Chapter 5 (1/1)

"Get me some water," Raymond ordered, his tone superior and demeaning, as he plopped himself down on the folding chair that had his name written in bold black letters across its back.  He had finished some scenes and they were now breaking for lunch.  He had chosen this spot under a big tree because it afforded the shade he needed to keep himself from roasting under the hot blazing sun.  The heat was rising as the day wore on.  He hated outdoor scenes during the summer and went to great lengths to avoid them at all cost.  Usually they would use props in the studio to make an indoor room look remotely similar to an outdoor street or park.  However, the director wanted realism and hence here he was with sweat dripping down his face, arms and legs while he sat under a tree that provided some relief from the sun but not all.  He saw Charmaine returning with a bottle of water and a scowl instantly marred his handsome face.  "What took you so long?" he snarled leaning back against the chair and crossing his legs as he waited for her response.Charmaine pressed her lips together to bite back an angry retort.  She made a promise to Jazz and she was going to fulfill it no matter how it kills her.  Forcing a smile that she did not feel on her face, she replied sweetly, "I was only gone for a few seconds, Your Majesty."Raymond's eyes narrowed on her smiling face.  Her reference to him as 'Your Majesty' annoyed him but he wasn't going to say anything about it.  To do so would only give her the satisfaction of knowing how her little jab got to him.  "Where's my lunch?" he asked abruptly.Charmaine's smile disappeared.  She pointed towards a long rectangular table set up with food by the crew and replied tersely, "Your lunch is over there along with every one who's part of this production."Flicking a glance at the crowd around the table of food, Raymond made a snickering sound and said haughtily, "I always eat by myself.  Get me a plate and don't take too long."Charmaine came up with a dozen excuses to refuse his request and more to let him know exactly what she thought of his dictating behavior.  However, she decided not to voice any of them.  She has to make it through these few weeks.  If she were to quit then Jazz would be the one who's going to suffer from it.  She didn't think Raymond Lam cared one bit that Jazz's mother is very ill.  All he cared about was having someone do his bidding regardless of how outrageous or insufferable his demands were.  Already knowing how Raymond worked, Charmaine knew that the moment she calls it quits he would be instantly on the phone calling Jazz back to work.  Charmaine didn't want that.  Jazz needs this time desperately to care for his ailing mother.  So as a loyal and true friend, she was willing to suck it up and play nice with his Majesty.  Forcing a smile back on her face, she said with exaggeration, "Yes, Your Majesty."  She turned and took a few steps but then stopped to turn back and look at him, "While I'm over there, is there anything else I can get Your Majesty?" she cooed silkily.Raymond was dumbstruck by her overly accommodating behavior.  He had expected her to hurl an insult or two at him or even go as far as give him a few punches or kicks.  She certainly looked as if she wanted to by the fire burning in her expressive eyes.  He knew she was boiling mad by his latest demand.  It was too easy to see.  He was good at reading people's emotions just by looking at their eyes.  Facial expressions can be forced but the eyes… eyes cannot be manipulated.  People's thoughts and emotions are conveyed through their eyes and Raymond had long ago begun paying attention to a person's eyes instead of their words to know whether they are speaking the truth or not.  He's not a psychic or a mind reader.  He's far from it, but he can definitely gauge a person's mood just by looking into their eyes.  Looking at Charmaine and the resentment in her eyes, Raymond knew she was irritated with him.  The fact that she did neither one of those things and instead continued to smile that fake smile at him made Raymond wondered what she was up to.  Only time can tell.  Matching her smile, he said coolly, "No.  Be quick though.  I'm starving."Charmaine turned on her heels and trotted over to the crowd.  The moment her back turned she stuck her tongue out and made a face.  Although it was a very childish form of outburst, it nevertheless made her feel somewhat better.Raymond watched as she joined the others on the line that circled the table.  He had to give her credit.  She was tough and had a backbone that even he doubted he could break.  Raymond didn't like tough women.  He likes them soft, pliable and obedient.  Makes them easier to tolerate and work with.  If it wasn't for the fact that Jazz needed the time off immediately, Raymond would had preferred to try out a few assistants before making his choice.  Jazz has been his assistant for many years.  They worked well together.  They met in an acting class when they first joined TTT Network.  Whereas Raymond was given opportunities to rise to stardom throughout these years, Jazz wasn't so fortunate.  Three years after joining the network without so much as a cameo role to display on his resume, Jazz suddenly gave up that path and decided to become an assistant instead.  That marked the beginning of their relationship.  In the beginning it was rough because both of them didn't know what the other wanted.  As days turned to months and months turned to years, they are now at a stage where no words needed to be spoken.  Their comfort level is at its max and Raymond can't imagine what he'd do without Jazz by his side, who also happens to be one of his very closest friends.When Jazz informed him of his mother's illness, although Raymond didn't show it, he was truly upset with the news.  Perhaps that was why he didn't object when Jazz suggested having that girl, Charmaine Sheh, to assist him for the few weeks he was on leave.  So here he was, stuck with that hellcat until Jazz's return, which he hoped was soon.  This was only their second day working together and Raymond already found her presence unbearable.  Just the sight of her fouled his mood.  Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw her returning with two plates of food.  Eyeing the plates he said, "I didn't ask you to bring me two plates."Pushing one plate into his hands, Charmaine went with the other to a nearby rock and sat down.  "This one is for me."  She forked a morsel of beef and was about to put it in her mouth when his voice halted her."I didn’t say you could sit and eat with me," Raymond said and lifted his nose to look down at her.Charmaine clenched her fingers around her plate and stood up.  She stalked towards him and stopped when she was standing directly in front of him, her plate of food looming threateningly above his head.  "Where should I eat then?" she asked between clenched teeth.  "You made it clear you want me to always be around you in case you need something.  So then, Your Majesty, where do you suggest I go?"Her continuance in calling him 'Your Majesty' and the way she emphasized the title in a mocking way, picked on Raymond's nerve and he retaliated by doing what he does best.  Smiling arrogantly at her, Raymond thumbed towards an open spot behind him and said, "You can eat over there."Charmaine glanced at the open area he pointed and her eyes widen with anger, "That's right out in the open sun!  It's too hot!""If you don't like it you can always quit," Raymond taunted.  He knew she wouldn't.  Jazz had told him how desperate she needed this job.  Raymond didn't believe it at first but seeing how she backed down the few times he pushed her buttons, he believed it now and knowing that he had the advantage over her pleased him immensely.  He sat back in his chair and waited for her reaction.Charmaine was storming with rage but she kept it bottled up.  She had expected this type of tyrannical behavior from him and it shouldn't come to her as a shock anymore.  That first night she met him she had gotten a glimpse of his true personality.  Only, she didn't realize just how much of a jerk Raymond Lam really was.  Now she did and there's no way out for her.  A promise was a promise.  Swallowing her pride she gave him a dirty look and went over to the open area.Raymond smiled to himself at her obedience and after a few seconds turned to look over at her.  "By the way, after my lunch I always need to have some fruits.  I'm in the mood for tangerines.  See if you can get me some before our lunch break is over."  Glancing down at his watch he added with mirth, "Which should be over in another ten or fifteen minutes."  Charmaine looked at him with such fury that it made Raymond chuckle.  That's what she gets for leaving him to his own defenses when he was drunk that night.  And this was only the beginning he gloated to himself.  "You better hurry with your lunch."The smirk on his face angered Charmaine.  She knew he was purposely over working her out of some petty act of revenge.  If he thinks he can bully her into quitting then he was wrong.  Dead wrong.  Charmaine Sheh is no quitter.  She placed her plate of food calmly down beside her and stood up.  Managing a brittle smile she said, "I'll get you your tangerines, Your Majesty!"-------------------------------------------It was close to 10:00 pm and everyone was exhausted from working all day and from the excessive heat that didn't seem to relent.  Charmaine heard the director call it a night and immediately sprang into action.  She hurried over to slide the van door open for Raymond and tossed him a bottle of water which he caught with ease.  "What's my schedule for tomorrow?" he asked while stretching himself out on the row of seats.Charmaine quickly grabbed the clipboard she kept tucked neatly between the two front seats and scanned down it.  "No scenes for tomorrow but you do have a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1:00pm for Luk Fok Jewelry."Raymond perked up and without paying any heed to Charmaine or acknowledging that he had heard her, he took out his cell phone.  He pressed a few numbers and with a grin on his face waited for the recipient on the other end to pick up.  "Hi, busy tonight?"Charmaine rolled her eyes at his rudeness but didn't comment.  It was late and she was tired.  All she had to do was drive his butt home and then she was free of him, at least until the next morning.  The thought of it brought a smile of relief to her face.  Who would have thought being an assistant to Raymond Lam could be so much work.  Physically and mentally, she thought with a bitter smile.  At one time she had idolized him and dreamed of meeting him.  In her dreams they would meet and it would be love at first sight.  Their courtship would mirror those he had in his series and sometimes Charmaine would even replace herself with the female lead of one of his series.  That always made the dream so much more sweeter.  Since actually meeting him and learning what kind of person Raymond Lam really was those sweet dreams of him turned to nightmares.  Looking at his profile while he talked softly into his phone, she wondered why she even idolized him in the first place.  That was an easy enough question… it's because she didn’t know any better!  Turning away from him she jumped into the driver's seat and started the car.Raymond who had ended his call stuck a leg out to rest on the small compact table between the two front seats.  He saw Charmaine glanced with disdain down at his foot, which was dangerously close to her thigh.  "I'm not going home yet.  Drive me over to Club 21.""Fine," Charmaine muttered and swerved the mini van out into the street.  "Let me know what time you plan on leaving and I'll call a cab to pick you up outside.""Cab?" Raymond asked with bemusement.  "I don't take cabs."  Sitting up in his seat he leaned forwarded until he was directly behind her.  In a soft purring voice, he said, "You're coming with me and you're going to drive me home afterwards.  That is part of your job description."  Through the rearview mirror he saw her eyes flare up with anger and smiled unknowingly.  "That is unless you want to quit."Charmaine clenched her hands tightly around the steering wheel as if that could somehow take away her anger.  Reigning in her temper, she smiled back at him through the rearview mirror and said sweetly, "Club 21 you say?  No problem.  I could use a drink or two."