The Office Power Struggle

Hello my darling girls,
Rose, such optimism!  I almost didn't recognize you!   Flora, I'm sure the babe intern is telling all his friends that he has a babe boss!

As for moi, there is a new man in my world as of Monday and let me tell you, I am not happy about it.  As you know my company is expanding and my boss is keen on bringing in new, fresh talent.  Enter Damien Hinter, a smart, handsome, 29 -year-old New Yorker.  He's Ivy educated, fluent in French, has a killer CV, in short, he's perfect!  You'd think I'd be swooning (ok, maybe I am a little, he looks like a young Mark Ruffalo!)...  but I'm also fuming!  Damien may be a "catch," but he's also an ASSHOLE.   In his first three days we have clashed on just about everything.  We cannot agree on anything and he refuses to compromise!  Why should I have to compromise when I was here first?!  It is a classic office power struggle.  And the worst part?  My boss seems to love him more than he loves me!  He has a total man-crush and it is just plain sad!  Last weekend I was whisked away on a (secret) vacation and suddenly I'm excluded from business lunches?!  I'm livid.  Who does this guy think he is?!

Calm down, Ophelia!  This will all blow over when Darling Damien is no longer the flavor of the month.  Soon he'll be just another employee and things will go back to normal.  Right?  Tell me I'm right!

Argh, speak of the devil, Damien just sent me a rather condescending email.  This means war.  He has no clue who he is dealing with!  He will seriously regret the day he moved to Paris and crossed paths with me. Ha!

Bisous xx Ophelia

To Reach The Unreachable Star

With all this occupying of cities from Wall Street to Vancouver, I have been thinking a lot lately about the generational differences that have emerged.  To be perfectly honest, I have a hard time relating to the 99%, but at the same time don't really understand why because as an eternal intern, I have also fallen victim to bad policy and a crap economy at the worst possible time...upon graduation from uni.

Being an intern over the last few years has taught me a lot of things, but the thing that it has sparked inside me the most is the belief in the American dream.  I haven't given up hope and have never felt so close to accomplishing the things I have always desired the most.  In fact, sometimes I think that I am privileged for having to endure this crap economy because if it wasn't for that I might not be who I am today.  I have struggled with numerous jobs to support my dream of someday becoming a producer and I appreciate every opportunity all the more because of it.  

I am not bitter.  Maybe I should be.  Yes it's true that I am sometimes late on paying rent, and last week I had to ask my parents to help pay for my broken brakes on my clunk of shit car, but... without a dream, what is there to look forward to?

xxx

Rose

An Embarrassing Coincidence

Ophelia you were in London! You lucky thing, I want to go so badly!

Rose how are you doing mi amiga??

As for me, the most random/embarassing coincidence happened last night! I went out for a few drinks with a girlfriend to Dorians…we hadn’t seen each other since college, she was in town visiting (Ophelia do you remember M? She’s now living in Chicago for some big designer…forgot the name oooops!!) and we decided to go to Dorians for old time sake…I reassure you!!!

We got there…stood at the bar…I had a cider…then another…and another…I guess I just didn’t realize how much I was drinking since we were reminiscing so much, I fully went over the break up with el novio and we actually had a hilarious time – that is, however, until I hear a voice behind me say:

“Flora X.?”

I turned around and to my utter embarrassment of incredibly horrifying surprise…..it was my soon to be, hot as hell, INTERN!!!!!

OMG how had I not put Dorians on my “never go to on a Tuesday night bar” list?!?!!? Of course he would be there! He’s an ivy leaguer, lives on the UES, just graduated…..Dorians is the ONLY place he could be at on a Tuesday night!

On top of it all, I was clearly a little buzzed…and clearly a little off my rocker….so I let my guard down and very randomly started chatting with him…and complementing him…in front of him…to my friend!!!!

Sooooo embarrassing!! Soooooooooooooo embarrassing!! Luckily the conversation between us only lasted max 10 minutes…but still!!!

Have I mentioned his internship starts next Monday!?!?! Ahhhh!

 Flora

The Indifferent Intern

Darlings,

How are you?  Flora, I am jealous of your cute intern, I think I need one of those!  And Rose, dearest Rose!  You have so much to be proud of, this coming year will be sensational, I know it!  In other news, I cannot believe you ran into Julie KT.  What a bitch!  When you see her next be sure to tell her that Ophelia does NOT say hello still hates her guts!  ha!

Nothing new to report on my end.  The boss and I were in London for a few days last week (He had a meeting and I was dying for a trip to Liberty!).  It was wonderful!  A few days of work and then a weekend to play!  Have I mentioned I love my job?!  Well, that's not entirely true.  My job bores me but I love working for someone who just won't say no!  That said, everyone else in the office is definitely starting to dislike me, but what do I care?!  And Rose, I know you're concerned but relax... It will be fine!  The second he falls out of love with me I'll move on!  And I won't think twice about it!

And while on the subject, in case you're wondering, absolutely nothing is happening between the two of us!  I would tell you if it was anything more than an infatuation on his end.  As for me, I remain indifferent.  En plus, the man has a fiancée!  I may be many things but a home-wrecker is not one of them!

I'm in Paris this weekend so give me a shout if you're still not convinced!

Bisous xx Ophelia

Happily Ever After

Oh lord!  You are both debating work romances.  Snap out of it ladies!

As my bday approaches I am having my annual existential crisis.  I have literally been thinking about the meaning of life every day for the last week.  I wish it were as simple as me being satisfied with I think therefore I am...  But I wouldn't be an Eternal Intern if that was enough.

This time last year I had moved up to an assistant... how did I get back to interning?  Thank the lord that at least  my internship is paid at the moment!  I couldn't imagine having to go back to working at Trader Joe's and Urth Cafe to support my eternal intern life!

Perhaps I should have just started out in the mailroom of an agency and stuck it out and progressed within one company.    Perhaps I should have just endured that producer and his dogs that made my life a bit of a nightmare.  Perhaps, I should have taken some more time off to write.  I did finish my first feature script, but what good did that too? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...

Really wishing that life could be a beautiful Disney movie right about now.  Though I have enjoyed every minute of this roller coaster ride, on this birthday I will be wishing for my Happily Ever After... 

xxx Rose

Who Said Looks Don’t Count?

I have found him! Yes, me, ex-Eternal Intern has finally found her dream intern!

It’s been tough…long…fun! And now I have found him!

Not only is he totally qualified, has previous internship experience and has a great and fun personality, but he’s not gay (so rare in this industry and so good for me!!! just joking!!) and totally cute!

He came in for an interview last week and when I met him outside the elevator I nearly fainted….Clearly I was more nervous than him for the interview! He was super chill (but not too chill you know?) with a little touch of seriousness and seems super for the position, and as an office mate ;)

I don’t know what it is, but for the very first time since this f***ing break up, I’m finally starting to find happiness and joy again, and I gues the radar has started working again J

I reassure you this is strictly a professional hire ;) The cuteness only helped me make my decision to take him on…..

More news later…he starts next week!

Flora

Nightmare From The Past

Ophelia,  I'm glad you are having fun, but you have got to seriously be careful with this situation.  You are literally playing with fire here!  I really don't meant to rain on your parade at all babe.  I am just worried about you.  I'll give you a buzz later to chat, I love you and just want to see you happy!

Ladies, do you remember Julie KT? The really irritating know-it-all from college? The one that hooked up with Alex after you guys broke up, O!    She was always talking down to everyone and thinking that she was God's gift to the world.

Well... now she is back haunting my life!  She moved to f ***ing LA!  I ran into her while I was on a run to Whole Foods for work.  Turns out she moved and now wants  to become a script writer!  The part that kills me is that this girl has had a horseshoe up her f***ing ass her entire life and I bet you I will be begging her to be her assistant before too long!   The entire encounter was a nightmare... let's just hope that it doesn't become a reoccurring one!

xxx

Rose

The Sky's the Limit!

Girls!

I am so sorry for not writing sooner!  Rose, I can say from experience that you just might find that you have something in common with the girl and something special might come out of it.  I for one have learned that I actually quite enjoy my boss' company despite hating him for many many months!  What changed?  Our trip to the states!  We were supposed to spend one week working and then a week of holiday to visit but he ended up staying on to be with me and it was magical!   

Yes, I know I am supposed to loathe him and keep him at arms length but honestly girls my whole perspective has changed!  He is so carefree and he lives completely in the moment!  Just blew off our work responsibilities and hit the road!  A whirlwind tour of the USA... on a whim!   New York, Savannah, Miami, New Orleans, Chicago and Boston!  Oh the joys of having a wealthy boss who is completely in love with me!  Now I know you're thinking that I am being reckless and that this will only end badly, but I don't care how it ends... I am having too much fun!  

Now we're back in Paris and I suggested we do it all over again in Europe!  Then in Asia!  Or South America!   Who knows next week I could be in Barcelona, Lisbon, Ibiza, Rome!  He'll go wherever I want to go so the sky is the limit!  

I promise to send postcards!  Hehe! 

Bisous xx Ophelia 

Opposites Attract? Well....

Flora, I am so glad to hear that you are feeling better about things!  You go girl!   Things will only get easier from here.  I'm so jealous that the two of you got to see each other once again!   O, I expect you to get your ass to the west coast next time!

So the "Pool Side Productions" is going stellar!  I am literally having the time of my life and I feel like this is what I came to LA to do.  The perks are endless and I couldn't be happier to get up in the mornings.  I do a lot of his personal errands, but like I said in an earlier email, I also assist his assistant with a number of the diary and phone duties.

What's the catch?  Well there is isn't one!  Not really... I mean not one that is worth dwelling on... even though it is beginning to really get under my skin.... OK OK...  I'll tell you!

The other assistant is really great and has been extremely helpful, but we have absolutely nothing in common!  She like reality tv and I avoid it like the plague... she is a vegan and I live for burgers... she dresses up every single day of work and I can barely get myself to brush my teeth in the morning...  she loves angry girl music and I blast the Glee soundtrack whenever I can... the worst curse word I have ever heard her use is Fudge and I swear like a trucker!!!

So what does all of this lead to?  Very polite small talk.  We seriously can't have a proper conversation because we don't understand each other's references, tastes, jokes...

She is absolutely lovely though, so I am trying to look past her unfortunate taste in ... well... EVERYTHING!

xxx

Rose

Interview Central

O. it was amazing seeing you! You made the transition back to single life that much easier ;)

It’s still not super easy…and I have to admit that I’m still having a little trouble eating up my lunch, but I do feel 100x better!

Ironically so far another good therapy that’s been helping me find my smile again, is…believe it or not, interviewing candidates for a new intern position.

The interviews have been so unbelievably wacked out, that every time I walk in and out of one, I’m either smiling, laughing or crying (of laughter). It’s been like watching some good Comedy Central…or should I say Interview Central – the stand up comedy for job interviews.

So far, 2 candidates have arrived asking for a job (it’s an interview for an internship!!), another has asked where he can find job postings for the company (hmmm buddy you’re interviewing with me for an internship at the very company, shouldn’t you focus on that?), one asked for a coffee as he walked in the door (is that proper interview etiquette? Shouldn’t you wait to see if I ask you if you want one?), another spilled her glass of water she was so nervous (she had said one of her qualities was resistance to stress...hmmmm not quite...) and a last one ran out of the room at one point to use the bathroom (I guess it was an emergency!).

The good news, I’m feeling better! My sense of humour is back and so is my smile! The bad news, I’m having a hell of a hard time finding an intern! Today candidates are either far too qualified or too under-qualified!!

OMG! Now is when I wish I was still an intern and didn’t have all these responsibilities!!

Flora xoxo