Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
It was another busy day that the Phoenix Inn, causing the restaurant to be shorthanded from help. Allison tried not be distracted by the obvious crowd by the door as she took down an order from two regular customers. “Is that all, Mr. Lee?” the elder man nodded as she smiled and rushed into the kitchen to give the order.
When she stepped outside it was almost like a disco party. Lights were flashing in all directions. She looked strangely at Rain who was on her tippy toes trying to catch the important person the reporters were snapping their cameras at.
Allison quickly caught the eye of Richard who was trying get through. He shook his head towards the crowd, motioning her to help him out. She rushed to the crowd and pushed her way through. It was a celebrity that she definitely recognized from the television and theatre. Nick Cheung, the movie star that was dating Esther Kwan. “Okay, everyone, please this is a restaurant not a press conference!” Richard voice boomed over the questions and flashes from the reporters.
“Please give him room to breathe.” Allison helped out as she got to the center and quickly grabbed Nick’s arm as she yanked him away while Richard tried to control the crowd. Eventually the other male waiters came over to help.
Allison continued to take Nick deeper into the restaurant as she led him to one of their many secluded rooms. She closed the door behind them, she leaned back on the door and sighed. He smiled warmly with a touch of admiration “You do this often?”
She quickly stood up remembering that he was an important person “I’m sorry Sir, I didn’t mean to touch your hand.” She quickly apologized.
He shook his head with a laugh “Not a problem if it’s coming from someone’s that’s saving me. I just wanted to have a quiet lunch, I guess I should know it’s impossible.”
Allison smiled almost forgetting that he was a star “Actually, if you don’t want reporters and paparrazi’s to follow you, just come through the back door. I know it’s a little sneaky, but it will guarantee your safety and identity. Also, this room is directly connected to the kitchen.” She pointed to another door at the opposite corner of the door she took him through. “We can actually lock this door after we take you in.”
Nick smiled with an obvious satisfaction “That is a great design. I wish I would have come here sooner.” He took a seat and looked at the ready menu. “What do you suggest here?”
Allison shrugged “What do you like to eat?”
“Anything.”
She nodded with a sly grin but he didn’t seem to catch it “Pig blood and cow liver over broccoli and spinach sound okay?”
He gave a disgusted face and shook his head “No! That sounds disgusting!”
She giggled “Actually, we don’t have that kind of dish.” He tilted his head slightly with a smile “You said anything.” she reminded him.
“I guess I did.” He smiled “You’re probably the first person I met that has not gone star crazy. Do you see stars often?”
Allison shook her head with a shy smile “Actually, you’re the first star I’ve seen since I was born here in Hong Kong. Only if you don’t count the concerts I’ve been too.” She quickly added with a laugh.
He laughed comfortably “Well, sometimes it’s nice to take a break from the crazy life.” He glanced back at the menu “Chicken sounds good. And some veggies. I trust your choice.” He said shortly, indicating for her to choose the dish for him.
“Will do.” She smiled “I’ll be back with your dishes.” She took the shortcut to the kitchen leaving Nick with the ready morning newspaper for him to read.
The minute Allison left, the other door flashed open and appeared a girl who had a camera hanging over her neck. She closed the door behind her and locked it as she smiled at the star “Mr. Nick Cheung. Wow, I can’t believe I’m facing you right now. If you have a minute, I would like to ask you some questions for the Starz magazine.” She took out her notepad and began scribbling down.
Nick wasn’t sure how to respond as he looked around but there was no help anywhere. “I don’t think you should be in here…” he said hesitantly.
“I understand you’re trying to eat your lunch, but it will be really fast, I promise.” The girl took a seat next to him as she introduce herself “My name is Amy Yeun, I’m an intern for now but if I get this interview, I can get the job and I really need the job.”
Nick sighed “Miss Yeun, as much as I want to help you, I cannot do it for the fact that if someone finds out, it will ruin my reputation. I cannot do favors for anyone, it will look bad to the public because I pushed away all the reporters out there. Not to mention my love life is in the public eye as we speak.”
“Please, I’m begging you…” she was honest as can be.
Suddenly the door to the kitchen opened up. “Miss, you cannot be in here.” Richard said with much authority. “I’m sorry Mr. Cheung, I didn’t see her come in here.” He looked at Amy “Do you want to leave peacefully or do you want the force to be used?” he threatened.
She held tight to her camera “Please sir, I really need this job.” She begged both of them.
Richard sighed “I hate to do this to a girl.” He picked up his cell phone.
“Wait! Okay, I’m leaving.” Amy grunted angrily. She opened the other door and walked out with Richard close behind her to escort her out personally.
When they got to the door, Richard pointed to her camera “Please give me your camera. For the privacy of our customer and restaurant, I want to destroy the film.”
Amy looked at him in horror as she wrapped her arms around the camera “Please sir, I won’t do it again. Don’t take the film away. I won’t get the job if you take it way, my boss will think that I wasn’t doing my job. Please…I’m begging you.”
Richard wanted to help the girl but he knew what he had to do “Hand it over.” He said firmly. Amy knew he would involve higher force if she didn’t obliged. She slowly gave him the camera as he quickly took the film from it’s socket. “I’m sorry, Miss.” He said sincerely before closing the door to the restaurant leaving Amy in tears as she walked down the street by herself.
She knew the internship was hard to get but a job at the Starz magazine was even more impossible. She pitied herself as she started crying right outside the restaurant. Suddenly, a shadow covered her, she looked up to see a young man staring at her with earnest eyes. “Miss are you okay?”
She wiped her tears and stood up “Yeah.” She began walking away.
“Can I help you with anything?” he asked.
Amy looked at the restaurant, she was reluctant to ask but he seemed kind enough “Do you know anyone that works in there?” she pointed to Phoenix Inn.
He looked up slowly with a distant look in his eyes “Yes, I do.” He hasn’t seen her for weeks and wasn’t sure if she would even recognize him. It was a chance he was willing to take.
There was hope for her yet. She quickly explained the situation she was in and he was almost eager to help her after she was done “Oh, thank you so much!!” Amy was jumping up and down now as she was happy he was going to help a stranger.
Inside the restaurant, Allison had began serving the dishes to Nick Cheung. Richard had vaguely told Allison about what happened earlier. She did not want to speak of it until Nick mentioned it. “What’s your name?” he asked out of the blue.
Allison raised her eyebrow “Excuse me?”
He smiled “You worried about what happened earlier?”
She shook her head “I’m sorry, I should have been more careful. I guess I forgot to lock that door.” she said hastily.
Nick shrugged “Accidents happen. So you have a name or what?”
Allison smiled “Allie.” She wondered why he asked.
He nodded “Nice name. Next time I come here, I’ll be sure to ask for you.”
“Thank you. Enjoy your lunch.” She nodded politely before leaving him.
She was greeted by Richard “He said you did a good job.” He said almost proudly.
Allison smiled “Just doing my job boss.” She glanced at her watch “Lunch time for me.” She untied her apron and handed it to Richard “I’ll be back in an hour.”
He nodded “Have fun. We’ll miss you.” He teased.
“You should!” she laughed as she took the back door exit.
The minute Richard returned to the front desk, he saw Rain approaching him “Rich, there’s a man out there to see Allie and he also asked for the manager.”
Richard nodded as he followed her to the hostess desk “Yes, you needed something sir?”
Sunny smiled brightly “Hi, I’m Mr. Nick Cheung’s assistant. I know he’s dining here this afternoon. Is it possible to talk to him for a minute?”
Richard looked at the young guy with special caution “How do I know I can trust you? You’re probably just another reporter.”
Sunny opened his jean jacket “You can do a search. Look, I’ll be really quick, I promise.”
Richard sighed as he debated whether or not to believe him. Rain decided to help the earnest stranger “I’ll walk him to the room and walk him out of the restaurant.” She offered.
Richard seemed to like the idea “Okay, make it quick, we don’t want anymore attention to Mr. Cheung.”
Sunny smiled broadly “Thank you so much!” he was led through the restaurant by Rain. At the same time, his eyes were looking around for Allison.
“She’s on her break.” Rain said after a moment when she saw that he was looking around.
“Oh…” he said shortly. Disappointment was easily caught in his voice. “Will she be back?”
Rain nodded “Yeah. Can you wait?” he nodded. When they reached the private room, Rain whispered “Okay, you have five minutes.” She opened the door and let him in as she stood guard, trying not to look too suspicious.
Within minutes, Sunny opened the door with a confident smile “Thank you for your help.” He winked at her quickly as Nick appeared by his side. “Ready?” Nick nodded with a smile.
The two walked over to the manager as they exchanged a few words. Rain saw Richard handing over the film to Nick. They nodded their good byes and left together. When the coast was clear, she ran over to Richard to see what it was about “Is he really the assistant?” She wasn’t sure if Sunny was.
Richard had a scowl on his face, but the small smile told Rain that he wasn’t mad “Don’t be nosy, here you can have your station back.” He moved from the hostess desk.
**************
By the time Allison came back from her lunch, the commotion had died down tremendously. She was greeted by an excited Rain “Some guy came by looking for you.” Her voice singing with tease.
Allison laughed “He must be someone important.” She said casually as she wrapped the apron back around her waist. “Who is it?”
“I didn’t catch his name. But he was really really cute!” she gushed like a high school girl with a crush.”
“Well, maybe you should have asked for his name.” Allison teased back.
“He was Nick Cheung’s assistant.” Rain explained. “I don’t know what they talked about. They just left.”
Allison wrinkled her eyebrows curiously “I don’t know his assistant. It was the first time I met him today. “Are you sure he was looking for me?”
“Yeah!” Rain insisted. “He had the most adorable dimple on his-”
“Left cheek…” Allison finished for her.
“And you said you didn’t know him.” Rain said with surprise.
Allison shook her head, not able to believe that it was Sunny “It can’t be. Why would he fly over here?” she asked herself.
“What?” Rain asked with complete nosiness.
Allison shook her head “Nothing. I’ve got to get back to work.”