Kristy realized she could jeopardize everything at this moment by asking him such an awkward question. "I didn't mean to ask you something like that. I know I'm just a call girl." She said trying to walk off.
Suddenly he grabbed her by the hand. "You're not just a call girl." he said. "Don't ever lower yourself like that."
Kristy couldn't help chuckling. "Then what am I?" she asked.
The question came as a chock to him. Maybe he had more feeling for Kristy then he realized. "You're a girl..." he paused. "...a girl that I once had." He replied wondering why he suddenly said something like that.
Kristy was smirked as she shook her head. "So now I was once your property? All you wanted was to screw me. Now you've had your fun so you dumped me aside for Kevin!" she said with disbelief that she was actually having this conversation with him.
"I somehow knew you weren't going to fuck Kevin. You were always better than that." he replied.
"Do you realize what you're saying to me? One minute I'm your fuckin whore and the next minute I'm better than that!" she yelled furiously. "Stop doing this to me! You're driving me nuts. Just stay away from..." she was saying when Louis grabbed her by the arm.
She yanked it away but he fought her. "What's your problem?" he asked trying to calm her down. He was never a suave man in that department.
"Just get the hell away from me!" she yelled pulling her arm out of his grasp.
'"What you getting all fucked up about? Is it a crime to care about people?" he asked.
"No." Kristy said softly shaking her head, "But it hurts when your mouth says you care but your actions say you don't. Especially in such an uncaring way." She said as tears continued to come down her face.
Louis stared at her blankly. He knew he had always loved having fun with women but now he started to feel it was morally wrong. He wondered if there was something wrong with the way he treated her? Kristy stared straight into his eyes and could tell that he was just as confused as her. She runs off again. This time he lets her go.
~ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ~
Nic wakes up to see Joey besides him. He looks at her with a joyful smile. This is the first time he felt very good about a girl and he didn't even have to sleep with her. There was something about her that he found captivating. He stared at her for a brief moment more before Joey woke up and saw Nic besides her.
She smiled and said, "You lost yesterday, so you have to listen to me for a week."
"Why is that the first thing out of your mouth?" he questioned playfully
"That was the first thing on my mind." she replied.
"Okay what do you want me to do?" he asked laying on his side.
She didn't even think about it. "Let's go to the ALLV!" she exclaimed getting up.
"The where?" Nic asked without moving.
"The Assistance League of Las Vegas!" Joey exclaimed again. Don't you know they're a group of volunteers that help the children in Las Vegas!" she said pulling him up.
"Maybe it's me. but I have no idea who they are."
"Then I'll show you today!" she exclaimed.
Nic gave her a strange look as he got up. "Are you sure it's legit?" he asked. "It's not some kind of cult where the main guy will brainwash me into having sex with him, is it?" he asked jokingly.
Joey busted out laughing. "Yes, I'm sure." She replied laughing heartily. She's never genuinely laughed this much "Now get up! Remember you have to listen to me for a week!" she declared.
Nic nodded getting up. Joey started dashing towards the door excitedly. "But there' one thing you have to listen to me about." Nic said walking towards his restroom.
"What's that?"she asked wondering what he was thinking up.
"You have to wash up before we leave." He said holding up a tooth brush from the bathroom doorway. She was embarrassed and covered up her mouth forgetting she hadn't washed up yet.
~ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ~
Frankie and Marco had arrived at work in separate cars. They were best friends since they graduated the police academy and even rented an apartment together but now Annie caused a big gap between them. Frankie tried to tell Marco he had nothing to do with Annie jumping into his bed but Marco was furious with him.
"Fuck why won't you just stop and listen to me?" Frankie asked.
Marco gave him an evil stare. Instantaneously, he pushed Frankie against the wall. Frankie swifly pushed him off. Marco quickly punched him. They fought for what seemed like hours but was less than two minutes. Their co-workers came to stop them.
"What's going on?" their boss asked walking in. Neither answer but it was obvious they were mad at each other. "Follow me to my office!" he shouted at both of them. Their co-workers let them go and they followed him into the office. Their supervisor split them up and they were no longer partners.
Marco left for an assignment with his newly assigned partner still fuming with rage against Frankie. Frankie also left with another partner and was assigned to a Charity event. He was upset that Marco was getting all hyped up about a girl like Annie.
~ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ~
Meanwhile...Kevin was drinking at a bar, outraged that he had to give up Kristy. She was so close to being his for the night. He slammed his drink on the bar counter and yelled, "Give me another beer!"
The bartender immediately served it to him. Francis walked into the bar and noticed Kevin's anger. "What's causing your temper here in my bar?" he asked taking a seat next to him.
Kevin was immediately alarmed because of Francis's status in the Triads, "Nothing, I was... I was just trying to get..." Kevin was saying as Francis cut him off.
"Must be a fuckin bitch. That's the only thing that drives a man crazy." Francis said with a wink. "Who's fighting you for her?" he asked with a smirk on his face.
Kevin couldn't control himself and blurted it out. "Louis already has a bitch but then he wants this one too!" He stopped himself as he noticed who he was talking to.
Francis lit a cigarette and chuckled, "If you want the chick I can help you. All you need to do is help me bring Louis down." He winked.
Kevin was hesitant. "Louis is my Dai Lo. I can't..."
"Sure you can. Anything is possible. Let me know when you decide." Francis chuckled as he got up and left. His followers quickly followed him out.
Kevin sat there pondering if it was worth it to go against Louis. He had Ekin and Jordan on his side. He took another gulp of his beer to down it and left the bar.
~ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ~
Joey and Nic arrived at the Assistance League and signed up for "Kids on the Block", a puppet show teaching kids how to deal with life's dilemmas such as divorce, gangs, drugs, disabilities, and many more.
Nic watched as Joey energetically signed them up. She seemed so enthusiastic. Then they went to the different schools that they were scheduled to perform at. Joey and Nic had so much fun making puppet shows. Joey practically forgot her mission and lost herself in his company.
After their last show, "The Ugly Duckling", one of the girls came up to them. She was a cute chubby little girl with curly hair and glasses. "Mr. Wong, The ugly duckling wasn't really ugly?" the little girl asked.
Nic smiled at her and shook his head, "No the ugly duckling was actually a swan, a very beautiful one too." He said with a wink as he bent down closer to her.
"Will I become as beautiful as the swan?" she asked.
"You are beautiful." Joey said bending down to the little girl.
"I'm ugly. I have glasses, messy curly hair and I'm short and... and... fat." The little girl said with teary eyes.
Joey was about to embrace the little girl in her arms but Nic beat her to it. "Don't cry." He said to encourage her. "Who says that? It's not true! Look at how pretty you are and you're going to become even more beautiful when you get older." He said.
"Just like the ugly duckling?" she asked
Nic smiled and said, "The ugly duckling was never ugly., When she grew up, she realized she was a beautiful Swan not a plain looking duck."
The little girl joyfully looked at Nic. Joey smiled at them and added. "Yeah, when you grow up you'll realize how beautiful you are too." she said with a nod. "You're definately not a lain looking duckling." she winked.
The little girl smiled and ran out of the room saying, "I'm a swan not a duckling. I'm not ugly!"
Joey and Nic laughed. "She was so cute." Joey said.
"Yeah, I hope my kids are cute like her."
Joey was amazed. "You want kids?" she asked. She never imagined a player like Nicholas actually wanting to settle down with a family.
"Yeah, of course. Who doesn't? They're great innocent little people. So naive and fresh to the world.!"
She laughed softly under her breath. It was amazing to her that Nic wanted kids. Maybe he was different from other men she had encountered before in her life.
Nic was more attracted to her after this event. Her playful personality and the fact that she didn't seem like she wanted his wealth and power attracted him to her. He felt she was a sincere and genuine person.
~ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ~
Joey and Nic got back to the center to return the items for the play and saw people unloading a truck with stuff animals. "Let's help!" Nic said enthusiastically.
Joey nodded and they ran over. Nic saw a short little girl that looked familiar. "Hey you're Annie!" he exclaimed.
Annie turned around to see Nic and Joey. At first she smiled at them but then realized she wasn't supposed to know Joey. She looked at Nic. "Who are you?" she asked pretending not to know him even though she recognized him..
"I'm Nic, Ekin's brother. You were at his wedding yesterday." He said.
Annie nodded her head, "Oh yeah I remember you." she said then llooked at Joey. "Is this your girlfriend?" She asked.
Nic smiled, "Yeah." He replied, "This is Joey Yung."
Both Joey and Annie were somewhat taken back by his comment. Joey didn't realize that she had gone far enough with him to be considered his girlfriend.
Joey noticed Annie's expression and quickly decided to change the subject. "So what do you have here?" she asked.
"This is "Operation Hug", a fundraiser where people donate teddy bears." Annie answered.
"What do you do with them?" Nic asked.
"We donate them to the police department, fire stations and children emergency rooms."
Just as they were talking Frankie and his newly assigned partner, Roger Kwok comes up to them. Without realizing who they were Frankie shows them his badge, "I'm here from the LVPD to collect the donations." He says just as he notices them.
"What are you doing here?" he questions Annie.
"I'm always here!" Annie yells at him. "Why can't I be here?" she challenges him.
Frankie looks at Nic and Joey, "What are you two doing with her? Don't you know she's only trouble? he insists.
Annie sticks out her tongue at him and looks at Roger. "Hey Roger, why are you collecting with this jerk today?" she asks jokingly.
Frankie looks at Roger, "Don't tell me she's always here." He says.
"Fine then I won't." Roger answers reaching for some bags that were unloaded to load them onto the truck from the police department.
Frankie looks at Annie. "This is ridiculous!"
Annie smiles and leans on Frankie, "You missed me so much since this morning, you decided to join Roger today?" she asked teasingly.
Frankie pushed her off and walked over to Roger to help him pack the truck. Annie, Joey, and Nic helped also. After they finished Frankie jumped back in the truck to head back to the police station. Roger helped Annie into the truck and got in after her.
"What's she doing here!" Frankie exclaimed.
"She always comes along." Roger replies. "She's the head of this operation so she needs to comes to help and sign some documents at the station."
Frankie rolls his eyes and takes a deep breath. "Fine!" he says annoyed.
Annie laughs. Roger scratches his head wondering about them but decides to ignores whatever is going on between them because it's none of his business.
They got to the LVPD Charity event at the station where they passed out toys and talked to Children from abused and batter homes. Frankie noticed Annie playing with the kids and encouraging them. It was not the Annie he knew. The Annie he knew was just a spoiled rich brat that didn't care about anything.
After the event Frankie took a seat besides her. ????????????????"You do this often?" he asked handing her a water bottle.
She took it and smiled. "Why are you interested?" she asked
"The way I saw you with them today, seems like you visit them often." He replied.
She took a deep sigh. "I try to. It's sad that some of these children come from such bad homes. They are abused by their own parents, parents that should be loving them."
Frankie was curious about her relationship with her father, Simon Yam. "Does your father treat you good?" he asked taking a sip of his drink.
She nodded without hesitation. "He treats me like the queen of the world. That's why I'm so spoiled." She admitted with a smile.
He laughed with her and she continued, "I'm his only daughter. He couldn't love anyone more than me. I just hate his mistresses. They're such bitches."
"He has mistresses? How does your mom feel about that?"
"My mom passed away." She said sadly.
"Oh." He said remembering the day Shi Qi came to bail her out of jail. He assumed she was one of the mistresses "Sorry."
"It's okay. My mother was the only women my father loved."
"How are you so sure if he has a mistress now?" he challenged.
"I know because he loves me so much. He even wanted me to take my mother's last name so he would have my mother to remember in me. That's why I'm Annie Man. My father's last name isn't Man."
He raised his eyebrow in suspicion. She took a sip of her water bottle and continued, "Anyways I don't mind that he has mistresses, I just don't like the ones he has now. If he had a good woman I wouldn't hate them, after all life goes on. Why live in sorrow after the one you love dies? My mommy wouldn't want my daddy to have a sad life."
"If your dad actually loved your mom, he wouldn't raise you like this/"
?"There's nothing wrong with the way I was raised. My motto is to live life to its fullest and live it for the moment." She said with a grin.
"That explains your lunatic behaviors." he said chuckling. "But I still don't approve of it as a positive way to live."
"You have your thinking, I have mine. But I'm happy now so nothing else matters." She said.
Frankie shrugged his shoulders. He didn't resent Annie that much anymore after this event. He didn't agree with her way of living but understood that she wasn't an evil or malicious person so he was okay to be her friend.
She was starting to like him a little more. He wasn't her typical 'for fun' guys. He had attitude and personality that added to his charm. She didn't think he was going to spoil her like everyone in her life.
The two continued talking and joking as a pair of eyes stared at them from afar in anger and jealousy. Anger filled Marco as he pounded the wall nearby injuring himself as he watched their happiness.
Another person tapped on his shoulders scaring him to death for a moment. "What do you want?" Marco asked when he noticed who it was. This person had come to him before and offered him help with Annie.
"Girl problems?" the figure asked.
"None of your business!" Marco said turning his attention back to Annie and Marco.
"What if I can help you?"
"What do you mean by that?" he asked curiously. The figure leaned closer to Marco and whispered his plans.
~ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ~
Copyright © Nov. 2, 2003
IiI Sorrow IiI
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