Dating the Intern

By Natalina Reis

Who would have thought that pretending to be in love could feel so real?

 

Ivory Tower is the successful owner and CEO of an online dating service who prides herself in matching her clients with their true love. Everyone except herself. When a TV studio wants to spotlight her company live on air, Ivory runs into a problem; she can't produce the boyfriend she needs so she doesn't look like a fraud.

When Li Qiang, her ten-years younger and toe-curling handsome intern, offers to pose as her boyfriend, Ivory thinks her problem has been solved, but it's going to take more than the perfect algorithm to get out of this situation. Li Qiang is too easy to love and too hard to forget, and the question remains; does he really love her or is he only playing his role?

Dating the Intern is an age-gap romantic comedy that will make you smile, break your heart, and then make you believe in love all over again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Natalina Reis
• Release date: May 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393745181

Natalina Reis

Natalina wrote her first romance at the age of thirteen. Since then she has published ten romances that defy the boundaries of her genre. She enjoys writing all kinds of rebels and outcasts into her stories and she always roots for the underdog. Natalina doesn’t believe you can have too many books or too much coffee. Art and dance make her happy and she is pretty sure she could survive on lobster and bananas alone. When she is not writing or stressing over lesson plans, she shares her life with her husband and two adult sons.

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Dating the Intern

Copyright © 2021 by Natalina Reis

Coordinated by: Hot Tree Self-Publishing

Editor: Hot Tree Editing

Interior Design: RMGraphX

Cover Designer: RMGraphX

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the author, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

Paperback ISBN: 978-0-578-84545-6

Table of Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Dating Vocabulary

Mandarin Words And Phrases

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Acknowledgements

Author’s Bio

Dedication

I dedicate this book to our wonderful diverse world and the brave, resilient, and kind people that live in it.

Foreword

Those who have read some of my books know by now that I am a language geek. A linguist by trade, I’m fascinated by the intricacies and nuances of language. In this book you’re introduced to Li Qiang, a young professional man from a Chinese background who once in a while uses his ancestral language, Mandarin, to express himself. I’m not a Mandarin speaker and the very few words or phrases I know do not remotely qualify me as an expert. I was lucky enough to conference with a native speaker to make sure I was using these words in the correct context and I’m having fun learning.

As a matter of pure curiosity and to help readers better understand some of the language within this story, I’ve compiled a tiny glossary of sorts not only of the few Mandarin words and phrases but also of a few expressions used in the online dating world today. I hope this makes your reading just a bit more pleasurable.

*Please note that the pronunciation of the Mandarin words (in parenthesis) is only approximate*

Dating Vocabulary

Firedoorers- A one sided relationship in which one person is usually being taken advantage of.

Benchers - In short, a bencher keeps you in their rotation while playing the field, regardless of whether or not you're sitting there waiting and hoping for a monogamous relationship.

Cushioners - Basically, a cushioner is someone who keeps extra guys/gals on the side, mainly to boost their self-esteem and reassure them, just in case things don't work out with the main person they're pursuing.

Mandarin Words and Phrases

Yātou (yah tah) - girl, used normally by a family member as a term of endearment but it can also be taken as condescending.

Nǐ hǎo (nee how) - hello

Duìbùqǐ (doo boo tchee) - I’m sorry, sorry

Mā (mah) - mom

Gūniáng (qoo nyah) - girl, a respectful, more formal word for girl, in the past was used as a title for a young unmarried girl

Shǎ gūniáng (shah qoo nyah) - silly girl

Bìxià (bee-shah) - Your Majesty (addressing royalty)

Wǒ ài nǐ (wah-I-nee) - I love you

Háizi (hi-za) emphasize the h sound like in the word hot - child

Wǒ de ài (wah-die) - my love

Xiǎoli (chao-lee) - literally little Li, a nickname for an adult whose family name is Li

Wei’re (way-er) or Qiang’er (chang-er) - affectionate nickname normally used by close family members. You add an er to the end of a first name.

CHAPTER ONE

Stardom Bound

This should have never happened. Of all the stupid things fate could have come up with, this one topped the cake. I stood there, phone halfway between my ear and the table, stunned out of the ability to move or speak. What the hell had just happened? I had never aspired to fame, being more than satisfied with a successful yet subdued life, perfectly happy blending in with the background, invisible in a crowd. Now, fame was seeking me out. It was freaking beckoning to me, and I, like a brainless butterfly, was answering its call.

When the phone rang, the number on the screen meant nothing to me. I contemplated not answering, but I did, afraid it was another entrepreneur interested in sponsoring or supporting my business. It wasn’t.

Ms. Tower, we have heard so many good things about your agency, a strange voice claiming to be a certain Mr. Robertson, head of programming for a local network channel, said in a sticky voice I instantly disliked. We would love to feature you in a news spot next month. What? Why would anyone want to feature me and my online dating site? We spotlight local businesses every week to show our support. Yours is very successful. We checked out your stats, and we’re impressed by the rate of success you have with your love matches. The words sounded genuine, but the tone didn’t. There was a creepy quality to the man’s voice that made me cringe. Ninety percent success rate is unheard of in this kind of business. Kudos.

I coughed up a thank you, not too sure I understood what he was saying. I did have an amazing success rate in matching my customers with life partners, most of which ended in marriage. The secret was not so much in a complicated algorithm but rather in personal advice and interaction between me, some of my employees, and the customers. At the Ivory Tower Agency, we worked extra hard to make sure our clients got their happily ever after. I had a team of people specially trained to ferret out the firedoorers, the benchers, and the cushioners. People who used our services to mislead others were swiftly dealt with and removed from the system, which in turn made our serious customers—those who were truly looking for the love of their lives—feel safe and happy.

"With springtime upon us, we would love to feature you and some of your customers in a special called Spring Into Love, the slimy man continued. We will not pay you for your trouble, but the exposure you’ll get is priceless." I could use some free advertising. Even though we were doing well on the whole, our profit margin was pretty narrow, and I often struggled to make ends meet. For the kind of services we offered, I needed lots of hands on deck, which cost money. I started employing interns willing to be paid a nominal salary in exchange for the on-the-job experience, but with the business growing as it was, the need for more employees had also grown.

I was tempted. What exactly would it entail? I asked, my red-alert, run-for-the-hills alarm fighting with the wish to get some free publicity.

Nothing much. Why did he sound as if he meant the opposite? A couple of interviews with you, an employee or two, and a few customers. Then we will have you make a live appearance on the news. I sucked in a breath, the idea of being on live TV too terrifying to contemplate. It will be very low-key at an ungodly hour of the morning when very few people will be watching. Was he trying to encourage me to do it or the opposite? How would an appearance on a show no one would watch help my business? He seemed to have read my mind. It will be replayed later in the day during prime time so anything that goes wrong can be edited out before airing the second time. You will get great exposure.

Needless to say, I said yes. Not even five minutes later, the magnitude of what I had just done hit me like a hammer on a nail. Holy shit! I just committed to be on live TV. Me, who couldn’t even stand to look at pictures of myself without wanting to crawl into a giant hole in the ground.

The strident screech of my doorbell snapped me out of my paralysis. I really have to change that stupid bell. I set the phone down on the cocktail table and strode to the door, rising on my tiptoes to look through the peephole. It was Amber Lee, my best friend and general manager who had been with me from the very beginning of my venture into the online dating business.

Unlocking the door, I opened it to allow my friend to mosey on inside, her usual lazy smile stretched across her lips. I heard, she said, throwing her tiny purse onto the couch and setting both hands on her wide hips. It’s about time you step out of your comfort zone.

I closed the door and ignored her, stepping away and throwing myself nonchalantly after her purse on to the soft, overstuffed sofa. No big deal. My words belied the tightness in my gut, the hand of anxiety closing around my stomach. It’s an early, short appearance. I won’t even have to talk much at all. Or so Robertson claimed. I just have to sit, smile, and look pretty. I could do the sitting and the smiling, but I wasn’t sure about the looking pretty part. I was certainly no beauty with my five-foot-three height, plain brown hair and eyes, and freckled face. At most, I could pass for an ordinary-looking woman with average looks.

Amber Lee’s burst of laughter made me want to throttle her, but I reminded myself she was my BFF and that life would be pretty bleak without her by my side. Don’t give me that fucking crap. You’re terrified, and you know it.

The thought tugging at my mind since she walked in finally coalesced into something I could make sense of. Wait! How do you know? I just now talked to Robertson. I narrowed my eyes at her as she made herself comfortable beside me.

Her sky-blue eyes twinkled with mischief. I have a friend at the TV station who told me he was going to call you. I opened my mouth to ask her something else, but she cut me off. How did I know you accepted it? You may be a chicken when it comes to being the center of attention, but you are a good businesswoman, and I knew you would never pass on a chance like this. She knew me too well. So close that gaping mouth of yours and fill me in on all the dirty details.

We spent the next hour or so talking over what the creepy TV guy told me while stuffing our faces with the heavenly dark chocolates a client had brought me from Belgium a week ago. It was always easy to talk to Amber Lee who was painfully honest sometimes but also deeply compassionate. She kept me real when I tended to lose myself in flights of fantasy.

How did the date with Ben go the other day?

I was afraid she would ask about that. Things had not gone well. During our date at a fancy restaurant, I spaced out after the first ten minutes of conversation about how well his favorite hockey team was doing and planned out a whole new marketing strategy for our company in my head. Needless to say, he noticed I wasn’t into him when I answered all his questions with a noncommittal uh-huh and a nod of the head. But to give him due credit, he didn’t catch on until the end of the date; I guess he mistook my dreamy expression for interest.

We won’t be going out again, I said as quickly as I could, hoping she wouldn’t notice. She pinched her lips and opened her eyes so wide, I thought they would pop out of their sockets. Don’t be mad. All he wanted to talk about was hockey. We would bore each other to death within the first couple dates.

You’re too freaking picky for your own good. You will never find a man that way. I wasn’t that interested in finding a man—or at least not for the sake of dating. At heart I was a true romantic, still believing there was one person perfect for everyone. I just hadn’t found mine yet. You dish out all this romance advice to your customers when in fact you have no idea what you’re talking about. How long has it been since you dated?

Not that long. My most recent boyfriend had been long gone since his break-up text six months ago. At that time, I hadn’t seen him in almost two months while he traveled in Northern Europe, getting high and laid every chance he got. I’m too busy for guys.

Amber Lee huffed and folded her arms over her generous breasts. You’re full of shit. You need to follow your own advice and put yourself out there. Not much chance of that. I was a homebody who hated to make small talk and got tongue-tied when speaking to people I didn’t know well. Talking to clients was different, there was a conversation map, so to speak. We were quiet for a moment. She unfolded her arms and sighed. All right, I won’t fight with you anymore. Espresso?

I nodded, and she stood up to go brew us some coffee. I hugged a cushion, my chin resting on the edge. I was lonely but resigned to spending the rest of my life flying solo. I always admired and envied other women who seemed so at ease in social situations, with just the right thing to say hanging on the tip of their tongues at all times. I was the one who hid in a corner, glass of nonalcoholic beverage in hand, wishing someone would come to engage me in conversation with the same ferocity as wishing everyone would leave me be. I was a pain in my own ass, so how could I expect others to think otherwise?

My friend returned from the kitchen—or coffee heaven, as I liked to call it—with the tiny cups in her hand. Guess who just won a literary award this week?

I stretched my hand to take my coffee from her. J.K. Rowling? Yes, I was a huge fan of everything Harry Potter. The coffee smelled heavenly, so I took a long sniff.

Your intern. I looked up from the coffee, raising my eyebrows. Li Qiang. That boy is amazing.

Li Qiang started working for me a couple months back. The man had an incredible resume for someone that young. Only twenty-seven, he already had a master’s in business, two published novels, and now a prestigious award it seemed. Wow, not sure whether to be impressed or jealous. I couldn’t understand why he would want to work as an intern in a company like ours, but I was not about to turn down a good deal. Not to mention that he was very easy on the eyes.

Amber Lee sat next to me again, twitching her nose like Samantha from Bewitched. He’s handsome and brilliant, she said in a tone that suggested a hidden meaning. She wiggled her eyebrows at me, and I furrowed mine, totally confused. She sighed loudly. You’re so thick, girl. I was trying to imply that you should go for him.

My jaw dropped, and I choked on my espresso. What the hell, Lee Lee? I’m not that desperate for a date. I put my coffee down and threw a pillow at her.

She laughed. Right, because it would be such a sacrifice to date a young, hot, brilliant guy. Just because it was true didn’t make it right. I don’t know how you’d bear it.

I humphed and made a face at her. He’s almost ten years younger than me and would never in a million years even consider dating little old me. Not that I’d want it. I was perfectly happy being single.

So you’re telling me you haven’t noticed how beautiful Li Qiang is? Of course I’d noticed. The man was… I didn’t quite have words to describe him. He was tall, a couple inches over six feet at least, and had the most kissable lips I had ever seen in a guy: full and perfectly shaped. I’m not going to lie; I may have daydreamed about kissing him once or twice. I’ve had a few wet dreams about him.

Heat rose to my face so quickly I didn’t have time to hide it. Damn you, Amber Lee. Leave it to you to make me feel like a teenager again. She smirked, satisfied with the reaction she snagged from me. You’re evil, my friend. Yes, I’ve noticed his hotness, but he’s super young and my underling. As soon as I said it, I cringed at my choice of words.

Underling? Who says that? I had fallen straight into her trap. Damn it. She chuckled. This is why dating a younger guy would do you good. You need to catch up with the times, woman.

She might have a point there, however small, but I wasn’t going to date anyone—Li Qiang or anyone else—just because I was lonely. Wait! Shit, I was lonely. I hated when others knew more about me than myself. They probably pitied me, the successful thirty-six-year-old woman with no one to love. How embarrassing.

***

Thanks to my meddling friend, I couldn’t stop stealing glances at Li Qiang from behind the large window that separated my small office from the rest of the space. I found myself wandering over to the glass half wall and watching him from behind my lashes all the while pretending I was reading. At one point, Amber Lee stuck her head through the gap in the doorway to warn me the book in my hands was upside down. She laughed, and I blushed—nothing new there.

Boss, you have a visitor.