Fan Fiction |
by YukLing
Suzanne, the pretty front office receptionist, looked up from her computer and gave a bright beautiful smile towards her boss, "Yes Mr. Lam. I have left them on your table. BTW, Miss Hsuen wants to see you immediately when you're all settle down for the morning."
Ray flashed her one of his radiant smiles before entering his own office. As Ray was about to turn his PC on, he was interrupted with a light tap on the door.
"Come in." said Ray without looking up.
Shirley peeked her head in slightly thru his door before entering the room.
"Good Morning, Ray. I wanted to see if you'll be needing me for anything today?" Shirley asked while curiously glancing across the room.
Ray looked up from his fashionable, expensive eye glasses, then replied "No. I don't think so." Then Ray turned his attention back to turning his PC on and began reading his emails. Having noticed that Shirley was still standing in his office, Ray looked up impatiently "Is there anything else, Shirley?"
Shirley glanced at Ray's back table and noticed that the plant was still sitting behind him unwrapped. "Do you like the new plants I got you?"
Ray took a quick look around his office then finally turned his leather chair around and saw a pot of green plant wrapped with a purple bow on a desk behind him. Ray raised his left eyebrow with distaste then reverted back to his normal facial expression as he turned back to Shirley.
"Uh....Is that from you, Shirley?"
Shirley shyly nodded.
"Thank You, Shirley." Ray said with a casual smile before turning his attention back to the computer screen.
"So how as Friday's night? Did you guys have fun?"
"Yeah we did. You can asked Max or any of the guys out there, I'm sure they'd be more than happy to tell you." Ray knew that Shirley was a nice girl and he definitely did not want to mislead her. Nice girls just weren’t his type. Besides, it's in his "policy" that he doesn't date women he works with. "Listen Shirley, I've got many appointments today. So if you don't mind..."
Embarrassingly Shirley quickly apologized for wasting his time and retreated back to her desk outside his office.
{Sound : Ring Ring}
Ray picked up his phone, "Morning Jess, I'm on my way."
Ray walked over to Jessica's room next door and went straight inside without knocking, "You wanted to see me, Boss?"
"Don't you know how to knock anymore, Ray?" Jessica asked with a disapproving look then continued "Don't think that just because you've got us a contract with Novellie Book Production I'm gonna let you get all arrogant with me."
"Who are you kidding Jess? I know -- that you know -- authorities don't play well with me. Besides, there's nothing wrong with being arrogant, especially when I'm THIS good."
Jessica rolled her eyes and pointed Ray to have a seat. "OK. Straight to business. I've just divided all the listings of Novellie Book Production amongst the guys and I've saved one section for you."
"What? Since when am I suppose to participate in book publishing listings. My job is just to get you the contract and you guys deal with the rest of the details." Ray exclaimed then stood up from his chair.
"Sit back down!" ordered Jessica. "As you know we're branching out widely in our company Ray. I'm gonna need all the extra power on this new contract. Here, this is your part. I know you're busy with working in other companies' contracts as well, so I only gave you a small part of the listing. You should thank me."
Ray looked at Jessica with annoyance as he accepted the stack of folders from Jessica and then sat back down. After flipping thru a couple of pages, Ray unhappily said "What? You're giving me the Harlequin Romance Book section? Is this some kind of sick joke? I don't know anything about evaluating this section!"
Jessica tried to hide her mischievous laugh as she silently listened to Ray's complaint. She knew he was exactly going he was gonna say that.
"OK, this is a joke! Tell me it is!!!" Ray demanded with an irritated voice.
"It's not as bad as you think, Ray dear."
"Don't -- Ray dear me -- Jess. I'm NOT going to do this. I rather quit this job that evaluate on any damn Harlequin Romance Novel listing!"
"Fine! Have it your way! I'll just give this listing to Shirley then."
"Good. I'm glad we've settle that. So what is the real reason you wanted to see me?"
Jessica stood up from her desk and walked around her table. She knew Ray was definitely checking out her long legs as she leaned against the table in seductive posture. "I need a favor."
"Well, why didn't you say so...I'll be more than happy to do you a favor, honey." Ray smiled mischievously and stood up from his seat.
But Jessica stopped him by placing her hand on this chest just before he tried to place a kiss on her cheeks. "No No No. Perhaps, I didn't say that clearly. I said I need a favor. Not a wet kiss." Then Jessica stood up straight and pinched Ray's cheeks before walking back behind her desk, "I gotta make a personal trip out this afternoon and I have one interview schedule that I cannot cancel. I need you to take over for me."
Ray gave Jess a wicked grin, he knew it was too good to be true. Jessica was one of the few ladies who had been able to resist his charm. "And if I say no?" Ray asked.
"You won't say no, because that's an order." Jessica promptly replied. "The appointment is at 2pm today and it's with one of Novellie's client. Your job is to interview our new author and evaluate her manuscripts. I happen to skim thru her manuscripts already, it looks really good. But I need your second opinion though, making sure it will sell then give it an OK at your disposal."
"Can't you get Max or someone else to this?"
"What do you think I pay you for? Just hitting on all my female workers? Besides, I just already gave Max a different listing.”
"I, Ray Lam. Hardly need to hit on ANY ladies, Jess. It's the other way around, so get that fact straight."
"Look, I don't have time for your boosted ego today, Ray. Just take a look at this manuscript and do me this favor. I really have to leave after lunch today. "
"Fine...so where are you off to that is so ….secretively anyways? Old boyfriend or lover?"
"That is none of your business, Ray."
Of course Ray knew who Jessica had a personal appointment with today.
"I think you're stupid."
"Pardon me? Did I hear you calling me stupid."
"Well, maybe stupid doesn't describe it. More like foolish."
Jessica pretended to ignore Ray's hinting comment and started typing on her PC. "You can go back to your office now."
"Fine, I was just about to leave." Ray stood up from his chair, but before he left Jessica's room he turned around and said "Take this from a friend Jess, don't be foolish and wait for him to marry you. 10 years is a pretty long time. He's probably not worth falling in love with. Don't be a fool." Then Ray left and closed the door leaving Jessica to herself reflecting on his last comment.
Time rolled by quicker than Ray had anticipated as he was in deep concentration reading the manuscript in front of him. He has been reading it continuously for the last 2 hours and had just finally finished reading it when he was interrupted by Suzanne announcing his 2pm appointment interview.
Ray reached over the buzzer on his phone, "Bring her in."
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{Outside of Ray's office}
"Mr. Lam's office is right down this hallway and on the right. He's waiting for you Miss Li."
"Thank You." Qian said as she stood up from her seat. She straightened up her cream skirt and white blouse before walking towards the hallway. Qian took another deep breath before knocking on the door. A male voice from the room replied giving her permission to enter.
"Good Afternoon, Mr. Lam" said Qian as she entered the room.
Ray removed his glasses and set them on the table then looked up to greet his client.
"Good Afternoon to you too....Miss..." Ray glanced back at the folder name, "Miss Li, is that right?" Again, Ray flashed her one of his charming smile. The same one he normally uses on all his clients, especially the female ones.
Qian froze as she quickly recognized her interviewer's face and smile. "OMG it's him!!! What the heck?" Qian thought to herself.
When Ray did not hear a response from his client, he moved closer to her then stretch out his hand and asked, "Uh Miss Li?"
Qian was thankful that her interviewer did not seem to recognize her. She slowly recovered from her shock as she pushed her eye glasses higher onto her face then extended her right hand to greet him.
"I'm sorry. Yes I'm Li Qian. I'm here for the interview."
Ray walked back to his desk and reseated himself. He thought it was strange that his client was trying to avoid eye contact with him. She does look very familiar though as Ray tried to recall where he had met her before.
"Please have a seat, Miss Li."
Qian continued to keep her gaze down at the floor and avoided Ray's scrutiny.
"Have we?....Have we met before, Miss Li?"
Damn him, Qian thought, "If he remembers, there's no way I'm gonna get this manuscript published. What should I do?"
A slight tap on the table caused Qian'’s eyes glancing up at Ray.
"Ah Ha! I know you!!" Ray exclaimed. Qian could see the evil smile that had already began creeping across his face as he began to stand up from his chair and walked around towards her.
Qian quickly jumped up from her seat, not knowing what his intentions were she quickly took several steps backward away from him. "Surely he can't be attacking me in here!!!"
"What are you doing?" Qian asked with panic and continued to step backward.
"You're the girl from Pink Bunny Bar, aren't you?" Ray continued to step forward Qian with a naughty smile.
"So? Stay away from me!" Qian yelled then took another step backward.
"Watch out!!!" Ray yelled out loud. But it was too late, Qian had already missed a step and was about to fall backward. Ray rushed forward and grabbed onto Qian's hand and tried to stop her from falling. But he too lost balance as they both fell flat on the floor.
"Get off me, you. you PERVERT!!!!" Qian yelled as she lay on the floor with Ray directly on top of her.
"It seems we’re always meet in this circumstance where either you’re on top of me or I’m on top of you, heh?” Ray laughed.
“Args….GET OFF OF ME!!! NOW!”
“You're a funny thing. I was trying to save you! And I don't even get a thank! Geesh!"
Qian violently tried to push Ray off of her, but failed miserably since he was much heavier than her. "You're squishing me! Get off of me!! YOU BIG RETARDED, SLIMY PERVERT!!!"
"That's enough! You ungrateful rascal." Ray demanded in a harsh voice. He placed his face closer next to Qian. Even without her eye glasses now, which had fallen off in the mist of the incident, Qian could see Ray's expression clearly. "If I was a pervert, wouldn't I be all over you by now?"
"Well you're still on top of me! So get off! Unless you want me to call you pervert again!" Qian replied angrily.
"It was an accident! Now lower your voice and stop calling me a pervert, rascal!" Then Ray slowly pushed himself off of Qian and stood up. Disorderly, Qian sat up and pulled her skirt back down. She quickly crawled around the floor looking for her eye glasses when she heard a crack.
Qian looked up at Ray and then down at this feet, "You broke my glasses!!!"
"Uh...That was an accident too."
"Whatever!!" Qian angrily yelled loudly.
Suzanne quickly ran to Ray's door when she heard a woman's voice yelling from Ray's room.
"Mr. Lam!! Is everything OK?" asked Suzanne. She was astonished when she ran into the room and saw Ray standing over Qian with his back to her, and Qian was still on the floor looking all disheveled. "Oh my, I'm sorry Mr. Lam...I...."
Ray turned back to Suzanne already guessing what Suzanne had conjectured from the look at her astounding face.
"Everything is OK, Suzanne. Miss Li here just had an accident. It seems that she had lost her eye glasses and I have just stepped on them."
Suzanne gave a relieving sigh and walked towards them to examine the situation. It was true, there were small shattered glasses below Ray's shoes.
"Suzanne, can you get a janitor in here on your next trip in? And please take Miss Li to the ladies room so she can reorganize herself."
Qian, who had been observing Ray's cool manner, was quite annoyed that once again, he had the advantage of their situation. Forcefully, Qian pick up the rest of her stuff and followed Suzanne's lead into the ladies room.
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{ 5 minutes later in the ladies restroom}
Qian washed her hands thoroughly with soap, hoping that it would be enough to clean all the dirtiness she felt from that pervert's touch. Then Qian quickly dried her hands and looked at herself in the mirror. She couldn't see much of anything without her eye glasses, but she was pretty sure she was a disastrous sight. The embarrassment when that receptionist walked in on them was still imprinted on Qian’s mind. Determinedly, she decided there was no way in hell was she gonna go back into that same room with that pervert after what just happened. He can forget about it!
Qian continuously pressed the down arrow button impatiently as she waited in front of the elevator. Blindly she walked straight into the elevator as soon the doors were opened and almost got knock off her feet when she clumsily bumped into someone's chest.