Author's Note: This is my first fan-fiction attempt and so all reviews will be gratefully received. I've got a broad outline of the whole story, which I think will stretch to about 15 chapters but would just like to know if it's worth carrying on.

Thanks

Emily Fitch looked around at her surroundings, her red hair shining in the sunlight. She was confronted with a glass fronted office with, what seemed to her, stupid lifts going up the outside and lots of chrome. "Oh, no" she thought, but then she visibly shook herself, this was a great opportunity at a respected consultancy firm and she was going to make the most of it. Besides, she knew she was just nervous.

"Oh for fuck's sake come on, what are you waiting for?" Her thoughts were pierced by the voice of her twin, Katie, and she looked really pissed off. "Don't you fucking dare embarrass me."

Emily had only applied for the job because Katie had told her they should stick together and she didn't have the energy to refuse. Katie was always deciding what was best for them both, not bothering to ask Emily what she wanted. Although, to be fair to Katie, Emily conceded that she didn't really have an idea about what she wanted to be, so this was as good as anything. Emily hoped that if she ever did feel strongly about something Katie would support her and accept it.

She was waiting in the communal area looking at all the people there, there were about 30 in total but she focused on three lads that were sitting in the corner acting like five year olds. Suddenly a girl burst in, "Sorry I'm late but my Mum didn't want me to come, she's really protective, I'm Panda, oh bugger, I mean I am Pandora and I really want to join your programme, no company." She let out a sigh.

The person in charge just looked bewildered and told her to sit down. There was a pause as a final person joined the group.

"Hi, I'm Naomi Campbell; I think you're expecting me?"

All of them raised their heads – Naomi Campbell? What the hell was she doing here? They all burst out laughing as soon as they realised it wasn't "the" Naomi Campbell. Emily looked up and locked eyes with the most beautiful girl, woman, she'd ever seen. She had blonde hair and the most piercing blue eyes Emily had ever encountered, "Oh God, I could get lost in those."

She snapped herself out of the thought and looked at her magazine. This was going to be eventful.

They all sat as a man explained that the first stage of the "acclimatisation process" (you couldn't call it an interview as that might disadvantage people who felt pressure) was going to last a day and after that they'd be told if they would be going through to the next round of selection. "The Round of Death, mwa ha ha ha ha "said one of the "five year olds". "Shut up Cook, do you want to be eliminated before we even start?" one of his friends replied.

In the morning they'd been given presentations about the company and its values. They'd also been put through their paces; analysis, networking, creativity, problem solving and team building. Lots of "games" that clearly weren't intended to be fun but a measure of how they performed. At the ice breaker they had been told to go around and find people they didn't know who shared a thing in common with them. Emily had struggled at first but soon got talking to JJ, who confided that he thought the thing they shared, was being a bit shy compared to their friends, looking at Cook as he said it. After that Emily felt more comfortable.

Naturally some of it had been a chore, like when Emily was in a group that contained Crispin, who thought the best way he could communicate was through the "medium of mime and rap" but overall it wasn't a total waste of time.

At lunch Emily and JJ met up and sat at a long table and were joined by Katie and Freddie, the one that had told Cook to shut up earlier. All of a sudden Cook strode into view, "Oh this is nice, pairing up already, where's the love for the Cookie monster? Red I could definitely show you a thing or two" he said winking at Emily. She found herself blushing until a voice said "You're too cocky by half, I doubt you could deliver even if you knew how too, little boy."

"I'm hurt, Naomikins, really hurt, I thought we'd connected earlier" he chuckled to himself. "Anyway, this is Effy, Panda and Tommo and I'm sure we're all going to be mates".

Emily sat and ate her lunch, aware that even at a meal they were being scrutinised, with people looking at how they interacted. She kept the conversation light with those around her and tried not to look disgusted when Katie kept flirting, shamelessly, with the boys. She watched Naomi out of the corner of her eye moving round the group and introducing herself. "I wish I was that confident" thought Emily.

All of a sudden Naomi was sitting next to her, and she struggled to swallow her mouthful of food. "Hi, I'm Naomi, just thought it would be good to talk". "Neugh" Was Emily's only response.

"Neugh?" Naomi asked, "You might want to think of a better response than that" Emily looked up into a smile. "This is all about getting a career, so Emily, why are you here?"

Emily faltered when her name was said, "Err, don't know really, it was more my sister Katie's idea and I just came along to keep her company."

"Oh", Naomi looked disappointed, which was the last thing Emily wanted.

"I mean, the not-for-profit consultancy really interests me because it's something corporate but for a good cause too." Emily stopped, "that probably sounded stupid" she trailed off.

"No, it didn't, I'm interested in that too, I know it's a cliché because it's all about money making but at least if you can do some good while your pulling in the cash it's got to be better, right? Oh God, have we sold our souls? Naomi laughed.

"Anyway, you should speak to Effy over there, who also seems to have been dragged here under duress." And with that she was gone. Emily looked up and smiled at Effy, "I guess we could have found our something in common a lot earlier". Effy smiled back and said "Do you smoke? I could really do with some nicotine?"

Outside the building Effy looked straight at Emily and said "So you're not bothered about being here either?" Emily considered what she was going to say, and then replied "I admit I came along because Katie suggested it but now I really want to get through."

"Yeah well, those blue eyes are really something so I can understand that" was Effy's reply.

Emily blushed and though how the hell could she know? Instead she said "Sorry, I don't know what you mean. What I meant was that sometimes you sort of drift but still end up in the right place. I stood outside and thought I couldn't see myself working here but after seeing that it's not all money, money, money – that sometimes it can really make a difference to people's lives – I'm really determined to get one of the jobs." Effy studied her for a minute and finally said "Ok, but the blue eye's helped."

The afternoon session involved a chat with a panel of assessors (or a bloody interview in anyone else's book) and finally a receptionist came out and said that they would be put out of their misery soon. After a tall dark haired man came out, Emily had seen him at lunch walking around the tables. He introduced himself as Mr Stevens, Vice President of Recruitment. He said they had all performed well and if they hadn't made it through to the second round they should still be proud they had got this far. As he started to read out the successful candidate's names Emily's mind drifted away, there was no point really. "James Cook, blah , Emily Fitch, Katie Fitch, blah, Jonah Jones, blah Frederick Mclair, blah Pandora Moon, blah Thomas Tomone, blah, " All of a sudden Emily was shocked out of her daydream, did they just say her name? Oh God, they did, she'd got through. Her only disappointment was that Naomi hadn't made it.

She walked outside the building to have a cigarette and spotted Naomi. "Hi, I'm sorry you didn't get through, I know you probably wanted it more." Naomi looked at her and bit her bottom lip before finally saying "It's ok, I think you proved yourself today, so you should have more confidence." They were interrupted by Cook "Red, We're going to get shit faced to celebrate, so are you coming or what? Come on babe, it's time to partaaaaaayyyy"

Emily followed him towards a local bar but as she went she turned round and said to Naomi "Maybe see you around sometime?" It was a question rather than a statement, "Yeah, maybe" replied Naomi and then she was gone.