Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
She saw the office manager scrambling to pick up a phone while she held a cup of hot coffee in her hand. Erin quickly got up to help her “I’ll bring it in to Michael.”
“Thank you.” The elder woman sighed gratefully.
Erin knocked on the door and Michael greeted her in “Come in.” he had just finished shaking the girl’s hand as she seated herself. He looked up curiously when Erin walked in “Erin? Where’s Mrs. Cheung?”
“She had to answer a call, so I offered to help out.” She placed the coffee on the table “Black coffee?” she asked with a smile.
Michael smiled but his eyes were distant “I never drank coffee, but I picked it up from… a friend.”
Erin knew whom he was talking about as she smiled. She turned to the girl “I’m sorry to interrupt you. I’m Erin, by the way.” She reached out a hand to shake the girl’s hand.
“Julie Lee.” The girl had a friendly smile. But when she turned to Michael, her face fell “Mr. Wu, are you okay?”
Erin glanced her eyes over at Michael, expecting his reaction. His face looked pale as he continued to stare at Julie “Julie…Lee.” He whispered to himself.
Julie looked confused as she turned from Erin to Michael “I’m sorry, is this a bad time?”
Erin smiled at the girl and she walked over to Michael as she patted him on the shoulder “People look like people. Names will repeat themselves.”
Michael looked up at her, the name sent a surge of memories through his mind. His heart was aching “I know…” he replied. His eyes turned back to Julie and he knew there should be an explanation “My fiancé was named Julie Lee. Unfortunately, she died years ago.” He said sadly.
Julie nodded understandingly “I’m sorry to hear that.” She said sincerely “If this is too hard for you. Maybe I will interview elsewhere.” She began to get up.
“No.” Michael reached out a hand and pointed her back down on the seat “I will not hold that against you. Everyone will be treated fairly.”
Erin smiled at his professionalism “I’ll be outside.” He nodded at her with a grateful smile. She walked outside to find Brad snoring away, his head leaned on the chair. She shook her head and returned to her seat next to Brad.
“Excuse me, is the interview still open?” A familiar female voice asked the office manager. Erin turned her head and she was surprised to see Nora. The girl instantly recognized her as she walked over with a fake smile “Erin, it’s so nice to see you.” Her voice syrupy. She saw Brad sleeping and a genuine smile crossed her face.
Erin nodded “He wouldn’t wake up even if there was an earthquake.”
“I know how to wake him up.” Nora said confidently as she leaned down over Brad’s ear and whispered something. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. He turned his head and it was met with Nora’s cheek. He quickly jumped back and covered his lips. Nora touched her cheek, which looked blazing red, the same red that matched Erin’s eyes. Nora shrugged carelessly “See, works every time.”
Brad retrieved his place next to Erin with a stammered voice “Nora…what are you doing here?” he asked nervously.
“I need a new job.” She sighed sadly “After Darwin was kidnapped, Elisa went on a firing rampage and let everyone go…well, all of whom she didn’t like.”
Erin sighed sadly “Too bad, the job has just been filled.”
Brad looked at her curiously “How did you know?”
“Woman’s instinct.” Erin said mysteriously.
As if on cue, Michael walked Julie out. She was the last interview of the day until he laid eyes on Nora “Hi, are you here for the interview?” he asked.
Nora smiled brightly as she extended a hand and shook his firmly “I’m Nora Cheung, I was Darwin Wong’s secretary.”
Michael’s eyes shot upwards “Was? How is he doing?”
Nora looked at him solemnly “You don’t know about Darwin?”
Erin quickly interrupted “Michael, I think it’s our turn now.” She smiled and he caught on.
“I’m sorry Nora, if you’re here for an interview. I’m afraid you’re one step too late. I just hired Julie here.” He nodded to Julie who smiled at the group “She’s starting next Monday.”
Nora couldn’t hide her disappointment “I see. I guess there’s no reason for me to be here.”
Michael suddenly felt sorry for the girl as he called her back “Wait a minute, Nora.” He turned to the office manager “Mrs. Cheung, do we have two desks open?” The woman nodded and he smiled “If you don’t mind sharing a job, I would like to welcome you to my company.” He extended a hand to Nora who was near tears as she shook it with both hands and beamed brightly.
Erin let out a silent sigh while Brad was smiling, he nudged her “He’s not bad either.”
She rolled her eyes at Brad “I told you so.” She said without much feeling. After the introductions were over, Brad and Erin were led into Michael’s office.
“I must apologize about the wait. It’s usually not that hectic in here.” Michael smiled at the two. They shook their heads understandingly “So when are the wedding bells coming?” he asked.
“That’s a little too soon to ask.” Erin blurted out. She turned to Brad who’s face was wrinkling with confusion “I mean…Brad hasn’t proposed or anything yet.” She corrected herself.
Michael laughed “Is that all? I would expect you to be the one proposing.” He pointed to Erin “Women nowadays are very independent.”
“I’m as traditional as a woman could get.” Erin smiled.
“Really?” he asked with curios wonder.
Brad cleared his throat, the conversation was not what he was planning to talk about “Mr. Wu, we’re today as P.R.A. agents. Darwin Wong has been kidnapped.”
Michael’s face fell “Again?” he whispered in shock.
Erin nodded “Unfortunately, this time we have no idea who kidnapped him. It was during an auction last weekend. We lost an agent during a shootout.” Her head tilted down in remembrance of Jessie.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Michael said sympathetically.
Brad knew Erin was still feeling guilty as he nodded “It was unavoidable. But we’re here to tell you that Elisa Wong will be contacting you very soon. We have suspicions that she was contacted by the kidnapper and they are asking for a large sum of money that she cannot get access to. Therefore she is going down the line of people that are friends with Darwin, who are willing to help her out.”
“And you think she is going to ask me next?” Michael finished.
Erin nodded “She does not trust the P.R.A. at this time because we failed to protect her husband. It’s very dangerous if she tries to handle this herself. We want to know if you can do us a favor.”
He leaned back on his chair comfortably “Anything.” Brad and Erin exchanged smiles.
*************
After the talk with Michael, Brad and Erin returned home “Do you think we can trust him?” Brad asked.
Erin shook her head “Did you say earlier that he wasn’t a bad guy after all?”
He laughed “It doesn’t mean we can trust him.”
“I’m going to have to get use to your language, Mr. Chung.” She joked. Suddenly, she heard laughing. She turned to Brad strangely “Do you hear that?”
He nodded “It’s Shelly…and…is that a guy’s voice?” he wondered out loud.
Erin and Brad walked over to her closed room as they knocked on it, there was no answer only laughter. Without further notice, she barged into the room to find Ryan and Shelly playing video games. The two were laughing loudly, Erin let out a sigh of relief as she leaned onto Brad’s chest.
“Ga Jei? What’s wrong?” Shelly asked.
Erin shook her head at the two “Ryan, can I speak to you for a minute?”
Ryan pointed to the game “But…I’m winning…” Erin tilted her head sternly and he quickly got up and followed her outside while Brad walked over to continue the game with Shelly.
When they were outside, Erin turned to Ryan “Are you two dating?” she asked straightforwardly.
Ryan shook his head “No, we’re just friends, I promise.”
“Then I suggest you don’t stay in her room and close the doors. The only time I will let that go is if one, she’s your girlfriend, two, she’s your fiancé or three you two are married. Its none of the above, I want you to respect her in every way possible.” Erin lectured.
Suddenly, he stifled a laugh. She titled her head until he stopped “I’m sorry…but you just sound so much like my mom. Is that how you talk to Brad?” he dared to ask.
Erin was suddenly flustered being called a mom “That’s none of your business!” she snapped “Just leave the room door open if you two are home alone. Anyways, don’t you have a job or something?”
Ryan shrugged “Not really. Dai Lou said he would support me until I get married.”
She shook her head sadly “No wonder you get along with Shelly…You two are like two peas in a pod. When will you grow up and act your age? All you do is hang around and play video games while your brother works to provide you a good life. I feel sorry for your parents having to raise a boy for the last 24 years.”
He didn’t seem bothered by her words as he crossed his arms “I’ve heard this lecture before. You would have a lot to talk to with my mom.” He joked. Erin rolled her eyes and he quickly continued “I don’t mean to offend you but honestly, you need to lay off of your sister. She’s had a tough life. How would you feel if you were locked up in your room with nothing to do? Your mom panics every minute you meet a new friend and then forbids you to keep that friend? You think she doesn’t act her age? Well, you’re not acting your age. You’re 27, not 50…what’s with all the lectures?”
Her eyes hardened at the realization that Ryan was making all the sense in the world “First of all, I do know how it feels to be locked up in a room with no friends. I did it for over 10 years at the orphanage. And maybe that’s why I turned out the way I did. You’re right, even if Shelly is this way, I have no right to say it…I’ve only been her sister for a few weeks. Who am I to teach her how to run her life.” She sat down on the couch “You two do whatever you want.”
Ryan shook his head “That’s not what she wants from you. She wants you to care for her, talk to her a little more…be a sister. I think you’ve been so wrapped up in the P.R.A. that you haven’t spent at least an hour with Shelly. If I wasn’t here, she’d probably jump off the building from boredom.”
“Time is not a factor I have too much of.” Erin said sadly “How do I balance my duties, boyfriend and sister?”
Ryan smiled “You just have to spread out your time more evenly. I’m sure if you thought hard enough, you can do it.”
Erin looked up at the young man that she rarely treated as a man, he was a mere boy in her eyes. But at that very moment, she had a completely different outlook of Ryan “Thank you.” She said sincerely.
“For what?” he asked with a smile.
“Okay, now you’re playing dumb.” Erin pointed out with a laugh.
He nodded with his hands up in defense “You got me there.”