Chapter Text
Rey wakes up on a chilly Wednesday morning to the buzz of phone. She is still lying in bed comfortably under the covers. Feeling all groggy, she picks up her phone to see a new e-mail notification from First Order Strategies. Those 3 words are enough to have her quickly sit right up in bed, hands slightly shaking. She can almost hear the pounding of her heart. Nervously, she clicks onto the notification and swiped up her screen, ignoring all other notifications. The email begins to load.
From: [email protected]
Subject: First Order Strategies Internship Programme – Internship Placement (Rey Johnson)
Dear Rey,
Thank you for your interest in First Order Strategies’ Internship Programme and for your time spent in our recruitment process so far. We are keen to extend an internship opportunity to you.
Intern Role: Management Consultant Intern
You will work alongside other business analysts and report directly to the project manager. Your main tasks will include performing detailed requirements analysis and documenting processes. To succeed in this role, you should have a natural analytical way of thinking and be able to explain difficult concepts to non-technical users.
The rest of the Intern role responsibilities and offer term can be found in the Internship Offer Letter as attached.
If you are accepting this internship offer, please complete the attached document and send it back to us (in PDF) by the end of the week so that we can kickstart your onboarding process.
Should you have any questions or clarifications along the way, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Kaydel Connix
Talent Acquisition
Human Resources
First Order Strategies
“I got the internship!” Rey throws her phone on her bed and proceeds to make some muffled screams of happiness into her pillow. Lying back down in bed, she cannot stop smiling.
This is the best day of my life, she thought to herself. She has been waiting for this email for the longest time. As a third-year business student, Rey has been actively applying for internships for the upcoming summer vacation. An aspiring consultant, she’s looking to venture into the consulting sector upon graduation, and this offer e-mail meant that she is one step closer to pursuing her dreams.
She immediately grabs her phone again and sends a quick text message to her clique group chat. Her close friend group consists of Rose, Finn and herself.
She met both Rose and Finn on their very first day of freshmen year, during their orientation camp. Being in the same orientation group, they clicked immediately and have been best friends ever since.
Like Rey, Finn never knew his parents but was adopted into a loving family at a very young age. As for Rose, she was probably one of the sweetest girls she has ever met At New Republic University, the trio studies at the Organa Business School. It’s named after Leia Organa, the famous businesswoman and philanthropist in New York. She had donated a huge some of money to the business school, hence NRU named it after her.
The trio has been taking their classes together as much as they can for the past three years, which not only meant that they have been spending a lot of time together, but also that they did not really have other close-knitted friends outside of this friend group. Rey and Rose have the same aspiration of becoming consultants once they graduate, while Finn was more interested in marketing.
Rey: Guys! Guess what!
Finn: What.
Rose: What!!
Rey: Drum roll, please…
Rey: I just got offered an internship position at FOS. I didn’t think that I was going to get it because Rose got the offer like two days back.
Finn: Congrats! <3 I’m so proud of you. I know how much you wanted this internship. I hope that the wait for them was worth it!
Rose: Yay! When are you starting yours? Is it the same as mine?
Rey: Yea, I think so. They want me to start on the Monday right after our last paper. Same as you, right?
Rose: Yep! I wanted to renegotiate for another day because we only have a two-day break, but that’s okay. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my summer with you!!
Rey: But I think we’re in different departments though. I’m at the tech side and you’re in the operations side.
Rose: Eh, that’s okay, we’re still in the same company, this is so exciting!
Finn: Guys, don’t make me jealous, I’m at a different company for my internship but our companies are like 5 mins apart. Don’t forget about me.
Rey: We would never! Anyway, I’ll text y’all later. I can’t wait to tell Luke about this fantastic news!!
Rey quickly dials Luke’s number to share with him her good news. Within a few seconds, he picks up her call.
“Hey sweetheart, it’s so good to hear from you. I was just thinking of giving you a call.” Luke said cheerfully over the phone. So, what’s up?”
“I just got an internship offer from First Order Strategies!”
“Congratulations Rey, I knew you’d get it. I’m so proud of you for working so hard.”
The conversation with Luke goes on for another 30 mins, drifting over the topics of school, friends and love life. The two are inseparable, but ever since Rey moved out for college, they had not had enough opportunities to spend time together.
As usual, Rey’s circle of friends revolved around Rose and Finn, and her love life was dead quiet. She found it hard to believe that someone, anyone, truly loves her for who she is. She cannot stand the thought of falling head over heels for someone, only to have them wake up one day realising that this relationship is not what they wanted, and they walk out on her. That is just so much at stake.
“Well, I’ve really got to go, I’ve got a session with Maz.” Rey has an appointment with her therapist in an hour’s time, and she needs some time to freshen up and travel down to the clinic.
“Alright, have a good session and take care of yourself!”
“It was so great talking to you; I miss you so much.”
“And I miss you too.” Rey sighs and quickly gets ready.
***
The first half of the session goes relatively smoothly. Rey shares with her therapist Dr Katana about her internship and for once, she is excited with what the future holds for her. Today is one of her better days and there are not many like this.
“Rey, how have you been coping lately asides from that? I want to touch on what we discussed in the last session on healthy coping mechanisms.” Maz tries to bring up the topic of Rey’s abandonment issues carefully – the main reason why Rey is actually going for therapy.
“How do I say it,” Rey pauses. “Things hasn’t been going exactly been going the way I want it too, especially in terms of taking real steps to deal with my childhood trauma.” She looks down to the floor as if she is ashamed of herself. Well, she actually is.
Rey learnt from a young age that she has been abandoned. She never knew her parents. Foster care was not the best environment to grow up in as a child, especially when her first foster parent, Unkar Plutt, is a money-grubber. The only reason why he ever became a foster parent was for the stipend. On top of her abandonment issues, the inadequacies from his flawed care left her with many baggages of trust issues and insecurity.
At least I had a home. That was what she told herself throughout the years under his care.
That was until the day Rey found the courage to report Plutt with the help of her homeroom teacher whom she had gotten close to and managed to mother to another foster home when she was twelve. She was lucky enough to have Luke Skywalker as her new foster parent. He was the supportive parental figure she never had.
She never took his last name – but she hopes to change to his in future. After all, she is eternally grateful to have met him.
That being said, even with Luke’s warming heart and patience, childhood trauma never really goes away. Her constant fear of abandonment, even by Luke one day, makes it even harder for her to get close to a guy, to even stay in a long term relationship with one. Yes, she has dated a few people here and there, but they were nothing serious.
“In all honesty, I feel like I’m trying. But I haven’t done anything you said. One thing for sure is I haven’t got off tinder yet.”
One of Rey’s toxic traits is matching with guys on Tinder, showing them excessive interest, and ghosting them after a while because they’re either in too deep or she got bored.
Maz listens patiently and does not interrupt.
“I feel like I’ve never genuinely loved, or even liked a person before. Most of my feelings feel so superficial, kinda like when a child gets a new toy, plays with it, gets bored and wants another new toy.”
Maz nods and scribbles something on her clipboard.
“I will be better soon, I promise,” Rey adds on quickly as if she had something to prove.
“You don’t need to promise me anything. I know you’re trying. Even you said it yourself. The first step of personal growth is acknowledging that you have a problem. And you do know your problem. And that’s are a really big deal.”
Rey listens carefully to her words and leans back in her chair. Maz looks at the time, the session is almost up.
“I’ll leave you with one last thing to keep in mind. Never undermine yourself, you are so much more than you think you are.”
“Thank you, Maz. You don’t know how appreciative I am for you, your patience and your kindness.”
Maz stands up and holds the door open for Rey. “See you next month and take care.”
“You too.”
Rey quickly books the next appointment with the administrative clerk at the front desk. It is one of the evenings during the first week of her summer internship. Once that is done, she gives the clerk a wave, picks up two pieces of candy on the counter and walks out of the door.
***
Back at her apartment, Rey swipes through her notifications list to see what she has missed out earlier today.
She lives in a tiny studio apartment 20 minutes train ride from NRU and near the city centre of Manhattan. She is lucky, she really is. She could never afford the rent payment if not for Luke. Luke and Rey actually spent a couple of weeks after getting her acceptance letter to NRU to choose a suitable apartment for her.
Luke has been single all his life, never married. With no children of his own, he decided one day that he wanted to become a foster parent. He had no idea being a parent was like, but he wanted to try. Rey moved in with him shortly after his application. To think of it, it has been almost ten years since.
Rey enjoys the space, freedom and solidarity that came with living alone. It was daunting at first, but soon enough, she was so thankful that she lives alone. Nothing would be worse than having unreasonable, unkind roommates. And despite their closeness, Rey, Finn and Rose do not share an apartment together, mainly because they already see each other like five days a week. But every now and then they do come over and stay with each other, for extra bonding time.
It was a cosy 200 square feet home with one bedroom, one bathroom and a tiny living room. Several pots of succulents and indoor plants can be spotted all over her apartment. She loves how low maintenance yet beautiful they are, brightening every corner of the room. Antique and vintage seating surrounds a mid-century cocktail square table. The floors were concrete, and the walls were of a neutral off white colour. The kitchen had white brick-like walls with cedar green cabinetry, painted by her.
Rey looks at her phone screen. She has a whole bunch of notifications from Tinder, and she clicks on one of them to open the app.
7 new matches and 15 new messages.
She scans through her chat list to see what she has missed and noticed an unfamiliar face there.
Kylo Ren: Hey, I’m new to this city. Wanna have dinner with me sometime?
Finally, a man who is straight to the point and not sending her silly, overused pick-up lines. Instead of replying him back, she clicks his profile first.
Rey’s eyes widen and mouth hangs open.
He. Is. Gorgeously. Attractive. She thought to herself. She cannot believe her eyes. He has a built of a tree with very strong facial features. He probably looked awkward at some point in his life but now, his looks are thriving.
He has two pictures, both in formal wear. In the first picture was a close up, side shot of his face and upper torso. He had his long black hair combed back neatly with black bow tie. It looks like it was taken at an important, formal event. His side view is impeccable.
The second picture was a full body shot of him, also in formal wear, but without the bow tie. The first two buttons of his white shirt are unbutton, accentuating his broad chest. He had a big built, and she can easily tell from the photograph that he regularly exercises.
Almost instantaneously, she takes a screenshot of the image and sends it to her group chat with Finn and Rose inside.
Rey : Guess who just chatted me up on tinder.
Rose: Holy shit Rey, how are you always matching with guys this attractive? What a unique name too.
Rose: Finn, you gotta see this.
Finn: OMG, I am shook. What did he send you?
Rey: He said that he’s new to the city and he’ll like to have dinner with me sometime. What do you guys think? Am I up for this?
Rose: Ooh that sounds so exciting. Please tell me you’re going to say yes.
Finn: Of course you are up for this.
Rey: Well, I mean, for all I know, he could be a catfish.
Rose: Just meet him in a public place. Based on my sixth sense, he looks really sweet.
Rey: I was thinking of asking if he’ll be available for dinner this Friday evening. Remember that Italian place we went to a few weeks back? I’ve been craving it ever since.
Finn: Sounds good to me, they have an amazing ambience.
Realising that she has left him on read, Rey quickly replies Kylo of her availability, along with the restaurant’s menu.
***
Rey decides to spend the rest of her Wednesday at home celebrating her internship offer and spends her entire Thursday in school. She had two back to back classes in the morning, and after, she camped at NRU’s library to get some work done. Nothing beats a productive day with her two best friends. For the entire day on Thursday, Rey barely replied Kylo’s messages because she was so engrossed with her university work. She had 3 group reports due in two weeks’ time and her third year of study was coming to an end. One more year and she will graduate.
Her short conversation with him consisted mostly of them sharing about what they’re up to that day and some sharing of hobbies here and there. She recalls that he mentioned that he has just resigned from his previous work and moved here for another job.
She spends Friday studying in her own apartment because she did not want to waste the time travelling to school and carrying all her things to the dinner with Kylo.
Her phone buzzes.
Kylo: I’ve booked a reservation at 7.
Rey: Okay, see ya.
Kylo: It’s a date.
***
As Rey makes her way to the restaurant, she receives another text from him.
Kylo: I’m already inside. It’s under my name.
Rey: I’m so sorry, I’ll be reaching in 5. Under Kylo?
Rey speeds up her walking pace. The last thing she wants her first impression to be is late.
Kylo: Don’t be, I’m early after all. Yes, it’s under Kylo Ren. I’m in a white t-shirt and jeans in case you tell if it’s me.
Rey: Okay! I look forward to seeing you. I’m in a long dress.
Rey chuckled and puts her phone back into her pocket. Within minutes, she’s outside the restaurant. She stands at the entrance nervously to catch a breath. She straightens out her dress with her hands and brushes her shoulder-length brown hair behind her ears. With another deep breath, she walks up the steps and pushes the door open.
The restaurant is a well-lit room with numerous light bulbs hanging in the shape of an arch, making it very inviting. The walls are wooden in texture and the floor is filled with dark grey tiles. There is a bar counter with a white tabletop. She loves the beautiful interior. As it is a Friday night, the place is relatively crowded. She makes a mental note to thank him for making the reservation.
“Good evening miss, do you have a reservation?” the friendly waiter asked.
“Hi, I have a reservation for two under Kylo Ren, and I believe that he’s already here?” She stands nervous, looking around the restaurant for someone in white.
The waiter quickly scans the reservation list and nods his head at her. “Follow me this way, miss.”
As Rey walks behind him, she begins to feel a bit more jittery than she was earlier on the way to the restaurant. Nervously, she interlocks and unlocks her fingers incessantly. She had no idea what to expect. Does he look exactly like his profile picture? Is he a catfish? Will he smile when he sees her? What does his voice sound like?
The feeling of meeting someone for the first time is always exciting yet apprehensive. To learn about someone and unravel them like a story is always the most exciting part, she will never know what to expect.
There he was, sitting there, eyes fixated on something on his phone screen. Their table is all the way inside the restaurant. Kylo is wearing a fitted white crew-neck t-shirt and dark blue denim jeans, a huge contrast from the suit he was wearing in his profile picture. On his feet was black and white Air Jordans 1.
As soon as he sees her approaching him, he stands up ready to greet her and stretches his hand out for a handshake.
“Hi Rey, it’s so good to see you.” He gives her a warm smile. He stares at her with intensity, and her eyes trail down his face to his torso.
He stands tall with such broad shoulders. The white sleeves snugly wrap around his huge biceps and Rey cannot help but stare. He is the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. His hair is ruffled up and in loose waves that fall to the side of his face. In her mind, she cannot decide if she likes this hairstyle, or the one in his profile pic better. She quickly reaches out for his hand and shakes it.
“Uh, hi,” her voice was softer and gentler than usual, embarrassed that he caught her staring. He has many beauty marks on his face, and they are made more obvious from the contrast of his pale skin.
For someone who is extroverted and talkative, she monetarily finds difficulty in continuing the conversation with him. She is so overwhelmed by his exterior that she cannot do anything else but inhale all that is in front of her. And he even smells nice, gosh. He waits for her to continue her sentences but she does not.
“You’re as pretty as your picture. I love your dress.” He speaks, trying to avoid any awkward pauses with them. After all, the first conversation with a stranger always requires more effort.
“Thank you, I bought this last week and it’s my first time wearing it.” Rey blushes and tucks her hair behind her ears.
Rey was wearing a sleeveless linen maxi dress. The white fabric has multiple vertical grey stripes, making her look poise and taller than she is. The flat shoulder straps show her shoulders and the fitted waistline flatters her slim body shape. She wore a pair of black leather mules with some gold detail, as well as canvas tote back to pair with her dress. With extra time to get ready for the dinner, she even curled her shoulder-length chestnut hair into loose waves.
“And I almost forgot, this is for you.” He picks up a red rose on the table and passes it to her.
“Is this for me? You shouldn’t have.” Rey loves flowers. Her favourites are baby’s breath, followed by roses. “I love it so much. Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Glad you like it.” He smiles back. She looks at the flower again, grinning from ear to ear. She brings it to her nose to get a whiff of the scent. Who would have thought that such a little gesture will go a long way?
She then takes a seat, and he follows suit. They first spend some time looking at the menu in silence, deciding on what to order. After a few minutes, the same waiter, James, approaches them.
“Are you ready to order?”
Kylo looks up as her, waiting for her to say her order first.
“I’d like to get the Penne Al Pollo, please,” Rey replies.
“And I’ll have the Prawn Aglio Olio. If you’re okay with it,” He looks at her. “We’ll like to have some red wine to pair with our mains.”
Rey nods in agreement. The waiter nods too to acknowledge the order. He then steps away, giving them some time to get to know each other better.
“So, Rey, tell me more about your day.” Kylo clears his throat. Now that it is just the two of them, he seems to sound a little nervous. “You’ve been busy over the past few days. What have you been up to?”
“I’ve been busy with projects and studying for finals because my semester is about to end in a couple of weeks. I’m in my third year and am graduating next summer.” She adds. He listens attentively, nodding at every little thing. “I spend my day at home and got some work done. Then, I took my time to get ready and here I am!” She said gleefully.
“That sounds nice, thank you for spending your Friday evening with me.”
“You’re welcome.” Rey blushes. She likes how he was so respectful and careful with his words throughout their conversation.
“It’s been almost a week since I’ve arrived in Manhattan.” Kylo begins. “Spent the whole week clearing up my new apartment and buying whatever necessities I need.”
“What’s that like? Your apartment?” Rey asks. You can tell a lot about a person by the kind of apartment they have. Rey loves nature and the natural tones in her apartment remind her of the tranquillity of the forest.
As for her vintage furniture, Rey initially bought them at thrift stores and flea markets because of how cheap they were for the quality, but over the years she started growing on to them. Furthermore, the craftsmanship is nothing compared to today’s factory-made furniture for the same price range.
“As a monochrome type of guy, I pride myself in having only black, white or grey furniture and I keep all the walls white. Modern minimalism is what I am for.”
“That sounds beautiful. Almost as if you just described one of the apartments featured on Architectural Digest.” Kylo chuckles at her compliment.
“You can come to see if you want, actually.” Kylo pauses. “You don’t have to, of course, no pressure.” His left arm stretches pointing to a direction ahead of him. “I actually live a few blocks from down here… if you’re still interested, you can come over and take a look.”
Rey is hesitant. But she really wanted to see his apartment too. And she wants to get to know him better.
“Ask me again after dinner,” Kylo smirks at her response.