Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
She turned to him with raised eyebrows but shook her head “Nothing.”
“Well, smile all you can now because tomorrow it’s going to be a madhouse.” Philip let out a sigh just thinking about the mob that would be there tomorrow.
Amy’s smile disappeared “Are you exaggerating?”
Philip laughed “Did you forget what it was like at that interview?”
Her lips shaped in the letter ‘O’ as her head bobbed up and down “That’s right…over two hundred girls. I suspect we’ll have at least 400 tomorrow.” It was her own estimate.
“I don’t think there are that many girls in Hong Kong.” He sounded sarcastic but he knew deep down that there was a chance that many would show up. “You’re gonna have to be there early to set up. I won’t be there until the latter of the day.”
“Why?” she asked in shock.
“Because it’s your job to screen out the bad eggs. Remember? That was Johnny’s job but now I have you. You come up with the tests on how to take the not so talented girls out of the race. Its your shot, Amy.” He was putting it all in her hands and it made her the more nervous to know that she had the complete power to chose the final ten girls. “Don’t get nervous now. You’ll do fine.” He assured her.
She felt the stress lying her shoulders as she slumped back “Easy for you to say. You’ve got the easy job.”
He laughed “I have to judge 10 girls in the end, all are very talented. No matter what happens, I’m gonna lose 9 fans and one girl will be very happy.”
“I don’t think they will resent you for choosing one. It’s like a beauty pageant only one winner. I’m sure they’ll understand.” It was reasonable to Amy.
“That’s why you’re my personal manager, you have to explain to these girls the rules of the game. Remember, don’t be a softy, you will see tears and angry glares, but don’t give in. The station manager said that I could use as many security guards as I want. There will be recording crew with one camera….” He stopped when she began to wipe her forehead.
“Stop, you’re making me more nervous.” She was tense and shivering at the thought of running a whole show. “I can’t do this Philip. I’m sorry. I just can’t! I’ve only been your assistant for four months, how am I suppose to be in charge of a whole audition? I’ve got no ideas…no plans…” she sounded like she was hyperventilating.
Philip reached over and massaged her neck with his left hand “Breath, my child. Calm down, I’ll help you out okay?”
“How?” she was taking in breaths like a student in a lamas class.
He glanced down at the clock in his car “It’s 1am right now, so we have about two hours to come up with a plan. Let’s go to my house and we’ll think of a plan.”
She nodded gratefully “Oh, thank you!!” without thinking, Amy reached over and kissed him on the cheek. She moved away when she realized what she just did “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean….I just got too excited.”
Philip grinned “Well maybe you should get excited more often.” He teased. She hid her red face from him until they reached his gate. He pressed one of the many buttons on the right side of the dashboard and the gates automatically opened up.
They went inside the house and Amy was at awe with everything. It looked like a mansion with two floors. A tiny balcony was hovering over the giant living room. She could see the den from the living room and it was equipped with the biggest flat screen tv she has ever seen. “I see you live very comfortably.” She nodded obviously impressed.
He laughed “You want a tour?”
“Can I?” her eyes were bigger than a little fish finding it’s dinner.
“Sure.” He pushed her on the back and led her upstairs “This is my room.” He pointed to the far left room. He opened it and Amy smiled at how warm and cozy it looked. The bed was in the middle of the room and across from it was a large mirror and vanity table.
“Is this where you spend your mornings putting on your face?” she joked while pointing to the table.
He nodded with a smile “How do you expect me to look this gorgeous everyday?”
She rolled her eyes “Here comes the ego again.” She let out a small yawn.
Philip frowned “Uh oh, someone’s getting sleepy. We better start planning.”
Amy nodded “Okay.” They headed downstairs. “I need a pen and lined paper.”
“Okay, is a pencil okay? I don’t know if I have any pens.” He replied with a grim expression.
“Yeah.” She said brightly and seated herself on the couch. When he returned with the stuff, she remembered what else she needed “And a ruler too.” She snapped her finger at the thought.
He let out a small sigh “Is that all, Madam?” she nodded with a smile. He walked towards the back room and snapped his head back at her “Boy it’s hard working for you.”
Amy laughed “It’s worse working for you!”
He came back with her ruler and she began her design on the lined paper. She already had four tests in mind “Okay, let’s hear it.” He said and took a seat next to her on the floor leaning against the foot of the couch.
She sat on the side of her legs and drew out the tables while she answered him “1st of all, is the screening of height. They have to fit a certain height to match with you. How tall are you?” she paused to look up at him.
He was leaning on the table with his elbow down and his cheek to his palm “You don’t know?” he asked. Amy shook her head and he smiled “Guess.”
Amy dropped the pencil and ruler as she crossed her arms while leaning back “Mr. Cheung, we do not have the time to play these little games. Can you just tell me?”
“I want you to guess.” He said again not willing to budge “Just humor me.”
“5’10’’?” she threw out a guess so he would be satisfied.
“How did you know?” he was surprised that she guessed it right on the nose.
She laughed “It was an educated guess.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully with the pencil “So what do you think the range for the girl’s height should be?”
He was putting thought into it “I don’t know.” Suddenly he turned towards her “How tall are you?”
This time it was Amy’s turn “Guess.”
Philip narrowed his eyes sternly “Ha ha. Get up.” he pulled her up to her feet and she came to his chin without shoes “5’3 and a half.” He guessed.
She widened her eyes “How did you know?”
“I saw your profile when you first interviewed.” He laughed when she snorted a comment. “I think your height is good, put on some 3 or 4 inch shoes and you’ll be perfect.
“Okay, 5’3 to 5’7?” she asked unsurely. He nodded and she continued “The second test is going to be singing. We’re going to set up a karaoke machine and have them sing a song that you sang before with another singer. That way we can turn off the girl and have them sing. I’m gonna have to get Johnny to help me on this. He has an ear for voices.”
Philip nodded “Good idea. What’s the third test?”
“Dancing. Which means I need you there.” She said cautiously not knowing what he would think of her idea.
“Okay. That should be around 4pm right?” she nodded “Good, because I have a meeting most of the morning. What’s the last one?” he was curious to know what else they were missing.
“Acting. Again, we need you there. The camera will film a short sequence that the final 10 girls will act with you. This will show off their acting skills as well as talent for quick thinking. We will just give them a scenario and they will have to act it out using their own words. I’m sure that’ll be easy for you.” She added with a smirk.
He laughed “A total cinch!”
“And I think that covers everything…” she began jotting down notes quickly while glancing at the clock. It was almost 2:30 in the morning. If she didn’t get enough sleep soon, she would be waking up with panda bear eyes.
Philip leaned back on the couch with his arm spread out comfortably “Take a break. We’ve got the whole night.”
She turned her head with a whip “Look at the time, Mr. Cheung. You have to drive me home and it’s across town because you live in some remote part of town with not a soul in sight.”
He smiled wickedly “The better to murder you in. No one will hear your cries.” Philip lowered his voice with the attempt to scare her “I could clean up the blood with ease and your body can be buried in the backyard where no one will ever find.” His eyes darkened as he leaned closer to her face “I’m really a serial killer, there are at least 10 other bodies there.”
Amy laughed wildly at his attempt to frighten her “Oooh…I’m so scared, I think I’m going to pee in my pants.” She let out a long laugh that sounded more like a cackle.
Philip furrowed his eyebrows and gave her a strange look “The things you find amusing.”
She eventually calmed down as she wiped some tears off her eyes “That was a good one.” She clapped her hands “That was great acting.”
He wasn’t amused by her sarcasm “Just for that, I’m not taking you home.” He crossed his arms stubbornly.
“Okay, let’s not take it too far. I have to go home.” She began writing more notes.
“Why?” he asked innocently.
“Why? Because I can’t stay in the same house with you. God knows you’ve got the paparazzi surrounding your house as we speak. Someone saw us go inside, if I don’t leave, the rumors will spread before you know it.” She emphasized it with gestures and it made him laugh “I don’t want another article written about us…we were lucky once….And stop laughing! It’s not a funny matter.” She hit him across the leg.
“And you say I exaggerate.” He shook his head with a chuckle.
“I’m serious, Philip.” She said earnestly “We’ve gone four months without rumors, I don’t want it to start now. Doesn’t it bother you when people write lies and your fans believe it?” she asked incredulously.
He shook his head carelessly “I’m use to it. Every actress that I’ve acted with have had their share of rumors with me. All of my assistants have had rumors except for you. There’s something wrong with the picture. Either you’re good at covering up or reporters have lost interest in me and you.” He seemed to be pondering the question.
She threw her hands up dropping the pencil in her hand “I give up. How in the world could you be bothered because there are not enough rumors about you and me? Ohh…” she pointed at him accusingly “Is that why you brought me here? To cause rumors? Well, I’m not going to be a victim of your game.” She said haughtily as she gathered the papers and her purse to begin to leave.
He raised his leg from the couch and pushed her back into her seat with ease, she fell back with a thump dropping the papers “Hold on Sherlock Holmes before you go rushing out, I’ve got to tell you that there will not be a taxi within 10 miles and I will not have you go hitchhiking your way home.”
“So you’ll take me home?” she leaned over the couch to pick up the papers.
He shook his head “No.”
“Philip!” she cried angrily.
He laughed and wagged a finger at her “You sound just like my mom for a second.” She scowled at him and he stopped teasing her “Look at the time, Amy. It’s 3 in the morning. Why don’t you just sleep here? You’re obviously exhausted.” He pointed out and she let out a long yawn.
She covered her mouth with her hand “Because I don’t want rumors…” she leaned on her hand and whimpered like a sad puppy “All my hard work gone to waste.” She said sadly.
Philip reached over and smoothed out her face, it came across the dark frames and he was tempted to pull them off but she hit his hand away. He frowned “Just take them off, there’s no one here.”
Amy shook her head “No.” she was stubbornly sticking to her frames “If you’re not going to take me home, I want a room to sleep in.”
He nodded “Of course.” He took her upstairs to the empty room next to him “Does this fit?” he asked opening the door and appeared a cozy looking room with shades of sky blue.
She wrinkled her nose “It’s cute…but why do we have to be so close?”
He laughed, not amused by her pickiness “Fine. Take this room.” He led her down the hall where he opened another door to the left “Is this far enough for you, Princess?” sarcasm dripping from every word.
Amy nodded with approval “It’s perfect. Is there a lock on there?”
“First you call me a bad actor and then you accuse me of using you for stories in the tabloids and now you are calling me a rapist?” he shook his head “I have every reason to kill you now.”
She laughed “I didn’t mean it like that…Well, good night.” She jumped inside the room before he could say anything else. She closed the door and locked it firmly.
“I have a key to every room!!” his voice sang teasingly on the other side.
Amy groaned as she leaned on the door “Philip!!”
He laughed “Yes, mommy?” she didn’t know what else to say except scream out her frustration. Philip smiled at the door “Good night to you too.”