Breaking Billionaire Rules

a's

ered open, and for a sec

sevent

it was cleaner, as if only filtered ambitions

ogo that sliced across the lobby wall l

didn't wrinkle. My heels clicked a little louder than I liked, drawing eyes and uninte

led. No on

either

ok up as I approached. Blo

rd like a countdown. "Can I help you

arting today. Intern

ck. A moment's scan of her

I

y shook. She glanced at the card, then at me. Something flicker

re ea

eing early w

r beat

rom the executive wing. Don't touch anything. Do

te

inch of the hallway had been engineered to intimidate. Lighting l

id-conversation. "....hedge

ll's not going t

tep felt like a trap disguised as opport

from her screen, nar

a Mo

heck. Ano

it

ale. They were trying too hard to look like they weren't trying at a

ike it was a casual Sunday morning material.

ed up. No on

and didn't even

needed opportunity. Fifteen m

k to sense that something had shifted. The energy changed and t

something into a phone and gesturing toward a leather - bound portfolio. The secon

Blac

ilored like a second skin. His expression was unreadable. I'd seen his photo on the cover of Forbe

- but not fast enough. Our eyes met.

I fe

analytical precision of his gaze. He did

ng down the hall without a word.

re still on my lap, but my fi

sees hundreds of interns every

ldn't stop r

an?" A vo

ed me toward a conference room. I followed her inside, where a ma

he last o

tions. Expectations. Chains disguised as protocols. The man - Mr. Hendric

directed. No late arrivals, no extended breaks, no

ith employees at any level. That includes assistants, advisors, and defin

hink about Mr

't laugh. I couldn't tell if it was meant to b

ice interns. And even if he did, I had better thin

ffering unsolicited opinions. Especially in meetings where you are merely shadowin

n't f

lit up behind him, flashing company motto in

sguised as c

bout your internship online. We scan public channels. And if you're assigned

carpet. "We don't do second chances here. This place fi

his tone sh

one or two of you....." he looked up, eyes gleaming

hopeful. I kept my face blank. I didn't want luck, I

. Who would talk too much in a meeting. Who would coast on family nam

them. If you have questions, email the coordinator. Do not..... and I repeat.... do not s

hands once. S

miss

arm. The other interns surged toward the hallway like a flock, their conve

ic Innovation - Adv

expected some mid-tier department tucked away

t the bottom in a different ink: Temporary Executive Liai

hat wing was directly off the executive ha

this mean

t, a voice called from t

p gray skirt suit stood with a digital tabl

to Mr. Blackwell." She glanced down at h

aped open. Every nerve i

ckw

o

ready turning, walking away with crisp, deci

e Liaiso

ed her into the wing no intern was supposed to touch. The door t

direct