Love vs. Rich #5

The trio got back to sister Xiong’s house and sits on the steps to rest. Pa comes out of the door to greet them.

"How much did you guys made today?" Pa asked Mai.

"Not much, only four dollars."

"Wow that much. Maybe you guys will have luck and make more tomorrow, huh."

"I guess," Mai said and puts on her smile.

"But today is worse and it’ll get worse again," Ka Lu said.

"Why would you say that?" Pa asks her, trying to get her hopes up.

"Because everywhere we go today, we look like beggars."

"What’s wrong with that? Don’t give up hope yet when you haven’t met the end."

"It’s okay to go like this but we’re not making much money either."

"Don’t worry, I’ll think of something to help you guys."

"It’s okay Pa."

"No it’s not okay, I’ll do anything to help you guys," Pa walks into the house but turns to Ka Lu.

"Ka Lu, can you go and wash the dishes again, I’m tire."

"Sure." Ka Lu goes into the kitchen to wash the dishes. Pa looks down the steps and sees that Ka Lu forgot her hair band. She picks it up and goes inside the house but stops at the kitchen door. Pa listens to Ka Lu singing and burst in excitement, howling up to the sky. Ka Lu jumps to hear her howl and opens the door to see her.

"Is anything wrong Pa?"

"No my child!"

"What is it?"

"I found a job for you!"

"Really!?"

"Yes, just change your clothes and we’ll go right now!"

"Ka Lu and Pa get off the taxi and went directly into a pub. They both walk up to the door label manager’s office and Pa knocks on the door.

"Come in," said a rough voice from within. She Grabs Ka Lu’s hand and walk into the office. There, a forty-six years old man sits behind his desk, studying a calendar. His head is bald and his eyes were green like the forest. His shoulders were broad and scarred to show his veteran days. He looks up to see both of them and greets them.

"Ka Lu this is Mr. Frank, he’s the manager of this pub and Mr. Frank this is Ka Lu." They both exchange greetings and he gesture them both to sit on the chair opposite of him.

"What can I do for you?" Mr. Frank asked.

"Well, you see Mr. Frank, Ka Lu wants a job here and she’s a really good singer so I wonder if you still have space for singers?"

"Let me check," he said and he took out a list of singers until a girl burst into the office. The girl has long blonde hair and dark brown eyes. She wears heavy makeup to enhance her beauty and she’s so thin that she looks like a toothpick when she stands straight. Ka Lu looks into her eyes and knows that they both will not get along. The girl looks at Ka Lu then back at Mr. Frank.

"Are you hiring another singer? If you are, I’ll not allow it!"

"Who so you think you are?" he rages, "I’m the manager here!"

"I speak on the behalf of the other singers! If you hire her, then all the singers salary will be cut in half again!"

"What? Now you think that you haven’t made enough money? I paid you eighteen dollars for every song you guys sing!"

"I know, but if you add her, fewer songs will be sing by me and the others and therefore less payment."

"Do you think that I care if you got paid enough or not?"

"Well, see if you care if I quit this job!" Everything was silence for a moment as Mr. Frank frowns at her. He finally made up his decision and puts away his list of singers. The girl smiles with triumph but it faded when Pa protested.

"But Ka Lu really needs a job Mr. Frank. If you don’t give her one, she wouldn’t know who to turn to." Mr. Frank looks up at Ka Lu and said, "Ka Lu, would you mind if I give you a different job."

"No, not at all, as long as it’s a job then I’ll take it." Mr. Frank thinks it over in his mind, trying to figure which job he will give Ka Lu. He figures it out and asked, "Do you want to be a waitress?"

"Fine, as long as it’s a job."

"Then you’re hire. Start working tomorrow night okay."

"Thanks Mr. Frank."

"But we already have a lot of waiters and waitresses already!" the girl protested.

"Pipe down Malory, at least it doesn’t interfere with you." She opens and closes her mouth but nothing came out and she finally storms out of the office.

"Excuse the rude behavior of one of my singers."

"It’s okay." Pa looks at her watch and tells him that she have to go. Ka Lu thanks him for the last time and walks out of the office. They stop right outside the office door as Ka Lu asks Pa a question.

"How do you know about this place?"

"I work here."

"Really?"

"Yes, I’m a singer here."

"Wow but how come you want me to be a singer here? Wouldn’t that but your Salary in half?"

"Ka Lu, I know this before hand but I don’t care. Like I say, I want to help you and your family; it doesn’t matter if my salary is cut in half."

"Thanks Pa." Ka Lu hugs her for a long time. Pa gently brushes her off and turns around.

"Eeep!" she screams when she turns around to see a dashing looking fellow. The man’s hair is dark as coal and his eyes are bright hazel. His costume suggests that he too is a singer.

"Tiro, you shouldn’t sneak up like that."

"Sorry," the man said smiling.

"Oh, Ka Lu this is Tiro, he’s one of the singers here and he’s also the manager’s son. Tiro this is Ka Lu, the new waitress your father just hired." They both exchange greetings and when Tiro looks closely at Ka Lu, his eyes begins to dig into her beauty. Pa snaps in front of him, breaking the spell.

"Tiro, I wonder if you can show Ka Lu how to do her job while I go and sing."

"No problem Pa." She goes into the dressing room to change. Tiro tells her to go and take a seat by a table. His eyes never left her as she went to find a table. She chooses the table that is far from the stage and sits on a chair. He sits on the chair right across from her but his eyes never left Ka Lu once. She looks at Tiro, waiting for her lesson but he didn’t speak. She finally waves her hand in front of him and calls his name He immediately flinches and asks Ka Lu what she wants.

"Are you going to show me how to be a waitress?" Tiro blushes and tries to think of a way to show her. He panic a little, not knowing what to say but he manage to say, "Umm…Watch those other waitresses and waiters, then you’ll know how to do it." He then quickly gets up and walk away from the table. Ka Lu doesn’t know what just happened but did as she was instructed and watch the other waiters and waitresses so their jobs.

Meanwhile, the concert was over and workers started to clean up the stage. Yaki and a red haired girl are sitting on the empty seats. The red haired girl bangs her fist on the seat.

"Man, I can’t believe she did that to you."

"Tell me about it."

"Man, if I were there, I would have strangled her right then."

"But you were not there."

"I know but didn’t you say you’ll get her back."

"Yes I did."

"How?"

"I’m going to embarrass her in a way that she’ll never forget."

"Really? That’s good because nobody mess with my fiancé. Call me if you’re going to do it okay. I want to see where she’s going to hide her face."

"Don’t worry; you’ll be the first I call, Carly."

"Good. Now, are you hungry because I’m starving?"

"Let’s go find something to eat then." They get out of the seat and walks out towards the exit.

The next day in the afternoon, Yaki went inside the sweet voice corporation building. He said hi to the two girls behind the counter before ging up the elecator. Once the elecator srops, he went up the hall and enters the room labeled "Meeting Room." George, Tyno, Carly, Mr. Frank and a man were already seated.

"Sorry I’m late. There’s a lot of bad traffic lately." Yaki exlain.

"It’s alright. Take a seat; we have a lot to discuss." Yaki sits down before saying, "Discuss what?"

"We need to discuss about Fenix’s contract. It’s going to expire after this year so we need to think up a plan."

"Why not renew her contract?" Tyno suggest.

"Fenix has her personal manager," George explain, "We have to ask him first before we renew it."

"Why not find a new singer to replace her?" Yaki suggest.

"That can also be an option," the man said, "But where are we going to find one? We can’t just pick one up from the street."

"You’re right," Said George, "We need to choose wisely. We need someone beautiful with a good voice." They all try to think of something but nothing came to mind.

"I have an idea," Mr. Frank said, "But I don’t know it you guys like it."

"Shoot it," George tells him.

"I was thinking that if you guys could come to my pub tonight and meet some of my singers." George thinks about for and concluded, "It could work but I got a lot of paperwork to do."

"Me too," Tyno said.

"I’ll go," Yaki declares and they all turn their heads to look at him. He looks at all of them and said, "What? I got nothing to do anyway so I guess tonight I’ll go."

"Then I’ll go too," Carly announce, "I could just clear my schedule for tonight."

"Great," Mr. Frank said, "just come over at eight fifteen."

That night in the pub, Malory dances on the stage as she prepares to sings her song. Ka Lu was serving food when Mr. Frank comes running to her and called her name.

"What is it Mr. Frank?"

"I want you to take out our best wines from the storage room because I’m going to have some special guest here tonight."

"Alright." She went to find the storage room but she forgot where it is.

"Where might it be?" she asked herself, "I remember it somewhere around here." She keeps on walking until she bumps into Tiro which causes him to drop the trays he was carrying.

"I’m so sorry," she apologized and they both started to pick up the trays.

"What are you doing here Ka Lu?" Tiro asked when they are done picking it up.

"I was trying to find the storage room."

"For what?"

"I was supposed to bring wine for your father’s special guest."

"Really. Tell you what, I was about to go there anyway so you can come with me."

"O.k." He led the way and she follows him.

Meanwhile, Yaki and Carly came into the pub and look around.

"Man there’s a lot of hot girls here," he said. Carly gives him a dirty look and pinches him.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"That’s for thinking that other girls are pretty than me."

"Come on Carly, you’re always the hottest girl I ever know." She blushed and gives him a kiss.

"Hello there," Mr. Frank greeted them.

"Oh hi Mr. Frank. How are you doing?"

"I’m doing fine. Why don’t you guys go find a table?"

"O.k." They both went to find a table while Mr. Frank makes his way backstage. He meets Ka Lu on the way and stops her.

"Ka Lu, I already ask the chief to prepare the food already. All you need to do is take these wines to the chief and take it to the table I’m at." She nodded and find her way to the kitchen. Mr. Frank continues on and enters the dressing room where Malory is, putting more makeup.

"Malory," he called. She instantly turns around to meet his eyes.

"Yes, Mr. Frank."

"I want you to meet some special guest of mine."

"Really? I’m going right now!" She hops off the chair and went out the door. Tiro comes in and looks at her as she walks out of the room. He continues to walk up to his father and ask him about Malory.

"Oh, I told her to go and meet some special guest of mine."

"That’s it?" he said cocking an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Oh, how about I introduce you to them too?"

"That’ll be great."

Malory got to the table, follow by Tiro and Mr. Frank.

"Carly and Yaki, this is my son, Tiro and this is one of my best singer, Malory."

"Nice to meet you Carly and Yaki," said Tiro.

"Nice to meet you all too," Carly said. Malory sets her eyes on Yaki and her emotions started to light up.

"You’re the apple of my eye," she whispered.

"What did you say?" Carly asked her but she simply ignores her and continues to talk with Yaki.

"What’s your name again?"

"Yaki," he answered.

"Do you think that I’m beautiful?"

"Umm…yes and I hope your voice is beautiful too." The group started to laugh except Carly who pinches him to make him stop laughing.

"So," Malory continues, "do you have a girlfriend?"

"Not just a girlfriend," Carly cuts in, "but a fiancé who is prettier than any girl in the world."

"I see no beauty anywhere, only me."Carly’s face became twisted as she looks at her. Her mind wanted to slap her but she swallowed her anger and picks up her purse.

"Let’s go Yaki."

"What but we just barely got here."

"We’re leaving now." Yaki stands up from his chair, disappointed. Ka Lu comes over to the table and was about to place the food on the table but Malory pushes her towards Carly and spill the food all over her shirt. Carly screams and the people all look up to see the situation. Her shirt is stain with soup and stinks with wine. Yaki quickly help her and turns to see who’s responsible for the mess.

"You," he said with disbelief when he recognizes her.

"I’m sorry," Ka Lu apologizes but Carly slaps her with rage and the sound is carry out throughout the room. Tiro automatically moves in between them. Ka Lu runs out the door as Yaki tried to stop Carly from pursuit.

"I’m sorry Carly," Mr. Frank said, "She’s one of my new waitress."

"I think you should fire her," she said furiously.

"I agree," Malory joins in.