Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The following morning, Jayd woke up with a throbbing foot. She had fallen asleep with the bag of ice over her ankle and it had long ago melted and spilled into her mattress. Mrs. Lee entered her room to wake her daughter when she saw her fixing the bag “I had an accident.” Jayd pouted.
“Oh dear…this is going take forever to dry.” She took the remaining bag and threw it in the trash “Come on.” She waved her daughter to take her arm as she led her to the bathroom “See, if you had a boyfriend, he would be here right now—”
Before she had a chance to finish, the doorbell rang. Jayd rolled her eyes when her mother smiled smugly “Stop drooling ma.” She limped her way to the bathroom while Mrs. Lee opened the door for who she thought was Steve.
“Speak of the—” instead she was faced with a stranger. A gentleman that looked well dressed and obviously rich “I’m sorry, can I help you?”
“Hi Auntie, is Jayden home?” he asked politely with a basket of fruit in his hands. As if remembering suddenly, he presented it to her “Just a little gift, I hope you won’t deny.”
Mrs. Lee stood aside to let him in “Oh…thank you…Mr…”
“Call me Andrew.” He smiled warmly “Is she still getting ready?”
“She’s in the restroom.” Mrs. Lee pointed to the couch “Won’t you sit down?” his presence made her feel maid-like “Would you like some tea or coffee?”
Andrew laughed as he pointed to the seat next to him “Auntie, you don’t have to serve me. I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Jayd’s boyfriend.”
Taken aback, she found herself stunned and speechless “You…you’re…but…she’s never mentioned you.” The woman finalized.
Jayd emerged from the bathroom as she called “I’ll be right there Stevie! Don't leave without me!”
“Ah Yan!” her mother called suddenly, startling Andrew “I’m sorry.” She excused herself and rushed into her daughter’s room “Yan…it’s not Steve. It’s some man name Andrew and he claims to be your boyfriend. Should I shoo him away with a broom?” the naïve woman asked nervously.
Her eyes and jaw dropped “Oh my God…you’re kidding.” She rushed out to the living room in pajamas and her hair a total mess “Andrew, what are you doing here?”
He laughed “I told you I would come by to pick you up last night.”
“I know, I thought you were kidding. You were serious?” she asked.
“Well, yeah.” He shrugged “Your mom seems a bit…nervous.” He grinned.
“I would be too if some guy walked in and said he’s my daughter’s boyfriend and I had no idea.” Jayd hissed “You should have warned me.”
“I did. Last night.” He replied a matter-of-fact.
“Ah Yan…is this man really your boyfriend?” Mrs. Lee asked unsurely.
Jayd covered her face shortly and turned to her mother with a smile “Yes ma, this is Andrew Fung, my boyfriend. I assume we just became official last night.”
“Sorry to scare you, Auntie. But I thought Jayd would have at least mentioned me in the past.” He turned to his now girlfriend with a look of awe.
Her mother too turned to her for an explanation. Jayd smiled weakly “Surprise?” when she was saved by the doorbell, she limped her way over to open it.
“What’s wrong with your leg?” he pointed.
“I’m sorry, you have a guest over.” Steve’s wide grin faded. He did a double take on Andrew and leaned into Jayd’s ear “Isn’t that our boss?” he recognized him from the office “Are you in trouble?”
She turned to her mother’s stern expression “More than you think.” She whispered.
“Ahem!” Andrew cleared his throat “Won’t you introduce us?”
Jayd snapped her head back, smiling embarrassingly “Andrew, this is Steve. This is Andrew…my boyfriend.”
Steve began walking in and froze for one second at her words. Recovering fast, he reached out a friend hand to shake Andrew’s “You look familiar.” He pointed at Steve with a wagging finger “Aren’t you that new mail guy?”
“Actually, he’s a new architect!” Jayd jumped in to help her friend “He just started a few weeks ago.”
“So that’s where I saw you.” Andrew nodded “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Steve replied shortly.
An awkward silence filled the room as Jayd tapped her fingers together waiting for someone to make the first move “Well, I better go change.” She said when she looked down at her pajamas.
“Steve, why don’t you go to work first? I’ll take Jayd to work. But I would like to have a talk with Auntie first. Will you excuse us?” Andrew asked politely.
Steve nodded understandingly “Of course.” He waved goodbye to them “See you at work. Bye Auntie.”
“Bye.” Mrs. Lee smiled warmly as she walked him out the door.
*************
Steve arrived at work on time as he slumped in his chair, letting out a long sigh. Her words repeated in his head like a broken record ‘Andrew…my boyfriend.’ He logged into the computer while snickering to himself “What a joke.” How would he ever compete with the big VP? The guy that would one day own the entire corporation. He had everything and could give her anything she wanted.
When he began working, he noticed the shark walking a girl around. She looked to be new and bored with him. But he wondered why Mr. Lau did not appear to be his usual jerk self “And here is the architect department…” he began only to find Lisa roaming away again “Miss Cheung.”
“What?” she turned and caught Steve’s eye as he quickly turned away “Steve!!” she called sweetly while approaching his desk. Sitting at the corner of his small cubicle, she greeted “Hey, how have you been?”
He smiled slowly “Good, since…the other day.”
She laughed with her head thrown back and a hand hitting him flirtatiously “You’re so funny. So this is where you work.”
“Miss Cheung…” Mr. Lau tried to get her attention.
“Oh, I’m done with you.” She waved him away like a dog. The employees noticed but none dared to make a comment or laugh. The man was red in the face as he slowly moved away.
“You know where my office is if you need help.” He said but she wasn’t paying attention.
“So, this is your cubicle.” Lisa crossed her arms with a teasing grin.
Steve nodded “It’s small, I know.”
“You want a bigger one? I’ll get Biu Gor to get you a bigger one.” She pushed.
“No!” he raised a hand “No…this cubicle is fine.” She smiled and shrugged it off lightly “So, where is your desk? Or should I say office?”
Lisa shook her head innocently “I don’t know. I have to wait for Biu Gor to come in first.”
“That won’t be for a while.” Steve snorted “They’ll probably have breakfast and take a walk on the beach. Maybe watch a movie…plan the wedding.” He said in despair.
“What?” she turned to him strangely “Are you feeling okay?” she felt his forehead.
He moved away “I’m fine. I guess you know why Jayd’s not here.” He nodded to her empty cubicle.
“Wait…” she pointed to Jayd’s desk and her eyes lit up slowly “OH! I know!!! Why that little liar…” she tapped her chin evilly “The two little liars.” She corrected “How dare they hide it from me!”
Steve felt his stomach drop “You…eh…you didn’t know?”
Lisa shook her head as a wide grin crossed her face “No…but thanks for the news.” She patted him adoringly on the head and got up to wait for Andrew in his office.
“Crap.” Steve cursed as he dropped his head onto his desk.
***********
“Three years?!” Mrs. Lee exclaimed “But…how…why…I had no idea!” she retorted.
“Ma…I’m sorry. I just…I wanted to tell you…” Jayd began as she turned to Andrew for help.
He smiled “Its my fault. I asked Jayd not to expose us. You know my father is very popular in the business world. If they knew his only son was dating an employee, it would surely bring our family name down.” Andrew explained.
“I’m sorry us peasants are no comparison to your high stature.” Mrs. Lee spat.
“Ma!” Jayd was in shock by her reply.
Andrew patted her hand softly “It’s okay. Auntie has every right to be upset. Actually, I expected Jayd to leave me the minute I made that request but instead she was very understanding. She agreed to go along and soon months turned into years and never once did she complain to me. I knew it was time to push it with my father. I forced him to meet her and I knew the minute he did, he would love her like I did.” He smiled at Jayd who lowered her head shyly “We had dinner last night with my father and he was taken by her.”
Mrs. Lee relaxed her anger as she forced herself to smile “I see…I guess that is a good thing?”
“Yes, of course!” he said excitedly “We have my father’s blessing to continue dating and he will announce our relationship at the annual company dinner party next month.”
“So it’s still under the table right now?” Jayd turned to him questioningly.
“If you mind, we’ll go back and announce it to everyone.” He offered.
Shaking her head, she smiled “No, it’s okay. I will respect Uncle’s decision.” She said obediently.
“That’s why I love you.” He kissed her on the cheek and turned to her mother “Auntie, I would like to take you out to breakfast sometime. Let’s make it this weekend?”
“Do I have a say—” she began only to be jabbed by her daughter “It sounds lovely.” She smiled again, Jayd new it was fake “Well, you kids should get back to work.” She ushered them away.
Andrew checked his watch “Yes, I do have a meeting this morning. So I’ll see you this weekend?”
“Yes.” Mrs. Lee walked them to the door. She pulled her daughter back “We’ll talk tonight.” she whispered sternly.
Jayd nodded weakly “Bye ma.”
“Have a good day, Auntie.” Andrew bowed slightly. When the door closed, he wrapped his fingers over hers “Well, that went well!” he smiled proudly while pulling her along.
She stared at him in wonder “It did?”
“I think she likes me.” He was positive and overly confident “I told you there was nothing to worry about. I win over moms easy.”
Jayd grinned, “How many have you won over?”
He laughed as he held onto the elevator door for her “I’m not falling for that trick. I’m going to say one, just to be safe.” He glanced down at her leg “What happened to your ankle?”
“I tripped on the stairs.” She explained but decided to keep the details to herself.
“Try not to walk on it too much.” He reached an arm around her shoulder and gave her a good squeeze “We’ve got dance practice in a few days.”
“Huh?” she was confused.
“Father thought it would be fun if we took a dance class together so the day of the party, we can show off to everyone. I was thinking tango would be fun. It’s slow and sensual.” He nodded with excitement.
She grinned, “This I got to see. I don’t care if my ankle is broken I have to see you dance.” From the three years, she never once saw him do any other activity than work or golf.