Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
A.F. Talent, Inc.
This was one of the most popular talent agencies in the entertainment business. Five years ago, it was unknown to the entertainment industry, but things have changed. The president was a fairly young guy that not a lot of people have ever met. He traveled the world in his spare time but every once in a while, he would return to his home land, Hong Kong to be updated with the new stars that they have discovered.
The conference room was a huge corner office with a magnificent view of the city. The few groups of people that have had the honor to sit in that very room were the people that made the company where it was that day. The talent scouts/agents were the best in the industry. They collected once a year to discuss a new challenge that they are to accomplish for the next year. You could say that is the reason why they are so famous. They spend almost a year to turn a no one into a some one. For most other agencies, they take a month to spring out a new face, but only to be shot down after the fan discovers the person isn’t as talented. But it was different for A.F. Talent, Inc.; they put more time and effort into discovering a new talent and to give them the proper training until they are ready to be introduced into the entertainment realm.
The talent scouts and agents walked into the room in a giddy mood. They were excited and ready to tackle a new challenge. The department manager was a big and round man. But he’s been with the company since it was formed from a tiny office with one desk and one phone. The president kept his most loyal employees. Mr. Kong was known for his new ideas and this year would not be an exception either. He walked in last and closed the doors behind him “Good morning.” He greeted firmly.
Everyone smiled and greeted respectfully “So what’s new for this year?” the only female agent asked eagerly.
Mr. Kong smiled at the ready girl, she was one of their younger agents but he liked her work. She discovered a talent by the name of Joey Yung the year before and she was only getting more popular by the minute “Patience, my little grasshopper.” He joked while everyone laughed casually.
“So eager to lose?” another agent asked the only female agent in the room. He was also their top talent scout. The last year, he discovered Twins. Although the girls were not twins, they were taken in by the media and fans into a frenzy. Movies were signed and CDs were made quickly and all sold too quickly. He was a scout that entered the company at the ripe age of 21, he was too discovered by an agent. But after 5 years into the entertainment business, he decided to take a short cut in becoming a talent scout. Personally, he liked it there and fortunate for him, the fans and media took his pull from the small screen and radio with ease. But that was how the entertainment worked, they move on to the new faces and A.F. Talent, Inc. understood the people too well.
Mr. Kong smiled at the familiar face that he discovered over 10 years ago “Now Benjamin, be nice. Just because you won the race last year doesn’t mean you’ll win it again.”
The female agent smiled, pleased by Mr. Kong’s support “Yes, don’t be snotty.” She stuck her nose up in the air.
“Okay team, let’s get down to business.” Mr. Kong began as he set up the screen connected to conference room computer “Our sales and rates have gone up, which means our clients are willing to pay more. In return, we must give them the best products we can find. For the past three years, we’ve targeted the younger crowd. That has been going well, but this year…I want to try something different. Something more challenging.” He said slyly. The well dressed group looked at him with interest “I want you to find a talent, but not just any teeny bopper…find the ugliest duckling you can find and turn him or her into the most beautiful swan this country has ever seen.” Everyone nodded solemnly “Meet me back here in 3 months with a picture of your person and I will give you the thumbs up to start operation Ugly Duckling.”
Benjamin looked at his female opponent “You think you’re up for the challenge?”
“I’ve already got my plan of attack.” She smiled with confidence.
Mr. Kong put up a hand to get the agents attention “But here is a little twist. I want you all to team up. Benjamin, since you are the oldest scout here, why don’t you take the new girl under your wing?”
Her face dropped in shock and he too looked at their boss in disbelief “But-”
“No but’s. I’ve made up my mind.” He said firmly and turned to the other scouts as he assigned them partners. Benjamin sighed as he sat back in his chair and looked at his new partner; there was an obvious smirk on her face. It would not be an easy year.
************** Almost Three Months Later************
Tong Lau Wan Bay, Hong Kong
In this city stood a familiar center where people can shop, eat and buy groceries all at once. A little fast food place stood on it’s own in a corner, it was popular and very well known to the public. The owner was a nice man with a daughter and a son who helped him run the tables while he took care of the cash. Their mother died years ago when they were too young to remember. They were raised by their dad and learned life from friends and people from the streets.
Ivy was cleaning the tables when she heard the voice of a friend she made not too long ago “Ivy!” Vicki called “Oh my God, you cannot believe who I just saw!” she gushed.
She turned to see her friend skipping in wearing a blue sky skirt and white top. Ivy lifted a brow as she ran to Vicki and began jumping up and down “Like…is it like…Louis Koo? Cause you know, he’s just…so dreamy!” Vicki’s face fell while Ivy began laughing.
“That’s not funny.” Vicki said sarcastically “You know if I met Louis Koo, you would have to pick me up from the hospital because I would have fainted.”
Ivy rolled her eyes “It wouldn’t be the first time Vicki.” She teased while she continued to clean the table.
“No…seriously, I want to tell you about something I just saw.” She pulled her friend to sit down at an open booth.
Ivy let her drag her as she sat down across the seat from her. She was wearing an old pair of blue jeans and a baggy, dirty white t-shirt. Her hair was pulled back and balled into a messy bun, no makeup on her face. She slipped off her sandals and lifted a leg onto the seat comfortable. Her arm wrapped around the leg “What is it?” she said without much feeling.
Vicki frowned “Can you put your leg down? It’s just so… not feminine.”
She was use to Vicki telling her how to sit and stand and act, but this time she pushed it a bit further as she pulled both legs up and dangled it on top of the table, her shoes off and it showed off the dirty bottoms of her feet “You prefer this?”
The girl grimaced in disgust “Oh God no…okay just sit how you were sitting.” She wasn’t in the mood for Ivy’s tactics; she let out a sigh “You’re never going to find a man like that.”
Ivy snorted, “Who said I was looking for a man?” She settled in her seat “So are you going to tell me or do I have to punch it out of you? Come on, I don’t have all day!” she rushed.
Vicki put up her hands “Okay.” She smiled “I was in the mall earlier and you know how there are escalators?” Ivy covered a yawn while she nodded “There was this guy ahead of me and a little four year old girl a step down from him. I guess her father had walked on without her and she was calling for him. Well the guy picked her up and walked her down carefully and he returned her to her father’s arms.”
Ivy lips quivered as she pulled up her hands and began fanning her eyes “Oh my gosh! That was so…beautiful.” She touched her lips with her fingers to top them from shaking.
“I know!” Vicki said. When Ivy rolled her eyes, Vicki dropped her jaw “Don’t tell me you weren’t touched by that!”
“Yes…I was touched to the core.” Ivy said in a monotone.
“Ivy!” her dad was calling her but she ignored it “IVY!!! IVY!!” he cried from across the room.
She rolled her eyes to him “What?!! Can’t you see I’m on a break??!!” she yelled back rudely.
“We’ve only been open for one hour!” her dad cried in return.
“Where’s the other girl? Tell her to get her ass out here and stop putting on make up!” Ivy replied. Just as she said it, a customer walked in. He was a very good-looking man in his early thirties. He nodded at her with a smile and took a seat.
Her father nodded at the gentleman “She’ll be with you.” He turned to Ivy and gave her a glare as his head twitched to the new customer.
Ivy turned to Vicki “I’ll be right back.” She leisurely walked to get a menu and walked to the guy’s table as she threw the menu in front of him “What do you want?”
“AHEM!!” The father cleared his throat sternly.
She tilted her head towards her father but decided not to argue in front of the customer “What would you like to eat, sir?” she threw in the ‘Sir’ just to make her father happy.
“What do you recommend?” he asked while closing the two page menu.
“I recommend that you make a choice.” Ivy quipped.
“Ivy!” her father barked again.
“What? He asked for a recommendation!” she cried. Ivy looked up and saw her brother walking out “Oh good…here, you like men, you deal with him.” She handed him over the notepad and pen.
Tyler dropped his jaw in disbelief “I do not!” he said haughtily.
“Tell it to the judge!” Ivy replied without looking back as she rejoined Vicki in the booth “Anyways, back to reality.” She pulled her leg up and scratched her elbow “Did the guy see you?”
She shook her head and then thought about it “Well…I guess. He turned back up and our eyes met. He smiled and then nodded to me.”
“Bingo! The damn pervert was trying to put on a good show for you. He knew you were looking so he wanted to look like a hero.” Ivy said logically.
Vicki giggled, “I don’t think that’s a reason to call him a pervert.”
“Honey, ALL guys are perverts.” Ivy said as she itched her nose.
“Who told you that?” Vicki asked curiously.
“My dead momma.” She snickered and noticed her father throwing her a look. Ivy put her palms together “May God bless her always.” She snapped her head to him “Happy?”
Vicki laughed, “I think it’s so cute.”
“What?!?” Ivy sounded offended “Did you just call me cute? I swear, you might be my friend but I’ll punch you…” she gritted her teeth.
Vicki widened her eyes “No, no! I didn’t…I said it was cute the way you and your dad communicate. I didn’t say you were cute. I swear!” she crossed her heart.
Ivy leaned back into the ripped cushion behind her head “Okay. I thought I was gonna have to beat you up. And I really hate to do that.” She looked threatening but she was kidding with her friend.
“Wow…I didn’t expect that reaction.” Vicki said as she patted her heart “You scared me.” She pulled out her hands and they were shaking uncontrollably “My gosh! Look at them…they won’t stop shaking.”
Ivy laughed with her head thrown back and her hair was caught onto the ripped material. She began yanking but it was stuck “Hey Vicki, get me a pair of scissors.”
Vicki pulled as small one out of her bag and handed it to Ivy’s ready hand “What are you gonna do?” Ivy took it as she arched her arm around her head ready to cut the hair that was stuck. Vicki widened her eyes in horror “NO!!!” she pulled out her arms to stop Ivy “What are you doing?” she pulled herself out of her seat while Ivy looked at her with wide eyes.
“It’s just hair, it’ll grow back.” She said, startled by her friend’s outburst.
Vicki helped her untangle the hair and quickly grabbed the scissors from her hand “This is bad! Don’t do that to your hair.” She scolded lightly.
“Yes, mother.” Ivy said with sarcasm as she fixed her messy hair bun.