Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
It was the beginning of the week once again. A cycle Travis had learned to get use to but that week was different. He marched into his boss’s office without stopping at his desk “Come in.” Mr. Chan was on the phone with his boss but quickly hung up when he noticed it was Travis “So, how’s my favorite journalist?”
“I want out.” He disregarded the syrupy tone in the man’s voice. He told himself that he would not let him talk him into anything. He made up his mind.
“What about?” the man asked sternly but in the back of his mind, he already knew.
Travis sat down on the chair as he leaned onto the desk “Mr. Chan, you know exactly what I mean. So stop the runaround. I don’t want to do this assignment anymore. Get someone else to do it.”
His beady eyes narrowed “She’s got you too.”
“What?” Travis asked with a frown “This has nothing to do with Billie Cheng. I just don’t think it’s right to lie to someone. Did you know she hates reporters?”
“No.” he said with special interest as he leaned closer “What else do you know?”
“Nothing.” Travis answered too quickly as he avoided the man’s eyes.
“You know…” he widened his grin “Is it juicy?”
He was in shock “Is a story that important to you? That you devoid of human feelings all together? She is obviously still hurt and I don’t want to lose this friendship.”
“Friendship?” Mr. Chan asked suspiciously “You…you’ve fallen for her.”
“Call it what you want, but I’m not doing it anymore.” Travis said firmly as he got up.
“What about the promotion? And the raise.” He tempted.
“I don’t care. Nothing’s worth another person’s misery.” Travis stood his ground.
Mr. Chan laughed, “Please, you don’t even know this woman. After a few classes and some conversations, you think you have gotten her figured out? Why do you think I lost two great reporters in the last two years? She’s done something to them. They came in angry like you and quit out of the blue. Before I could offer them more money to stay, they disappeared off the face of the earth. I’m telling you Travis, there’s more to this woman than meets the eye.”
“I don’t give a damn. If you want the story that bad, you go undercover and do it yourself. I quit.” He couldn’t take the pressures of his conscience eating him alive.
“Wait…” the boss stood up with a raised hand to stop him “There is no need to quit. Fine, if you don’t want to do the story, I’ll have someone else do it. I don’t want to lose a perfectly good reporter over a woman.”
Travis thought twice and realized he was being irrational “Okay, I’ll stay.” He needed the money after all. Thanking his boss, he left the office feeling the weights being lifted from his shoulder. He would have to get a second job to keep the money rolling in and to pay Kyle back. But he had seemed to forget about the whole lending money thing. Never once did he ask for a deposit or payment.
************
“Are you finished?” Ellena rushed.
“Look, lady, you need to have a little more patience. It takes time to make a woman beautiful.” Kyle pointed from the bed.
Anesa laughed “It’s crazy but he’s right.” She finished the eye lids with a sheer eye shadow that brightened up her eyes “Some blush for the beautiful cheeks. Why didn’t I ever notice that you have the most beautiful cheekbones?” she brushed it lightly over the apple of Ellena’s cheek.
“Thanks.” She smiled shyly “Sorry, I know I’m a little nervous but the last time Kyle put makeup on me, I had nightmares for days.”
“Serves you right letting a man do your makeup.” Anesa rolled her eyes at her once boyfriend “You should have called me.”
“Maybe you didn’t notice, but I have been trying to avoid you.” He said sarcastically but quickly put on a smile when he saw the finished product on Ellena’s face “You look gorgeous.” He gushed.
She peeked at herself in the mirror “Oh my gosh…it doesn’t even look like me!”
“You’re very welcome.” Anesa curtsied, lifting her imaginary skirt “Hey, is Anton coming home soon?” she threw a hairpin at Kyle.
“Do I look like his mother?” he asked with a wrinkled face “Anyways, you should know, he doesn’t like aggressive girls. He likes girls like Ellena. Soft spoken and polite.”
“Look, you promised if I came over to help Ellena get dolled up, you would get me a date with Anton tomorrow night.”
“What’s tomorrow night?” Ellena smiled as she picked out the outfits that Anesa brought from work. She picked a peach color chiffon dress that came to her knees. It was too girly, she thought.
“Good choice.” Anesa nodded at the peach dress “Try it on.” She sat down on the bed casually “Tomorrow’s my birthday.”
Ellena walked into the bathroom “It is? Well, happy early birthday!”
“Thanks.” Anesa grinned. She turned to Kyle with a frown “You better go through with the promise.”
He rolled his eyes dramatically “Yes Sergeant Pushy, tomorrow night at Overcliff Restaurant, 8pm. Happy?”
“I knew there was some human left in you.” Anesa teased but she was beaming with excitement “Are you done Ellena?” She opened the door and appeared with the ruffle end dress, it gave her body a curvy definition and made her look very model like “Ooh, I like.” Anesa nodded with confirmation.
Kyle was speechless as he stared at her without blinking “Wow…” he managed to whisper.
“Aww, look. He’s practically drooling.” Anesa mocked, “Let me get you a bowl.”
Ellena lowered her head “You like it?” he was still speechless as he nodded in reply.
“That means yes.” Anesa sang as she popped up and reached for a matching pair of strap shoes “I had a feeling.” She opened the box and placed it on the ground for Ellena to slip in. It was a perfect match “You’ll knock em dead tonight.”
“Tonight?” Ellena was confused.
Kyle nodded “You’re going to be my escort for the annual Models in Magazine function.”
“I am?” She asked, feeling short of breath. She began fanning her face “I don’t do well with functions…I…I am very anti social.” She said fearfully.
He laughed as he took a hold of her arms “It’s okay, I won’t leave your side. I figured if I ask you, you’d say no so this way you have no choice but to go.”
“Yeah, that’s how he got me in bed.” Anesa winked mischievously.
“You wish.” Kyle snickered “She raped me.” He nodded to Ellena with wide innocent eyes.
“Is that even possible?” Ellena asked unsurely. She may be a virgin but she was well educated when it came to sex and how it was performed.
Anesa pointed at him laughing, “No one believes you!”
“Shut up.” He said embarrassingly as he yanked his suit from the closet and marched to the restroom to change "Besides aren't you a legal secretary?"
"It's different! I don't have to socialize." Her giggles relaxed when he left the room. Ellena smiled at her “You don’t hate him anymore?”
She shrugged carelessly “Maybe. I don’t think I ever hated him, I was just very angry. Plus we were like two canons colliding. It shouldn’t have happened if you ask me. But it’s too late for regrets.”
“True.” Ellena agreed. He emerged minutes later in a light gray suit. A peach color shirt peeked out from the jacket “You look like a model.” She gushed and laughed when she heard herself.
“What’s with the pink shirt?” Anesa snorted with a laugh.
“It’s peach, you color blinded person!” it was the worse he could come up with. He had to admit, they were better off as friends “You like it?” he asked Ellena with a bright grin.
She nodded “You look great.” She realized it was hard to keep her eyes off him. It was the first time her heart fluttered from a guy’s smile. Maybe this was what it felt like to have a crush on someone.
Anesa waved them away “Now get out of my sight, you two are making me sick. You look too good.”
Ellena laughed as she hugged the girl “Thanks for everything.”
“Yeah, all grudge aside, I’d have to agree you have an eye for fashion.” Kyle said sincerely.
She pressed her lips into a smile “Okay, get out now before I start bawling.” She turned and brushed them away.
Hand in hand, they walked out together to begin a night of mingling. When they reached the hotel banquet room, he turned to her “Okay, don’t be nervous. They will absolutely love you.”
She let out a deep breath “I’ll try not to faint.” He laughed and gripped onto her hand as he led her inside. The place was decorated to perfection, bright chandeliers hung from the high ceilings. She had never been to a party that extravagant.
“Kyle!” within seconds, he was already spotted.
“My fan awaits.” He smiled and walked with her halfway to meet his manager “Hey Ken.”
“So glad you could make it. I see you wasted no time mingling with one of the models.” He nodded to Ellena.
They exchanged glances and laughed together “I’m not a model.” She corrected.
“Really?” Ken had never heard of Kyle not dating models “Well, glad you broaden your horizons. Get yourself a drink and get some finger food before its gone.” Patting him on the shoulder, he moved past them but stopped briefly “Good catch.” He winked.
Ellena noticed the wink as she linked her arm through Kyle’s “Do you date a lot of models?”
“A few.” He smiled forcefully. She nodded and decided not to comment. He got her a plate full of goodies and picked up a glass of champagne.
“Do they have forks?” she didn’t want to use her hands.
He grinned at her innocence “There’s reason why they call it finger foods. You use your fingers…or you can use mine.” He raised his index and middle finger “Human chopsticks.”
She laughed at his silliness but decided to use her own “Thanks, I’ve got my own.” She picked up a piece of cracker with tuna on the top. They overfilled the cracker as a piece slipped and fell into her dress on the way to her mouth “Shoot!” she turned to him embarrassingly “It fell into my bra.” She whispered.
“Need help?” he teased.
“No.” she pushed him playfully and handed him the plate “I’ll be back.” She had spotted the restroom across the room.
“You want me to go with you?” he asked. She raised her brows at him and he quickly added “I mean wait outside.”
Smiling, she shook her head “No, I think I’ll survive a few steps. I’ll be back in a bit.” The girls’ room was long but she managed to squeeze her way through to get herself a tissue paper. She hid herself in the corner and cleaned out her bra. When she returned to the party, she looked around for Kyle. But he was no where near where she last left him “Okay…don’t panic.” She smiled at a few heads nodding at her.
She felt her nerves getting the best of her, walking around she tried to search calmly for him but he wasn’t anywhere in sight. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her arm, thinking it was him, she spun around with a wide grin. Instead she was greeted with a distinguished looking man in a tuxedo. She had no idea he was the host of the party “I’m sorry to startle you Miss, but my wife asked me who the beautiful lady in the peach dress was. Embarrassed, I couldn’t answer her. Which magazine do you work for?” he asked politely.
Ellena smiled delicately “Actually, I’m not a model.”
“Well, you should be!” he emphasized with a hearty laugh.
She relaxed her face with a warm smile “Thank you.”
“So, who had the pleasure of escorting you here tonight?” he asked with interest.
“Kyle. Kyle Liu.” She answered delicately.
“Ah, of course. The infamous playboy of the Model industry. He is not your boyfriend is he?” she shook her head with a fading smile “Very well. But if you are still interested look for the swarm of beautiful ladies.” He smiled with a short nod “I hope you have a great time, Miss…”
“Lai, Ellena Lai…I’m sorry, it’s rude of me.” She shook his hand.
He smiled “A beautiful name. I am Paul Wong, the host of the party.”
She was taken aback “Oh…yes…Kyle mentioned me your name. How stupid of me.” She fumbled, trying not to look embarrassed.
He laughed, “It is not stupid dear. It is not a sin to be ignorant. Well, my wife is flagging me down, so if you’ll excuse me.” He stepped aside as she nodded politely.
Her mind dazed away at his words when she felt a hand slipping around her waist. She gasped and turned but relaxed when it was Kyle “Hey cutie. Did you miss me?”
She smiled shortly “Where were you?”
“The girls just won’t leave me alone.” He said dramatically brushing his shoulder. He was kidding but she took it straight to the heart.
“I’m not surprised.” She muttered.
He tilted his head strangely “You okay? You seem a bit out of it.”
“No, I’m okay.” She pressed her lips into a smile.
“Okay, come on. I want to introduce you to some friends.” He took her hand and walked her to the huge crowd laughing hysterically at some joke. She was instantly intimidated.