Note: be sure to read the expanded version!
Annie Chu - Vivian Leung Siu BingThe young guy was driving in his convertible, the roof down. Wind blowing through his soft hair while he looked at himself in the mirror. Fixing his sunglasses as he pulled up to the front gate of the mansion. Parking in his usual space as he killed the engine and ran through the giant double doors to his home. Greeting the butler as he swiftly pulled off his glasses and winked at his maid. They all nodded respectfully in his direction. As he approached the doors, he knocked lightly. "Come in." the commanding voice of his father called out. He entered the room right on the dot. He was very punctual and his father loved that about his son.
A month later.
The girl woke up, she was about to start her new job that day. Getting out of bed as she excitedly got ready. The Hung Corporation was popular for real estate work with other countries. She got an administrative job, working with their company in America. If it wasn't for the fact that she spoke a fair amount of English, the job would have gone to someone else. She's been trying to get into this corporation for years, but was always declined due to her limited experience in an office environment. After three jobs in 5 years, she was finally where she wanted to be. She always said it was because of her looks that didn't get her the job, but when the hiring manager said she was qualified her discouraged thoughts disappeared. Looking at herself in the mirror as she attempted to comb her messy hair together. Smiling at herself as she moved in closer to the mirror to check for any stains or unseen food stuck in her braces. She was getting them off soon, finally after three years of being a metal mouth. She was happy it would finally end. Running back to her room, she picked up her belongings and her thick glasses. Her eyes were so bad that even the thinest lenses were considered thick.
Taking the bus to her new destination, she looked around at the people. As usual they stared at her like she was some kind of a scarecrow. She was use to it. She finally came into terms that she was not good looking and she definitely did not want to get married. Good looking guys would not go for her and decent guys only looked at beautiful women. It was a natural reaction for guys to run the opposite direction when they see her walking towards them. Now she won't even approach any man, whether she needed help or not. Stepping off the bus, she looked up at the high rise building in awe. Her company was located on the top two floors. It was more than enough room for the employees to have their own space.
Smiling to everyone as she walked out of the elevator, a few people smiled but she noticed there were some that were smirking at her. Even the meanest person in the world couldn't make her sad. She was starting her dream job. "Miss Chu, Im not sure what time you go to work, but most of us start at 8 am, sharp." It was her new boss.
Annie looked at her watch, it was 8 o'clock on the dot. "It is 8." she looked innocent through her thick glasses.
Her boss pointed to the clock behind her. It said 8:02am. Two minutes late and she was embarrassed in front of her new co-workers. "Come with me." Miss Lai, she preferred to be call a 'Miss' since she's not married, but she was at least 40. Annie finally understood what the hiring manager was trying to warn her about. "Close the door." her new boss walked into her office and plopped onto her seat. "Now, if we both understand your work schedule is from 8-5pm?" her eyesbrow arched up high as she questioned Annie."
"Yes, mam."
"Thats Miss. I don't like 'mam', it makes me sound old." she said sarcastically.
"Yes, Miss Lai."
The lady smiled in agreement. "Now, you're job is to file the records in that room" she pointed to a room with rows of file cubbords. "And, to type up any document that I leave for you on your desk. You will run errands whenever I ask you to. You shall not speak to any upper management people besides me. Is that clear?"
Annie nodded "Yes. Where is my desk?" she asked weakly, afraid the lady would bite her head off for asking a stupid question.
"Right there." she pointed to a corner cubicle, it was away from most of the other people. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go back to your position." with a touch of annoyance in her voice, Annie got up and left the office.
When she got to her desk, she noticed it was piled up with files. Each one with a peice of paper with scribbled words on it. Holding one up as she adjusted her eyes to read it. It was English, at least she thought it was English. She could barely read it. "If you look close enough, the paper might burn." she heard a feminine voice talking to her.
"What?" she didn't realize it was a joke.
"Hi, Im Jacky." it was a guy, who looked very feminine as he held out his hand. When she was about to shake it, he quickly pulled back. "Oops, I forgot, I just got my nails done." he raised his fingers to his lips as he blew them dry.
"Im Annie. Uh...how long have you been here?" she asked. Wondering if he would be the only friend she would make since he was the only one that even attempted to talk to her.
"Too long." he waved his hand exasperatingly. "Just a month, but it feels like forever! Anyways, if you need anything, let me know." he rushed off to his desk, which was a few spaces down from hers.
'Strange people here.' she thought to herself. Her day went by quickly as she never had to ask for more work, it was beginning to pile up before she knew it. When lunch time finally came, she decided to stay back and work some more. "They don't pay us over time, so you might as well go to lunch." Jacky leaned on her cubicle.
"Oh, I just wanted to finish this up." she answered without looking up at him.
"Don't be silly. The work will always be there." Pulling her up as he dragged her away from her station. "Its my treat!"
They went to a little cafe shop a few shops down from their building. "You are the only person that's talked to me today." her honest comment caught his attention as he pulled his gaze from the handsome man sitting at the bar.
"Oh, gosh. I just like to make new people feel confortable." he raised his glass in the handsome man's direction and slowly took a sip. Annie turned her direction to the man as she watched him get up and leave the cafe, never once turning back at Jacky. He looked at Annie as he let out a sigh "Oh, lost another fish."
"What?"
"Nevermind. Anyways, you got a boyfriend?" he twirled his straw in his drink.
"Uh..." she didn't but it was the first time she felt uncomfortable about the question.
"Im not going to steal him!" Jacky said sarcastically.
Annie laughed nervously "I know, its just that I've never had one." she whispered.
"Oh dear." he covered his mouth with his perfectly manicured fingers "Wow, a virgin. God knows I've never met one before." he smiled thoughtfully "Actually, he was a virgin...oh, yeah, Jim was definitely a virgin. Never mind, I've met plenty before." he waved his hand nonchalantly.
"Well, I might die a virgin. Bet you never met one of those before huh?"
"Of course you won't! I won't hear of it."
She laughed "And who are you to tell me such a thing?" he was amazing, on the first day and he was already trying to control her life.
"Well, I am your only friend now. Believe it or not, this company has the meanest people. No one will talk to you if you are..." he twirled his hand in a circular motion as he thought of the right words "different. I prefer that word."
She looked down at her hands "Oh my gosh, its almost 1:00!! We have to get back."
Jacky rolled his eyes "Its just a few feet over, you don't have to get so nervous about it." he watched as she threw some money on the table and ran out before him.
The rest of the day was as busy as the morning. Like Jacky said, the work never ends. Even when she left that night, her desk was the same as she first saw it.
The next few weeks flew by for Annie. With her new mean boss who told her to get coffee for her every so often and even had her pick up her dry-cleaning at lunch. Annie was eager to please her boss, so she never once declined anything Miss Lai asked her to get. She saw Jacky almost everyday. He was beginning to be a nuisance to her, everytime she wanted to work, he could come over and bother her. She felt like yelling at him sometimes, but eventually calmed herself down when he did something nice for her. He would bring her a muffin in the late morning because she was working too hard. He knew she didn't eat breakfast considering how skinny she was. One day his comment went a little too far.
"Hey there grandma!" he joked. Her clothes were so outdated that he made up a nick name for her. Although she didn't care much, but when he called her that every few hours, it began to annoy her.
She muffled out a little hello, while she continued on her work.
"Honey, can I offer you some new clothes? I mean my grandmother just past away and she has a closet full of clothes. Im sure you'll fit it fine." he teased her openly.
Annie closed her eyes "Would you stop it with the grandma jokes?! Its getting old. Don't you have a job or something?" she asked angrily.
His face turned red as he stepped back, shock by her outburst. Holding up his hands dramatically "Im sorry. Maybe you need some midol or something for that pms. I was just trying to be funny, you don't have to raise your voice at me." he stormed off angrily.
Annie sighed to herself 'I just lost my only friend.' She made a mental note to apologize to him later. Jacky never gave her a chance as every time she walked by his desk he would get up and go to the bathroom. She eventually gave up after ten tries. He was worse than a women.
After a few days of the cold shoulder, Annie decided to talk to him once and for all. Stopping in front of his cubicle, he did his usual walk to the bathroom. But Annie was quick to block his way "Jacky, please listen to me."
He dodged her stare as he covered his ears with his hands and shook his head. She pulled down his arms "Im sorry."
Those words were enough to put a smile back on his face. "Thats all I wanted to hear. Why didn't you tell me that at the beginning then I wouldn't have to ignore you."
She put her hands on her hips "I have been trying!"
"Of course you have..." he glanced at her and then turned his full attention on her "You look different." using his fingers as he pry her lips open "You took off your braces!!" he exclaimed in excitement as he clapped his hands.
"Yes" she looked around nervously. Her face quickly turning crimson red from his exaggerated announcement.
"Hey, Ive got an idea." he looked at her with michevious grin. "Lets get a make over."
"What?" she's never bought make up before let alone go to a salon. She normally just cut her own hair. It saved money, not to mention she normally ties her hair in a bun anyways.
"Well, I don't need a makeover." he touched his face softly "But you should get one. Then I'll help you find a man." he seemed even more excited than she was.
"I don't need a man." she shook her head vehemently.
"Everyone needs a man!" he gasp. "I'll take you to a bar tonight and we'll see if you can get a man. If you can't then you have to get a makeover and we'll come back to see what you can do."
"But I told you, I don't need a man." she had to smile at his excitement as he poked at her face to see the texture.
"Yeah, whatever." he waved his hand, not listening to her "Hm...you're skin texture is not bad. Just a little dry. You would look great it coffee and a natural color blush for your pale cheeks. Contacts would be nice."
"Oh stop. Im not going to get a make-over." she walked back to her desk.
"Yes you are." he followed her, but stopped as he gazed at the new delivery guy, who was as buff as can be. Winking at him as he drooled over him. Annie turned around to see him flirting, she shook her head. He was such a character.
After work that day, Jacky rushed over to Annie. "Come on. Lets go."
She yawned as she looked up at him "Go where? Im tired."
"Oh don't pretend like you don't know. We're going to the bar!!" he pulled her to her feet as he picked up her purse and jacket. "Come on, the cute guys come around 5."
Annie reluctantly followed him as they walked down a couple of blocks to a secluded alley. She walked close behind him as she looked around, frightened by the darkness. He pushed her away "Don't cling on me, they might think we're together." he led her to the back door as he knocked on it.
Annie continued to look around, she was afraid of the dark. "Come on. Stop looking like a scared cat." he grabbed her wrist as he dragged into the club. The music was loud and she noticed that there were mostly men there. As a matter of fact there were only men there.
"What kind of bar is this?" she asked suspiciously.
He ignored her as they sat at the bar and he ordered two drinks for each of them. Holding his drink up delicately as he sipped on it "That guy's adorable." he gushed as he pointed to a young guy sitting across the way from him.
"Is this a gay bar?" Annie asked.
"Shhh. Be quiet, he's coming over." Jacky turned around excitedly waiting for the guy to approach him.
"Hi, my name is John. Is you friend here single?" he asked Jacky.
Annie blushed lightly, it was the first time someone hit on her. Jacky rolled his eyes "She's a girl! Now get out of here!" he cried out. The guy quickly returned to his seat.
"Hey! He's a guy isn't he?" she asked Jacky.
"Yeah, what's your point?" he asked sarcastically.
"You said if any guy hits on me then I don't have to do a makeover." she smiled victoriously at her friend.
"No, I said..." he stopped himself. He did say that.
"Ah ha! So there. We're not changing me, thank you very much." she brought her drink to her lips as she gulped it down. "Okay, my drink is done, can we go? This place is giving me the creeps."
"No, Im not done!" Jacky whined "Please, just stay with me for a little while? Until I find a guy?" he smiled sweetly at Annie.
"Oh, alright." she ordered another drink as she watched him work the floor. He must have approached every table in the bar. But his luck wasn't that good as each man refused his offer to 'be friends'. When he returned to Annie, he looked sad. "Are you done now?"
He leered at her "Thats just cruel. I was just rejected to every man in this bar, except..." his gaze turned to the bartender, who looked at him and shook his head as he pointed to his ring finger "well, that makes all of them. Can't you have a little heart?"
"Well, maybe you're coming on too strong? Did you ever think of that?"
"Hm...thats something to think about." he pretended to ponder the idea. "Nope, tried it and it didn't work. Come on, Im bored." he got up ready to leave.
"Sure, we leave when YOUR bored." she happily followed him.
The next day, Annie tried to avoid Jacky. She was afraid that he might knock her over the head and drag her to the salon. She believed that he would do that too! But suprisingly, he didn't approach her that day at all. Before she left, she went over to his desk to see what was wrong with him. She found him lying on the table, she's heard of horror stories where janitors found employees dead from work exhaustion. Thinking of that, she began to shake him violently "Jacky! Wake up! Are you okay?"
Pushing her hand away as he looked up annoyingly "I just got dumped, of course Im not okay." he covered his face and faced down on the table again. "Just leave me alone."
"Oh come on, it couldn't be that bad. Just yesterday, you took me to a gay bar and flirted with other men. Did you ever think that your...boyfriend probably caught you cheating?"
He leered at her through his fingers "Who died and made you 'Dear Annie'?! Well anyways, Im going home." he got up and picked up his bag as he strutted to the door.
She hated to see him so upset, taking a deep breath as she called out to him "Jacky! If it makes you feel any better, I'll let you take me to that salon that you wanted me to go to."
He stopped at the elevator and turned around. Happiness written all over his face as he ran to her, jumping up and down "Good, I made an appointment and everything. Lets go, I can't wait to show you to the girls down there, they would just die to make you over!"
She watched as he pulled her into the elevator, "Huh? I thought you were sad?"
Gazing at himself in the marble reflection of the elevator, he shifted a strand that was out of place "Oh, I'll get over it." he smiled happily at Annie, who was glaring at him now.
In the salon, Annie looked around for girls but there were none. Pulling on his sleeve as she glanced at her surroundings. "Jacky, you said that there were girls here?"
"What do you call them?" he pointed to the guys in the salon. Some were busy with customers, but there was one distinct one that walked up to them. She instantly noticed his primped hair cut and manicured fingers. Glancing at her own short nails as she pulled her hand behind her back. "Jamie!! Oh, its been soooo long." they greeted each other, kissing each other's cheek.
"Jacky, aren't you going to introduce to me your little friend here?"
"Oh yes, this is Annie, Annie this is your savior."
"Nice to meet you." she said timidly.
The guys giggled like girls as they whispered to each other. "Come on, sweetie. We're going to take good care of you." the guy named Jamie said excitedly.
She was primped from head to toe. From a facial to a pedicure. Her long, messy, tousled hair was cut short to her shoulders with bangs cut perfectly to cover her right eye as it was pushed to the side. The guys gushed about how beautiful she looked while Jacky stared at her in amazement. 'I guess there is such a think called the 'Ugly Duckling'' he thought. They made her take off her glasses so she couldn't even see herself and Jacky insisted that she leave them off. "But I can't see." she complained.
"Oh is that all? I'll take you to the eye doctor so he could give you some contacts. How about that?" not waiting for her to respond he quickly dragged her to his eye doctor. Within an hour she was fitted for contacts, her eye easily adapted to it.
They stood outside a high priced clothing store, staring at the manequin's dress. It was exquisite, but Annie knew it was way too expensive. She was about to walk the other way when he grabbed her arm "We're going in here!"
Walking straight to the sales girl, Jacky pointed to the manequin "I want that dress in a size..." leaning over to Annie as he asked "What size are you." it was hard to tell through her baggy clothes. She blushed as she whispered to him her size. He widened his eyes "Are you sure?" she hit his arm playfully "Okay...the Miss here is a size 1" The sales girl didn't seem to give them any problems but they were looking at Jacky funny. Annie thought it was because of his feminine attitude. She was use to being stared at in public because of Jacky's sexuality, yet she didn't care what the people had to say. He was a good friend.
The dress fit her like a glove, the perfect color of royal blue with a glittered design around the seams. It was absolutely adorable on Annie. Jacky's gaze told her exactly how good she looked. She giggled to herself as he continued to stare at her "You trying to see through my dress? I guarantee that you won't like what you see."
His cheeks looked liked two tomatoes as he paid for the dress. Walking over to her as he spinned her around for the price tag. When he found it, he ripped it off the dress. She waited til they were outside. "Im going to pay you back for this you know."
He shook his head, a smiled imprinted on his face "Nope, its all on me."
She knew there was no arguing with Jacky "So where are we going?"
"To a bar. You'll see the difference."
"A gay bar did not count." she laughed as she recalled the night before.
"This is a straight one."
They were inside the bar, this time there were women around. Annie breathed out a sigh of relief, sitting on the stool as she ordered her drink. "Now, I'm going to sit over there, just act natural. If you need me, just yell." smiling as he walked to a table a few feet from her.
Annie was nervous as can be as she looked around, trying to be natural. After an hour, not a single guy approached her. She looked around for Jacky but couldn't find him anywhere. She was getting tired, not to mention depressed. She eventually had another drink and then another. Within half an hour she was drunk. Getting off from her stool absently as she focused her eyes to find Jacky. Holding her head in pain, 'I shouldn't have drank that last one.' she scolded herself. Soon enough a young guy approached her. "Miss, are you okay? Do you need a ride?"
She shook her head "No, Im looking for my friend."
"What's his name, I'll help you find him."
"Jacky." she blurted out. She felt the room spinning as she leaned on the bar for support.
"I've seen him around. I'll take you to him." the guy took her arm as he led her away from the bar stool.
She was too weak to argue as she began to lean on him for support. He took her outside at the bar as he put up his hand to call for a taxi. "Where's Jacky?" she asked innocently.
"He's at home waiting for you." the taxi pulled up and he was about to push her inside when Jacky ran out. He saw the stranger take Annie away and was quick to follow.
"Actually, he's right here. Let the girl go." he stared at the guy.
"I got her first. If you like, we could share." his perverted smile made Jacky sick to his stomach. He quickly attacked the guy, punching him so hard that it hurt his knuckles.
Pulling Annie to his side as he watched the guy crawl into the taxi and drove off. "Jerk." he muttered. He looked down at Annie, who was close to being unconscious. Sighing to himself as he picked her up and took her back to his little apartment, which was few yards away. Pouring her a glass of tea as she layed on his couch comfortably. "Here, drink this, it'll make you feel better."
She sat upright and sipped on the tea. "Thanks, Jacky." she smiled weakly, recalling the incident that just happened "where did you go?"
"I was...busy talking a guy." he was reluctant to answer her.
"Im glad one of us got to." she looked down at her hands. He was quiet as he sat next to her. Tears slowly dripped down to her hands "I told you it wouldn't help. Even a makeover can't get me a guy." she looked at him, her face streaked with tears. "I've had bad luck since I was 16! Im just not made to have a boyfriend. The only guys that will like me are perverts and jerks and...what else are there?" She covered her face as she bent down to her knees and cried.
He put a warm hand on her shoulders "Im sorry."
"Yeah, you should be! I finally persuaded myself to live a happy, lonely life. But you had to come around and give me false hope!" she glared at him through angry eyes.
"I just wanted to help." he looked away to avoid her eyes. He had sabotaged her at the bar. Paying every guy that looked at her with interest so they would not approach her. He was talking to another guy when he saw that jerk take her away.
"Well do me a big favor and don't help okay? Im sick of men and Im sick of life. Just leave me alone will you?" she got up and left. Jacky sat back on his couch, angry with himself.
The next morning, Annie was quieter than usual. But a few people seemed to have noticed a change in her looks. Some of the guys at work even approached her and talked to her. She was fairly polite as she rejected their request for a date. It was too strange, the night before she couldn't even get a date. Then this morning, almost all of the single guys in her department has approached her. 'Maybe my bad luck is over.' she thought to herself. Annie was so busy thinking that she didn't notice her boss standing behind her. "Do we pay you to day dream?!"
"Miss Lai. Im sorry, I was just going to start right now. Did you want some coffee?" she stood up to face her boss.
"No. And I guess you haven't heard about our meeting then." Annie looked at her puzzled. "We're having an office meeting, the boss's son is joining the company. We have to greet him."
"Right now?" she wasn't prepared for any news. No one informed her of anything.
"No, next year." the elder lady's voice was dripping with sarcasm. Annie followed her boss into the huge conference room. It was almost filled up as everyone whispered amongst themselves. She looked around for Jacky, but didn't see him anywhere.
The hiring manager cleared his throat as he spoke to the group "Everyone, please calm down. Its my honor and duty to introduce to you the President's son, Mr. Hung. Lets give him a welcome."
The group instantly clapped their hands as a few people glanced around to look for this Mr. Hung. Annie stared at the floor, she was crammed in the back between too many people and she couldn't see clearly. A few people gasp as they saw the President's son walk in. "Hello everyone. From your suprise look and gasps, I assume you recognize me." Annie looked up, the voice was too familiar. "Otherwise known as Jacky around here. That is actually my real name, but for reasons Im about to explain, I had to keep my last name a secret. I have been away at school for about four years now. Learning about music, unfortunately I realized that it was not right for me. I decided to come back to Hong Kong and help my father with his corporation. Since all of you have never met me before, I thought it was a good idea to go undercover and see how the work is circulated around here. I chose to play a homosexual guy to keep everyone from noticing me." he smiled at the group "It worked like a charm. In the past three months, Ive come to realize who our real employees are and who are just a waste of a paycheck. When you go back to your stations, you will all recieve a letter. It could be bad news and it could be good news. But I hope that this experience will help you to realize that looks are never what they appear to be." he paused for a minute as he searched the room for Annie. "This meeting is over. Please return to your stations."
He watched carefully at everyone that left the room. Annie was one of the last to walk out. He put up his hand "Miss Annie Chu, please stay back for a minute. I would like to talk to you." The last person left and closed the door behind him, leaving the two to confront each other.
"What did you need Mr. Hung? A cup of coffee? A new identity?" she looked at him angrily.
"Annie, I know you must be upset..."
"Upset? What makes you think Im upset? Do I have the right to be upset? Afterall, you are the President's son." she crossed her arms.
"Look, I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I just wanted to do a little research for my father. It was my idea to do this but its not my idea to get involved with an employee like this." she looked up, her face softened "I tried to keep a distance from everyone here but when you came along, I thought you could use a friend. But the more time I spent with you the more I came to realize that you are the sweetest girl I've ever met. I couldn't bare to see you so self conscious about your looks, so I thought the salon was going to help you."
She was speechless, shaking her head slowly as she looked at him. She began to walk towards the door when she stopped "You know, I really believed that you were my friend. But if a friend can't even trust me, why should I continue to work here. You put me through an emotional ride last night and now, you're telling me that it was because you felt sorry for me?"
He pushed the door shut as she was opening it "Annie, Im really sorry. I know my behavior was unexcusable, not to mention unforgivable. I could lose every friend that I have, I could lose the home, car and money. But please don't leave me. I couldn't possibly lose you." he pulled up her hand as he kissed it softly. "I also have a confession."
"Why am I not surprised." her face was expressionless.
"I payed the guys at the bar to not approach you. There were about ten that wanted to meet you but I went to each one of them that I thought was interested in you. Its not that you had bad luck with guys, its because I was jealous. Im really sorry, can you forgive me?"
She shook her head as she laughed "Only Jacky would do such a thing."
He looked concerned as he stared at her "You're...not mad?"
She shook her head and sighed "No, why should I be? Because you sobataged me? Because you lied? Because you're trying to tell me that you like me?"
He was more confused than ever. "I don't get it. So are you mad or not?"
She chuckled to herself. "There's no reason to be mad. Im just glad that I found a guy...even if he was gay."
He laughed "That was fun, except for the part where I get hit on every few minutes." Jacky wrapped his arms around her as they embraced for a long moment.
**Love comes in many faces, don't be surprise when you find it in the least expected face. When you realize that it is true love, they will appear to be the most beautiful of all.**
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