Lexi took her to a coffee shop on the next block, and Noelle decided to say everything. Lexi shook her head, as if anticipating everything she heard. Lexi knew how Isabella could behave. She was shocked though when she heard that she attacked her.
"I don't understand why she behaved like this. She shouldn't be jealous at all," Lexi said.
"I would be a bit jealous if my boyfriend was saying the things he said..."
"Yeah! Right! Of course!" Lexi agreed emphatically, nodding with every word. "Well, he's done it already!"
"Is he always so scheming? Is this how he succeeded?"
Lexi started laughing out loud. "This? How...?" she managed among her cackles. "No, sweetie, no," she continued when she calmed down. "He leaves all the planning to Chloe. He doesn't think at all usually. Strategy is an unknown word to him. But he is stubborn. And when he sets his mind on something... he starts thinking."
"I made him think?" Noelle asked, thinking how 'lucky' she was.
"Apparently. Well don't worry. I guess Chloe will figure it out. Less than two months are left," Lexi said.
"Three months. You mean the internship, right?" Noelle asked as the number didn't match up.
Lexi looked startled. "Oh… What am I saying! You are right," Lexi said quickly. "Do you want something to eat?" Lexi asked and gave her the menu.
Noelle had absolutely no appetite.
When Noelle returned, she found Chloe in her office. Noah was also there. He looked cool and distant. He greeted them with a casual nod, as if nothing had happened, and went to the meeting room with his laptop.
All the others seemed to be long gone.
Chloe waved at Noelle, asking her to join her.
"Sit down, Noelle," Chloe said when she closed the door. "I am in the most unpleasant position..." she started saying with a slight pause.
Noelle felt like she was losing the ground beneath her feet.
This is it. It's all over. The internship, the thesis, the dream – all gone before even started. If only you could give me just a little more time...
"Noelle, are you ok? You look a bit pale" Chloe asked.
"No, I am ok, please go on," Noelle replied. She would accept it with dignity.
"So… I'm so sorry, I need to apologize again for Luca's behavior. And for his girlfriend's this time. I know they are both unprofessional and childish. I am profoundly shocked by Isabella's attack. Listen, Noelle. I know this is too much for a young girl. I will totally understand if you want to resign. I am also open to discussing the issue of your compensation in any case," Chloe explained.
Noelle reflected carefully on what she heard. On one hand, she was not being thrown away; she was actually granted the option to leave. On the other hand, she heard something about compensation.
Is this my lucky day? Or should I be extra careful?
"Is this a subtle way of asking me to leave?" Noelle asked.
"No. I would ask it directly if that was my target", Chloe affirmed.
Noelle straightened her back and raised her head. They had started a war and that was their first battle. It was too early to admit defeat.
"I don't want to leave. I am not scared that easily. I came here with a purpose and I plan to finish what I have started. I think I like working with you," she said.
Chloe smiled. "I'm glad you have a backbone. I was expecting that from you. But it's obvious that I cannot guarantee that the environment will be... sophisticated. I realized that today. Will you be fine with that?" she asked Noelle.
"As long as you want me here, I'll be fine," she lied.
As the war was evolving, she would need allies. Chloe was the most important ally she could gain.
I have to appear strong and bold in front of her, someone worthy of her support.
"That's a deal. I will tell you if and when you don't need to be around anymore. When the time comes, I will let you go. Ok?" Chloe suggested, smiling.
"Yes! Thank you again for the opportunity!" Noelle said shyly.
Chloe nodded. "I feel I must bring up the issue of your compensation again," she added a bit formally.
"What do you mean?"
"Well... We are used to offering compensation for incidents that affect... others. Noah is currently investigating if there was any sort of leak."
Hm... Easy money....
She was bribing her not to talk about what happened. She never thought that she could gain money for keeping her mouth shut.
How nice it would be to get some extra cash? She wasn't comfortable with asking her parents for pocket money. They were already paying a lot for her. And her internship would offer her an amount that barely covered her meals for a month.
For a second, she pictured it... Extra cash, independence... Then, a wave of disgust washed over her.
Ugh!
Accepting money without giving something in return, apart from being illegal in many cases, meant that the person giving the money owns you.
Nobody will own me.
"I don't want anything. If I'm part of the team, I will protect the brand and the asset as part of my job," she replied sharply.
Chloe looked amused with the answer, and smiled widely. "I'm glad you see yourself as a team member! But… asset? Well, indeed he is an asset. Though, is he tangible or intangible?" she asked.
"Fixed," she said without hesitation. "Heavy, immovable, and depreciates rapidly without maintenance."
Chloe let out a low whistle, clearly amused. "Ouch. Let's stick with 'brand' only, shall we? And definitely don't write that in your thesis."
Noelle felt bad. She had said something out of bitterness but probably offended Chloe. "Sorry, I understand it sounds contemptuous."
"It's ok. He also calls himself a product from time to time."
This is self-awareness...
"So, if we are going to move ahead, let's take baby steps. I want you to take the rest of the day off. You need to cool down a bit. Tomorrow morning, let's review a bit your resource plan, shall we?" Chloe said.
"Yes, of course," Noelle replied.
It was only natural to send her home. They need to do damage control, serious stuff, and an offended intern would only get in their way.
She walked back home. It took her more than half an hour. Every step cleared her mind. By the time she reached her apartment, she had a new resolve.
Find a way to win the next battle. She wasn't an ant or any other insect someone could just step on.