It was finally Friday, and the sweltering heat outside seemed to match Kenna’s excitement for the end of the week. She had carefully chosen her outfit to combat the temperature, opting for a light black top, a tight pink skirt, and pink high heels that made her feel confident and put-together. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, keeping her neck cool and sweat-free. As she arrived at the office, she couldn’t resist a quick glance in the mirror, admiring the way her outfit accentuated her curves.

The morning flew by in a blur of organizing customer files and reading up on client profiles. It was mundane work, but it gave her a chance to learn more about the industry and the people she would be working with. As lunchtime approached, Kenna’s thoughts turned to the brown bag on her desk, containing a humble sandwich she had planned to eat in the park. But before she could make a move, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

“Hey, you must be the new intern. My name is Todd. I’m one of the marketing directors here.” Todd had short blond hair, was on the skinnier side, but moved with a sort of elegance.

“Very nice to meet you, Todd. My name is Kenna. Yes, I started here this week. It’s been quite the whirlwind.” She said, fanning her face.

“My name is Phil. I’m also one of the marketing directors. I work a few floors down. Phil was also skinny, but quite a bit taller with brown wavy hair. “We were thinking, since it’s your first Friday here, we thought we would take you to Maxwell’s. It’s just down the street and it’s mostly industry folks. Lunch is on us. What do you say?”

Kenna took a look at her sad brown bag. “Of course! I would love to join you guys!” She took her lunch and tossed it right into the garbage.

The three of them walked to the restaurant. Quite a few people waved to them as they walked by. Clearly, they were well known in the area. “We made reservations a few weeks ago. This place can get busy.” Todd said as he held the door open for her. The hostess greeted them and guided them to their table. The restaurant had a strange layout, with many tables at different levels and angles. It was clearly designed with style, not efficiency in mind. Their table was on a lower area near the back with round table and circular bench seat. Todd guided her in and the men sat on either side of her.

The conversation immediately got to work. They started talking about various clients and what they needed to prepare for them.

A waitress appeared from around the corner. “Hey guys. Welcome back. What can I get for you?”

“Three martinis, a little dirty.” Todd immediately answered.

“Wait,” Kenna said “I’m not sure I should be drinking and then going back to the office.”

Phil chuckled. “You clearly don’t know S&A. Unless you have a client meeting, most people have started their weekend. I guarantee most of the office will be sauced.”

“I don’t know. I’m not really a fan of martinis. Maybe I could just have wine?” Kenna said, looking at them hopefully.

“You just haven’t had a proper martini. This place makes the best ones”

When the martini arrived, she understood what they meant. It was very cold, with a hint of olive, which she really enjoyed.

“Just remember to drink it fast. Nothing worse than a room temperature martini.” Todd said, taking a healthy sip.

Over the next while, the two men would talk to each other about business. They didn’t ask her any questions, which surprised her. Kenna enjoyed listening in, because she did get to learn more about the industry, but she felt a bit like a third wheel. The martinis kept coming and since she was talking so little, she found herself finishing off her drink more often than she planned to. The booze was really getting to her and she felt quite tipsy. Had she had three martinis or four? She couldn’t remember. She started to wonder when they would actually eat something. All the booze had made her quite hungry, but since they were paying, she didn’t want to impose ordering food. She assumed they would order food when they were ready.

As Kenna sat at the table, sipping her drink, Todd’s voice cut through the din of the restaurant. “Hey Kenna. I hear that Justin hired you.” She turned to face him, her eyes locking onto his and glad to be part of a conversation. “Yes. He was really nice. I’m really glad he let me have this opportunity,” she replied, trying to sound confident.

Todd shifted closer, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. “Then I guess he told you the intern policy here.” His words were accompanied by a gentle touch on her bare thigh, making her jump in surprise. Some of her drink spilled onto the table as she struggled to process what was happening.

“I just want you to know something,” Todd continued, his hand still resting on her thigh. “We would like to help you out. Show you the ropes. We can be really helpful.” Kenna’s mind reeled as Todd’s hand began to move up and down her thigh, making her squirm uncomfortably in her seat.

Phil, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up. “Yeah, we can definitely show you the ropes. Introduce you to some of the clients.” His voice was smooth, but Kenna detected a hint of slyness behind his words.

Todd’s grip on her thigh tightened, and he leaned in closer.