Chasing the Dream: Dream Series, Book 3 Read Online Free PDF Page B

and I’m at Columbia getting my MF, and I’ll be working with Allison.”
    My turn. Well, if I’m going to be a communications major, I’d better communicate. I stood up, but my heel caught on the carpeting, and I fell back into my chair with a thud . Snickers filled the room. Suddenly, I felt like my blonde ponytail was pulled too tightly and that my face was as pink as a sunburn, but I cleared my throat and stood again.
    “Well, my name isn’t Grace,” I said with a curtsey. Thankfully, the snickers turned to genuine laughs. “Okay, so I’m Phoebe. I’m transferring to NYU from a small private college in Ohio, but I’m from Northern California. So I’m kinda from all over. I’ll be majoring in communications with an emphasis on broadcasting. I’m working with Valerie in Public Relations for the summer,” I said quickly, then sat before I fell again.
    Okay, that wasn’t so bad. It would have been better if I’d had a script, or one of those tele-prompters that Dickwad Danny and I played around with one afternoon, but I didn’t suck.
    After the meeting, Ben went straight up to the bigwigs and started schmoozing. He was a confident son-of-a-bitch. I had to hand that to him. I looked around for Valerie, my mentor for the internship, but I didn’t see her. In an email I received this morning she said that she wasn’t sure she’d be at the meeting, and if I didn’t see her there, I should just report to her office after the meeting wrapped. Jenny spotted Allison, and we exchanged quick hugs, agreeing to meet up after work for dinner to compare notes.
    I scrolled through my email messages and read Valerie’s email about where her office was, then headed to the elevator bay and pressed the up button. As I was waiting for the elevator, a couple of girls joined me. I grew very self-conscious as I listened to them pick apart everyone who was in the meeting.
    “Do you think Gary knew his socks didn’t match?”
    “Do you think he cares? Remember last week when he had crumbs in his beard?”
    Then the other girl joined in, “For the whole entire meeting.” Good grief, I thought. It was like the high school mean girls.
    “Oh wait, how about Sarah? Someone needs to tell her that spandex is a privilege not a right.”
    “Totes.” Ugh! I hated that slang! “And someone should introduce her to carrots!” Who were these girls? They made me sicker with each word that fell out of their whiny mouths. In fact, I really did start to feel sick. Nerves? Lack of breakfast? I probably just needed more coffee.
    “But you, Emily—you look great!” I heard the other girl say as she laid a hand on my shoulder. I turned and saw the two gossip-mongers.
    “Me? Oh, thanks.” I looked down at my wide leg trousers and cornflower blue top that matched my eyes, although I was regretting the simple, yet sleek, ponytail that I’d pulled my long blonde hair into. They were dressed to the nines. Their hairstyles were perfectly set and their makeup impeccable. I couldn’t tell if these bitches were being honest or snarky about how I looked. “It’s nice to meet you. But my name is Phoebe, not Emily,” I said, trying to sound like a grown up in this oddly high-school feeling moment. I stuck out my hand to shake with them.
    “Erin Montgomery. I’m a paralegal in the legal department,” said the blonde. “Sorry about getting your name wrong,” she apologized, taking my hand and giving a quick shake.
    “Jade Anton. I’m in H.R.,” said the brunette, taking my hand next. “So, news broadcasting? You’ll be working with David?” I got the distinct feeling she was possessive about some guy named David.
    “I don’t think so. I’m majoring with a focus in broadcasting, but I’m actually working with Valerie in Public Relations,” I smiled, repeating what I’d only said a short while ago. What was with these girls? Why were they trying to be friendly when they clearly didn’t really listen?
    “Valerie is, um,