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“You would take her under your wing, be a mentor to her?”

“Right I’ll give her responsibilities that will equip her to help you in the ement of your company There’s just so much you can learn within a six month period but I can structure her role and experiences so that they’ll give her a foundation in business You can build on that once her internship is over”

Richard looked doubtful “You know she could easily get that experience at my office”

“True, but how seriously do you think she'd take her job knowing that she could leave work, go shopping and never get fired?”

Richard's lips tightened “I see your point"

“Now I can’t proel but what I do promise is that she’ll leave my company with experience in the various aspects of business”

“Sounds good so far,” Richard said, still with a hint of doubt in his voice “I’ure out the best way to break this to her I know she had her heart set on touring Europe right after graduation but now this? She’s going to have a fit”

“And you, dear Dad, are going to sit her down and let her know she starts work at Steele Industries the first week of July”

“That’s just a week after she gets here”

“What better ti at home, all relaxed She needs to jump in head first”

Richard nodded then he expelled his breath and on his face was a look of relief He rose and stretched out a hand to his partner in crihter is in your hands Let's shake on that" There was a twinkle in his gray eyes as he s yourself into”

Rorasped Richard's hand “Don't you worry about that By the time I'm done your Serena will be a neoman" He smiled, full of confidence, as he released the man's hand "You can trust me on that”

Serena listened distractedly as her friends chattered away Her mind was not with Tammy and Jan today Graduation was just two days away and she was looking forward to her father flying from Toronto to be with her in New York for the cereo back houessed he would throw her aso she'd have to start practicing her 'Oh, osh I'm so surprised' look Serena chuckled to herself Her dad was so predictable

Her s very ireat four years at the exclusive Alexander University and would be graduating ift for that She was dying of curiosity, wondering what it would be The sun-yellow Porsche she'd ads? What if it was that Ferrari she'd pointed out at the auto show? Serena could hardly contain her excitement but she bit her lip and stayed silent No, she wouldn't blurt her ideas out to her friends She really didn't knohat the gift would be The only thing she was sure of was that it was going to be expensive It alas

“Serena,” Tammy said petulantly as she pulled on her friend’s ar if you wanted to go into Saks”

“That's fine,” Serena said, slightly annoyed at being pulled out of her reverie

“It’s only two days before graduation,” Jan said, raising her eyebrows at Serena "Aren't you the least bit anxious since we haven't even bought our dresses yet?"

“We’ll be wearing graduation robes,” Serena said, rolling her eyes "Nobody will see our dresses" Right then she wasn't interested in anything as mundane as a dress

“We’re going to take our robes off sometime, aren't we?” Jan pressed

Serena sighed then turned her attention to her friends She'd s or do her shopping at Prada but she felt a pang of guilt She'd been ignoring theht,” she conceded "We need to get soo"