Thank you all for your patience as I recovered from a health scare. More chapters to come soon. This is a continuation of the College Intern story. If you haven't already, I recommend reading the first three stories first.
Thank you again, to my editor, Kenji Sato. His willingness to provide guidance and encouragement has made me a better writer.
***
Monday morning and I was still wrestling with my decision. Who should I choose to be my intern for next semester? Each was a solid candidate. Kari was the wild card of the bunch. In more ways than one.
Stephan was my right hand in the office; Webmaster, database admin, and all-around-technical wizkid. He regularly beat me to the office and this day was no exception.
"Hey, Boss," he called out, as I made my way past him to my office. "You make up your mind on the intern yet?"
"Not yet," was my reply, as I booted up my workstation.
"Guess we won't have to worry about the one who came in on Friday. She would have been trouble."
"Funny you should mention her," I said, with a sly smile on my face.
"Uh-oh!"
***
Finance staff meetings were boring. Sorry, but they were. This one was no different. The agenda covered the usual -- monthly budget reports, staffing levels, campus events and finally, intern selection. Normally, each department head had discretion on who they took on. This time, however, my boss took matters into his own hands.
I spent a few moments after the meeting chatting with the head of facilities, when I noticed Coach Collins enter. Curiosity and just a tinge of trepidation hit me. She had never come to the admin building, that I could recall.
"Alan?" Deidre asked, as she came over and placed a hand on my forearm. "JB would like a word."
Deidre had a soft-spoken way about her. She was the quintessential southern belle -- charming, engaging, and dressed to impress. She had gone out of her way to welcome me to the campus when I had joined. A bond had formed between us over time, a friendship that had carried her through her recent divorce. Her smile gave me no hint as to what JB wanted. I nodded to her and headed to JB's office.
James 'JB' Brown was the VP of Business and Finance. He was also my boss. JB was one of those consummate college administrators. He handled the politics of academia with the same ease and grace as he did glad-handing alumni for donations. He also knew how to hire good people and then get out of their way. Not a large person physically, but his personality dominated a room. When you were summoned to his inner sanctum, something big was happening. I entered his office with a bit of unease.
"Alan," JB called out in greeting, his deep southern drawl rolling through the room.
"JB. Coach Collins," I acknowledged the greeting with an accompanying nod to both.
"Lillian came to me with a bit of information that I find most intriguing." His tone and eyes gave no hint to where this was going but my mind has already conjured up a number of possibilities based on the last forty-eight hours of my life.
"I believe you know Kari Welborn?" Coach Collins asked, as she turned towards me. I swore my heart stopped for a moment.
"I do," I replied cautiously, hoping to keep my voice neutral. "She has applied for my internship for next semester."
"That is what I wanted to talk to you about, Alan." JB reached out and placed his hand on my shoulder. My gaze switched back to him, as I awaited his next sentence. I knew so far what had transpired between Kari and I was consensual. There was nothing I was embarrassed about there, however my presence in her apartment Saturday night was a violation of campus protocol.
"Ya'll know I let my department heads make their own decisions in these matters, Alan. But this here is a special situation."
"Alan."
My eyes snapped back to Coach Collins.
"I have put forth Kari's nomination as an Academic All-American for the third consecutive year."
"That's wonderful," was all I could think of to say.
"You see, son, I want to ensure she moves to the top of the list. Adding an internship to the application would be just the thing," JB interjected, my eyes now bouncing back to him. "I want to grant her that position. I know I am pulling rank on you; I do hope you don't mind."
"Of course not, sir." I knew it was not a request. "I will submit the final paperwork today."
"I knew I could count on you!" JB clasped my shoulder again and grinned at Coach Collins.
"Thank you, Alan." She smiled and took my hand.
"It is nothing, Coach, happy to help."
She continued to hold my hand; a playful expression seemed to play over her features.
"Please, call me Lillian." She squeezed my hand then released it. "I know I will be seeing you soon."
I froze at that statement, staring at her.
"You will be at the GA Invitational in Atlanta next month. Have you forgotten already?" Her voice echoed at a hint of laughter at my expense.
Of course, I thought to myself, she had been standing right there when Fred gave me the tickets.
"Wouldn't miss it," I said, with relief. "If you'll excuse me, I'll get that paperwork over to the bursar."
With a wave of his hand, JB dismissed me. He and Lillian continued to talk as I walked out the door.
Relief flooded through me. The decision had been taken from me and I couldn't have been happier about that. The question of would I choose Kari based on our relationship no longer needed to be answered. I still knew she was trouble.
***
"Is Alan here?" Kari's sweet trill drifting in from the outer office. "He is expecting me. I am Kari Welborn."
Matty Cather, my current intern, was at the front desk. A fifth-year senior, he wore the bored look of someone just waiting for time to pass. He would graduate in a few weeks and already had a job waiting for him in Atlanta. Unlike Stephan, Matty was never one to let a pretty face leave him at a loss for words.
"He is. But I was really hoping you were here to see me." His playful flirtation came off as more rote than serious. When she didn't rise to his quip, Matty continued. "He's in his office. Go on back."
I had been listening to the exchange through the open door to my office. I stood to meet her, wondering how Kari would play this out. She stepped briskly into my office and my breath caught in my chest. Her hair was brushed out in golden waves. Her skin was glowing with warmth of youthful vigor. Her eyes locked onto mine, deep pools of blue drawing me into their depths.
