Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
After Erin gave Mia an overview of the past month, she was in awe “I think they are twins.” Mia concluded.
“There’s no proof.” Erin shook her head.
“But there’s no proof that they AREN’T brothers.” Mia reminded her friend.
She had to agree “So…what now? The detective only went so far as to his birth city. Guang Chow, China. That’s a city from where Brad was born.”
“Hmm…coincidence?” Mia smiled crookedly.
“Could be.” Erin shook her head “Stop it! You’re making me think. We have more things to worry about.”
It only made her grin wider “Like what to do about Ted when you dump him?”
“You’re sick.” Erin snorted as she rolled her eyes and left the room with Mia following close behind.
“That’s what my hubby always tells me but I beg to differ. I’m not sick, I just to give people options. We all know you’re still hung up on Brad and it’s so obvious you are not going to settle with Ted—”
Erin stopped abruptly causing Mia to crash into her, but she stood firmly rooted to the step “Mia, promise me you will not leak out this information.” She rolled her eyes in response causing Erin to lower her tone further “Mia.” She warned.
“Fine.” Mia reluctantly agreed, “Hey, I want to meet him.”
“Who?” Erin continued down the stairs.
“You know who.” Mia teased.
“No.” Erin said without looking at her friend.
Mia quickly blocked her way at the door “Why not? Are you afraid he might fall for me? Don’t worry, I only have eyes for Darren.”
Erin couldn’t help but laugh at her confidence “No, that’s not the reason why I don’t want you to meet Luke. You might spill something that I have been trying so hard not to leak out. Don’t make me remind you about those times you let out a secret when I specifically told you to keep quiet.”
“I resent that!” Mia disagreed “I’ve been good keeping secrets. Ask Darren, I didn’t tell anyone about his—” Erin raised her brow and Mia quickly caught herself “Well, that’s not important. But I want to see him. You’re not the only one that misses Brad, if I get to see his face again, it would give me a sense of closure. I never got to say goodbye…” her round eyes turned down like a sadden puppy.
Erin let out a short sigh “You know I can’t stand those puppy eyes.”
“Well come on!!” Mia exclaimed excitedly as she yanked her friend towards the car.
*************
Ted’s eyes concentrated on the screen in front of him but his mind was in another place. He was looking over the murder of the Mayor and Shelly’s examination. They were linked, he knew of it but who would have the power and hatred to kill these innocent people?
“Si Hing?” Sara called when she did not get his attention with a smile.
“Huh?” Ted raised his brows.
She smiled grimly “Are you alright? You look dazed, what are you thinking about? Maybe I can help?”
“No, it’s too complicated, I don’t want to pull you in.” he smiled and took a look around “Everyone left for lunch?”
Sara nodded “Yeah.”
“What are you still doing here?” Ted knew the girl was a workaholic.
She shrugged her slender shoulders “I work better when there’s silence. If you’re hungry, I can run down the cafeteria and get some food?”
Her offer was too good “Only if I can treat.” Pulling out his wallet, he pulled out a couple of bills for her.
“Is that your girlfriend?” Sara saw a peek of the picture he kept in his wallet. Ted opened to the tiny picture of him and Erin when they first moved into their home. A smile easily came to his face “She’s very pretty.”
“I’ll make sure she hears that.” Ted smiled.
He didn’t see the disappointment in her smile as she took the bills and walked out “I’ll be back.”
“Okay.” He quickly returned to the files in hopes of finding a clue the killer left behind.
***********
Riley was dressed in an old pair of jeans and a ripped shirt as he posed as a cab driver taking Jenna to her destination. She was restless in her seat “Don’t be nervous.” He cautioned wisely.
“I’m trying not to be.” She wrung her hands together “It’s one thing when I’m practicing with Darren, but this is the real thing.”
They reached the destination within minutes and Riley turned to her before she exited the car “Hey, you can do it.” He smiled firmly.
“Easy for you to say. You don’t have to wear a skirt and high heels.” Jenna mocked.
He laughed easily “Keep in touch, we’ll be there if you need help.” He tapped his ear and activated his headpiece “Leo checking in.”
Matt and Chuck nodded to each other “Good. Jenna, watch your back. There are a lot of bodyguards around and if they find you suspicious, they will pull you over and check your background. The fake identity has not been posted yet, it won’t be done until you get the job.” Matt warned.
“When all else fails, kick them in the balls!” Chuck instructed.
Jenna looked fearful as she stared up at the high rise building “Because I don’t want to distract anyone.” She replied sarcastically.
She stepped inside and looked around for the elevators “On your right, Aries.” Ryan’s comforting tone advised. Jenna headed towards the direction with confidence but her eyes were searching for Ryan and he knew it “I’m the floor cleaner on your right.”
Jenna caught him in a blue uniform and a headset over his ears as he mopped the floor with care “That’s a nice color on you.” She teased while stepping closer to the elevators, there was no one else around.
“Ha ha.” Ryan replied.
“Aries is going up.” She checked in when the elevator opened for her. Stepping inside, she let out a sigh of relief. Pushing the 58th button, she waited impatiently for the machine to move. But it stopped at the 3rd floor. She straightened up when a middle aged man stepped inside, she recognized it was Robert Kwok and he also had two bodyguards “Mr. Kwok.” She greeted him with respect. The two men eyed her carefully.
The man did not give her second look, instead he was more interested in dusting his expensive gray suit. The ride was filled with silence and for a second Jenna felt defeated. It was then that she heard Mark’s voice, “Talk about golfing, he loves it.”
“Have you gone golfing lately? I hear it’s the best time of the year to go.” Jenna began the small talk.
Robert turned to look at her in the eye, she didn’t know what to expect. He only smiled shortly and returned to staring at the doors of the elevator “Wow, he’s a talker.” Leah snickered. She was dressed as a cleaning lady and was on the 58th floor of the woman’s bathroom.
When the ring announced their arrival, one of his bodyguards held the door open and nodded for Robert to exit first. But he stopped and turned to Jenna “What kind of club do you use?”
“I like the A43 pub. It’s light and has a rounded head.” She answered with a smile.
The man cracked a crooked grin “Good choice. Lady’s first.” He held out a hand and waited for her to exit.
Matt turned to Chuck “That was close.”
“Too close.” Chuck agreed, “When did she learn about golfing?”
Mark smiled at the two heads “It says it in his profile. She’s been doing her homework on golf clubs, even I didn’t learn that.” He sat in the large van with a file opened on his lap ready to assist Jenna.
His presences caused everyone to turn heads as random greetings called out. Jenna was led to a waiting room where other girls seated to wait for their interview. Most of the women were in their late thirties. Jenna couldn’t help but feel out of place but she couldn’t show her dismay. Lifting her head high, she smiled at the women “Good afternoon, ladies.”
“Honey, I’m old enough to be your mom.” One woman snickered with a sarcastic tone.
“Grumpy and old, great combo.” Leah commented. She felt bad for her teammate “Be strong, Aries.”
Jenna brushed off the sarcasm with a broader smile “Really? I couldn’t tell if it bit me in the ass. You don’t look a day older than twenty nine.”
The woman was fuming yet she was flattered at the same time, the young girl was good “Cute. But let me give you a piece of advice, lose the sweetness, Mr. Kwok likes his women ripe, if he wanted a virgin he would have posted a 'Personal' Secretary position.”
“First of all, youth does not make me a virgin. Second, Mr. Kwok is a respectable man and I refuse to believe he would want me for more than a secretary.” Jenna replied.
“Damn! Don’t let me get on your bad side.” Ryan teased with a smile. He quickly wiped it off when a few people noticed he was talking to himself “It’s a song.” He explained.
Jenna tilted her head carefully at the woman “What’s wrong? Cat’s got your tongue?”
“Easy there, tiger.” Chuck advised.
The woman nodded, obviously impressed by her quickness to respond “Not bad. You’ve got to learn to control your anger though, your neck vein is popping out.”
“So is my temple vein but it’s not stopping me.” Jenna replied while pointing to her left temple.
She laughed at the response “I like you kid. You’re not bad. Mr. Kwok would be pleased with you. He needs someone with a quick tongue to handle the large amounts of calls he gets.”
Jenna’s smile slowly faded “Excuse me?”
“I’m Heather Lee, Mr. Kwok’s current secretary.” Bringing out a hand, Jenna carefully shook it “Don’t be scared, I won’t hurt you. I was just testing you, like I did to them.” She pointed to the women sitting in the same room, they all nodded in response.
“I’m sorry…” Jenna began.
“Eh, don’t apologize for being yourself. That’s the worse you can do.” The woman was almost motherly despite her earlier tone of voice. She motioned for Jenna to follow her “Let’s go meet your new boss.”
Jenna felt strange as she was suddenly whirlwind into the new surroundings. The woman led her down hallways full of offices until she reached the corner one. Knocking on the door once, she opened it and presented Jenna to Robert Kwok. The man was seated comfortably on his leather swivel chair as he stared out the window, never bothering to acknowledge Heather or Jenna. The woman patted Jenna on the shoulder and left the room for the two to be further acquainted.
“Sit.” It was more of a command to Jenna’s ears.
“Yes, sir.” Jenna nodded and seated herself across from him.
His eyes were distant as he asked her “What do you do on your spare time?”
“Trick question.” Matt observed.
Riley disagreed “No, he’s curious.”
Jenna smiled even though he was not looking at her “Honestly? I take long walks through the countryside. Eat junk food until I'm full and go to the arcade to vent out any frustration or anger I have on the video games.” She caught his lips curling into a grin “Not necessarily in that order.
“What is she saying?” Leah asked worriedly.
Chuck smiled proudly “She’s taking my advice. Playing the dead daughter role.”
“His daughter was described as a loner, she did things mostly by herself.” Mark read from the file “Jenna knows what she’s saying.”
Robert Kwok finally turned to look at her in the eye. He was taken aback when recognizing the girl from the elevator “We meet again.”
Jenna nodded politely “You have to bare with me, this is my first full time job.”
“Really?” he asked sounding surprise “How old are you?”
“Twenty four.” Jenna replied with a smile “Is that too young?”
Robert shook his head “No. It’s just perfect. Can you start tomorrow?”
She nodded with ready eyes “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Heather will show you around.” It was her cue to exit. Closing the door behind her, she let out a long sigh of relief “Too close.” She whispered.
“Good job, Jenna. Team, retrieve.” Matt ordered.