THE GILDED DEBT

The Internship Trap

The lobby of Nexus Tech was all glass and white marble, smelling of expensive coffee and high-pressure deadlines. I smoothed out my skirt, clutching my intern folder. This was my first day away from my father Johnson's shadow, and I wanted to prove I was more than just a "Victoria" name.

"Is the coffee machine always this temperamental?"

A voice, low and melodic, pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see a guy leaning against the counter. He looked around my age, maybe a few years older.

He wasn't wearing the stiff, suffocating suits the senior VPs wore. He had a black blazer over a simple tee, looking effortlessly handsome-the kind of "innocent but dangerous" look that makes a room feel smaller.

"Hi," I said, a bit breathless.

"Hey," he replied, his lips tilting into a soft, boyish smirk.

He tilted his head, studying me with dark, intense eyes.
"Have we met before? You look... familiar."

I shook my head, adjusted my glasses. "I don't think so. I'm just an intern here."

"Hmm."
He stepped closer, just enough for me to smell his sandalwood cologne. "Maybe it was at Victoria Enterprise?

I went there a few weeks ago for a business offer. Unfortunately, I lost it."

My heart sank a little. "Oh, I'm sorry. My brother Jaison can be... difficult with negotiations."

"It's okay," he whispered, his gaze dropping to my lips for a split second before meeting my eyes again.

"You know what else I lost there?"

"What?" I asked, completely trapped in his stare.

"My heart." He chuckled, a warm, shy sound that made my face flush.

"But I think I just found it in this pretty smile of yours."

I looked down at my shoes, feeling awkward and shy. I wasn't used to this kind of directness.
To me, he was just a struggling businessman who had been rejected by my brother.

He shifted his weight, adjusting his position so he was leaning closer to my personal space.

"So, do you work at Victoria Enterprise as an intern too?
Is that why I recognize you?"

He acted so clueless, so genuinely curious.

"No," I admitted, tucked a strand of wavy hair behind my ear.
"That's actually my father's company.

I wanted to start somewhere where no one knew my last name."

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, looking perfectly surprised. "I had no idea. A princess in disguise, then? I'm even more lucky I found you here."

He checked his watch ,the vintage one his father Zain had given him and then looked back at me with a hopeful, almost nervous expression.

"Look, I'm supposed to be meeting the CEO of this place, but he's perpetually late. I'm dying for a decent cup of coffee, and the machine here is clearly out to get me.

There's a quiet place around the corner... would you walk with me? I promise I'm a better programmer than I am a coffee-maker."

He didn't look like a CEO who was about to steal my family's legacy.

He looked like a 24-year-old guy who just wanted twenty minutes of my time.

"Coffe sounds nice," I whispered.

"Great." He smiled, and for the first time, I saw the "Winner" look in his eyes, though I mistook it for happiness.

"I'm Zack, by the way. And you are?"
"Amaya. Amaya Victoria."

"Beautiful," he murmured, leading the way to the door.

"Let's go, Amaya. I have a feeling this is going to be a very successful meeting.