Clash Between Two Worlds (Complete)

Chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Chapter 1

Vicki stood in the large, expensive-looking hall, gazing in wonder at the chandeliers, silk carpets, beautifully polished tables and chairs and french windows. In the course of her entire life she had never seen such an elegant and rich place.
The plump, proud-looking lady swept down the carpeted stairs. "The mistress says you may go up," she said, her chin in the air. Vicki suppressed a smile as she followed her up the stairs. *if she continues holding up her chin like that, I wouldn't be surprised if she knocks into a pillar and kills herself* she thought in amusement.
The lady stopped at one of the doors and knocked on it.
"Come in," said a lady's voice and the woman opened it. "Vicki Zhao," she announced.
"Thank you, Nan. You are dismissed."
Nan turned and walked away. Vicki stepped inside the room and saw a slim, youthful-looking woman reclined on a sofa. The room had a four-poster bed and the floor was carpeted. It also had a TV, an air-con...anything a person could wish for.
The lady looked at her. "Are you Vicki Zhao?"
"Yes, mam."
"I am Mrs Su. You are required to call me 'Lady' in this house."
"Yes, Lady."
Mrs Su looked at her sharply and took notice of her poor-looking clothes. "So, how long do you intend to work here?" she said.
"As long as you want me, Lady."
"Hmm," said Mrs Su, her slender brows furrowing. "That is a very unspecific answer. Anyway, you are to tidy up the bedrooms in the afternoons and serve the visitors. In your free time, you must help out in the kitchen. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Lady."
"Good. Nan will lead you to your room. You will be given a day off every fortnight to go back to your family, but that is all. When we go for holidays, you will only be taken along if your conduct is exceptionally good. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Lady."
Mrs Su looked at her again and her expression softened. "You are very young," she said. "How old are you?"
"Eighteen, Lady."
"Eighteen? That is no age for a girl to be a maid. But - I suppose there is no other choice for you. All right, I will call for Nan." Mrs Su took out from her pocket a bell and rang it. After a few moments someone knocked on the door and entered. "Yes, Lady?"
"Bring Vicki to her room now, Nan. And make sure that she gets introduced to the others."
"Certainly, Lady. Follow me," said Nan to Vicki, who turned and was about to follow her. "Stop!" Nan commanded. Vicki looked at her, bewildered. "You must not leave the room in this manner," Nan instructed. "You must curtsey to our Lady first."
Vicki, once more suppressing a smile, turned round and curtseyed gracefully. Mrs Su nodded and smiled. Nan, too, curtseyed and the two women left the room.
As Vicki walked along the corridors, some doors were open and in one room sat a young lady, combing out her long hair and talking to a young man who sat on her bed. In another room a maid was hastily tidying up the place while in another room an old man was singing in his cracked voice a song which Vicki had known and treasured for years. 'Through the years, you've never let me down, you've turned my life about, the sweetest days I found, I found with you...'
Vicki smiled to herself. Perhaps in this house she would be able to find a soulmate in one of her fellow servants. Who knew what the future held?

Chapter 2

The dinner table was silent as it always was. The family had nothing to say to each other. Mrs Su, who although was a kind-hearted woman, had given her children into charge of nursemaids three months after they were born and knew very little of them. Mr Su was a businessman who had absolutely no time for his family. He attended dinner once every month and no more.
The sons, Alec and Jimmy, shared a brotherly love but in the presence of their parents were speechless. The daughter, Gigi, was eighteen and the youngest in the family. She loved her brothers dearly but her parents were to her as dust is to a table.
The door of the dinner-room opened and Nan came in followed by Vicki. Both carried trays of food. "Put your dishes in the centre of the table and collect the empty plates," Nan told Vicki, who obeyed wordlessly. She looked with interest at the family as she did her job carefully. The boys were handsome and the girl was pretty, which wasn't surprising since Mrs Su was a handsome woman herself.
"Is this a new maid, mother?" Gigi asked.
"Yes," Mrs Su replied.
Gigi smiled at Vicki, who smiled back. "Welcome to our household," said Gigi.
Vicki bowed her head politey. "Thank you, Miss Su."
Alec and Jimmy looked at Vicki and both their eyes widened. This maid was so young! All the maids in the house were at least twenty-five and above, this one looked less than twenty. Both shared a look and shook their heads almost imperceptibly.
Mr Su threw down his napkin. "Nan, send the cooks my compliments. This is a fine dinner."
"I will do so, Sir," Nan said. "Vicki, curtsey and leave the room."
Vicki obeyed.
Once they were out of the room, Jimmy turned to Mrs Su. "Mother, why did you hire such a young girl to be a maid?"
"I did not hire her," Mrs Su said. "She offered."
"Surely you shouldn't have taken her in, mother? She's so young," Alec objected.
"Alec, don't be silly," his father snapped. "She's probably from a desperately poor family and has no other choice but to be a maid. Don't bother yourself over what is your mother's business. Remember your place."
Alec subsided. In the Su family no one was allowed to talk back to Mr Su, the head of the house. Everyone was supposed to respect him. Nobody liked him, not even Mrs Su. They had married each other to save their own parents' businesses, and had no love for each other.

Later on in the night, Jimmy and Alec sat in Jimmy's room talking about the new maid. "I wonder what's her name?" Alec said.
"Didn't you catch what Nan said? Her name is Vicki."
"Vicki?" Alec's eyes took on a dreamy look. "That's a pretty name."
"Yeah, pretty - just like her," Jimmy agreed. "She's unquestionably the prettiest maid we have in this house. All the others are nothing to look at."
"Hmm - is that a compliment?" laughed Alec. "Oh well, I better go to my bedroom now or dad will find trouble with me."
As Alec was about to go out of the room, Jimmy said, "I'd like to know more about that Vicki."
Alec turned around and looked at his brother. "You know, bro, so do I. And I think Gigi wants to, too."

Chapter 3

Vicki was hurrying along the passages quickly tidying up the rooms when she saw Alec walking towards her. She stopped and curtseyed. "Good morning, Mr Alec," she said politely.
Alec stopped. "You are the new maid Vicki, aren't you?" he asked though he knew the answer quite well.
"Yes, I am."
"So how do you find life here?"
"I like it, my fellow servants are very friendly and I enjoy cleaning up the house," said Vicki sincerely. Alec cocked his head to one side. "You do?!"
"Yes! Never in my life have I lived in such a wealthy household."
Alec looked at her curiously. "Do you come from a very poor family?" the moment he said that he bit his lips and looked ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it the way it sounded..." he began.
"Oh, it's ok!" Vicki laughed. "Yes, I do come from a very poor family, I have a younger sister named Vivian and a frail mother. We live in a little wooden shack located in the outskirts of this town."
She was so open that Alec was startled. "Then - are you close to your sister and mother?"
"Oh yes! There's no one in the world I love so much as my mum, unless it's Viv," said Vicki lightly and Alec found himself captured by her vivid eyes and laughing face. "My dad left my mum ages ago," Vicki continued. "Neither Viv nor I can remember him. Whenever she talks about him my mum looks quite sad, but it isn't often."
"I see."
"Vicki Zhao! How dare you talk while you do your work?" came an angry voice behind them and Vicki turned to see Nan staring furiously at her. "Sorry, Nan!" she said meekly.
Alec came forward and stood in the light. "She's talking to me, Nan," he said coldly. "It's no fault of hers, I detained her."
Nan's face took on a shocked expression. "Mr - Mr Alec," she stuttered. "I'm sorry, Mr Alec, I thought she was talking to one of the servants," she went on hurriedly.
"It's all right. Next time, however, please find out who she is talking to before you decide to scold her," Alec said. "Nice talking to you, Vicki. You'd better go on with your work now."
"Yes, Mr Alec." Vicki curtseyed and continued wheeling her trolley down the passage, a victorious look on her face. She disliked Nan's attitude and pride immensely and seeing her being reproached by Alec in this way was extremely to her taste.
Alec walked past Nan, who quickly bowed her head respectfully, and down the stairs. His head was full of the short conversation he'd had with Vicki. What a joyous nature she had! He had never seen such a smiley girl before. All the rich young women he knew were aristocatic, sophisticated and proud with a fantastic education. Yet this young girl - this maidservant - who was drastically poor and probably had little or no education - surpassed them all.
He sighed a little as he thought of what was planned for him today. He was to go and visit his mother's wealthy friend, Jennie Leung, and be dreadfully polite once more. He had to pretend to look interested in her daughter, Carrie, whom he couldn't stand at all. Afterwards he had to drop by at his grandmother's, say a lot of nice words, take his cousin Ruby out for some shopping and return back home. What a monotonous life!

Back in the rooms, Vicki was busily polishing and dusting, completely unaware of the thoughts she had roused in the young gentleman she had just spoken so freely to. In fact, she had forgotten about him. She was looking for a life partner in one of the manservants, not in Mr Alec or Mr Jimmy.
She sang to herself as she tidied the things and changed the bedsheets. Vicki let nothing dampen her spirits. Behind her, Nan observed her with a watchful eye and pointed out the slightest mistake she made. Vicki made no reply to her complaints and just smiled to herself.
*this fat old woman thinks she's so wonderful when actually she's simply a maid, just like me!* this thought made Vicki smile even more, and when Nan saw her face she was very puzzled. What had this girl to smile about? Cleaning up untidy rooms and getting scolded by the head servant and she was still smiling?! Nan couldn't figure it out at all and decided to let the matter rest.

Chapter 4

As days progressed Alec found himself walking up and down the corridors just so that he could stop Vicki and have a small chat with her. She was always very friendly and ready to talk, and he listened with pleasure to her voice which sounded so sweet to his ears.
Meanwhile, Ruby, who was the cousin of Jimmy, Alec and Gigi, came for a visit one Thursday afternoon. She and Gigi were very cordial to each other for if they did not love each other they did not hate each other either.
As she was sitting in Jimmy's room, chatting with him, someone knocked on the door. "Who could that be?" Ruby asked.
"Oh, it must be the maid coming in to tidy up my room," said Jimmy. "Come in!"
The door opened and Vicki came in. "Good morning, Mr Jimmy," she said courteously.
Jimmy nodded at her. "Vicki, this is my cousin, Ruby Lin. She's the same age as you."
Vicki smiled and curtseyed. "Good morning, Miss Ruby."
Ruby looked at her with interest. "You're eighteen?" she exclaimed. "Aren't you far too young to be a maid? All my maids at home are at least twenty or above!"
"Miss Ruby, becoming a maid was not my choice," Vicki said.
"Oh, I see. Well..." Ruby got up and searched in her pocket. From there she pulled out a ten-dollar note. "Here. Please accept it."
Vicki looked at her in amazement, and Ruby laughed a tinkling laugh. "Vicki, I am giving it to you because you're pretty, my age and give me the impression that you and I are going to be good friends."
"Miss Ruby!" Vicki said, even more amazed. "I'm a maid!"
"And? what then? Maids can't be my friends? Don't talk nonsense," said Ruby sharply. "I can befriend anyone I like. Tell me about yourself."
Vicki told her the exact things that she had told Alec, and Jimmy listened to. At the end of it Ruby showed no pity which Vicki was devoutly thankful for. She hated people who immediately looked sympathetic after hearing her story. "Hmm," said Ruby, frowning. "Is your sister a maid too?"
Vicki's expression hardened at once. "My sister?" she said. "No, she isn't a maid."
"Then what is she?"
"Miss Ruby, if it is ok, may I keep it to myself?"
Ruby looked puzzled. "Why?"
"Because - because my sister has asked me to keep it a secret. So, if you don't mind, I would really rather not tell."
"Why should I mind?" Ruby said. "To tell you the truth, I think your life is far more interesting than mine. I'm just another rich girl spoilt by her grandmother."
"Ruby, you're not," Jimmy protested. "You're nicer than many snobby rich girls I know."
"Oh yes, and that is such a compliment, huh?" Ruby said, laughing. "Never mind, I'll accept all praises. Vicki, I hope we can meet again," she said as Vicki stood up and prepared to go out of the room. "I'll come here more often and talk to you, is that all right?"
"Why shouldn't it be all right, Miss Ruby?" Vicki returned.
"Another thing. If we are to be friends, we must call each other by name. You wouldn't want me to go about calling you 'Miss Vicki' now, would you? Oh no! No comments! If you continue to call me 'Miss Ruby' I'll definitely call you 'Miss Vicki' to be even. So now we're just Ruby and Vicki to each other. Is that clear?" she said sternly.
"Yes, Ruby," Vicki said meekly, but Ruby caught the impish look in her eyes. When she had gone Ruby said, "I like her. Why on earth did your mother hire such a young girl to be a servant??"
"Mother says she offered," Jimmy replied.

Chapter 5

"Huh? You're taking leave tomorrow?" Alec asked with a look of comical dismay. "How can you bear to leave us for a whole day?"
Vicki laughed and shook her head. "Mr Alec, don't say that. Of course I would be willing at any time to leave all of you."
"That's so cruel! I'll follow you to your house."
Vicki's face changed. "No," she said shortly, then remembered herself. "No, Mr Alec, you can't. Please."
Alec looked at her, puzzled. "Well - ok then. I was just joking, actually."
Vicki nodded mutely and took her leave. Alec stood staring after her, extremely puzzled and bewildered at why she had been so adamant about him not going to her house.
**************
"Vic!" her mother hobbled out of her room and threw her arms round Vicki. "Are you ok? Do they bully you?"
Vicki, half-crying, hugged Mrs Zhao tightly. "No, mum, they treat me wonderfully. I'm very happy there. Where's Viv?"
"She'll be coming back soon." Mrs Zhao looked worried. "Vicki, please tell me what she works as. She brings home some money, but she doesn't look good everytime she returns from work. Is she working as a servant too?"
"Mum, I've asked you not to ask any questions last time and you agreed."
Mrs Zhao was about to make a reply when she decided not to. "Vicki, sit down. Tell me, are there any cute guys in the house you work in?"
Vicki had to laugh. "Yes, there are. Mum, if you are so interested, you can pay me a visit and see for yourself."
"Maybe I should," agreed Mrs Zhao.
Vicki suddenly remembered something. "Mum, what are you doing out of bed? Your last illness isn't that far off. You are supposed to be resting!"
Before Mrs Zhao could answer her, the door opened and Vivian walked in. "Mum, I'm back," she called out in a monotone.
"Vivian, look who is here."
Vivian looked up and she gasped. "Vicki!"
Vicki ran to her and the two sisters hugged tightly. "Oh, Vicki, I missed you so much."
"Me too, Viv."
Mrs Zhao got up. "I'll leave you two to talk," she said smilingly, went inside her room and closed the door. Immediately Vicki grasped Vivian's hands. "Viv, are you still working in that bar?"
Vivian, without looking at her, nodded.
"Still dancing around, showing off your body to hungry men?"
Vivian looked shocked. "Vicki, I don't show everything!"
"Viv! Listen to me! Look at yourself. You've grown thinner, you look worn and tired without make-up, you look sick. I can see what this job is doing to you. Quit, Viv. There're other jobs."
"No!" Vivian cried. "I can't! Vicki, when you were away, the landlord came and frightened mum so that she had high fever for one night! He yelled at me for the rent and I couldn't pay him because your job isn't bringing in enough money! With this job money is flung at me and I receive salary. Vicki, you don't know anything!" She burst into sobs.
"I know the landlord is demanding, but I don't want to see my sister in this state. This job is destroying you, Viv; destroying your body, your morals, your principles, everything good that you've been taught. Please, Viv, for my sake, give it up. Spare a thought for mum, too. If she finds out, what will happen to her? She may die!"
Vivian shook her head repeatedly. "Vicki, I love you and mum more than anything in the world, but I can't quit my job. It's bringing in money, money that we need desperately. I'm sorry, sister."
Vicki sighed. "But Viv..."
"No buts, Vicki. I know what I'm doing. I won't be lured into bed, I promise. Don't worry about me."
Vicki, looking at Vivian, knew that nothing could change her sister's mind.

Chapter 6

Vicki went back to the Su mansion with an aching heart. However her mood lightened when she saw Alec hanging around, waiting for her to come back. "Hey! There you are!" he said, grinning. "Jimmy, Gigi and I have been taking turns in looking out for you. You didn't have to go for so long!"
Vicki smiled faintly.
"How is your mother?"
"She's ok."
"Your sister?"
"Yeah, she's fine too," Vicki said, feeling like a total liar. She looked beyond Alec and saw Nan hurrying up to her. "Vicki! You were supposed to be back at six, not eight!" she scolded.
"Huh? Why didn't anyone tell me?" Vicki demanded.
Nan saw Alec looking sharply at her and quickly replied, "Oh, is it? Then it's all right. Just don't do it a second time."
Vicki wanted to smile, but forced herself not to. "Am I wanted in the kitchen, Nan?" she said.
"Yes. Go there at once." Nan hurriedly curtseyed to Alec and led Vicki away. Once they were out of hearing, she turned on Vicki. "You stupid child! Do you think you are so carefree? Let me tell you this, young lady, you are a slave and nothing more. I want to see no more of this, do you understand? And don't think you can frighten me by palling with Mr Alec," she sneered. "I'm not frightened of him."
"Nan, what were you saying?"
Nan turned with a start to see Gigi looking at her. "Miss - Miss Su," she stammered. "I was - was just telling Vicki the rules."
"Oh?" Gigi lifted an eyebrow. "Your tone implied a very different meaning."
Nan kept silent.
"Vicki," said Gigi, "is new to this house. You have no right to blame her for something so trivial as this. Besides, Nan," she added maliciously, "I remember that you used to come in at nine last time, and you knew the rules very well. Anyway, isn't it your duty to tell Vicki that she ought to be in by six?"
"Yes, Miss Su."
"Good. Don't let me catch you scolding Vicki again, do you hear? Please don't forget your place."
"I understand, Miss Su."
Gigi walked past them, turned around and gave Vicki a wink. Vicki smiled back gratefully.
*************
"Lady, I want to report to you a matter which I have noticed," said Nan, standing before Mrs Su.
"Yes, Nan?"
"The maid Vicki and Mr Alec are getting far too close, Lady. Whenever I meet Vicki I see her chatting with Mr Alec. Not that it is very wrong, Lady, but it is not good for a mere servant to be so chummy with Mr Alec, the second son of the house."
Mrs Su's face turned red with anger. "What! Alec talking with Vicki? Alec doing that? He dares to?"
"Lady, it is what I have seen."
"Call Alec here at once!"
"Yes, Lady." Nan exited the room. Ten minutes later Alec came in. "You wanted me, mother?"
Mrs Su wasted no time in going straight to the point. "Alec, I have heard that you are far too friendly with Vicki. Have I not taught you since young that you are not to mix around with the servants no matter how young or attractive they may be?"
Alec was stunned. "Why - mother, I'm just treating Vicki like an equal, that's all."
"She's not your equal! She is a SERVANT! Alec, if you continue chatting with her, I shall have to put her in another wing of the house. Do you understand?"
Alec had no choice but to say "Yes, mother."
"Good. Now go. Tell Nan to send Vicki to me."
Alec did not dare to disobey. A while later, Vicki entered the room. "Yes, Lady?"
"Vicki," said Mrs Su, "I don't want you talking to my son Alec, do you hear?"
Vicki stared. "Lady, I..."
"Listen to me! Remember that you are a servant. If you insist on treating Alec like an equal, you will either be banished or posted to another wing of the house. Are you clear about this?"
"But Lady..."
"I don't want to hear any protests or pleas. My sons and my servants are not allowed to mix with each other. I hope you understand that and will act accordingly." Mrs Su's eyes pierced into Vicki and, involuntarily, Vicki began to shudder. "I will do so, Lady."
"Good. Dismissed."
Vicki walked out of the room, still trembling. Alec was outside and he grabbed her. "Vicki," he said, "you don't have to do what my mother instructs you to do! You're my friend, my equal, I don't want to lose a friend like you because I'm so-called 'higher' than you."
Vicki shook her head. "Mr Alec, I must not talk to you. I cannot allow myself to be fired. You have never been poor, Mr Alec, so you don't understand my situation. I'm sorry." She released herself and continued walking down the corridors.

Chapter 7

Mrs Su and Nan left the house early in the morning and Alec hung about in the corridors in a fever of impatience. He waited and waited for Vicki to turn up, and finally she did. She greeted him coolly and was about to walk past him when he grabbed her wrists. Before she could utter a word, he had pulled her into Gigi's room and closed the door.
"What are you doing?" Vicki cried. "If Lady or Nan finds out I'm doomed! Let me out!"
"No! My mother won't find out. Trust me."
"Nan?"
"She won't find out either. Vicki, I have so many things to tell you." He looked searchingly at her, then said, "Sit down on the armchair. Gigi wouldn't mind."
Vicki sat down, looking at him warily.
"Look, Vicki. I don't care if you're a maid. I don't care if you're a queen, princess, duchess - anything. It doesn't matter to me...what really matters to me is that you're Vicki Zhao and you're one of the most precious friends I ever had. I love you, do you understand that? No, don't shake your head, don't get ready to deny it and say that I'm kidding because I'm not. I'm deadly serious. Vicki - Vicki, look at me."
Vicki looked at him and saw nothing but truth in his eyes. Alec said slowly, "Nothing matters so much to me as your smile, your laugh, your voice, your face. Good grief, I loiter about in the corridors all day just to see you! I love you, I really do."
"Mr Alec," said Vicki, trembling, "I can't listen to this - Mr Alec, nothing will ever come out of it. Lady will never allow us to be together. Please, let me go! Don't let me fall in love with you, don't let me cause myself pain! Mr Alec - Alec, for heaven's sake, Alec, let me go."
She stopped abruptly when she realised that she had called him Alec. Alec, however, didn't notice. He simply stared at her and Vicki covered her face. "Oh no - oh heaven - Alec, I love you."
There was silence, then she felt his arms go about her and hold her tight.
"Alec, I can't be with you, we're far too different - I'm almost a beggar, my sister is...YOU are a son in a wealthy family, how is anyone supposed to put that together? This is just whim, a fancy of yours, you'll forget about me soon...there's nothing, really...."
His lips were on hers, cutting her sentence short. She felt the passion and fire in him as he kissed her, felt his love and his honesty. She could no longer resist him, but in her heart of hearts she knew very well that she could never be with him. They were far too different, as she had said; so different that no matter how much they loved each other they couldn't spend their lives together. Heavens, she was a servant and her sister was a bargirl - almost a prostitute! No, no, she couldn't be with him - her family background was so horrible...
As if Alec had felt her thoughts, he pulled back and looked direcly into her eyes. "Vicki, don't think that you're not good enough for me. I don't know what your sister is, but I don't care. I know my mother will disapprove greatly, but I don't care. All I care about is you - and I love you. Don't have any more doubts about that, do you understand?"
Mutely, Vicki nodded. Her eyes were full of tears. *somehow, I must prepare myself to give him up just as I have given in to him because - because he will never be mine, not really*

Chapter 8

When Alec returned to his room she sat in bed, wide awake with a very sad feeling in her heart. She stared at the white walls which looked so bleak to her - like a prison, they were caving in on her; destroying her freedom, her happiness, the joy of her youth...
The poor girl flung her arms round her knees, which were drawn up, and rocked herself to and fro, crying. "Oh, I wish I was ten again - it was so easy to give things up then; it is so difficult now."

Ruby invited Vicki and Gigi to her house the next day and Mrs Su had no choice but to let them go. The three girls sat in Ruby's bedroom, Ruby carefully curling the ends of Vicki's hair. "So darling, I heard that you and Alec are a couple now," she said. "When are you going to tell my aunt?"
"I don't want to tell her," Vicki said.
"That isn't such a good idea. If you keep insisting on not telling mother, then you and Alec would never be together," said Gigi. "I suggest you take a risk and tell mother. Who knows? She might have a change of heart and let you be with my brother."
Vicki shook her head sorrowfully. "I don't think that will happen."
"Think positive!" Ruby said. "Don't cross bridges before you come to them. My aunt is not a prejudiced woman, she..."
"Oh, Ruby, Gigi, don't give me that crap. Lady will never ever accept me, not in a thousand million billion years," Vicki snapped. Immediately she was sorry and took Gigi's hand in hers. "I'm sorry for snapping at both of you when you were just trying to help me. But I feel so sick, so tired. Maybe I should just give up this job and work elsewhere." *Or maybe I should join Vivian* that thought made her shudder inwardly.
Gigi looked pensive. "Ruby, I think Vicki has a point. Mother doesn't love us, but she does have her favourite. It's Jimmy, of course - even then, he wouldn't be able to marry a maid."
No one noticed the sudden blush that rose up to Ruby's cheeks; for Ruby was changing from the wild tomboy she had been to a gentle young woman captivated by Jimmy Su's thoughtfulness and kindness to her. She put Jimmy firmly away from her head and concentrated on Vicki and Alec instead.
Vicki looked at both of them with sad eyes. If Mrs Su really did fire her she would have to work in another place or - join Vivian at the bar, dancing and acting like a prostitute - and completely destroying herself.

Chapter 9

When Vicki and Gigi came back from Ruby's house they found Mrs Su sitting with a woman and a young man on the sofas. "Gigi!" she said when her daughter entered the house. "Do you remember Aunty Vanessa?"
Vicki quietly slipped away to the kitchens while Gigi stood staring blankly at her mother. "Aunty Vanessa?" she said stupidly, then saw Mrs Su's shocked look. "Ah, yes, Aunty Vanessa," she quickly said, putting on an intelligent look.
"Yes," the woman beamed. "I am Mrs Vanessa Chan and this is my son, Benny. Say 'hi', Benny."
Benny gave Mrs Chan a black look. "Hi."
"Hi," said Gigi. "Have we met?"
"I don't think so," Benny replied disinterestedly. Gigi, rather annoyed, thought *what an attitude!* "Mother, may I be excused?" she asked politely.
Mrs Su gave her a look. "Gigi, talk to your Aunty Vanessa. She came all the way here to see you."
"Ah, yes." Gigi gave a very false-looking smile and sat next to Mrs Chan. She sighed and gave herself up to an hour of boring talk.
******************
"Hey love."
Vicki looked up with a start to see Alec grinning at her. She quickly closed the door of the storeroom. "Alec! If we are found out we're mince meat!"
"Boy, Vic, you do trouble yourself about silly things. Nothing will happen, trust me."
"I think I trust you too much," Vicki said warily, with no idea of joking. However Alec burst into laughter. "You know what? I think you're right!"
"Alec, I'm not joking!" Vicki said tersely. "You may not mind whether your mum fires me or not, but this is my bread and butter."
"Bread and butter only? I should think your income allows you to put jam on the bread as well," Alec said playfully. Vicki shook her head disapprovingly at him, then smiled. "Why are you in such a good mood today?"
"My dearest love, have you forgotten that today is your birthday?"
Vicki looked absolutely blank.
"You did forget!" Alec yelled. "How could you? Your own birthday!"
"Oh yes," Vicki said, suddenly recalling. She laughed. "How could I be so stupid?! Yes, now I remember. What have you gotten for me? Am I richer?"
"Humph! Is that all you think about? Money?" Alec said, pouting. "So you want my money and not me?"
"Alec, don't talk rubbish. Come on."
"Oh, ok. My girlfriend is so money-minded," Alec grumbled. He whipped out a small velvet box from his pocket and gave it to her. "I think you'll like it," he said excitedly. Vicki gave him a curious look and opened the box. Inside was a beautiful pair of heart-shaped diamond earrings. She breathed in deeply and her eyes widened. "Alec - so beautiful..."
"Hey! Don't call me beautiful!" Alec protested. "I know I'm very handsome, but I'm not beautiful! No siree!"
Vicki punched his shoulder and threw her arms round him. "Thanks, love. I never had anything so rich given to me before."
"What can I say? I'm a generous person," Alec teased. "Don't I get a birthday kiss?"
Vicki kissed him hard and put on the earrings. "How do I look?" she said, pretending to strike a pose.
"Oh, ok," Alec said, laughing at the expression on her face.
"Nooooo!" Vicki said and pretended to cry.
"Just kidding. You look more glamourous than the models."
They smiled at each other and Alec touched her cheek lovingly. "You're so beautiful, Vicki. I can't believe I have such a lovely girlfriend."
"Alec, if you praise me anymore, I'll be up on the stars!" Vicki grinned.
"No love, you can't leave me behind!"
"Enough of fooling. I have to go or Nan will be after me with a cane."
"A cane?" Alec looked at her, surprised. Vicki gasped and turned red. "No, no, I didn't mean just that..." she stammered, avoiding his eyes. Alec grabbed her. "Vicki, what do you mean by that?" he demanded, looking at her straight in the eye for he knew that she couldn't lie when he looked at her like that.
"Alec..."
"Tell me the truth."
Vicki took a glance at his face and decided that it was no time to cover up for Nan. "It's - in the kitchens, if I make a mistake...Nan will take a leather whip and hit me. If any other servant make the same mistake, she'll hit her too, but not as many strokes as me."
Alec gaped. He had not expected that such a thing existed in his house. His house! "Does mother know?" he said furiously.
"No, Lady doesn't know. Nan threatened us that if we told anyone she'd hit us even more."
Alec pulled up Vicki's long sleeves and silently surveyed the wounds he saw there. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "No wonder you never wear short sleeves..."
"Alec, I couldn't tell you, Nan would find out. As you have said before, even you don't have much authority over her anymore."
"See if she dares to disobey the young master of this house! See if she dares!" Alec's face was white with anger. Vicki began to regret that she had told him. Despite herself, she really feared Nan and knew how malicious and vicious the woman could be.
"Alec, I have to go," Vicki said hurriedly and grabbed what she had been looking for - two big glass jars. Alec didn't stop her from going, his head was too full of what he had just discovered.
Vicki ran along the passages and bumped hard into somebody. She cried out both in shock and pain. "Ow!"
"Sorry, sorry," apologised the young man she had knocked into. "Are you ok?"
Vicki looked at that young man and saw that he was the one who had been sitting beside 'Aunty Vanessa'. "Mr - Mr..." she came to a full stop, realising that she didn't know his name. "I'm sorry," she finished lamely.
Benny Chan smiled, his face lighting up as he took in her pretty face. "Hi. I'm Benny Chan. Sorry to have bumped so rudely into you," he said. "You are...?"
"Vicki Zhao, a maid in this house. Oh, I have to go. I'm sorry again." Vicki dashed off.
Benny looked after her and smiled again. *Now that is a quality girl*

Chapter 10

Autumn’s falling leaves cover the ground
Seeing the leaves and thinking of you;
Thinking of the times together
The words, the laughter and the smiles.

If you said you wanted to leave
I would stay up thinking of you
Thinking, blaming, hating to death;
Hate you till I couldn’t hate anymore.

Now, having said so much,
there are only six words to say
‘Vicki Zhao Wei, I love you.’

Now the pain came; a sharp, aching pain that made her drop onto a chair and cry; cry until there were no tears left; cry until she couldn’t cry anymore, cry until her eyes were red and swollen and her sobs were merely sounds she made in her throat.
So one cold autumn’s day when the brown leaves swirled down onto the sidewalks Vicki Zhao left the Su mansion carrying her meager possessions. She never looked back, and somehow she knew that she was never going to see it again.
*************
Alec sat in his mother’s room, refusing to say a word. Mrs Su was lecturing him, scolding him and half-yelling at him, but in all honesty he scarcely heard a thing. All he could hear was the voice inside his head telling him over and over again that Vicki was gone.
“Alec!” Mrs Su said loudly.
Alec looked at his mother silently.
“Did you hear what I have just said?”
Speechlessly, Alec got up and looked at Mrs Su, who felt uncomfortable under her son’s intense eyes. “Mother,” Alec said. His voice was hard and strained. “I know you sent Vicki away so that you can make me love someone else; a girl more ‘worthy’ of me, a girl who is sophisticated, aristocratic and highly-bred. Let me tell you the truth. Vicki is the most refined, most dignified, most aristocratic girl I have ever met; she is more highly-bred than any of the rich spoilt dolls I know. In trying to find someone worthy of me, mother, you have taken away the girl who is the most worthy of me; in fact, I am not good enough for her.”
Having said everything that was in his heart, he turned and walked out of his mother’s room.
***************
I can’t imagine any greater fear
Then waking up without you here
And though the sun would still shine on
My whole world would be all gone

If I had to run
If I had to crawl
If I had to swim a hundred rivers
Just to climb a thousand walls
Always know that I would find a way
To get to where you are

There’s no place that far
It would matter why we’re apart
Lonely months, two stubborn hearts
Nothing short of God above
Could turn me away from your love
I need you that much

Ten thousand light years away from you
Keep thinking maybe it’s time to let go
But by the end of the day
I still want to say ‘I do.’

Chapter 11

“It might be this one,” said Ruby, looking doubtfully at the little hut.
“Let’s knock on the door,” said Gigi, going up the steps carefully in case they gave way under her. She knocked on the door lightly, afraid that the door might break if she knocked too hard. They waited for a few moments and then the door was wrenched open. “Vicki, hurry up, we’re going to be late,” a tall girl called as she adjusted her hair. “Yes, who are you?”
“We’re looking for Vicki Zhao,” Gigi said politely.
“Vicki Zhao? That’s my sister. Vic, there are two girls looking for you. Can you quickly get rid of them?”
Vicki came hurrying up, and at the sight of her Ruby and Gigi caught their breaths. She was dressed in a dark brown midriff and pants which looked like a leopard’s skin. “Ruby, Gigi!” she exclaimed. “Hi. I’m just going off to work.”
“No, you’re not going to work,” said Ruby determinedly when she had gotten back her breath. “You’re going to sit at home and talk to the both of us.”
Vicki looked helplessly at Vivian. “Viv?”
Vivian looked worried. “Vicki, if we dilly-dally any longer, or don’t turn up today without a really valid reason, we’ll be fired again and this time we’ll be homeless!”
“Oh, ok. I’m sorry, girls. Come back in the evening.” With that, Vicki ran off with Vivian, attracting stares from plenty of men, young and old. Ruby and Gigi were left standing in bewilderment, hardly believing that Vicki had treated them in this off-hand way.
“May I help you?” A sweet voice broke into their thoughts and they turned to see a middle-aged, frail-looking lady smiling at them.
“You are Mrs Zhao, I presume?”
The lady nodded.
“May we know where your daughters are working and what they are working as?”
Mrs Zhao looked very sad. “No. They refuse to tell me, and they made me promise not to ask them any questions.”
“Oh.” Gigi and Ruby shared a look, then Ruby said, “I think we shall leave now. Thanks, Mrs Zhao.”
**************
“Wearing a midriff?” Alec’s voice was full of consternation. “Going away without stopping to talk to the both of you? I think she’s gone conk!” He sighed and sank into a chair, a feeling of hopelessness overwhelming him. “It’s no use. She won’t listen. I’ve lost her.”
“No! You haven’t lost her!” Ruby insisted. “I’ll talk to her again, I’ll try!”
Benny, who was sitting beside Gigi, nodded seriously. “If I were you, Alec, I wouldn’t give up on a girl like Vicki. I would do anything, anything at all just to keep her by my side. I wouldn’t have a high opinion of you if you gave up; you wouldn’t like that now, would you?”
Alec didn’t smile. Instead he looked absolutely unhappy and hopeless. “I hate Nan,” he mumbled. “That vengeful rat.”
“Alec, why don’t you go and see Vicki?” asked Gigi. “You can sort things out with her and come to a conclusion about what you two can do.”
Jimmy clapped Alec’s shoulder. “Alec, cheer up! You haven’t lost a wife.”
“No; but I lost the girl who could – should – have been my wife,” said Alec in a dead voice. He got up and walked out of the room into his own.
“Poor guy, he’s taking it badly,” said Benny. “And I don’t wonder at it too.”

Meanwhile Alec was pacing up and down his room, his head full of Vicki. “Oh, Vicki, Vicki, why did you have to leave me? Vicki, I love you so much why did you have to leave me?” He groaned, remembering her quick smiles, her vivid face, her sudden laughter, her worries over nothing…was he never to see her again, to experience the wonderful feelings he had when he saw her?

Vicki stayed at home when she came back from work. She hated what she was doing with all her heart, but she had no choice. At least it brought in enough money to keep them from starving.
She thought about Alec all the time and wondered if he was all right. Would she ever see his face again? What would she do if she wasn’t going to? Nothing, she decided. She had left him and she wasn’t going back again in case she was chased out once more. Her eyes dwelled lovingly on the poem that he had written for her and one particular verse stood out the clearest:

If you said you wanted to leave
I would stay up thinking of you
Thinking, blaming, hating to death;
Hate you till I couldn’t hate anymore.

A tear dropped from her eyes. Her heart ached unbearably, and she wanted to run back to the Su mansion, throw herself into his arms and feel him against her once more, feel his lips on hers, feel his love for her. “Alec,” she cried silently. “Don’t hate me. Don’t blame me. Please don’t.”

How am I supposed to leave you
When you’re feeling so bad?
I can’t believe what I just gave away
Now I can’t take it back
I don’t want to get lost
I don’t want to live my life without you

Alec, there’s no life without you. But…

Chapter 12

The Su mansion was in a hustle and bustle. Mrs Su sent for Benny and Gigi and, with calm, gentle words, expressed her approval and set the date. Gigi, in spite of her happiness, couldn’t help but feel hard towards the mother who had separated Alec and Vicki, so her tone was a little stiff and her thanks not exactly very genuine. Mr Su only congratulated them and told Benny that he would see to it that they were well taken care of financially when married. Other than that, he showed no further interest in their engagement and turned his mind to making more money.

One Saturday, three days before Gigi and Benny’s marriage, Ruby and Gigi went to Vicki’s house again to visit her and tell her the news. Vivian opened the door and let them in. They were shocked by the poverty they saw around them, but the atmosphere in the little hut was so homely and friendly that they felt comfortable in it.
Mrs Zhao came out of her room to see them. “Oh – you are the two girls who dropped by the other time!” she said with a sweet smile. “Have you come to visit Vicki again? I’m sorry, she’s not really well at the moment – but I think you can go into her room.”
“Thank you,” Gigi said and she and Ruby entered Vicki’s room which was so small that they had to squeeze in. Vicki was lying on a mattress on the floor with a handkerchief over her eyes. “Vicki,” Ruby said, shaking her slightly. “It’s Ruby here.”
Vicki took away the handkerchief and looked at them in astonishment. “Ruby, Gigi! What are you doing here?”
“Well, isn’t that very friendly?” said Gigi, making a face. “Princess, we are here to tell you that I am engaged to Benny. Ok? I’m waiting for your congrats.”
“Congrats,” Vicki said, smiling. “I’m happy for you and Benny.”
Gigi sat beside Vicki. “Vic, aren’t you going to go back to my house and talk to Alec? It’s been almost a month since you left, but he’s been fretting for you badly, and even now he isn’t his former self yet.”
Vicki sighed. “I saw him the other day when my sister bumped into him, and we have said all there was to say.”
“But Vicki, you couldn’t have left him after saying ‘all there was to say’!” Ruby protested. “He loves and needs you so much, you can’t lie that you don’t care about him anymore; Alec would be willing to give up his family for you, why can’t you two be together? Surely it shouldn’t be that difficult?”
Vicki shook her head. “You don’t understand, Ruby. I don’t want him to give up his family for me. I don’t want him to do anything. I just want him to forget about me and live a happy life again.”
“Do you honestly think Alec would be happy without you?” Gigi pressed. Vicki didn’t answer. “Come on, stop lying to yourself, Vicki. There’s no way he’ll be happy if you’re not with him, and you don’t want him to forget you. Vicki, I can read you; read you as clearly as if you were a blank book. It’s only the hurt you feel at being treated so roughly by Nan and mother that’s keeping you away from him. And the lies that you’ve made yourself believe, the lies that you can’t be with him, that you’ve got no future with him. It’s bullshit, Vicki, the greatest bullshit I’ve ever heard.”

Chapter 13

Shaking her head sadly, Vicki said, “No, Gigi. I can’t go back to him. I’m sorry if I caused him any pain – but I can’t go back to him.”
Ruby and Gigi knew that it was useless trying to persuade Vicki any longer. She could be as stubborn as a mule when she liked and now she wanted to be stubborn. “Vicki, my wedding will be coming soon,” Gigi said. “I want you to attend it. Will that be ok with you?”
Vicki looked sharply at Gigi. Going to the wedding meant seeing Alec. But no – she could arrive there late, sit in one of the last pews and escape before the service was over. She didn’t have to see Alec if she didn’t want to. “Ok,” she said. “I’m so glad your choice suits your mother, Gigi, and that you can get married so quickly. You’re spared the saddest sort of disappointment.”
Tears came to Gigi’s eyes and she clasped Vicki tight in her arms. “I apologise on my mother’s behalf, Vicki. She had good intentions for doing what she did. She was just thinking of Alec; she thought of him so much that she forgot that the things she did made him unhappy. Please forgive her, Vicki. I know you must hate her right now; I don’t love her, but after all is said and done, she is still my mother and knowing that someone hates her hurts me.”
“No, Gigi. I don’t hate Lady. Not anymore.”
“Ok, will you two stop mooching around?” Ruby asked. “Vicki, I have a question to ask you. What are you working as?”
Before Vicki could reply, there was a loud voice from the door. “It’s a secret and no one is allowed to know it.”
Ruby and Gigi turned to see Vivian standing by the door. Ruby got up and went forward with her hand stretched out and a smile on her face. “Are you Vicki’s sister? I’m Ruby Lin, Vicki’s friend.”
Vivian stared suspiciously at Ruby. “You’re trying to make her go back to your household, aren’t you? Well, no matter what you do, I won’t allow you to take her away! She has suffered enough in that house, there’s no way I’m going to allow her to go back!”
Ruby continued to smile. “No, I’m not trying to make her go back to my house. Or rather, it’s not my house. I’m the cousin of Vicki’s boyfriend, Alec Su. You are?”
Vivian looked at Vicki, who nodded. “I’m Vivian Zhao,” she said, putting her hand in Ruby’s. “Vicki’s younger sister.”
Gigi got up as well. “I’m Gigi Su,” she said, shaking Vivian’s hand. “Sister of Alec. Please don’t be so suspicious and protective; we have Vicki’s interests at heart, just like you. We love Vicki as much as you do.”
“That’s not possible,” Vivian said. “Vicki is the most important person in my life.”
“Hmm, then you’re right, it’s not possible,” said Gigi, laughing. “My soon-to-be husband is the most important person in my life right now.”
“Oh?” Vivian raised her eyebrows. “You’re going to get married? Well, congratulations. Sorry if I’m not as friendly and sociable as Vicki,” she said coldly. “I’m not a warm person who talks to anyone.”
“Really, Viv,” Vicki said, “you could be nicer to my friends! They’re very good friends of mine.”
Vivian smiled slightly.
“Oh, you’re invited to my wedding,” Gigi said to Vivian. “I would like it very much if you and Vicki could come and attend it.”
“I’ll go if Vicki is going.”
“Then that’s settled. See you two at the church. Ruby, I think we should take our leave now, we haven’t done any shopping yet.”
“I agree. Bye, Vicki, Vivian, take care of yourselves.”
“Geesh! What an attitude,” said Ruby when they were out of hearing. “That Vivian Zhao is really a pain in the neck. How can she be Vicki’s sister? Vicki is so sociable, this Vivian is as cold as porridge being left under the air-con for six hours. And so suspicious! Do you think she’s a cop? She probably thinks I’m a hooker or something.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she thought so,” said Gigi, laughing. “Come on, let’s forget Vivian, ok? I must pick up my wedding gown and prepare for tomorrow’s photo shoots.”
The two girls spent the rest of the day in front of the mirrors, trying out this hairstyle and that hairstyle.
************
“Wow, beautiful,” Ruby admired as she looked through Gigi and Benny’s photos. “Respect! You look wonderful, Gigi. But Benny…” she looked up and grinned at Benny. “You’re too ugly for words! Honestly, you should put on more eye-shadow and more lipstick!”
“Hey!” Benny yelled.
Ruby laughed mockingly.
“Ruby, sometimes you are far too blunt,” said Jimmy, grinning. “Tomorrow’s your big day, guys. I suppose this whole house will be in a big bustle! Is Vicki coming to the wedding?”
Alec’s cheeks crimsoned at that name and he picked up his ears.
“Yup,” Gigi nodded. “I asked her sister Vivian too, and both of them are coming.” She looked at Alec and smiled. “You can’t say that I didn’t think about you, brother. You owe me one.”
“What do you mean by I owe you one? You want Vicki to come to the wedding yourself!”
“I don’t attempt to deny what’s the truth,” Gigi laughed. “All right, brother. I’ll let you off the hook this time. Talk to Vicki, ok? Ruby and I have tried doing it, but right now she’s mentally rejecting everything that we’re saying. I think you’re the only one who can knock anything into her head. She’s very thin and very sad, though. We still haven’t found out what she’s working as; when we asked her Vivian chipped in and changed the subject thoroughly. We had no choice but to leave after that. I don’t have a very high opinion of Vivian,” she concluded, making a face.

Chapter 14

The journey to the hospital was very silent. Gigi was mute, still with that dazed and shocked expression, while Ruby, Jimmy and Alec didn’t dare to say anything in case what they said might hurt Gigi.
When they arrived at the hospital, Alec and Ruby led Gigi to some seats on the third floor and let her sit beside Mrs Chan who had arrived there five minutes before them and was crying her heart out. Meanwhile Jimmy drove to Vicki’s house to see if she was there and if so, bring her to the hospital. He found that she was just preparing to leave the house with Vivian. “Vicki!” he called. She saw him and waved. “Jimmy! Why are you here?”
“Vicki, there’s no wedding. Benny’s been in a serious car accident. Do you want to go to the hospital?”
Vicki was clearly shocked. “Heavens – car accident? Is he still alive?”
“He’s currently in the emergency ward, they’re operating on him. Vicki?”
“Of course I’ll go! Viv, are you coming?”
“No,” Vivian said. “I hate hospitals.” Jimmy gave her a quick, curious look, then they sped off to the hospital.
When they were there, Vicki hurried up to the third floor and tears came to her eyes when she saw Gigi sitting there. “Oh, Gigi,” she whispered, heart-broken for her friend. Gigi looked up and saw Vicki. “Vicki…” she swallowed hard. “Vicki, you didn’t have to come.”
“Are you kidding? You are my best friend. How can I leave you in a time like this?” Vicki said softly, cradling her hands. Gigi burst into wrenching sobs and the two girls hugged each other closely.
Fifteen minutes passed, and finally a doctor came out of the emergency ward. “Mrs Chan?” he said.
Mrs Chan rose. Gigi rose as well. Both looked at the doctor with hopeful eyes. He smiled sadly and shook his head. “I’m sorry, we did all we could. He has just been pronounced dead.”
There was a gasp and Gigi fell. Alec caught her just in time, but she had retreated into a dark world until such time that she could wake up and face her pain and grief.

Chapter 15

Alec was out of the house when he realised that Jimmy and Gigi werenÆt around. He dashed back into the mansion, yelling, ôJimmy! Gigi!ö
ôAlec,ö he heard a weak voice calling out, and he rushed in the direction of that voice to find Jimmy pinned under a beam. ôBro, listen. IÆll try to lift the beam up and you must roll out. Ok?ö
Jimmy nodded and Alec, with a tremendous effort, lifted up the beam. He didnÆt feel any pain as he saw Jimmy roll out. He picked Jimmy up, enduring his brotherÆs weight as best he could and ran out of the burning mansion. ôGigi, Gigi,ö he shouted. He wanted to charge back into the house, but the heat kept him away.
Soon the firemen arrived and started spraying water at the fire, but it was no easy matter putting it out. Alec passed out as he lay on the ground. While the ambulances arrived and picked up all the wounded and burned people, the firemen worked hard on the fire the whole night through.

Chapter 16

She heard about the young man who had rushed back into the burning house to save his brother. She heard about the people who had died in the fire. She heard about the young lady, almost a bride, who had died as well. She heard about the first young master who had to have his legs amputated because of the beam which had pinned him down.
Vicki, Ruby and Vivian visited the hospital two days after the fire. They went to see Jimmy first. They found him lying on a bed and looking up at the ceiling with an incredibly sad face. Ruby started when she saw him like that and ran forward. Taking his hand in hers, she sobbed out, “Jimmy – Jimmy!”
Jimmy looked at Ruby and saw the love in her eyes. “Ruby.” He looked beyond her. “Vicki.”
Vicki and Vivian came forward, and Vicki took his other hand. Tears were rolling down her cheeks but she didn’t bother to wipe them away.
“Alec’s going to be ok, Vicki,” Jimmy said, his voice hollow. “He had quite a few burns and bruises, but he’ll be ok.”
Vicki squeezed his hand tight. “You must – think of yourself too,” she whispered.
Vivian stayed in the background, watching as the two girls cry over Jimmy and show him in their own ways how much they each loved him. She felt very awkward. *I shouldn’t be here. Intruding on them like that; I’m just an outsider*
“Viv,” she heard Vicki call.
“Yes?” her head snapped up.
“Let’s go and see Alec.”
Vivian looked disbelieving. “You’re going to visit Alec?!”
“Yes. We’ll leave Ruby and Jimmy here. Come on, let’s go.” Vicki gave Jimmy a kiss on his cheek and the two sisters walked out of the room. Ruby sat down on the chair next to the bed and looked at her cousin. “Jimmy, promise me you’ll be ok as soon as possible and get out of this hospital,” she said, her voice hoarse from all the crying.
Jimmy smiled faintly.
“I’ll take care of you,” Ruby continued. She held his hand tight. “You’ll let me take care of you, won’t you?”
“Ruby – you don’t want a disabled man like me.”
“I do, I do want you!” Ruby burst out. “I’d rather have you with no legs than any other man with a dozen! I love you, Jimmy!” She released his hand and put her arms round him. “I love you so much,” she sobbed into his shoulder. Jimmy held her as well, and for the first time he understood why Alec had been so horribly affected when Vicki left him. For the first time he understood and knew what love was. He had never known that love felt so good – never known…”I love you too,” he said softly, and Ruby’s arms tightened.
***********
Vivian stopped before entering the hospital room that Alec was in. Vicki turned to her with a look of surprise. “Aren’t you going in, Viv?”
“No,” Vivian said with a smile. “I think – it would be better if you and Alec were left alone.”
Vicki’s face broke into a smile. “Viv…”
Vivian gave her sister a hug. “Vic, I’m starting to have more insight. Go in there and tell him how much you love him and…don’t leave him again.”
Vicki looked seriously at Vivian, then hugged her again. She knocked, opened the door and went in.
Alec was sitting up in bed. He was bandaged all over, and a nurse was holding a glass of water to his lips. He was clearly shocked when Vicki came into view. “Vicki!” he gasped.
The nurse smiled secretly and, after telling him to take good care of himself, she left the room. Vicki smiled rather nervously. “Why, aren’t you happy to see me?” she said.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” Alec breathed.
Vicki’s eyes teared again when she saw the bandages. “You’re not feeling much pain, are you?” she inquired. Alec laughed. “Of course not! Ow, ow, ow…you horrible person, you just made me laugh and now I hurt all over!” Despite his laugh, he looked very pale and tired, and Vicki’s heart melted. She went forward and touched his cheek gently. “I’m so sorry for walking out on you, Alec,” she said in a low voice. “You’ll forgive me for doing that to you, won’t you?”
“Forgive you? What is there to forgive?” Alec said.
“Alec – be serious!”
“I AM serious! Vicki, I hated you like crazy when you left like that, but – it was a hatred which was full of love! I thought about you so much until I nearly went mad…” Alec’s face sobered. Vicki’s tears dropped onto his bandages. “I’m so sorry, Alec, but – you’re so much higher than I am and – I thought – knew that I couldn’t be with you, so I thought that cutting you from my life would be best.” She lifted her imploring eyes to his face. “I’m sorry, Alec. I really am.”
“What is there to be sorry about? YOU didn’t want to leave me. My mum and Nan forced you to leave me. Why should I be angry with you?” Alec smiled at her, then said, “So now you’re still mine, sweetcheeks?”
Vicki laughed in between sobs. “I always was,” she replied. “Or rather, I was never someone else’s!”
Alec grinned, then said gravely, “What happened to my mother? Somehow I didn’t get the news concerning her.”
“She’s – quite seriously injured, but the doctors think they’ll pull through. Nan died in the fire.” To Vicki’s amazement, Alec’s face fell. “You’re upset that Nan’s dead?” she exclaimed.
“Yes. I never told you but – Nan took care of me when I was a baby and raised me up. I loved her and treated her like my own mother. Then my mother let her off for a short holiday, and when she came back she changed; I don’t know why. I don’t think I’ll ever know why. But that’s it – she changed. She became a self-centered, greedy woman and I began to dislike her. Now I think back to my childhood days and – I’m sad.” Alec looked pensive for a moment, then he cheered up. “But anyway, this fire did one fantastic thing: it has brought you back to me!”
Vicki let out a brilliant smile.

Chapter 17

THREE MONTHS LATER
"Turn up the volume man!" Ruby yelled, jumping up from her seat and running over to the dance floor. They were holding a party to celebrate Jimmy and Alec's recovery and the Lin mansion was drowned in noise and laughter.
Jimmy laughed as he watched Ruby spin round and round on the dance floor. "Whoa, what a rowdy girlfriend you have, bro," shouted Alec.
"It's my misfortune, pal," Jimmy yelled back. "Where's yours? What happened to her?"
"She's not like Ruby, she's got some self-control!"
Just then Vicki emerged from the crowds with Vivian and joined Ruby on the floor. Jimmy cleared his throat loudly. "Err, yes, Alec, you were saying...?"
"Shut up," said Alec, pretending to look annoyed.
Vivian jumped up onto one of the long tables. "Listen up everyone!" she yelled. "My sister Vicki and I are going to make this party a blast! Come on up, Vic!"
Vicki gasped. "Viv!" she protested. "Alec doesn't know..."
"Oh, come on, it doesn't matter," Vivian said in a low voice. "Just pretend that this is a job. Besides, now that old tai-tai Su has finally accepted you, you've got something to celebrate about."
Meanwhile the people were getting impatient. "Come on! Hurry up!" they yelled.
"See?" Vivian hissed. "Get your ass up here, woman." She turned to Ruby. "Get some beer here!" she called, and Ruby went off. Vicki climbed onto the table. She was wearing a white shirt and black leather skirt, while Vivian was wearing a red tube with white trousers. Vivian shook her head and tore off the bottom part of Vicki's shirt.
"Whooo!" she yelled, and began to dance. Vicki followed suit, remembering all the skills she had learnt in the bar. Ruby brought bottles of beer and Vivian took one, uncorking it and throwing the beer round the room which drove the boys wild.
Vicki lay in between Vivian's legs while Vivian threw water and beer over her. Then she got up and pretended to kiss one of the boys standing near them. The boy caught hold of her and wouldn't let her go. "Hey!" Vivian yelled. "Let her go, you bozo!"
Alec could feel anger rising up in him. Not only because some jerk was holding his girlfriend, but because he had finally realised what Vicki was working as. A bargirl who danced on tables and mixed around with notorious company. He turned away for a minute, feeling nauseaous.
"Oi! Let her go!" Ruby shouted and pulled the boy away from Vicki, who got up at once. "Take a hike," she said, and caught sight of Alec. Immediately her mood changed. She hated her job in the bar, but now that she was in the company of people she mostly knew, she had let herself go. Now she was jolted back to her senses.
Alec gave her a disgusted look and looked away. Vicki felt as if she had been shot and jumped down from the table. "Vic!" Vivian called, "what are you doing?"
Vicki could hardly hear Vivian as she fought her way to Alec. "Alec!" she gasped when she finally reached him. Alec looked at her and she was stunned by the force of his look. "This is what you've been working as, right?" he said coldly. "You and your sister."
Vicki couldn't deny it. "Alec, I had to take on that job. You have no idea what it's like to be poor and have no job. Alec, try to be more understanding."
"Oh yeah? My girlfriend is on the tables in some kind of bar which low and dirty-minded people go to watch her shake her butt? Look here, I know that you have money problems, but even so, how can you stoop to taking on a job like that? I know what it's like to have only a few cents, Vicki, all my family's wealth was burnt up in that stupid fire and now we're struggling. You think I don't know what it's like? But never, in a billion years, would I take a job like that and lose my dignity!"
By this time tears had risen in Vicki's eyes. "You think you know what it's like to be poor? Let me tell you something, the money in your wallet right now is probably twice of what Vivian and I have. You think you're struggling? When you got out of the hospital Ruby offered to let the three of you stay in her house. No, correction, mansion! You're staying in a mansion, you still owe land, you have money, you have proper food and shelter...and you say you're struggling? You don't have the landlord coming after you, you don't have to eat bread and soup all day long, you don't have to snitch on everything just so that you can save a few dollars, you don't have to look after a mother who's sickly and frail! You think that I like what I'm doing? I hate it! But I have no other choice!"
Everyone in the room was staring at them now, but Alec didn't care. "Are you still a virgin?" he asked harshly.
"Yes!" Vicki shouted back at him. "No matter what I may seem to you now, at least I'm not as low as that!"
"I'm sorry, Vicki," said Alec humbly. "Why didn't you tell me about your financial problems? Ruby would be only too pleased to take you in as a maid or something."
"Too pleased?" Ruby exclaimed. Tears were running down her face as she caught hold of Vicki's hands tightly. "Vicki, I would be so delighted, so overjoyed to hire you as a maid! I'd even put you in a position higher than all the rest. You and Vivian. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Ruby..." all Vicki's anger had vanished. "I thought you said that there were too many maids in the house?"
"I will talk to mother. She'll understand."
Vicki turned to face Alec. "You're not angry anymore?"
"How could I be, after that long speech from you?" Alec replied. "No wonder you never wanted me to come and visit you."
"I was fearing your reaction would be exactly the same as the way you acted just now."
"It's good to clear up everything now, isn't it?" Ruby laughed.
Vivian sat on the table and mentally blessed Ruby and Alec again and again

Chapter 18

Mrs Su was going through the offers for her land she was trying to sell when someone came into the room. "Mother, I'd like to talk to you."
She looked up and saw an uncomfortable-looking Alec. "Yes, Alec, sit down," she said with a delightful smile. "What do you want to say?"
"Well, mother, since that you've finally managed to accept Vicki, may I ask whether I can marry her?"
Mrs Su frowned deeply and bit her lips. Alec watched her hopefully. "Alec," said Mrs Su at last, "I do accept her because I realised that interfering with your lovelife is not something I should do - especially when you truly love Vicki. Still, are you absolutely sure that you want to marry her?"
"Yes, mother, I am absolutely sure. I love her with all my heart."
"Then - you have my permission to marry her," Mrs Su said, smiling. Alec gasped in joy and for the first time he threw his arms round his mother and hugged her. "I - love you, mum," he said with a little difficulty, but it was nevertheless very sincerely said.
Mrs Su hugged her son and tears came into her eyes when she finally found out how much she had missed not hugging her children. It was such a pity that she had not cherished Gigi when she was still alive; such a pity that Gigi had died before she could hear Gigi say 'I love you' to her. "So when are you going to ask her the important question?" she asked interestedly. "May I come along?"
"Mother!" Alec protested, blushing deeply. Mrs Su laughed at him gaily.
************
"I have always loved stars," said Vicki, her eyes raised up to the night sky. She and Alec had gone out for dinner and now they were in a park, sitting on a bench.
"Why?" Alec asked.
"They're so beautiful; so mysterious - when I look at them I suddenly feel so insignificant - and I think of the universe and it's so big that I get muddled. But I still love it, anyway," she concluded with a laugh. "Now that Viv and I have good jobs, I feel so happy."
"Are you ready for matrimony yet?" Alec asked, his tone light.
"Hmm, let me see. I suppose I'd rather not get married for the next two years. After all, I'm only eighteen."
Alec turned her to face him and cupped her face gently. "Will you marry me, Vicki?" he asked.
There was a moment of silence. In Alec's eyes Vicki saw neverending love and the promise of a lifetime. She put her own hands over his and held them tight. "Yes," she replied. "I will marry you."
Alec's face lit up with joy and he drew near her. He kissed her, his lips fondling hers. Later on Alec told Vicki that she had made him the happiest man alive by saying yes, but it was really him who had made her the happiest girl by asking her to marry him. Vicki had always believed that when people are born, they have only half a soul, and when they meet their soulmates, their souls are complete. She knew that Alec was her soulmate.
*************
Where the grand mansion had once stood was now the construction site of a school. Alec decided to go there with Vicki and see how the development of the building was going along. As they stood watching the crane lift up concrete and cement, Vicki saw Alec's thoughtful face and knew exactly what he was thinking about. He was thinking of the lovely old building in which he had grown up, in which he had loved and lost, in which he had been in the seventh heaven of delight and the depths of despair.
Then, as if reminding himself that it was all in the past now, he gave himself a good shake and moved on.

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