RE: RE: Corporate Team Building Retreat [ end]

“No. I can’t be fired. I just started!” Ninfia slams her fist against her cubicle desk, knocking over one of her many desk toys. A bunch of sticky notes flutter down like leaves onto her inbox as she pulls back into her chair, having been walked back to her desk from the main retreat by one of the employees. On her desk is her notes on Tuering coffee machines – happier times.

“Sure. But Mr. Smith’s been very hawkish lately after all the reports of sabotage at the retreat, and records have that the latest thing to go wrong – Mr. Smith’s car exploding in the company parking lot -- they run back to… you.”

“That doesn’t even make any sense,” Ninfia hisses. “I work in Marketing! Marketing! What do we have to do with a car? Parking is someone else’s job entirely!”

“Your bike was parked precariously close to Mr. Smith’s car,” the employee replies matter-of-factly. “Who knows? Maybe you rigged it when you went out for whatever you kids do nowadays. Either way, Mr. Smith’s signed off on it and you’ll have to clean up your cubicle, your time here is done.”

“This is rigged. This is totally rigged. Is it because I’m an intern?” Ninfia stands, glaring at the employee. “I demand to talk to John Smith.”

“Tell that to security,” the employee mutters as they stand up. “You think you can talk to Mr. Smith? Please.”

“But I haven’t even been paid yet!” Ninfia shouts as the employee walks away. “Don’t I get a say in any of this? What about—“

The employee shrugs.

“Call it unpaid experience. Exposure, even. Isn’t that what you students are about?”