THE INTERN, THE JOURNEY ON BECOMING.

At the prestigious advertising agency, Creative Spark, in the heart of New York City, Calista "Cal" Jackson sat at her desk, lost in thought. Her coworker and friend, Jasmyn "Jas" Sanders, approached her with a curious expression.

"Hey, Cal, what's got you so deep in thought?" Jas asked, but Cal could only manage a faint mumble.

Jas's excitement was palpable. "Never mind, I'll share my news instead! Congratulations are in order, Cal!"

Cal's skepticism was evident. "What are you talking about, Jas?"

Jas beamed. "Your design concept impressed the team at Ryder Industries, and they're willing to pay top dollar for it! Our company is thrilled, and we're celebrating today!"

Cal's disbelief was written across her face. "Wait, what? That can't be right. I'm just an intern!"

Jas chuckled. "I'm not kidding, Cal! Ryder Industries is the biggest player in the state, and they love your work. Be ready to celebrate at lunchtime, and our boss, Cain, will be joining us too!"

As Cal's shock turned to elation, she couldn't help but wonder what other surprises lay in store for her. Little did she know, this was just the beginning of a journey that would shake up her life and the world of advertising forever.!

As soon as the name "Cain" escaped her lips, Calista's smile faltered. She couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure I'm invited, Jas? I don't want to crash the party."

Jasmine's enthusiasm was infectious. "Come on, Cal! You're the star of the show! Your design landed the Ryder Industries account, and we're celebrating because of you. You have to be there!"

Calista hesitated, her eyes darting away. "I don't know, Jas...I'm not exactly Cain's favorite person.

Jasmine's expression turned sly. "Oh, don't be silly, Cal! Cain will be thrilled to see you. He's my boyfriend, but he's also our boss, and he knows how talented you are. Besides, I've already told him how much I want you to be there."

Cal's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Cain Hutton, the CEO of Hutton Advertising and Design. She had a complicated history with him, and the thought of facing him made her stomach twist into knots.

With a deep breath, she made her decision. "Fine, I'll come. But only for you, Jas."

As she made her way to the restaurant, her mind raced with thoughts of Cain and the tension between them. She couldn't deny the truth - she was going to the celebration for him, to prove herself and maybe, just maybe, to win him over.

As she freshened up in the restroom, Cal couldn't help but admit the truth to herself - she was primping for one person alone: her boss, Cain Hutton. She reapplied her signature cherry red lipstick and smoothed out her foundation, her heart racing at the thought of seeing him again.

Taking a deep breath, she exited the restroom and made her way to the cafeteria, where her friend and colleague, Jasmyn, was already waiting. But Cain was nowhere to be seen, and Cal felt a mix of relief and disappointment.

Just then, the doors swung open, and Cain walked in, his charcoal suit tailored to perfection, his raven hair slicked back, and a hint of stubble framing his chiseled jawline. Cal's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and she felt a jolt of electricity run through her veins.

As he made his way towards them, Cal couldn't help but drink in every detail of his appearance, committing each feature to memory. She knew it would be a while before she saw him again, and she wanted to savor every moment.

"Hey, Cal," Cain said, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine. "You look stunning, as always."

Cal felt her cheeks flush as she smiled, trying to play it cool. "Thanks, Cain. You don't look so bad yourself."

Jas raised an eyebrow, a knowing glint in her eye. "Well, well, well. Looks like someone's got a crush."

Cal's face went beet red as Cain chuckled, his eyes never leaving hers. "Let's just say I appreciate good talent when I see it, Jas."

The tension between them was palpable, and Cal knew she was in trouble. She was falling for her boss, hard. And she had no idea how to stop it. She had played the role of his pretend girl, and he casually without any consideration broke it off with her and even laid her off when his girlfriend friend had returned,

As she gazed at him, her heart raced with a mix of emotions. She knew she wouldn't be seeing him for a while, and the thought filled her with a sense of longing. But her reverie was broken when he halted and scanned the room, his eyes searching for someone. That someone turned out to be Jasmine, his girlfriend, who called out to him with a familiarity that made Cali's heart sink.

"Babe, here!" Jasmine's voice was like a dagger to Cali's heart, a harsh reminder of the dynamics at play. As he made his way towards them, Cali felt her anxiety spike. She didn't want to be here, didn't want to witness the intimate moments between them.

When he reached their table, he claimed Jasmine's lips in a lingering kiss, oblivious to Cali's discomfort. Jasmine giggled and pushed him away, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Stop, babe. Cali is here too."

The moment those words left Jasmine's lips, his gaze snapped towards Cali, his eyes cold and emotionless. Cali felt like an outsider, a trespasser in their little bubble of love. She prayed to be invisible, to avoid the awkwardness that was sure to follow. But fate wasn't on her side.

Slowly, she lifted her eyes to meet his, her hazel gaze locking with his deep ocean blue one. For a fleeting moment, his eyes softened, a glimmer of warmth flickering in their depths. But it was just a moment, a brief respite from the tension that hung heavy in the air.

"Well, well, well," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look what we have here. The elusive Cali, finally decided to grace us with her presence.":

As their eyes met, the air was charged with tension. Cain's piercing blue gaze seemed to bore into her soul, making her heart race with a mix of emotions. But, as quickly as it had appeared, the warmth in his eyes vanished, leaving them cold and unforgiving.

"Good afternoon, sir," Cal said, her voice laced with a monotony that belied the turmoil inside her. She couldn't help but feel a pang of longing, a yearning for his attention, his love. But she knew it was a futile dream.

Cain's response was a curt nod, his eyes never leaving hers. Cal felt a surge of frustration at his aloofness, his arrogance.

As they settled into their seats, Jasmine asked, "So, Cal, what would you like to have?"

Cal's gaze drifted to Cain, her mind blanking as she struggled to form a coherent thought. His eyes locked onto hers, and she felt her heart skip a beat. But, as soon as their gazes met, he averted his eyes, leaving her feeling bereft.

"Oh, don't be shy, Cal," Jasmine said, her voice laced with encouragement. "We're celebrating today because of you. Just tell us what you want to eat, okay?"

Cal's voice was barely above a whisper. "Okay."

As they ordered their lunch, the tension between them was palpable. Cal couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the Cain she once knew, the one who had been kind and warm. Had she imagined it all? Or had he always been this cold, this distant?

" Then they ordered their lunch, each one revealing their unique preferences. Jasmyn opted for the strawberry cheesecake, strawberry muffins, and red wine, while Cain chose his usual rice cake with peanut butter and banana, paired with ginger ale. Cal indulged in her favorite choco berry tart and creamy chocolate smoothie.

As they finished their meal, Cain received a call and excused himself to answer it. Jas turned to Cal with a warm smile. "So, did you enjoy lunch, Cal?"

Cal nodded, her smile tight and forced. Though she had savored every bite of her food, the intense gaze she felt from Cain throughout the meal had made her uncomfortable.

When n returned, his face lit up with a toothy grin. "You won't believe what just happened," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I just got a call from the manager of Ryder Industries.