[Tavia’s Point of View]
It’s been over a month, and just as Nancy’s father had told me, my job has gotten a lot busier. Other than delivering files and making coffee for Raymond like a personal assistant would, I now find myself aiding him in handling cases and checking over the files along with meeting new clients. Work isn’t as boring and the day doesn’t go as slow as before, but now I wish the work would be less. Since now AVC Insurance and Wu Enterprise are partnered, there has been more work for both. The results meaning I can’t see Nancy as often, and the only time I do see her is flirting around in a dance club, after her hangover from a night of endless clubbing, or whenever we have a small meeting that I’m allowed to attend.
Also adding onto the changes would be the fact that I now start to pay attention to the news around the office. Rumors are arousing that adding onto the partnership between the Lam and the Wu family, there is possibly another third party involved. I couldn’t tell if they’re true or not, but when I asked Raymond he chose not to believe it.
Another large task file was lying on my desk when I got back from a coffee break. I knew exactly who the file was for, but today I hesitated in giving it to him. I looked through the mirror, seeing Raymond sit behind his computer. His eyes seemed to be tired from staring at the screen for too long, and with that he’s been sitting there the entire day since sunrise. My eyebrows suddenly rose when he waved at me, telling me to come in.
“This file was for you…” I spoke, closing the door behind me as I walked in.
“Hey can you sit down for a minute? I’d like to get your opinion on something.” He spoke, his voice dry and hoarse.
When I nodded agreeing with him, a smile suddenly appeared on his face. For some reason Raymond’s spirit seemed to have risen. I smiled, listening in on what he has to say. Raymond is a really interesting guy after I’ve known him for a month. At first glance he seemed like your typical rich kid, wearing the most high end fashion and looking gorgeous. But then after talking to him you’d think he’s more of the childish and joking around type. Now after working with him for around a month you find out not only is he funny and caring, he’s also hard working and can be serious.
“Here…look at these graphs. The number keys are right beside them. What do you see?” he asked me, laying a set of papers out in front of me.
I looked at them carefully. After learning some basic graphing skills, I can still tell that these numbers don’t add up. The numbers on the records are different from what the graphs are showing, and yet it’s still the same Cuts and Profits Graph from the sudden partnership. I don’t know what Raymond wants out of me, and I really don’t know how to put this in much detail for him.
“The numbers don’t add up…”
“Exactly.” Raymond spoke. “The numbers simply don’t add up, and right after I realized this, I went to check the company account. Somehow the account was in full amount and nothing was missing. The money that was supposed to come in from this month came in, but just as the graph here states, we’re supposed to be short five million HKD.”
“So you’re suggesting that there’s someone playing tricks on the balance profit and income of AVC?” I asked him, trying to find out more.
“Yes…either we’re short on the profit margin and someone is filling in the lost numbers, or something. This graph is considered to be never wrong, and it states how much profit we should get from our clients, and how much we’re actually getting. These graphs are immediately printed out and filed right after the money comes in, so there wouldn’t be enough time to change it if someone was playing a trick. On the other hand, the records are taken at the end of every month so technically it’s not as accurate as the graphs. I think I’ll need to check with Nancy since she’s looking over the stock and profit lines of Wu Enterprise.”
I nodded. “Wait…Nancy’s helping her father now?” I asked, a bit surprised that I’m late to find out.
Raymond nodded. “Yeah…I only found out about a week ago. She’s been pretty busy so I couldn’t talk to her anytime out of work.”
“I’ll try talking to her tonight. Hey I’ll go out and get you a coffee while you should try calling the office at Wu Enterprise checking where Nancy is right now.”
~*~
[Ron’s Point of View]
Tonight seemed like a normal night for me. After returning to Hong Kong, other than investigating on the shares and profits of my company, I’ve also willingly taken up another job. I’m helping Bernice with her interviews, serving as a recommendation source which will surely land her in a good position. The only problem is, I want Bernice to be happy and yet for the past four companies we’ve interviewed, none of them seem to fit her standards. My last choice was probably Raymond’s company, but I’m positive sending Bernice in there would do more harm than good. After all, Bernice was Raymond’s ex-girlfriend. Though we were all in high school at the time and the relationships were not only confusing but unpredictable, so nothing really ever lasts in high school.
“What are you thinking about?” Bernice suddenly asked, pulling me back into the car with her.
“Nothing, just wondering if there’s any good companies left with open positions.” I answered her. Sometimes I do wonder why I feel uncomfortable letting Bernice know what I’m thinking, but yet all humans have lines and limitations and I guess this is just one of them.
She nodded and smiled at me. I smiled back as she bent over and granted me a soft kiss on the lips. Before I would say it was one of the best feelings in the world when Bernice and I kissed, but somehow tonight was just a little bit different. I shook the thought out of my head, knowing Bernice was the one for me and left it at that. She waved good bye and stepped out of the car. I watched as she headed up to her apartment, now relocated at Peking Street.
I was tired. After sitting still and being formal for over three hours, I was getting sick of it. I leaned back in my car seat, my eyes scanning the area for possibly a decent place to get a drink. It seems that there was only one place and that was the newly opened night club down the street. I stepped on the gas pedal and pushed my car forward just a little bit more, knowing it wouldn’t take much to get to the club. My eyes suddenly widened when I saw her.
She stumbled out of the bar, struggling to keep her balance. Surprisingly enough, the school girl look I had once seen on her had disappeared completely. Tonight she was shining in a black mini skirt, sleek high boots that definitely showed off her legs. She was wearing a sleeveless white collar shirt under the black vest, and holding on tightly to her bag as she waddled her way out of the crowd.
There suddenly was an indescribable feeling rousing inside of me. I only sat and watch, wondering where she was going. She stopped and leaned back on a wall, her face twisted from possibly a horrible headache. She was flushing red from having a little too much to drink. I saw her raise her arm up rubbing her head trying to ease the pain. Certainly it was no way to do it, but she was as stubborn as ever. As she continued to walk, she suddenly lost her balance and slipped.
Almost as if without thinking, I rushed out of the car and by her side. It was only a quick job, but she’s already fallen before I got there. I grabbed her arm and waist, pulling her up and holding her closely.
“Nancy…Nancy you alright?” I asked, a little worried.
“No…I want to go back to my apartment!” she protested, pushing me away without even a glance at who I am.
“Where’s your apartment?!” I asked her, reaching to hold her up and keeping her from stumbling over again.
Without answering me, Nancy suddenly collapsed. Luckily I caught her this time, and lifted her up into my arms. I carried her over to the car and laid her down on the passenger seat. She was tossing and turning but soon fell asleep in the warmth of the car. Somehow I felt an urge to hug her, but I could still feel Bernice’s presence somewhere around. Inside my body I could feel both the feeling that Bernice gives me, and the feeling that Nancy had given me and is trying to hide it this day. Both feelings were too similar, but I knew there had to be one difference.
I bent down beside the car, my eyes scanning her soft, innocent face as she slept. When she was sleeping, she was still the Nancy Wu that I’ve known before. When she was sleeping, she showed the innocence that we all thought was lost in her. I couldn’t help but smile knowing that she hasn’t changed that much. Without knowing it, I gently caressed her face. I stopped myself but once I did I only found an awkward feeling and a question asking me why Nancy and I are apart. Avoiding it, I walked over to the other side of the car and got in.
Bending down to get in, my eyes suddenly fell on the apartment building that was towering over us. I saw someone looking out from a window high above me, and at one moment I thought it was Bernice. Obviously life can’t be this ironic so once again I pushed yet another thought aside.
“Nancy Wu…and Bernice Liu…” I mumbled to myself. I soon find that I’m laughing at myself afterwards, laughing at my own stupidity for not being able to interpret my own feelings. “Fool…” I sighed, knowing that I am a fool.
~*~
[Tavia’s Point of View]
It’s been ten minutes, and I’m still waiting for this coffee maker to finish. For the last hour or two I’ve been sitting in Raymond’s office with him, trying to come up with solutions or explanations for the difference in numbers of his company’s records. I couldn’t really tell what it is, but considering it as a hunch or instinct, I have a feeling that his devil of a father would have something to do with this. It sounds just like Dominic Lam to rouse up trouble and leave it to other people to clean up his mess. Of course I couldn’t tell Raymond because what use is it to tell the son that the father is the bad guy in this situation?
Finally the coffee was done. I quickly poured two cups and headed slowly back into Raymond’s office, careful not to spill any. I set the coffee down without looking up, and once I did I saw Raymond lying back in his chair, sleeping like a baby. I couldn’t help myself from smiling, watching as he slept carelessly on an executive chair. I also couldn’t stop myself from admitting that he is still quite attractive, even when he’s asleep.
I walked over beside him, tip toeing quietly hoping not to wake him up because I knew he’s had a long day. I bent down, my face the same level as his. This was the first time I got this close to him, and I couldn’t explain why I’m doing this. I just know that at this moment, Raymond was the center of my attention. I would never in the right mind believe that someone like him would even talk to someone like me. Not only did he have money, power and looks, he also has something that most men in Hong Kong seem to lack. Raymond has a good personality, and I guess that was the first thing about him that led me to being a bit more comfortable around him. Yet again I couldn’t hold back my smile.
I hate to admit it, but if our status was equal or didn’t have that much of a difference, I would definitely flirt with him. He was probably a dream guy from every girl, and it was no doubt that he was for me. After all, doesn’t every girl just want a guy that would care for them, love them, and accept them as who they are? Well I’m just like that. The only problem for me and also the reason why I want to stay away from Raymond romantically was our difference in class. He’s from the upper class, and I don’t even know how far away I stand from him. I couldn’t help but feel a bit inferior around him and the other princes and princesses we’d occasionally have to meet with. Upper classmen just are such a hard group to get along with and fit into. I know Raymond wasn’t that kind, but still we couldn’t deny our difference.
“Raymond Lam…why do you have to be so perfect?” I mumbled, laughing at myself for having foolish thoughts run around in my mind.
My smile seemed so hard to take off as I looked at his sleeping face. I headed back to my chair across the desk from him and continued to look through the files. Occasionally I’d look at him, but that was all I did.
“If only we weren’t so different…and if only Dominic Lam wasn’t your father…” I continued to mumble while staring at him. A second later I laughed quietly at myself. It’s been a very long time since I actually thought about romance again, but why does it have to be with a guy I don’t stand a chance with? “I’m losing my mind.” I laughed, quietly.
~*~
[Nancy’s Point of View]
As the time went by, my headache seems only to worsen. I couldn’t tell where I am or who I’m with, but each time I’d try to open my eyes to look, I’d see nothing but darkness. Occasionally there would be a soft aura of yellow light shining above me, but beside that there was nothing else. My headache kept growing worse and worse. I feel like I’m trapped inside a box, tumbling all over the place, but yet I’m laying on something. It feels like leather or something similar.
After a very long time, I suddenly hear the sound of car doors opening and closing. The sound was banging in my ears, echoing so loud that it hurts. Suddenly something warm wrapped itself around my body. I couldn’t tell what it was, but next I suddenly felt like I was lifted up. I tried to move and open my eyes, but when I tried, once again I only see soft lights blinding my vision. If I’m still thinking straight, then this warmth that was holding me up was probably a set of arms. The only person that I could think of right now was Kenneth. After all, he was the one person who would drive me home after every club nights. Who else could it be?
“Nancy…can you hear me?” someone spoke.
I couldn’t tell who the voice belonged to, but there were two things I was certain. One, this voice wasn’t Kenneth’s, no, it was different, a little deeper. Two, the voice was familiar, and I was sure I’ve heard it before, but the name has slipped my mind. My head only continued to bang, but soon I began to see a little bit clearer.
Opening my eyes slowly, I was staring up at the blank ceiling. I tried to pull myself up, but it was such a challenge that I ended up giving up. Rubbing my head, I tried to figure out where I am, blinking slowly, become drowsy as time passed. Time at this moment, seem to pass by so slow to me. I wish it would go faster, I wish my headache would stop, but it wouldn’t.
Something warm and soft suddenly touched my forehead. I opened my eyes again, and this time, instead of the blank ceiling was a face. A face I would recognize. It was Ron’s face, yet his expression was different. The expression he wore tonight was something that I haven’t seen for a very long time. I don’t know why but all of a sudden I could see everything clearly now. He looked relieved, but why?
“Nancy…you’re awake.” He sighed.
“W…where am I?” I asked, trying to breath as I did.
“You’re at my apartment. Why were you so drunk earlier? Has it always been like this recently?” he asked me, the question seeming to be endless.
“No…” I sighed, getting up from the warmth and coziness of the bed. I staggered a little but managed to gain my balance. My head was still banging and throbbing with pain, but staying at Ron’s apartment would only cause my wound to open up again, and I wasn’t planning on letting it happen.
“Where are you going? You’re so drunk how are you going to get home?” he asked me.
“I’m fine Ron.” I spoke, rubbing my head. “I’m going back to my apartment.”
I pulled out my cell phone, trying to scroll down my address book and find Kenneth’s name. He’s always been my emergency number, like a siren or a guard to help me whenever. After that night at the park with Tavia, I was certain that I’ve let go of the past, and I wasn’t going to let Ron pull me back. Without a warning, everything suddenly was spinning. The cell phone slipped out of my hand and I lost my balance, once again.
I fell backwards, certain that I will hit something hard and black out but I was wrong. I could feel Ron’s strong arms catching me, pulling me into his gentle yet protective hold. He lifted me up and laid me back on the bed. I was unable to resist when I could barely move my arms right. I looked at his face. He was worried and breathing hard. Once again I felt something soft pressed gently on my forehead. I tried to stay awake as long as I could, but then my tired eyes gave in.
No comments:
Post a Comment