Chapter 00-Starter Fire
“I hate my job”
“You say that every day and yet you never quit,” commented
Lisa who was sitting beside me forming some report drafts. “You know I can’t
quit, my finance is tight and this job pays well,” I grumbled while sipping my
Starbucks Latte. She chuckled and adjusted her glasses, “See the bright point,
you get to know a lot of people here although I admit some customers are
extraordinary. My clients requested their wedding to have sunflowers” “NOW? IN
WINTER?” “Yeah, told you they are NUTS”
I laughed seeing Lisa sighing deeply. We worked in a company
of Event Organizing-concerts, big events, inaugurations, parties to weddings.
You think this kind of job must be fun, eh? Wait until you meet that one client
who requested the food to be Tibetan food (Excuse me, sir but I can’t even
distinguish Arabian and Egyptian food. Plus I can’t find any Tibetan
restaurants anywhere!) and requested a symphony to play hip hop songs (don’t
even get me started).
“What’s on your list today, hon?” Lisa asked
“Let’s see… A simple
garden party for this rich family who owns P-Triumph Group”
“…The famous dog food brand?”
“NO, Lisa. Not just Triumph, P-TRIUMPH. The P stands for
Palm, they are a huge company that exports Palm-related products. They also own
hotels, malls, theme parks and… Many more. At least that is what boss told me,”
I tried remembering what our boss told me. “I bet the party feels like
different world : with background music ‘stock markets’, ‘current capital ratio’
and ‘good investments’…” “YIKES, stop it Lisa. I hate economics”
“Said the economics major college student,” Lisa snorted, “You
hate your job and suck at your college major. You are the most unspecialized
boss relative in the world. Most people who are related to bosses are very
relaxed and happy, plus the special treatments. You, however… Are way busier
than others and no freedom to do whatever you want”. I couldn’t respond in any
other way but sighing.
Lisa once taught me how to write short description of myself
: The direct niece of the boss in this company who is made to do more jobs than
anyone, is often scolded, is hated by lots of employees, has to shoulder heavy
responsibilities, is forced to study a major she sucks in because the college
is near and paid by the uncle. Sad but true. “Oh and add : My only friend is
Lisa,” she said back then.
No use in
complaining, I guess. I arranged the
papers on my desk and stuffed them into my drawer.
“I will go now then, gotta
survey location. See you, Lisa”
“Please give my number to any handsome babes there , Pam”
“Oh, shut up you gold-digger,” we both laughed and parted
ways
As usual, I used the company car. This time to visit the
oh-so-far residence of this rich family… What’s their last name again? Oh yes, it
is Artellia. God, what a fairytale-ish name! The trip took approximately an
hour until I reached a residential area with… Tons of security guards and metal
detectors, anti-bullet vests… Wait, where am I? One of the security knocked my
window, “Ma’am, any identification card? Please state your business”- Oh Great.
“ Pamela Smith, EO of Artellia Group Garden Party two weeks
from now. Here’s my name card and ID card. “
“I see. Ma’am, please show us what is inside handbag”
HEY, WHAT IS THIS-AIRPORT? THERE, go check on my cheap
phone, purse, make up tools and sanitary pads! The security guy was quiet a
moment before he finally said, ”Your car and driver stays here. You may get out
of the car. I will escort you”
“…Sir, I saw the map. The house is far from this gate”
“I know but no choice, you don’t carry special pass for this
residence area. Usually when people make appointments here, they are given
those passes”
“Sir, I am just a staff from the company. I have never even
met the one booking our service”
“Rules, ma’am. Follow me and walk or leave it”
I was about to lose it when a white expensive-looking car
stopped beside our company’s. Whoever the
one driving was, he lowered the car window and said nothing. The man reminded
me of Kpop star (if you know what I mean)- wearing black leather jacket and
sunglasses, clean-cut hair (surprisingly short, Kpop-ers tend to have long
hair). He took the sunglasses off and stared at me then shifted his gaze to the
dumbfounded security team.
“…Open the gate,” he said calmly. The security guys
all immediately stood so straight while some rushed to open gate. The meanass
who interrogated me immediately smiled (SO FAKE!) and said, “Why, Mr Ethan!
Just back from Los Angeles? How was your trip? Are you ready for the garden
party?”
“…I went to California. Anyway, who is this lady you’re
troubling?”
“AH, no sir. She doesn’t have the special pass, you see… She
claimed to be EO for your house event”
SO THIS IS THE YOUNG MASTER, I shrugged
“What a dick to let her walk so far,” said the young master
which was a surprise to me, “She’s my guest. Hop on, Pamela” Wait, how did he
know my… Ah, nevermind. I signaled Tim to wait outside the gate and he nodded
with sad face. Hesitantly, I got into his car and he drove past the gate.
The first few seconds was an awkward silence… Until he
finally spoke,
“Ethan Artellia, nice to meet you”
“Pamela Smith, likewise…”
“Wow, so your name is really Pamela? I just guessed”
SERIOUSLY? Usually guesses are names like Mary or Nina…
“Yes, you got it right. Here’s my name card-I will be in
charge of arranging your family’s garden party”
He took the name card from my hand and was silent for awhile
before giving me his,
“Palm Triumph Pt Ltd
Palm Exports
ETHAN ARTELLIA – BRANCH HEAD” ,Oh shit
I must have looked like nervous kitten because he then said,
“Chill-that is just a job position. Call me Ethan or Eth or whatever. I was
newly appointed anyway, and thus the party. Kind of sad if you think about it,
I am arranging my own party. That’s why I asked for your company’s service”
“So you are the main character from this event, huh? “
He just chuckled in response while nodding, “So what’s your
story, beautiful? I remember arranging Mr Smith. His special someone?”
“..God, NO. I’m the niece”
“Family, huh? No problem then. I was worried regular
employees will give away our address or paid to be a spy”
“Spy?” I laughed, “Company secrets, huh? Must be hard to be
rich”
He just chuckled, his smile giving a mysterious vibe. We
reached a big house… Sorry, let me rephrase : A huge brown manor with huge
garden you can play football at. Some servants greeted Ethan and opened the
gate as he drove in swiftly. I am not going to lie to you, I gaped at the scene
before me. The garden was full of colors with different flowers, a fountain, a
big doghouse and three dogs running around. The trees were trimmed to shape
like animals or statues and there were lots of servants pacing back and forth. There
was a vast area with big white gazebo-I concluded that will be the party venue.
“Welcome to our house, this is nothing compared to my Uncle’s
house,” Ethan muttered. “Your uncle’s house must be White House,” I responded
breathlessly. He just burst out laughing. He stopped the car and two servants
opened our doors. I got out of the car and immediately headed to the party
venue, Ethan following behind me.
“So, big enough? There will be around fifty guests”
“Perfect, so what concept do you want to apply ?”
“Neat, beautiful and simple . Semi-formal with some flowers
and Western design. I’d prefer white for overall design”
“Any special food preference?”
“High tea time cakes, pies, pasta… Tea , coffee, wine…The
usual stuff, I will give you the card for our restaurant”
OUR restaurant, I shrugged again
Ethan smiled, ”And fifty invitations-please print them out
nicely. Remember, semi formal. For the party rundown just around three or four
speeches then nice live music. Some firecrackers are acceptable too”
I noted down all of his requirements and nodded, ”Got it.
With tables or just arranged chairs?”
“Chairs, just light meal anyway. Not a wedding party”
I laughed to that response and noted down again, “Let me
reconfirm- two weeks from now so… 10th of December at 2 in the
afternoon”
“Yes”
“OK. Thank you for your time, Mr Ethan. I will forward you
list of menu, decoration design and invitation draft by this week. May I have
your email?”
“Give me your cell number, I will text you the email”, he
handed me his phone. I dialed my own number and gave it back to him. My phone
rang loud and clear then he pushed the hang up button. “Alright, thanks”. “What
about inside the house?” “No party inside, guests may come in to sightsee
though. We have gallery of my mother’s art collections and some antiques” “Okay,
okay I get it, Mr Rich” “My last name is Artellia”. We both laughed
“I will be leaving now then”
He nodded, “You know what… You’re pretty courageous to talk
to me”
“You’re not the typical annoying rich young master so it is
okay.”
“I’d rather you are not seen with me too much”
Huh, afraid of scandal? Rich dudes “Alright then”
“See you around, Pamela”
“See you, Mr Ethan”
“…”
“…You plan to walk?”,he grinned mischievously. Oh damn, I
forgot I rode in his car
“…I’m sorry, may I ask for your help again?”
“Hop in, I will give you that special pass so that next time
you don’t end up in such misery”
And that was the first time I met Ethan. That was the
starting point of my whole life story flipping 180 degrees. Never have I
thought that I would get myself into something bigger than anything I could
have imagined...
A/N :HEYA sooo I decided to start a new series which is lighter (Threads of Jades is a bit heavy). But I will still continue ToJ so dont worry and enjoy this new one. If you like it, please help me commenting or sharing the links. Much appreciated! Love y'all XOXO
