Fan Fiction |
by Sensitivegal
sorry 4 da late update. i was on holiday. i was meant to post a chap b4 then but didnt get the chance. my apologize to every who had 2 wait 4 lazy me. mc_fan - hey the ans 2 y ed is lukin 4 a house is in this chap.
Bernice, Uyen welcum 2 RD. glad u lyk ma story.
i try2 ans all ques from u all bt then wen i post im always on a rush. im very sorry bout that.
Chapter Nineteen ‘I’m Just The Receptionist’
A few minutes later, as Sandra tooled them around in her Mercedes 500 series, four door sedan in German banker black, and the real estate broker turned to Edison. ‘Your PA, Mr. Tse, had said you preferred something new, with all the luxury appointments, but maybe there’s another type of property you’d like to look at. We have number of choice historical homes in the town of Grantham itself, and I’d be happy to show them to you. I also have several other large, custom – built homes in some gated communities that would offer you the discretion that you seek.’
Charlene only half listened at the back seat wishing she was elsewhere. The back seat certainly was roomy, and securely nestled off on her own, in the cocoon – like bed of Mercedes leather, she could stop worrying that with an advertent twitch of an eyebrow, she would endanger Sandra’s chance of repeat membership in the monthly million-dollar club for local real estate agents.
Her hand rested comfortably on her lap, and stared absentmindly out the window. To get back into town itself, Sandra had chosen a different route, a two-lane road that followed the bath of the old canal.
Charlene immediately loved it. If she ever were to buy a house, something about as likely as fish swimming up the Empire State building to spawn, she’d pick a spot like this – close to civilization, yet seemingly lost in time, enchanted.
‘What about the house over there? There’s a For Sale sign at the bottom of the drive,’ Charlene heard Edison ask Sandra. She snapped out of her dream world of sitting in the garden sipping tea and eating scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Sandra quickly applied the antilock disc breaks and turned up a rutted road. The sign at the bottom was partially hidden by a rather rambunctious lilac bush. Charlene noticed that the listing was with another real estate agency; Sandra’s cut would be sliced in two.
‘The houses along the canal are quite charming though in general they are small and many still haven’t been modernized up to the standard that you are used to.’ Sandra could see couple of those zeroes disappearing from the end of her commit ion check. ‘We don’t have an appointment, so I’m not sure…’
‘Why don’t we just wing it? It’s kind of neat out here, don’t you think?’ He turned up his charm.
Sandra dropped her hemming and hawing. ‘On the other hand, the possibilities are really there.’ Edison’s high-wattage smile and aw-shucks sincerity must have had their usual effect. Or maybe she had figured half a commition was better than none.
‘What do you think?’ Edison swiveled his shoulder and looked at Charlene.
‘Wing away. I’m just the receptionist.’
Edison turned to Sandra. She parked the car. ‘Charlene’s so modest. She always underplays how much I rely on her judgment. Here, let me get your door for you.’ He scooted out and came around to Sandra’s side.
‘Oh, thank you.’ Sandra reached for the chain strap of her Gucci bag. ‘Let me go ahead and see if anyone’s home so we can look inside.’ She stepped carefully over the loose stones.
Charlene gathered her thoughts before opening the door. She wondered what he meant by saying that to Sandra. But Edison got the door for her first. ‘I’m not helpless, you know,’ she said as she swung her legs out. ‘I can open the door on my own.’
‘Yes, you can, and I’ve always admired you for that. I have nothing but healthy respect for strong, independent women. That is another re…’
‘Let me guess,’ Charlene interrupted him. ‘Another requirement of a,’ with both hands she made an air quotation mark with her two fingers, ‘perfect wife.’
He smiled. He stared at her blatantly amused.
‘And,’ she continued nervously at him staring at her like that. ‘You assume you owe this enlightened attitude to a particular strong, independent woman?’
‘You better believe it. My mother taught me to be a gentleman.’
‘I’m impressed. I’m sure I’d like to meet her someday.’
Edison crossed his arms. ‘I’m sure the feeling would be mutual.’ A silence fell between them. Charlene shuffled her feet. This was not the time to start thinking about meeting mothers.
Edison uncrossed his arms. ‘You realize of course that you’ve now fulfilled requirement number six for a future wife. You want to meet my mother.’
‘Oh, stop with this future wife requirement stuff, will you? As a long running joke, it’s really getting pretty played out.’
Edison didn’t say anything.
‘It’s a joke, isn’t it? Oh don’t even bother to pretend otherwise.’ Charlene waved her hand in disgust. ‘And another thing.’ She leaned towards him, gesturing with her finger for further emphasis. ‘Stop with this bit about how important my opinion is! You’re just trying to make it all my fault if the sale doesn’t go through.’
‘I’m just trying to make you apart of things.’
‘I don’t want to be a part of things. How many times do I have to say it? I’m just the receptionist!’ she poked his chest with each syllable or ‘receptionist’.
He looked down. ‘You know, I bruise easily.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry.’
Before she could snatch her hand away he grabbed it. ‘Not that I’m complaining, mind you.’
‘You should know that physical violence doesn’t turn me on. I’m not much of an S & M girl.’ She tried to pull her hand away, but he wouldn’t let her, playfully tugging back.
‘I’m willing to make small allowances.’
‘That’s mighty big of you. Now give the fingers back.’ She looked cross.
‘Getting testy, are we? I tell you what, I’ll let go if you answer one question.’
Carlene frowned. ‘I’m not sure I like the sound of that.’
‘All right. How about this, you ask me a question that I know you were dying to ask then I’ll ask you a question,’ he suggested.
Charlene stared at him wondering if he had something up his sleeves.
‘You don’t have to answer my question. You could think about it,’ he said.
‘Okay,’ she gave in. ‘Why do you want to buy a house all of a sudden? And why is it away from the city?’
Edison grinned. ‘That’s two questions,’ he pointed out. He shook his head before she could open her mouth to speak. ‘No worries. The reason I want to buy a house all of a sudden is…’ he pretended to think. Charlene tugged her hand only for him to snap out of his thoughts. ‘Well, I wanted to settle down in a nice place. The reason for it being away from the city is because I want a quiet life once awhile. I don’t want to keep thinking of work all the time.’
Charlene was taken in with his words. How she wanted that! Peace and quiet.
‘Is that all?’ he asked.
Charlene swallowed hard. She was the one who wanted to be friends not him. ‘Go on,’ it came out like a squeak.
Edison saw the sadness in her eyes knowing well what she was thinking but he didn’t say anything about it. Instead he asked her the question he wanted to say. ‘Why is it you feel the need to keep saying you’re just a receptionist? Hmm?’ He lifted her hand and brushed her knuckles with his lips. Smiling, he looked into her eyes. Then dropped her hand and walked off, chatting away with Sandra.
Charlene was left, staring down at her boots and wondering when normal sensation would return to her hand. She was still feeling the light pressure of his lips on her skin, like the ghost response that people who have lost limbs often repast. Only she felt that she had lost something more than a limb.
She shook her head. His question bugged her. Why it was that she kept saying that she was his receptionist? She asked the same question to herself. She didn’t need to think about the answer, she realized.
She didn’t like the answer. Charlene was scared that if she didn’t keep reminding herself that she was the receptionist then she might believe that she was here with Edison in a personal matter, like as his girlfriend looking for a house together. She loved the idea.
She shook her head. She seemed to be doing a lot lately. She tried to think of something other than Edison failing miserably. Edison, she thought, had a feeling why. And it was true. She liked him. Why did she have to run away? If she didn’t then she wouldn’t have met him. She shook her head. She was glad she ran away. She was glad that she met Edison.
Charlene was getting confused and frustrated.
Back at Manhattan, Central Park Daniel was getting frustrated. He was the top bodyguard along with Mel and Leo. How could three top bodyguards lose one girl? Why couldn’t they find her? Daniel kicked the dustbin making nearby people jump. Daniel didn’t care. He had problems. One of them was Patrick Velcois who was at home miserable and drunk.
It was his entire fault. He was meant to be guarding Charlene while the others guarded around the house for intruders.
Leo and Mel walked over to Daniel. Both of them were arguing about who was stupid than the other. They became quiet when they got to Daniel seeing that he was in a bad mood.
‘When I find Charlene, I’m going to spank her butt ‘til it goes red as a tomato,’ Leo said trying to lighten the tension.
Daniel glared at him. ‘If we find her that is.’
‘I think what we are doing wrong,’ Mel spoke up. Daniel and Leo looked at him. ‘Is looking for her.’
Leo was confused. ‘What do you mean? Do you want Patrick to chop our heads off and feed it to the dogs?’
Daniel sighed. Leo always had a big imagination. ‘What is it you got?’
‘I think that we should look for that guy she went with,’ Mel said. ‘I mean there is a chance that she would be with him.’
Daniel bad mood had vanished. Why in the world didn’t he think of that? Was he going old?
‘What are we waiting for?’ he said.
He sprinted off to the hotel they’re staying at.