She smoothed her professional skirt down over her knees to banish any wayward wrinkles.
A pretty blonde receptionist smiled at her.
"You know, I was an intern here too," the woman said. "I'm Jenny."
Samantha smiled quickly at Jenny and returned to her nervous fidgeting.
"Don't worry, you're going to be fine," Jenny said, and return to her email.
Her email read: "Patrick, your intern is here. I think you'll like her. Looks just like Meagan - but younger."
Jenny's manicured finger quickly pressed send, and she turned back to continue speaking with Samantha.
"He'll be right up, don't you worry. How do you like the office so far?"
"Oh, it's great. I can't believe I'm here." Samantha burst out into a self-conscious smile, revealing a beautiful grin. "This is totally my dream job. I can't believe I made it!"
Jenny said nothing, just smiled.
An older man, mid-40s, with salt and pepper hair came quickly down the stairs tucked towards the back of the building.
Samantha stood up, taking a deep breath.
Walking over to her, Patrick looked over every inch of her body: her petite frame, her perfectly cut dark hair, bangs dipping over dark-brown eyes. It was the kind of body that never could quite look professional - though she had tried, it was painfully obvious to any man that her cheap skirt and shirt covered a body that had been made by some sort of generous higher power - she was small enough to curl up at his feet, thin enough to pick up, breasts falling into delicate, tender teardrops. And beautiful eyes to look up at him while ---
"Samantha," Patrick said, reaching out his hand, "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Patrick, I'll be your supervisor. Come with me."
Samantha grabbed her bag and grinned quickly at Jenny. As Patrick lead her to his office, he stretched quickly.
"Late night?" Samantha asked, eager to please.
"Just a sore back is all," he said. "Nothing to worry about."
In Patrick's office, she sat down at the chair opposite his desk. Patrick leaned against his desk, examining the exquisite creature in front of him. He couldn't start his heart from beating quickly.
"So you're our new intern?"
"Yes, sir. I just want to say, it's a huge honor. I've brought my---"
Samantha opened her bag and fumbled around to find a resume, neatly pressed in a folder. She handed it to Patrick immediately, who put it on his desk without looking at it.
"Actually, sir, if you'd take a look--"
"I know what's on that sheet of paper," Patrick said, frowning at her. "Every intern that comes in these doors has been confirmed to be academically gifted, maintaining extracurriculars, and excellent interpersonal skills. I don't need to know that."
He stood up, stretching his arms behind him.
Although Samantha was nervous, looking down, she looked up just in time to make a second of eye contact - his light blue eyes poured into hers, scanning her for some sort of answer, where he had neglected to ask the questions.
His back muscles, barely visible through his shift jacket, took Samantha by surprise. For having a little gray hair, he seemed more youthful than any other man she'd ever met. His energy, this time, was focused absolutely on her.
"What's something that sets you apart from these other interns?"
"I'm sorry?"
"This." Patrick tapped the resume on his desk with his finger. "What makes you better than this?"
The silence in the room permeated. It was an answer that Samantha didn't know how to give.
"This.... Fucking POINTLESS sheet of paper. Show me how you are not this, Samantha."
Hearing her name mentioned, rather, yelled, by this man made Samantha nervous.
"Is this just another internship to you?"
"No, no, sir," she finally managed to stutter out. "No, I'm very excited about this opportunity. Being your assistant would mean everything to me."
Patrick sat down at his desk. The two were now separated by an expansive, undoubtedly expensive wooden desk.
"Do you even know what being my assistant entails?" He asked her, never breaking eye contact.
Samantha crossed her ankles at the knee, started to smooth down her skirt, as Patrick cleared his throat.
"I'd assume just...administrative tasks?"
He stared at her, incredulously, as she began to fidget even more.
"Samantha," he started, "What do you know about this company? You do realize that we're the most out-there media company in the world, you understand that, right? The last thing we need around here are just-out-of-college kids with no life experience. I thought you were better than that."
Patrick rolled his eyes and started to stand up.
Samantha, paralyzed in worry, watched as he started to leave the room.
"Wait," she said, "What do you need? What do you want?"
Patrick raised his eyes, turned around, and sat back behind the desk.
"Well, that's something, at least. What I need is someone who is devoted to me. Entirely. Someone whose first priority is always me. Making my life easier. Better. More. Do you understand that?"
Samantha nodded, eagerly.
"Someone who can anticipate my needs. Who understands how to calm me after a long day. Who can understand what I'm thinking with a simple look. I was someone who can take care of me - business, personal, everything. I'm willing to pay you a good amount - I know it's not an easy job."
Samantha looked at the man across from her: in certain light, he looked vulnerable, needing a woman by his side who would help him with the particulars, who would be his partner in business, in life.
"I can do it." Samantha said, suddenly.
Patrick's eyebrows shot up.
"What makes you say that?"
Samantha stood up, smoothing her skirt again. She slowly, heels muffled in the soft shag carpet, over to his side of the desk.
"You said, when we were walking up here, that you had a sore back," she said.
She placed her hands on his back softly.
"I know how to fix that."
At first applying gentle pressure, Samantha explored Patrick's back and shoulders, her hands quickly skimming over his wiry muscles, his strong back, his collarbones, his well-formed shoulders.
"Here it is. Do you mind taking your sleeve down?"
Patrick did as she asked and sat in his undershirt as Samantha went to work on the knot in his shoulder.