Lies and Curses - 1

                                                                                1

 “A lie is a curse that you put on yourself. A curse that makes you remember your words forever,” a sweet voice echoed in Chan’s ears. He shook that thought out of his head and laid back on his chair staring at the false ceiling of the office. “Her words pop out at the most inappropriate times. Seems she is the curse on me,” he mumbled to himself and took a deep breathe. He straightened back in his chair and mailed the file he has been checking, to the chairman. Then he collected the papers that had been spread around on his table, put them in a file and went to see the chairman.

The Lilac Works was an emerging entertainment company that primarily focused on casting actors and cosmetic products on the sideline. The company had a history of only few years and was still struggling to compete with the giants in the field. In the middle of losing profits, the company was now under auditing for fraudulent transactions. It has been a chaos in the office for the past week and Chan as the first assistant to the Chairman Shen Shaw hadn’t even left the office in three days.

Chan went to the Chairman’s office and asked his secretary Anna to inform his arrival. Anna did as he asked and lead Chan to the huge office that took half of the whole third floor. Considering how the company was still growing, Chan has always found this shiny metal worked extravagant office a huge liability. But who is he to complain; after all he is just a worker there.

When he entered the office, Chairman Shaw, who was wearing a black suit with loosened tie, was walking back and forth, beside the large glass windows. His tea was long cold and a cigar was still burning in the ashtray. His daughter, Anaya Shaw, the first young miss of the Shaw family, was sitting in the couch sipping her coffee. By the looks of it, Chan could guess that she must have caused some trouble and they were pondering how to solve it. He was totally out of luck these days. One problem wasn’t over and now there was another waiting for him.

Anaya saw Chan glaring at her. She put down her coffee and looked back at him. “What are you glaring at? Is it the first time you are seeing me?”

Chan had nothing to say other than to let out a sigh and look down. Anaya stood up, went to her dad and started pulling his hand.

“Dad, help me please. Lend him for an evening. I promise there won’t be another problem. And you know how Chan is able to solve everything. Let me take him, please?” Anaya kept swinging her dad’s hand and acted spoiled. Seeing how there wasn’t any response she knew she had won.

But before she spoke, Chan interrupted, “Chairman, here are the reports to submit for the auditing. I have already sent a copy to your mail. I need your response to proceed further.” He tried to push his luck to escape from whatever Anaya was planning. He knew nothing good was going to come out for him from her.

“What reports? Dad, deal it yourself. Chan, you are coming with me. Don’t you know that your first priority should always be me?” She then grabbed the file, dropped it into the coffee table and started walking towards the door. Chan unwillingly followed her. Chairman Shen looked at his daughter unable to stop her and then at the files helplessly.

Anaya was known for her haughtiness. The typical spoiled young miss of a rich family, who had everything at her beck and call. No one was allowed to oppose her and she always got whatever she wanted, by whatever means required. Chan was naturally treated as a servant though he shouldn’t be.

As they reached the parking lot, Chan strode over to open the car door for her. Anaya was wearing a casual dress of off white colour, which was unusual. Chan grew suspicious over her overly simple outfit as Anaya always wore high end branded dress and liked to show off. But Chan couldn’t figure out what was she up to this time.

Chan went around the car, sat at the passenger seat and gestured the driver to go. “Our premonitions rarely go wrong,” the sweet voice again rang in his ears. “She is really the curse on me,” Chan thought to himself.