Playing with Power - Book 3: New Adult Office Romance by Adele Huxley Page A

they don’t understand how much work goes into making it a reality, nor do they really care. They work on commission and no CEO is going to rein them in.”
    “Right, I can see that now,” she nodded.
    Lauren went over StyleSpur’s tech stack and explained the direction they were headed over the next few years. Rochelle pleasantly surprised her, demonstrating from the beginning that she was a quick learner and eager to get into it. Asking all the right questions, taking notes, and even when she didn’t understand something her assumptions were spot on. Her face lit up when Lauren showed her Codeacademy, a free online website designed to teach the basics of a variety of programming languages.
    “This is perfect. I’m gonna check this out tonight when I go home!”
    “Well good! I haven’t used it myself but I’ve heard great things. I think starting tomorrow, we’ll get you to shadow Amit for a week or so, just to see how things operate on a daily basis. If you have any questions just come to me, okay?”
    “Yeah, thanks so much. I was really worried about this part of the internship. It sounds stupid, but I always thought of programming as a male profession. It’s intimidating, you know? But it doesn’t seem as difficult as I’d thought. I shouldn’t have doubted myself.”
    Lauren choked up a little, hearing a little bit of herself in those words. “That’s really good to hear. I think you’re going to do great.” She walked to her desk blinking back tears, happy that she might have the chance to mentor someone a little. And where will I find the time for that? she wondered to herself. Doesn’t matter. I can make time.

8.
    “I will never understand why you refuse to buy an air conditioner,” Lauren groaned. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
    “Ummm, let’s see...because I’m dirt poor? The last time I had one my electric bill shot up to $200. It was either that or food and I’m kind of addicted to eating. Sweating is good for the skin, so quit your bitchin’,” Ali replied. “Of course, I have to shower three times a day or I’ll smell like a sweat lodge, but that’s neither here nor there.”
    The two girls were hanging out on the fire escape just outside Ali’s window, trying to grab whatever breeze decided to float their way. Lauren sat a couple steps up the stairs while Ali leaned over the railing, watching the traffic roll by on the busy street below. The still, humid air was pregnant with the promise of storms. The patches of cloudy sky visible between the buildings told the same story. It was nearly September and the city had been gripped by a scorching heat wave for eight days. Summer just didn’t want to let go and Lauren yearned for the crisp autumn air.
    “Oh wait! I forgot, I did get something for us,” Ali declared, stepping her long legs through the open window. A minute later she stretched her arm out from the void, extending a glass of cold white wine. “Take it!” Lauren happily grabbed the glass and took a sip. “Now take this,” Ali declared, her disembodied arm waving up and down.
    “What the hell is it?” Lauren asked once she’d reemerged, looking dubiously at the device in her hand. It was about five inches long, rounded, and made of a smooth, white plastic.
    “It’s a fan, look.” Flicking a switch on the side, the object came to whirring to life. The fan was small but powerful, making Ali’s hair blow back to something Farrah Fawcett-esque. “And then if you press this button, it mists.”
    Lauren switched hers on and was granted temporary relief. “Whew. I thought you were handing me a dildo,” Lauren giggled.
    “Seriously? This tiny thing? Oh honey, we need to have a talk if—”
    “No, that’s quite alright. I’m all set in the dildo department,” she said, taking another big gulp. The cold liquid felt great running down her throat.
    “No really, I’ve got a few you could borrow if you needed,” Ali said,