A bright and sunny Friday, the last day of a working week and it is lunch time for workers at “CELCO COMPANY”. An elegant woman walked out of the company. “Good afternoon, Miss Billy”, said the young chauffeur who opened the car door for her. She smiled and replied, “To the usual place, please”.
“Sure”, smiled Joe. Driving down the busy city on a hot afternoon is one thing everyone tries to avoid but what can one do when your favourite spot is way off your work place. Susan Billy is a famous face in town, a friendly rich lady who always had a smile for everyone. But she is also a very fierce and shrewd businesswoman. Many articles have been written about her successful progression up the business ladder. How she conquered in the so-called field where only men dominated. The petrochemical industry isn’t particularly a lady’s thing, too much cat fights and dirty dealings so why venture into it. But Susan isn’t an ordinary lady. Her mother always told her, “If you want anything in life, you have to work extra smart to get it because life won’t be handed to you easily”. And that is exactly what she did, she wanted to be different and she worked to make a difference.
“Here we are, Ma’am”, said the driver without looking back, as he pulled up in front of a small Chinese restaurant. This place has been her favourite spot since the day she arrived in town. He got out of the car, walked round to open the door for Susan.
“Thank you, Joe. You can go for lunch and pick me up in forty-five minutes, okay”, said Susan as she stepped out of the car.
“Yes, Ma’am”, replied Joe. He got in the car and drove out of sight. As Susan walked in, a waiter walked up to her to take her to a table which had a perfect view where she could see people walking in and out yet won’t be easily seen. As she sat herself down, she thanked him asked for a glass of water then her young friend walked up to her beaming with a smile and said, “Hello Miss Billy, May I take your orders, please?”
“Oh! Hello Lu Chang, how are you doing today”, she said, looking up seeing who it was.
“Fine, Mam”, smiled the young Chinese-American boy. “The usual please and kindly get me a cup of strong coffee too. Make it plain”, she requested.
“Okay Miss, I will be right back”, replied Lu Chang.
Lu Chang has always been fascinated by her looks. At first, she felt uncomfortable every time the boy pops out to take her order and ensures she was comfortable while he chats with her, she later realized that the boy just has an innocent crush on her and with time they became friends. As he left, she brought out some document to flip through. She vigorously read and cross-checked the documents, she needs to ensure that they were alright. She can’t afford to lose this particular project again.
“You know you work too much, Mam”, said Lu Chang as he returned with Susan’s orders. Susan looked up and gave him a beautiful smile.
“Well I have to, if I want people to do my work. My mama use to tell me that if you want your workers to work hard, you’ve got to be hard working yourself”, she replied pushing aside her files to create room on the table for her meal.
“I’m sure your mama is pretty smart and lucky too”, Lu Chang replied
“Why is that?” she asked.
“To have you as a daughter, if I were older, I would have asked you to marry me. Well, I could ask my big brother to marry you. Will you, if he does?” said Lu Chang.
“Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?” laughed Susan
“Yea, my big brother”, he smiled “I’ve got to go, my brother wants me to be the grilling boy and soon I would be heading this place just like he is. See you later Mam”, said Lu Chang and left.
Susan simply smiled and shook her head has she watched the boy disappear through the entrance of the kitchen. After having her lunch and certain that every report has been double checked, she stood up, paid her bill and stepped out. So back at the office, she was very busy with various meetings with the departmental heads and quality committee, she also went through all the reports sent to her before attending meetings with prospective clients.
