AAE Pastries Dictation and Senior Yin
Written by: Margie L.


"Miss Zhen San Mei, could you please come into my office?" Her superior's voice cackled over her intercom.

San Mei started when her concentration was interrupted by her superior's stereophonic voice. When Miss Zhao speaks, everything shook or rattled. It was not that she shouts, per se; it just happens to be the way she speaks.

"I'll be right there, Miss Zhao."

She stopped work and headed towards Miss Zhao's office.

She knocked and enters upon her superior's "Come In." Whenever she sees her superior, San Mei still wonders how someone so petite could be endowed with such a 'big' voice.

"Take a seat, San Mei." Miss Zhao handed a letter to San Mei and looked at her solemnly.

San Mei returned an alarmed look at Miss Zhao. "I don't understand. Is this a termination letter? Have I done anything wrong?"

"San Mei, do me a favour, alright?" Miss Zhao pointed a finger at the letter and smiled, "Read the letter before you jump to conclusions."

Her hands were shaking as she tore open the letter. Her eyes grew rounder as she reads the contents of the letter.

"Congratulations, San Mei!" Miss Zhao offered her hand to San Mei.

"I'm promoted to Executive Secretary? San Mei shook Miss Zhao's hand. "Does that mean I have to leave the secretarial pool?" Far from being happy, she was aghast!

"Effective next Monday, you would be moving up to the executive suite." Miss Zhao had not noticed San Mei's unhappy look. "Well? Zhen San Mei, don't you want to know who you would be working for?"

She obligingly asked, "Who?"

"XZ Yin!" She answered, waiting expectantly for San Mei's response.

"Has his secretary resigned?"

"He's not at all happy with her attitude and finds her lacking in skill. You know his motto, "Shape Up or Ship Out!" She reminded San Mei as a warning. "She would be transferred to another department."

She took a deep breath and asked, "Miss Zhao, can I reject this offer?"

Her superior was so shocked she could only stare at San Mei with a stupefied look on her face.

"You're saying you are rejecting this promotion?" San Mei nodded.

Miss Zhao leant forward and felt San Mei's forehead. "You're not feverish." She said with sarcasm. "Still, I doubt you're in control of your faculties."

She glared at San Mei and added. "Zhen San Mei, the secretarial pool's a very competitive place. You may be a very good secretary, but you still need luck to be noticed. Do you realise how many of the girls out there are dying to work for XZ Yin?"

"Then let another secretary take my place." San Mei suggested.

Miss Zhao's frustration abated a bit. "He chose you for a reason. I can't recommend another secretary to him."

She probed further, "Is it because of XZ Yin's reputation as a fussy, stubborn, uncompromising man?"

"No!" San Mei refuted. "In spite of all that, I have also heard that he's kind and understanding. It's just that I prefer the freedom. After work, I can go home and attend to my orders."

"San Mei, your sideline is what I have always wanted to talk to you about. But we can talk about that later."

Miss Zhao continued, "I am aware you're working as a secretary only because you need the extra income. I am also aware that your first love is and always has been making pastries and baking." She added as an afterthought. "Have I ever mentioned that your pastries and cakes are 'Par Excellent'? Jin Ni keeps asking when her next birthday -- she can't wait for you to bake her another cake!"

San Mei laughed. Jin Ni is Miss Zhao's three-year daughter. "Tell Jin Ni she doesn't have to wait until her next birthday. I can bake for her anytime she wants."

"By the way, is your mother making progress?"

San Mei thanked Miss Zhao for her concern and replied sadly. "The doctors have confirmed that mum's suffering from liver cirrhosis due to her drinking." She wiped away a tear. "There has been no change in her condition. Mum's still semi-comatose and drifts in and out of consciousness."

She smiled at her superior. "Senior, thank you for sending Auntie May to me. She takes very good care of mum."

Her superior shook her head and replied. "You don't have to thank me, San Mei. I just wish there was more I could do."

She sighed. "To return to the subject of your promotion, I'm sorry. You are not entitled to reject this offer because it was XZ Yin who asked specifically for you. He's a director while you're a secretary -- so you know how it goes." Miss Zhao indicated a helpless gesture.

"Why did he choose me when there are more experienced secretaries? We have not even met."

Her superior commented. "Last week, he asked for your personal file." She reminded San Mei, "Have you forgotten that you had drafted a speech for him a few months ago?"

San Mei did recall having been asked to draft an urgent speech for XZ Yin. His secretary was on medical leave. As he had too many urgent matters to handle, he instructed Miss Zhao someone competent to assist him. Miss Zhao had given the task to San Mei.

She had to draft the speech based on his points. It was an extremely hard assignment because the entire text was in English. She also had trouble reading his spidery scrawls. In the end, she just did what she could and hoped for the best.

A few days later, he had e-mailed to thank her. He also mentioned that he was very impressed with her draft and had asked for the soft copy of the speech. She had not heard from him since then.

Miss Zhao looked at San Mei with compassion in her eyes. "San Mei, I'm afraid you cannot continue with your side business once you begin working for XZ Yin." She noticed San Mei's face has turned ashen. "He has recently imposed a ruling against staff doing part-time work."

"But I had been doing this before he imposed the ruling."

"It's still taken into account. I'm sorry, San Mei."

She held her composure. "Can I think over this offer, Miss Zhao?"

Two days later, she handed in her resignation.

****

XZ Yin looked up from reading San Mei's resignation letter and asked Miss Zhao. "She did not state her reason for resigning. Do you have any idea?"

Miss Zhao briefed him on what she knew of San Mei's background. He thanked her. "Did you not try to persuade her to stay?"

"Of course I did!" Miss Zhao was irked by his question. "Not only is San Mei one of my best secretaries, she's also a friend. I tried to reason with her. However, I understand her situation. She needs the supplementary income she gets from baking. She knows that if she were to work for you, her freedom would be stifled. Also, don't forget your recent ruling on part-time work."

"My ruling has something to do with her resignation?"

"Because of this ruling, she would have to give up baking and lose the extra income."

XZ Yin thought for a moment. "Could you please ask Ms. Zhen San Mei to see me tomorrow morning? I would like to have a chat with her."

The next morning, Miss Zhao accompanied a nervous San Mei to XZ Yin's office. She left them alone after making the introductions.

He went straight to the point. "I do not like to stand on ceremony, so I would call you San Mei. You may call me anything you like -- except hard-nosed, fussy, stubborn or uncompromising!"

Startled by his words, San Mei could only stare at him. When she saw his deadpan expression, she laughed. She knew he was making fun of himself to put her at ease.

"You think I have not heard what Miss Zhao has been saying about me? "

"I must warn her so that she'd know you have spies in the secretarial pool!"

He joked. "I don't need to plant any spies in the secretarial pool. Her voice carries through the floors!"

"San Mei, I understand from Miss Zhao that not only had you rejected your promotion, you have also tendered your resignation." He paused before continuing, "Miss Zhao has briefed me a bit on your situation. However, I would like to know the real reason for your decision."

Her eyes went to the wall clock.

"Don't worry. Just take your time. I have given instructions to reception not to disturb."

"If I may, I'll address you as Senior Yin."

He nodded. "That's fine. Well, go ahead."

"To be frank, I'm running a part time baking business from home. Every day after work, I rush back to bake and make deliveries very early the next morning. If I work as your secretary, I would have to stay late." Just in case he gets the impression that she is afraid of hard work, she hastily added. "Miss Zhao said you have imposed a ruling against part time work. I can't afford to lose the extra income I get from baking."

XZ Yin replied. "Why do you need to work so hard? Isn't your salary enough for yourself?"

San Mei shook her head and clarified, "The company pays very well. But medical expenses are high."

XZ Yin frowned, "Medical expenses? Are you sick?"

Again she shook her head. "I'm sorry. I'm not doing a good job explaining, am I?" She said, "Let me put it this way. When I was young, my mother owned a small confectionary shop. Business was quite good because mum's a very good pastry chef. I picked up my baking skill from her. I am not bragging when I say my pastries are as good as my mum's." She gave him a tiny smile.

XZ Yin returned her smile. "Please go on."

She looked stoically at him. "My father was in the navy. He was very devoted to my mum. One day, my father went missing at sea. Until now, we do not know if he is still alive because his body was never found." Her eyes misted but she remained calm. "My mum refused to believe my father would not be returning home."

She paused for a while and looked down at her hands.

"I'm sorry to hear about your father. You can stop if it's too hard for you."

She shook her head. "I'm alright, thank you for your concern."

"Would you like a drink first?"

"No, thank you." She continued, "Do you know we live near the sea? Every evening, mum would stand at the beach waiting for my father to come home. Of course he never did. After 2 years, she finally accepted that he would not be coming home forever." She paused again, still refusing to cry.

"She started drinking heavily to forget her pain and became addicted. We couldn't maintain the business so we had to sell the bakery. Mum would only drink and refused to eat anything. Everyone said she was willing herself to die. She got so emaciated, she's now semi-comatose and ... and the doctor said that she has cirrhosis of the liver."

Her eyes conveyed her anguish. "My mum's dying. I want to make her last days on earth comfortable. That's why I need both jobs."

XZ was troubled that Miss Zhao had not told him about San Mei's sick mother. "I'm sorry. I did not know about your mother. You have someone taking care of her when you work?"

"Miss Zhao found me a very good retired nurse to care for my mum. Her charges are very high but I'm not complaining because she takes very good care of mum. Moreover, she stays with us.
With her help, I have time to bake once I get off work."

He nodded. "I see."

"Senior Yin, I hope you understand why I cannot work for you. If it comes to making a choice between this job and baking, I'd rather quit. I would just have to look for another secretarial job that pays this well."

She stood up and bowed. "All the same, I want to thank you for your offer and your confidence in my ability. Also thank you for giving me a chance to explain."

"Zhen San Mei, as you said, I gave you a chance to explain. But you did not even give me a chance to speak. Sit down please."

XZ Yin said, "The reason I imposed the ban on part time work is to safeguard our reputation. Last month, I found out that one of my staff was working part-time as a hostess. It was not even because she needed the money. It was to maintain her expensive lifestyle and tastes."

He smiled while saying, "However, it is obvious that Miss Zhao has overlooked the 'small print' in my memo."

He continued, "I mentioned that staff are allowed to work part-time provided that it is for a valid reason and provided that the work is legitimate. However, they must submit an application for my approval."

He walked to his desk and handed her a note pad. "I would like to dictate a letter."

"But Senior Yin, I have tendered my resignation, remember?"

"In that case, you should also remember I haven't said I accept your resignation. You're still working for me. Besides, you need to serve out the required notice."

San Mei had no choice but to take down his dictation.

He began dictating. "'Dear Ms. Zhen San Mei....' "

She looked up, "Are you speaking to me or ....."

"I am dictating! 'This is to advise you that your application to work part-time as a pastry chef is hereby approved! Signed -- Yin Xiang Zhe.' "

He took the pad from her, glanced at it and said, "Type this out and give it to me to sign. Then you can carry on with your baking. You also have my assurance that I would not keep you after office hours."

"Senior Yin!" San Mei was at a loss for words.

He returned the resignation letter to San Mei.

"Now, there is no reason for you to resign or to reject your promotion. Come and work for me. I really need a good secretary." He smiled and added, "Miss Zhao is wrong about me. Of the four unflattering names she called me, I would only admit to being fussy. But I'll let you be the judge."

His understanding touched San Mei to the core of her heart. "Senior Yin" was all she could say again as she controlled her emotion.

He frowned again, "Is that all you can say? As my secretary, I do expect you to be more articulate!"

"How can I ever thank you, Senior Yin?"

"That's an improvement!" He smiled. "Let me think for a moment." He snapped his fingers. "My birthday's next week, March 7. Why don't we have a tea party? It's an opportunity for you to show off your pastry --making skill."

"Consider it done!" She managed a tremulous smile. "But there's still one thing I have to tell you."

"You have another problem?"

"Well, yes. I just wanted to let you know that I would resign once I have enough capital to open my own bakery." She searched his face for his reaction.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." He stated -- thinking that would be in the far future. "I have a confession too about this tea party."

San Mei asked, "You'll be inviting many people?"

He shook his head and whispered conspiringly, "It would be just you and me." He playfully displayed a wolfish look. "Is that going to scare you off?"

On a normal day, she would not have ventured to joke with him. After all, he is a Director and her immediate superior. However, she played along because she knew that he was merely trying to make her feel better.

"Senior Yin, I take it you have not read my personal file?"

"What has your personal file got to do with this conversation?"

"It has everything to do with this conversation." She smiled cheekily. "If you had read my file, you would not have missed the part where I stated that I have a black belt in Judo!"

He guffawed. "Touché!", he ceded. However, they both know she's no judo exponent. As he looks at her captivating face and enchanting smile, Yin Xiang Zhe feels overwhelmed by her mere presence.

He finds himself looking forward to working with this 'Jill of All Trades' - Zhen San Mei -- pastry chef, secretary and self-professed judo exponent!

********

A year to the day she began working for XZ Yin, San Mei has saved up enough to realize her dream bakery. She decided to give notice of her resignation. Although she had been upfront about her plan since the very first day, she could not help feeling as if she were deserting him.

San Mei recalled the time when her mum succumbed to her illness. No doubt, she had prepared herself for it, but when it actually happened, she found herself absolutely devastated! Being all by herself, without any relatives, she had no one to turn to -- until Senior Yin offered his assistance. He took charge of everything; giving her time to say goodbye to her mum. Worried that she would not have enough money, he even offered to pay for the funeral expenses. San Mei refused, insisting she had enough savings to pay for everything.

She was ever so grateful to him for being there when she needed a lifeline. Even though he had been tough on her when she makes mistakes, he was also quick to praise. She did not know when she had fallen in love with him -- only that she does. However, she does not want to fool herself that he might share her feelings. She knows that to him, she is just his secretary.

"Senior, are you free?"

He never closes his door. He told her that a closed door makes him feel shut out from the world.

He looked up from the pile of documents he was signing and nodded. "Come on in." He nodded towards the chair in front of him.

When he noticed her indecisiveness, he asked, "You have something to discuss with me?"

San Mei placed the letter in front of him. "Senior, this is my resignation letter."

Although he was surprised, he hid it. He did not take the letter but asked, "I hope you have a good reason for this."

"It's not because of you or that I do not like my job. On the contrary, I like both very much." Realising that she had inadvertently given herself away, she blushed and hastily rephrased. "No, no... that's not what I meant!"

"Which did you not mean?" He raised his eyebrows and asked crossly. "That you do not like me or that you do not like the job?"

She stared at him. This unreasonable man is not the Senior Yin she knows. Was he angry?

She tried again. "I meant to say, I like you because you're a good boss. I like my job too. I've learnt a lot from you."

He still had that angry look on his face.

"The first time I was in your office, I told you that I plan to quit and open a bakery once I have enough savings. Do you remember?" He looked blankly at her. "Well, I think I have saved enough."

"After only 1 year? How did you manage to save so much in 1 year?"

She had never seen him like this before. "I do not understand what you mean by that. For your information, I have been saving for a long, long time." San Mei was hurt by his intimidating attitude. "I thought you would be happy for me."

"Right! I am happy for you. Since you want so much to leave, I'll approve your resignation." He angrily took her letter and signed on it. "You may leave at once. You do not have to serve out your notice. Just go!" He told her in a deathly quiet voice.

Thoroughly hurt and puzzled by his attitude, she controlled her tears. She stood up and slowly walked back to her room to clear out her desk. Opening her drawer, she noticed a tiny box and took it out. She went back to his room.

Standing in front of him, with tears in her eyes, she handed him the box.

"Senior, before I leave I would like to give you this. Happy Birthday." He did not move nor look at her. "Thank you for everything you have done for me. I will never forget your kindness as long as I live."

She placed it on his desk and started to move away.

She started when he pulled her hand.

"I'm sorry. I don't what came over me."

He stood up. Still holding her wrist, he asked her, "What is it?"

Eyes bright with tears, she smiled. "Open it."

He did and found a pair of silver cufflinks engraved with his initials. He looked at the cufflinks for some time.

"Thank you -- but you're wasting your money because that's not the present I want."

"You didn't tell me you wanted something special. Anyway, it's tatty to ask for a present." She told him tartly.

"I don't care about that. I just care that you'll be walking out of here and out of my life!"

Shocked by what his words, she could only exclaim. "Senior Yin!"

"Please take a letter, Ms. Zhen."

"I thought I had quit. You said I did not have to serve out my notice." She was still hurt by his attitude.

He insisted. "Treat this as your last dictation then." When she wanted to argue, "Please don't argue. Just write as I dictate."

He gently pushed her down on his chair.

San Mei was beginning to think that Ms. Zhao was right after all. He is really a stubborn man.

"Dear Ms. Zhen San Mei ..."

"This is to advise that I accept your resignation subject to the following conditions :- "

"What?" San Mei could not hold back her indignation any longer. However, he ignored her and continued to dictate.

"a). That you admit you like XZ Yin; b). That you give XZ Yin a chance to declare his feelings for you; c) That you ..."

"Senior Yin! What's that you said?" Pen in mid-air, San Mei had stopped scribbling and was looking up at him.

"I said I want you to give me a chance to declare my feelings." He pulled her to her feet. "You have worked for me for a year -- yet you did not realise that I love you so much -- since eternity!"

She smiled. "That's why you were angry when I said I wanted to resign?"

"Darn right I was angry! I don't believe you do not feel anything for me." He glared at her. "You even admitted it earlier, didn't you?" He shook his head when she wanted to interrupt him. "Don't deny it -- I heard you the first time."

She answered with an impish smile, "Who says I was going to deny it?"

His happiness at her words was reflected on his face. He hugged her.

"But what about my bakery shop?" She looked at him. "I'm serious about wanting to open a bakery."

"I'm not stopping you." He told her gently. "You can go and be a pastry chef. I will have to ask Miss Zhao to find me another secretary." With a serious look on his face, he added. "As long as you do not neglect me, you can do what you want!"

His eyes glinted as he hugged her again. "By the way, just don't make me eat too much pastries, okay?"

San Mei was offended, thinking that he was criticizing her pastries. "I thought you loved my pastries!"

"I do! But I do not want to become fat from eating too much of your cakes and pastries. Otherwise, you would look elsewhere!"

"Never! I'm yours for keeps!" She laughed happily.

THE END!!!!

***************

Oooh, this is a long, long 1-parter. Thank you for all your encouragement and support. I hand over the baton to Irene, Jamie and all the other writers to run the relay. Again, I have to ask your forgiveness for any errors. All the best and Happy New Year!

Margie L (Malaysia)