Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The following morning, Brad woke up to find that Erin was already up and about. She was sitting in the living room, curled up in a blanket while she wrote down notes “Morning.” He smiled as he took a seat next to her.
“Hmm…” she mumbled but didn’t tear her eyes from her notes.
He leaned over and she covered the pad with her hand “I can’t even look?” he asked in shock.
“I’ll show it to you when I’m ready.” Erin insisted and then she plugged her nose “Do yourself a favor and brush your teeth.” He laughed while letting his breath suffocate her. She giggled as she pushed his face away “Stop it!!” she cried between laughs and trying to hold her breath in at the same time.
Shelly walked out sleepily “What are you guys doing?” she yawned.
Erin quickly got up and pointed to Brad with her pen “Look what you did, you woke up Shelly. We’ve got an hour before the meeting and they are expecting you to announce the plans.”
He sunk back on the couch tiredly “I don’t wanna go.” She could tell he was whining.
“Fine, then we’ll just go with my plan.” Erin crossed her arms with a smile. That did the trick as he popped up and rushed to the bathroom.
***************
The seven met up at P.R.A. headquarters and drove together to Darwin’s office. The group stepped out of the van and were greeted by 5 guards dressed in uniforms “Mr. Wong is expecting you.” The man standing in the middle announced.
Mia raised her brows at Erin “Special treatment.” She commented.
They were led to the elevator with hundred pairs of eyes staring at them. They felt like prisoners being led to their death sentence. Matt found it very unrespectable towards the team, he made a mental note to tell Darwin just that. The elevator stopped at the 25th floor and the guards got out and paused to tell them “The first office to your left is the conference room. Mr. Wong will be with you in a minute.”
“Thank you.” Matt nodded as he turned to his group “Now don’t touch anything children, you have to pay for it if anything breaks.” He spoke like a school teacher.
“Yes, Tong Sir!” the team saluted and then laughed as they walked by the stern looking guards who continued to stare at them like dogs on a mailman.
They reached an open area where a huge closed room was an a little desk. The secretary looked up at the team with a friendly smile. But when her eyes caught on Brad, she instantly stood up and rushed over to him “Brad!” Nora exclaimed excitedly.
Mia blocked her way with her arms behind her back “Identify yourself.” Her voice was deep and serious.
Erin shook her head as she reached out and pulled her friend to the side “That’s Nora.” She whispered. Mia widened her eyes after hearing the girl’s name, she was Brad’s ex girlfriend.
Brad turned to the girls and then back at Nora, who looked frightened “Don’t worry, Mia’s harmless.”
“I beg your pardon!” Mia said in her defense as she raised her hands to her hips.
Nora shook her head with a small smile “It’s okay, I’m use to being yelled at.”
Mia rolled her eyes “Oh boo hoo!” she nudged Erin, who remained quiet “Is she for real?”
“More than you know.” Erin whispered.
Brad gave the girl a look of concern “What does that suppose to mean? Does Darwin Wong yell at you?”
Nora shook her head vehemently “No no…Mr. Wong is a gentleman…it’s just…” she hesitated to answer.
“I think she’s talking about Mrs. Wong.” Darren said wisely.
Nora smiled “I see why Mr. Wong speaks so highly of you.” She missed Mia’s dramatic roll of the eyes again “Where are my manners…please come in the conference room. I’ll announce your arrival.” She nodded and walked away.
The group entered the room and noticed the cushioned chairs were comfortable and the view of the city was magnificent “Someone sure knows how to live.” Doug muttered as he tested out the chairs. “Hey, it turns!” he spun the chair in circles.
Mia nodded as she pushed the chair back with her feet and spun herself in circles “Weee!!” she exclaimed like it was some sort of a roller coaster ride. Brad who was next to her suddenly stopped her chair and she looked at him with confusion. He nodded to the door and it was Darwin and Elisa Wong.
The team stood up and Matt quickly greeted the wealthy man “Mr. Wong. I’m Matt Tong, lieutenant of the P.R.A. I’m sure you are very familiar with the faces in this room.”
Darwin smiled as he nodded to everyone and landed his eyes on Mia and Erin “How could I forget the two beautiful ladies that saved my life? Please sit.” He pointed while he and his wife took a seat.
Mia was beaming while Erin nodded politely “I’m surprise you still remember.”
He laughed “Being buried alive is not something you forget.”
Suddenly Elisa shook her head as she reached over to the phone that sat closest to her, she pressed the intercom button “Nora, where are the drinks?!” she demanded.
Nora’s soft spoken voice came on “Uh…I’m sorry, Mrs. Wong…it’s coming right up.”
When Elisa turned back to the group, a smile was replaced by the frustrated expression earlier “Sorry, good help is so hard to find.” She turned to her husband with a nod and he continued.
“So, I’d like to hear these plans of yours. Matt has been praising about Brad and Erin’s teamwork since I called him about the job.” Darwin complimented.
Brad replied humbly “Matt is over exaggerating, we’re not that great. We just work well together.” Mia muttered something incoherent and then covered her mouth with a laugh. Brad threw her a look and she cleared her throat “I’ll let Erin explain to you the plan of attack.”
Erin leaned on the table as she began to talk “Before I tell you the plan, I have a question to ask.” Darwin nodded for her to continue “Why do you feel that you are being followed?”
He sat back gently “It wasn’t always like this. After your team saved my life, everything seemed to fall into place. My work was getting better and I was getting better sleep. But about a month ago, I began to have these strange feelings like I was being followed. I recall there was a time when I was eating dinner with my wife at a restaurant when I saw a woman sitting not too far from me, gazing at me with such hatred.”
“Did you recognize her?” Matt asked curiously.
Darwin shook his head “I’ve never met her in my life. But after that day, I began to have nightmares of people chasing after me. Then a week ago at night, I was almost kidnapped. Luckily there was a policeman on guard by my work.”
The door opened and Nora came in with a tray and 8 glasses of coffee. She looked to have a problem balancing the tray with her weak arm. Brad instantly got up to help her, she smiled at him gratefully “Thank you.”
“Anytime.” Brad smiled as he helped her pass out the drink.
When his hand touched a cup, Nora quickly stopped him from giving it to Erin “This one is yours. One cream and two sugars, just like how you like it.” She took it from his hand and placed it where he was sitting.
Mia threw a look at Erin, who remained calm and cool. Her face showed no emotions of jealousy or pettiness. Mia took a sip of her coffee and gave a disgusted face but when she turned to Nora, she smiled sweetly “Smooth.” She managed to croak out “You should be a coffee maker!” her perkiness seemed natural but to those that knew her could tell it was all sarcasm.
Nora smiled “Thank you. But I like my job.” She nodded to her bosses “I’ll be outside if you need me.”
“Thank you, Nora.” Darwin smiled kindly while Elisa ignored the girl. Erin quickly caught on that there was something between Elisa and Nora that was too fishy. He turned to everyone with a look of concern “I forgot to tell you about a charity auction that is taking place this weekend. It’s a great event that all the richest people go to. I’m sure Darren’s got an invitation.”
Darren nodded “Two days ago.”
Darwin turned to Erin who was extra quiet, he smiled at her warmly “Can I assume that you are thinking of a plan since you haven’t said much from the beginning.”
“I’ve got a plan, but I’m not sure if it’s good.” Erin.
“It doesn’t hurt to say it.” Darwin encouraged.
Erin nodded “I was thinking that Mia and I escort you to the functions. The guy will stand a few feet away so people will not feel too uncomfortable being around you.”
“I disagree.” Brad spoke up.
Mia cowered down in her chair and covered her face “Here we go again.” She whispered to Darren.
Matt raised a hand at Mia “Let’s hear what Brad has to say.”
Brad nodded at Matt thankfully “I’m not doubting the girl’s abilities to protect you.” He said to Darwin “But I feel that it would be much safer to have myself and Doug next to you. That way, they will feel discouraged to try something. Our goal is to protect you right?”
“But don’t you want to catch the person?” Erin asked wisely.
Darwin was torn apart as he turned to Elisa “What do you think?”
She looked thoughtfully at one person to another “This may sound a bit bias, but I’m going to have to agree with Erin.”
The minute she said it, Mia bounced up from her chair “Hurray!!” she leaned over the table with her palm out at Erin. Erin shook her head with a smile as she gave her friend a high five.
Darren turned to Darwin and Elisa with an apologetic look “I think it’s the coffee.”
Elisa smiled at the girl’s enthusiasm “Actually, I’m very pleased that they are excited. It just shows my judgment is correct.”
Matt nodded in agreement “You won’t be disappointed.” He reached out and shook Darwin’s hand to close the project “I’ll have someone escort you home later. I assume the guard dogs are enough to keep you safe for the meantime?”
Darwin was taken aback by his comment as he frowned “Guard dogs?”
Matt snapped his finger as if remembering something “Oh…I was talking about the five unformed men that escorted us up here. I must say, I’ve never had such a grand entrance before. And at the same time, never been so offended.” His eyes hardened “Mr. Wong, if you are to trust us, you cannot have another group that are hired to protect you too. We don’t work well with others. As a team is only as good as it’s teammates.”
“You go, Matt!!” Mia announced but quickly covered her mouth when all eyes turned to her.
Matt smiled at Mia and turned back to Darwin “Can I trust that we won’t see the guys there this weekend?”
Darwin was pleased by his straightforward attitude “Consider it done.”