Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
It was early spring morning, the weather was beginning to get a little warmer but still cool enough to wear a long sleeve shirt. The young man wearing a shirt and tie adjusted his collar before getting into the cab. He gave the driver the address as the middle aged man began to speed off almost taking out a pedestrian. Steven gasped with his eyes widened. It was his second week back in Hong Kong after schooling in England for years. He was still not use to his homeland. He found the people often pushy and rude as well as crazy when it came to driving.
Gripping onto the handles, he made a sign of the cross and said a silent prayer for his life. The driver noticed from the rear view mirror as he laughed “Mr. are you visiting?”
“No. I just got back from England.” He tightened his stomach afraid it would turn with the car’s sharp right turn.
He was practically thrown back from the abrupt stop. Massaging his neck, he gave the man his money and tip “Welcome back.” The cab snickered.
Steven watched the cab speed up to catch another passenger “Nice people.” He muttered with the same sarcasm. Walking into the high rise building, he joined the herd of people entering one of the six elevators. Holding onto his briefcase, he smiled at few heads that turned to stare at him. When they didn’t acknowledge him, he shrugged it off with ease. After the twentieth floor stop, the elevator was almost empty only leaving a handful of people inside.
He let out a short sigh, glad the guys that gave him strange looks got off before him “Are you new?” a female voice asked from behind.
Turning to her, he raised his brows “Yeah. I’m Steve, twenty fifth floor.”
“Steve, well looks like we’re co-workers.” The elevator stopped as he held the door open for her “Don’t say I didn’t warn you but there are a lot of people you need to watch out for. There are some toes you can’t step on if you catch my drift.”
“Yes, of course. So you must be a senior exec here? Can you give some advice to the new guy?” he noticed she was not younger than him. She had an air of nonchalant about her and such a beautiful smile.
She grinned, “I’m not exec. But here’s some free advice. Janice on the twentieth floor can be a bitch if you stare at her longer than ten seconds. She’s got a huge mole on her cheek.” The girl whispered with a laugh as she waved to the receptionist “New guy, I’ll take him to his place.” She waved her finger for Steven to follow her inside the rows of cubicles “Dick, Henry and Bill are the three musketeers of the twenty second floor. The three guys that took the elevator up with us and were staring at you like hawks. They don’t talk to anyone else but their department and thinks their God’s gift to the Architectural world.” She smiled and nodded to a few friendly faces and continued to zig zag passed the cubicles. Turning to Steven, she smiled and stopped “I’m Jayden, but everyone calls me Jayd. I sit right here if you ever…” She faded when he planted a goofy grin on his face “What are you smiling about?” she turned her head suspiciously.
“Jayden Lee?” Steve asked.
“Yeah, did you read that from my name tag on the cubicle?” she pointed.
He laughed “No. It’s me. Steve…Steven Yeung. From Chung Wan. We were neighbors for ten years. But your family moved away after your eleventh birthday. We didn’t get a chance to keep in touch.” He was glad to see a familiar face.
“No way!” she laughed while pushing him against the arm “Stevie beady eyed?” she shook her head “Gosh, I haven’t seen you for ages.”
“Sixteen years, eight months and 21 days.” he concluded.
Her smile fell “Right, you have a memory of a wizard. You don’t still remember…eh…”
“When you thought I buried your doll and you pushed me into a pile of mud where my glasses were ruined, making my mom spank me. But in truth it was your little puppy Dagger that dug a hole and put your doll inside? Yeah, I think it’s vague but I can still picture it.” He nodded. Jayd smiled weakly as he quickly laughed, “I’m kidding. That was so elementary. I’ve forgotten all about it.”
“I see.” She replied dryly.
“Anyways, any last advice?” he noticed the wall clock struck 10am.
“Yes, always look like you’re working even if you’re not. Mr. Lau, the office manager makes his daily route at 11pm, 2pm and 6pm, right before we leave.” She leaned in closer and peeked around “Some people say he purposely points out the unfinished work so people can stay longer. We don’t get paid for overtime.” She wrinkled her nose in dismay.
“Oh, I don’t mind. I like to work.” He replied brightly.
Jayd rolled her eyes “Yeah, we’ll see.” She did a double take on a figure behind Steven “Uh oh, the shark swimming closer. Quick, run…” she hissed and sat down at her work in an instant.
“What? Shark?” Steven asked in confusion.
“You!” Mr. Lau pointed to Steven, who turned slowly and pointed to himself “Does it look like I have crooked eyes?!” he snapped “Of course I’m pointing to you. Come here. Why aren’t you at your seat?”
“I…I’m new, sir.” Steven stuttered.
“So you thought it was fun to go traveling around on your own? You are wasting time. I hope you know you won’t be paid for the first five minutes.” Mr. Lau said sternly.
“No, I wouldn’t feel right taking the money.” Steven answered firmly.
The other employees stifled laughs but didn’t dare to look up at the fuming Mr. Lau. Beaten at his own game, he pointed Steven into his office “I’ll run through the guidelines with you.”
“Yes, sir.” Steven followed him inside “This is a beautifully designed office, did you design this yourself?”
The man smiled smugly “Why, yes I did. Good eye.” He complimented.
“No, you have the good eye. The colors, the lighting and not to mention the vibrant paintings. It’s fit for a president.” He gushed.
Mr. Lau could have blushed if he wasn’t conceited “Yes, I guess it is fit for a king.” He smiled brightly while Steven knew better to correct him “What were we talking about?”
“Oh, you were telling me the importance of being on time at work and a minute wasted would mean no pay and I agree.” Steve nodded.
“Right.” Mr. Lau nodded “So here on forth, you come to work on time and be at your seat at the second it turns ten. Lunch is at one pm. Work will be passed out at the end of the day for tomorrow. But since you are new, I will give you the first file to work on. You can work the Maya 5 program can’t you?” he asked before handing him the file.
“You’ll be glad to know I got the top score in my class for Maya 5.” Steven smiled proudly.
“Looks like we got something in common.” Mr. Lau warmed up to the guy with ease “Now come on, I’ll show you to your new station.” Steven got up to follow the man, he took him down a row and pointed to an empty place “This is your seat from now on, we’re glad to have you on and aboard our team. We are striving to be the number one team out of the ten top teams this year.”
“I’m sure with your guidance, we will definitely take the first place this year.” Steven said with pride.
Mr. Lau was beaming as he patted him on the shoulder and walked back to his office with a bigger ego. The people around stared and gaped in wonder. They had never seen their boss in such a great mood and he actually patted an employee instead of pointing at them. Steven turned to his new front neighbor, who was Jayd. She too was in shock as she made a motion for him to pick up his phone. He answered and she got straight to the point “How did you do that?” she asked in a loud whisper.
“Do what?” he asked with a comfortable laugh. Opening the file, he was ready to work on it.
“Got the shark to smile and pat you on the shoulder. Heck, I’ve been working here for three years and the best compliment I ever got out of him was: That’s not entirely bad. It needs work but you’re on the right track.” She mimicked his annoying voice.
“I forgot to mention, I got a masters degree in ‘ass-kissing’."
"You sound proud of it." Jayd arched a brow up.
"I just know how to deal with jerks. Use kindness to kill your enemies.” He said wisely while swaying in his swivel chair.
“You have got to show me some pointers after work.” She laughed quietly.
Steven smiled into the receiver “How about lunch time?”
“No…I’ve got plans.” She replied hesitantly.
“Boyfriend?” he asked.
Jayd looked around and whispered “I’ll tell you later.” Hanging up the phone, she got back to work.
*****************
In the President’s suite sat a man wearing a sharp suit and in his hand was a cigar. His black and gray hair was slicked back and combed to perfection. He stared across the large desk at his son, who stood by the window, eyes distant “Son, I do not want to sound repetitive but you must stop seeing this girl.”
Andrew didn’t bother turning to his stern father “And I do not want to repeat myself, father. I am not leaving her because you think she is wrong for me.” He narrowed his eyes “And don’t smoke, it’s bad for your lungs.”
The old man sighed as he burned out the cigar and got up to be leveled with his son “Andrew, I never told you the story about my second wife. Why she left.”
“You said she had an affair with the gardener.” He wrinkled his brows. It seemed his father have had too many secrets to catch up with.
He shook his head “I said the story to protect my reputation. She left without me knowing. When I was at the top of business, she walked into the accountant’s office and asked for a check. At that time, I trusted her. She ended writing herself a check for 25million dollars. She knew exactly how much I had in my account. I nearly went bankrupt had it not been for your mother’s years of savings. From that moment on, I knew I would not marry anyone else nor would I trust another woman.”
“Not even mom?” Andrew asked.
“Although she saved my business, I have always felt her heart was not always with me.” His eyes hardened as he turned to the city life before him “Women are scheming and too smart when they know how to use their charms on you to get anything they want. You are the sole heir to this Architectural empire. I will not lose it over a peasant girl.”
“Father, we are not royalty.” Andrew sneered “And she is not a peasant. She happens to be very smart and understanding. Three years…we’ve kept our relationship hidden for three years and not once did she demand that I announce our stature. Doesn’t that tell you anything?” he asked.
The man smiled “All that tells me is how patient this woman really is. Women that do not want stature end up being someone else’s second wife. Son, I am a man with experience in the field of love. Trust me, I know these things.” Andrew turned away stubbornly “Even if you think she is the one for you, there must be a final test that you have to give her.”
“I don’t need you to teach me that.” Andrew snapped.
“Ahh…so you already have one under wraps?” the man was pleasantly surprised his son was not gullible as he expected. He was still suspicious after all “That’s all I ask for.”
The young executive smiled at his worried father “Once this test is over, you’ll see exactly what kind of woman I’m going to marry.”
“Well, if you are so confident, I think it is time for me to meet this girl. Bring her over for dinner next Sunday.” He smiled crookedly at the surprised expression on his son’s face “I am capable of being human. And don’t worry, I promise not to scrutinize her too much.”
Finally smiling, Andrew nodded “Consider it a done deal.” He walked out and pasted the employee cubicles to get to his smaller corner office. A few of the girls greeted him with gushing smiles “Morning.” He smiled briefly and continued on his way, not giving anyone a second look.
Steve noticed the disappointed sighs and leaned over the cubicle to Jayd “Who’s that?”
“Whom?” she asked with raised brows.
“The handsome guy all the girls are swooning over.” He cupped his lips.
Jayd turned and caught a glimpse of his back “Oh…the big boss’s son. VP.” She shrugged. Steve nodded as he returned to work.