Look what affirmative action dragged in. Did you even graduate high school? The words sliced through the pristine silence of Prestige Financial Group's marble boardroom. Senior manager Derek Williams didn't bother looking up from his phone as he slid the intern paperwork across the table. The gesture was deliberate, dismissive.
Maya Chen Washington, 24, sat perfectly still in her Target blazer. Her worn leather portfolio rested on her lap. Around the table, six other interns shifted uncomfortably. Derek reached for his coffee mug, then seemed to stumble. The ceramic cup tumbled, sending scalding liquid across the mahogany surface toward Maya's feet.
Oops. His smile was razor thin. Might want to clean that up before the real meeting starts. Mia's hands remained steady as coffee soaked her resume. Deep in her portfolio, a black American Express Centurion card caught the morning light.
Have you ever been judged so completely wrong that your silence became your greatest weapon? 9:15 a. M. 8 hours and 45 minutes until board meeting. The digital clock on the wall seemed to mock Maya as Derek Williams continued his performance.
He leaned back in his leather chair, addressing the other interns like she wasn't there. Now that we've covered the basics, let's discuss what real investment banking looks like. His eyes flicked toward Maya. Some of you might find this challenging. Jennifer Walsh, a blonde intern from Yale, giggled behind her manicured hand.
She discreetly angled her phone toward Maya, the TikTok live stream already gathering viewers. The notification sound pinged softly. Maya opened her worn notebook and began writing. Each word Derek spoke, each snicker from the other interns. The exact timestamps.
Her handwriting remained steady, elegant, the kind taught at Swiss finishing schools. Derek assigned tasks with theatrical precision. Jennifer, you'll shadow our merger and acquisition team. Brad, you're with corporate restructuring. His finger stopped at Maya.
And you coffee runs, filing, basic administrative support. We'll see if you can handle that level of responsibility. The other interns exchanged glances. Jennifer's live stream chat exploded with laughing emojis and fire symbols. Watch this diversity hire struggle.
She whispered to her phone. Maya stood without protest. As she moved toward the door, Derek's voice followed her. Maya, right? Like that ancient civilization that collapsed.
His smile was predatory. How fitting. She paused at the doorway, turning back with calm eyes. Actually, Maya means illusion in Sanskrit. Sometimes things aren't what they appear to be.
The comment hung in the air as she left. Derek's expression flickered. Confusion then dismissal. 10:30 a. M.
7 hours and 30 minutes remaining. The executive assistant, Patricia Hayes, barely looked up when Maya approached her desk. Coffee orders are on the board. Make sure you get everyone's preferences right. We don't tolerate mistakes here.
Maya studied the list. 12 different orders, each more complex than the last. Derek's was circled in red. Double shot espresso, oat milk, exactly 140°. Don't screw this up.