Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The next few days at work was incredibly boring for Julie. She spent most of her day staring at the clear screen computer. She has not even found one hint of any secret business that the company might have. And it seemed that no one minded that she did not do her work. She spent most of her days following the mail guy around. “What’s your name?” she asked the next time she saw him pass by.
“What’s it to you?” he asked carelessly.
She shrugged her shoulders “I could call you Frumpy.”
He cracked a smile for the first time “I like that.”
“Okay Frumpy. What do you do here besides run people over with mail bins?” she said sarcastically.
He looked at her in the eye “It’s not a good idea to know too much.” He said with a hidden meaning that she understood.
She pretended not to comprehend his comment “What’s that suppose to mean?” she looked around and everyone was still working “Is there a deep dark secret that you know?” she asked nosily.
He copied her snoopiness as he looked around and waved a finger for her to come closer. She leaned in with a smile as he whispered into her ear “It means get back to work.” She leaned back, her face grim while he smiled and winked at her playfully before going back to work.
She was definitely suspicious, maybe he was a spy sent by the Fungs’ to make sure no one knows of their secret. She gave herself a mental note to make sure she question him some more. Julie was still staring at the odd guy when her sister whispered to her “Psst, Julie!”
Julie turned to see her waving her over “What is it?” she asked Cass.
“Don’t talk to that guy, he’s strange.” She warned.
“What?” Julie asked with a chuckle. “What did he do?”
Cass looked around before explaining “I found him the last time in the girls’ bathroom. He said he was cleaning because the janitor was off that day. But I think he’s really a woman.”
Julie let out a laugh so loud that Cass had to cover her mouth “Shhh!! You want us to get in trouble?”
Julie shook her head “I’m sure he’s a guy.” She said with confidence.
Cass frowned “Why would he grow his hair long then? And I don’t buy that excuse. I found him a month ago snooping by the girls’ bathroom again. How do you explain that?”
“Maybe he’s a pervert?” she shrugged carelessly but inside, she was already noting to find out his background. “What’s his name?”
Cass strained her face to remember the name she once heard “I think they called him Andy…or something like that.”
Julie nodded “Andy huh?”
The girls were so deep in conversation that they didn’t notice Leann walking out of her office “Ahem!” she cleared her throat. “Now that everyone is done with their breaks.” She eyed Cass carefully but smiled at Julie “I’d like you to meet William Lai. I’m sure you know him well.” She said specifically to Julie “Normally, we do not hire family but this is an exception on my part.” She looked around as everyone greeted William politely “William will be working in the development team on the 8th floor. Unfortunately, you two won’t be seeing each other much.”
“It’s okay, I see too much of him anyways.” Julie cracked.
Leann laughed with a few giggles from the group, she didn’t notice William’s scowled face “I’m glad someone has a sense of humor.” She clapped her hands “Alright, this is not a free day, get back to work.” She waved for Julie to come over “Why don’t you take your husband to the 8th floor and have him check in with his new boss, Mr. Chung.”
Julie frowned but instantly smiled when Leann turned to her “Sure.” She said brightly. She reached for Will’s hand as they walked awkwardly towards the elevators. As soon as they were out of Leann’s sight, she quickly let go of her hand, but to her surprise he held onto her hand. She looked up at him strangely.
He only smiled and gave a glance behind her, indicating that there were eyes on them. “Don’t be shy, sweetie. Leann said she didn’t mind that we were affectionate.” His words were carefully phrased.
She nodded as she stepped in closer to him. The floor stopped and the two walked out together. She took him to the receptionist desk and they forwarded him to Mr. Chung’s office. Inside stood a young looking man, he looked no older than 28 years old. His smile was friendly but the two undercover agents knew better than to trust a smile “How do you do, Mr. Chung. I’m William Lai, new here.”
The young man nodded with the same welcoming smile “I’m sure we will work just fine. So this is your wife.” He nodded to Julie.
“Yes. Leann wanted me to take him up here, Mr. Chung.” She explained.
“Please call me James. Or Jim if you prefer.” He pointed to the chair for Will to sit down on “He’ll be in good hands. You may leave now.” He said to Julie.
She smiled at Will “I’ll see you after work, sweetie.”
“Okay.” He watched her leave before turning back to his new boss.
“Beautiful girl you got there.” James complimented. “How did you two meet?”
“In London during our college years.” Will said like it was rehearsed but he quickly threw in “It was definitely love at first sight.” He said with much feeling this time obviously catching himself.
The two talked about his job description and where he was to go to deliver the finished products. Although, it caught his interest when James told him about a place he should not be in on the 3rd floor. A place that no employee should go. He wondered if it was a warning to him or a dare for him to go there. It was too soon and too hard to read his new boss, but he was sure of one thing. He could not trust anyone there.
**********************
Later that night when everyone was gone for the day, Julie waited for Will to come down and pick her up. She was surprised by the mail guy who voluntarily walked over to her “Hi….Julie, right?”
She nodded at him “Andy.”
He laughed “So you found out.”
“I have my ways.” She said teasingly “What are you still doing here?”
“I was going to ask you the same question.” She raised an eyebrow for him to explain “I close up here. I’m not just a mail guy.” He explained. “You do not want to be caught here working later than normal. The boss doesn’t like it.”
She ruffled her eyebrows with curiosity “Really? Well, that doesn’t make any sense.”
He shrugged his shoulders “Consider yourself warned. You don’t have to listen to me.”
Cass was working so diligently that she did not notice everyone was gone. She looked up and found her sister chatting with Andy “Julie!” she yelled. She turned to her clear screen computer “Shut down.” She commanded and grabbed her purse as she paced over to her sister “What are you talking to him for?”
Julie shrugged “Nothing. Ready to go home?” she changed the subject.
Cass nodded “Where’s William?”
Julie sighed “I don’t know, what am I? His wife?”
“Last time I heard, you were.” She cracked making Julie wince in pain.
“Yeah…what a drunken mistake.” She moaned. “Well, if he’s not coming, I’m leaving without him.” She warned.
Cass shook her head “You are so mean to him. Fine, if you don’t want to wait for him, I’ll go wait for him.”
Julie raised both eyebrows at her sister “What?” she smiled when her sister’s cheeks flamed up “Does my eyes deceive me? Cass Lam has a crush?” she teased openly.
Cass frowned “That’s not funny, Julie. He’s your husband…my bro…” she quickly stopped herself “You know what he is.”
She flicked her lip in a pout “Whatever. I don’t care if you like him, at least someone does.”
“Why don’t you like him? I mean, he’s handsome, caring…at times, polite, what more can you ask for in a guy?” she didn’t understand why her sister disliked the guy so much.
“You see all that?” she asked her sister. “I only see obnoxious, annoying, egotistical, rude and definitely not caring.” She saw Andy going down the elevator at the corner of her eyes “Well, you can wait for him, I’m leaving.” She said quickly and rushed off after the next moving elevator.
Cass watched with wide eyes as her sister ran off without waiting for Will. Julie knew something was definitely wrong about Andy and she wanted to find out. To her surprised he was waiting for her outside the bridge, she walked right passed him but her instincts told her to look back. She turned while he leaned on the glass bar of the bridge “Looking for me?”
She smiled slyly “Maybe.”
He cross his arms “Why?”
“No reason.” She began walking away as he quickly followed her. “So why are you following me?”
“I’m not, it’s a one way road.” He said with reason. She looked around and sure it was a one way road. They walked within three feet from each other, every time he stopped she would stop. Eventually he turned to her after a few blocks “What do you want to know?” he asked with a sigh.
She smiled “Whatever you can tell me.”
He seemed to ponder at the idea “I can’t tell you.” As he began walking while she quickened her pace to catch up to him. The swishing sound of the electric cars didn’t seem to bother them.
“Fine, I’ll just keep following you.” She said coolly.
He smiled as he quickened his pace, she did the same. After a while he began jogging and then he slowed down to a slow pace. She was catching on to his game and would not let him out of her sight. After 10 minutes, he turned to her with a smile “You’re quicker than I thought.”
She breathed evenly “You’re sneakier than I thought.”
His crooked smile was beginning to attract her attention “We’ll see.” He turned and sprint down the street catching her off guard. He dodged through the people carefully as if he’s done it before. She tried hard to catch up as she did not lose sight of him. But soon he began to merge in with all the people walking in all directions. He slowed his steps as he reached up and pulled off the wig, he continued to walk as he took off his jacket and flipped it inside out. The color changed from gray to black as he slipped it back on.
Julie wrinkled her forehead as she looked around trying to spot the frumpy haired guy but he was no where to be seen. When she reached a four way intersection she looked around but could not recognize anyone. She punched her own palm as she admit defeat and returned home.
She was still wondering how he got away and not paying attention to her sister’s scowling face when she walked through the door. “Julie!” she called to her when she automatically walked towards her room.
Julie looked up and knew she was in trouble with her sister “Yes, Mam!” she saluted her teasingly.
Cass shook her head “That’s not funny. How could you leave your husband like that? At least have the decency to wait for me too.” She placed her hands on her hips “Where did you go?”
“Yeah, where did you go?” Will asked with much interest. He was more amused at the fact that Cass was in charge.
“None of your business.” She said to Will. Cass arched her neck as she crossed her arms “I wasn’t talking to you.” Julie said quickly “I…I just saw an old friend.” She walked over and took a seat next to Will before hitting his leg which was sprawled out on the couch. “Move.” She ordered.
He moved aside forcefully “What old friend?” he asked suspiciously.
She gave him a look that he should know better to make the situation worse “What kind of friend is more important than your husband?” Cass asked.
Julie pouted as she turned to Will “You don’t trust me?”
“You followed him didn’t you?” Cass asked slowly.
“Who?” Will asked.
“Well??” Cass pressed on.
Julie flicked her head to the side not looking at both of them “I don’t have to answer anything.”
“Who is it?” Will asked again.
Cass shook her head “Julie, he’s bad news, listen to me for once.” She knew her sister could be a stubborn mule.
“Who?!” Will asked, getting frustrated.
Julie sighed “He’s not that bad.” She defended Andy.
“Oh really? And how have you known this guy? One week?” Julie asked.
Will stood up abruptly “If one of you don’t tell me who it is, I will…”
“What? What are you going to do?” Julie asked threateningly. “Sparky!” she cried and the mechanical puppy instantly responded as it galloped down the hallway to the living room, it’s metal tail wagging playfully.
Will instantly stepped back “Who, okay…fine, I won’t ask who the guy is. Happy?” he took a seat on the couch, his feet curled up.
Cass snickered as she gave a command “Go to sleep, Sparky.” The dog listened as he raced back down the hall.
“Thanks, CASS.” Will said with sarcasm.
“Anytime.” She smiled at him but frowned at her sister “Stop using that on him. You know he can’t stand that dog. Now are you going to tell me or what? I’m not asking you again, Julie Cheung/Lai/Lam.”
Will laughed loudly at the full name. Julie rolled her eyes at him “Shut up.” She muttered. She turned to her sister who was still waiting for an answer “It’s nothing.” She insisted “I promise, I don’t have a crush on him nor will I ever. Okay, are you happy?” she sighed and then remembered their earlier conversation “As I recalled, a certain person blushed at the name of another certain person.”
“Okay, now you lost me.” Will said flatly.
Cass turned to him “Just ignore her, she’s being childish. Anyways, it’s getting late, I’m going to sleep now. You two should too…on the same bed.” She widened her eyes at them.
Julie snorted “Sure, we sleep when YOU don’t want to talk about it.”
Will was smiling as he nudged her “Talk about what?”
She moved herself away from him “None of your business. We don’t know each other that well, don’t act all friendly with me.” She pushed herself from the sofa and returned to her room.