The Candidate 2

Zarrah wakes up to a cheerful day. It's a Saturday and it's her Mom's birthday. She can hear Wendy play Andy William's version of the "moon river" while cooking breakfast in the kitchen. Zarrah smiles. It always makes her feel good knowing that her Mom is happy.

It's been six years since they moved to Beijing. Wendy right away got along at work with her talent coupled with an optimistic character. In just a couple of weeks after they arrived, she was already attending family gatherings at her co-worker's homes and got actively involved in community activities.

On the other hand, things were rough for Zarrah at the start. She got bullied in her first year of school in China. However, things started to turn around after she learned martial arts from Mr. Li, and became able to defend herself. It also helped to have Jean as a buddy.

Zarrah smiles when she arrives at the kitchen and seeing Wendy prancing and dancing while cooking eggs. She looks funny holding a cooking spatula on an outreached hand like a sword while the other hand holds the lid of a wok and like it's a shield. She seems to be engaged in a fencing dance going to and from a splattering pan on the stove. Zarrah got entertained with this scene. To Zarrah, her mom is her Superwoman. She is great in almost all things except cooking. It's her Kryptonite. After several maneuvers, Wendy finally succeeded in putting the lid over the pan and turned the stove off. Zarrah couldn't her but giggle.

When Wendy noticed her daughter laughing at her, she threw the potholder on Zarrah and placed her hands on her hips, and pretended to be mad. "So, you think that's funny, huh? I almost died cooking your breakfast and what do I get? "

Zarrah extends her hands in a gesture of a big hug and walks towards her mother. "Happy Birthday Mom!!!, I love you."

"Of course, you do!", Wendy hugged her daughter back and looked up at the ceiling trying to keep her tears from falling. The hug lasted for almost a whole minute.

"Mom, you're crushing me", Zarrah joked.

"I'm fine doing this for one whole day", Wendy joked back and gently let go of her daughter. "Honey, look at you. You're all grown-up. How fast time flies!"

"Oh, mom, don't get too sentimental, otherwise you'll realize how old you've gotten", Zarrah teased.

In a swift, Wendy pinched Zarrah's side. Zarrah winced and the two ladies laughed.

"So, did you apply for a leave from work today? After all, it's your birthday." Zarrah asked

"Oh, I cannot." Wendy rolls her eyes. "Some executives from the U.S. will be visiting our company today. It marks our company's collaboration with them as part of our expansion program."

"Mom! I thought we had this day planned out. We are supposed to spend time together shopping, eating out and the movies. Remember?" Zarrah sounds frustrated.

"Honey, I know! The announcement just came out 3 days ago. My position in the design department requires me to be there." Wendy tries to explain.

"Well, it's your day." Zarrah said in a disinterested tone.

"But I have an idea which will still allow us to spend time together," Wendy said with a cunning smile on her face.

"I'm listening", Zarrah replied with a curious look on her face.

"What if you come with me to work!" Wendy still smiling.

"What? Nooooooo!" Zarrah says as she starts to walk away from Wendy.

But Wendy quickly ran after Zarrah, hugged her from behind, and whispered in her ear; "Didn't you just say that it's my day? I am not supposed to be spoiled and get what I want?"

Zarrah smiles and says; "Now you are being manipulative. Do women become like this when they get old?"

Wendy did not loosen her hug on Zarrah and begged. "Please, please, please…."

"Mom, let go!" Zarrah said with a smile.

"I won't until you say yes" Wendy tightens her embrace and started to tickle Zarrah.

"Okay, okay, you win!" Zarrah shouted and tried to get loose from her Mom's embrace. "but seriously Mom, I am no longer a little girl you can take to your office."

"Exactly", Wendy smiles as she starts to set their breakfast on the table. "I saw your sketches and I think they are amazing!..."

Before Wendy could finish talking, Zarrah interrupted; "You looked at my stuff without my permission?" Zarrah looked surprised.

Wendy placed one hand on her hips as she raised her eyebrow; "young lady, this woman happens to be your Mom. Don't make it sound like it's a serious crime looking through your designs!" Wendy then started to act like she was offended. "I'm not any stranger you know".

Zarrah knows this tactic of her mother so she just smiles and says; "alright Mom, what are you getting at?"

Like a child, Wendy's face lit up. She dashes towards Zarrah, takes her hand, and says in one breath; "I want you to come to my office and look over my designs and give me feedback."

Zarrah is surprised at her Mom's confidence in her designing skills. Her Mom is an experienced designer. How can she value so much the input of an amateur like her? Zarrah tries to find an alibi., "Mom, wouldn't it be awkward if your co-workers see me there?"

"No, it won't be. My co-workers and I will be in another room meeting with the visiting executive. So, you can have my office all to yourself." Wendy tried to be convincing as she can.

Zarrah feels flattered by her Mom's proposition. After all, fashion design is her passion - besides martial arts of course. "okay Mom, I'll do it".

Wendy was so excited. She tightly hugged her daughter again. But as she does so, she heard her daughter's stomach growl loudly. They looked at each other for a second, and both burst out laughing.

Harold was excited to meet with the executives and designers of the Beijing-based Phoenix Fashions. Of course, he has high respect for Francois' design. His designs are unparalleled, especially in the high fashion world. But Harold wants to expand to RTW and retail and he finds the products of Phoenix Fashion to be ahead of the competition. They produce goods that possess strong eastern flare but with a fusion of European function and wearability. Of course, a series of preliminary meetings were already held and attended by Harold's trusted representatives, however, Harold always makes sure that before a deal is finalized, he personally meets the designers, especially those young, ambitious, and promising ones. Whenever he gets impressed with a young designer, he then conducts a more thorough investigation of the background of that designer.

But this time it's different. When Harold asked for a file of their designers, his attention was caught by the profile of the head designer, Wendy Carrigan. She is not young but surprisingly already middle-aged. Harold was surprised to see that her picture strongly resembles that of a dear friend in college. This added to his excitement for this morning's meeting.

During the meeting, Harold was pleasantly surprised when he found out that Wendy Carrigan was his former classmate, Wendy Smith. Back in college, the two were close friends because of their passion for the Arts. They only lose contact after Wendy elopes with Max Carrigan, the quarterback of the university's football team. After the meeting, Harold approached Wendy.

"Wendy!", Harold extended his arm for a handshake.

Harold! Wendy shyly accepted Harold's hand and smiled. She was about to say something when a young Chinese secretary politely approached her.

"Excuse me, Miss Carrigan. President Sheng wants to talk to you in his office."

"I'll be there in a few minutes" Wendy addressed the secretary. Now, facing Harold, "Harold, it was a pleasant surprise to meet you. Please excuse me, I need to report to my Boss."

"It's alright! I hope to catch up with you later. Harold smiled warmly. He just looked at Wendy who was walking away from him.

Harold's attention is then interrupted by a confident young man in his twenties. Excuse me, Sir, I am Mr. Sheng, the Vice-Chairman. I will be happy to be your guide for the tour that you have requested.

Harold was a bit surprised at how can a man so young become the vice-chairman of a huge company. But upon realizing the young man's name and his physical semblance to Mr. Sheng, the President, Harold realized that this boy must be the son of the owner of the company.

Almost in all transactions, Harold always asks for a tour of the company's production area and offices. This provides him the opportunity to determine if the company adheres to humane labor practices for its workers.

The last area they toured was the design department. Seeing that Harold has no questions, the young Mr. Sheng spoke; "Sir, this is the last stop for our tour. If you have no other concerns, we would like to invite you for lunch."

"Thank you, Mr. Sheng, but I already have plans. You have been most hospitable". Harold humbly declined the invitation.

The young man looks confused and troubled. Seeing the young man's reaction Harold quickly says; I have made reservations and am just waiting for a friend to be available, and I'm ready to go.

Ahhhh, was all that the confused Mr. Sheng could say. He gave a 90-degree bow and left.

Harold noticed on one of the doors, signage which reads; "WENDY CARRIGAN: DEPARTMENT HEAD". Harold walked towards the door to check if Wendy is in and invite her for lunch. The door was not completely closed, so when Harold knocked, the door opened. Inside is a girl, about 18 years old. She is making modifications on the designs reflected on the laptop monitor while at the same time referring to her notebook placed on top of the desk. She is wearing earphones and her back was towards Harold. She did not hear Harold's knock on the door.

Harold was about to push the door when he noticed somebody coughing behind him. When he turned around, he found out it was Wendy.

"Harold? What are you doing here? Wendy asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"I came to invite you to lunch. I thought you were inside." Harold awkwardly replied.

"That's so kind of you, but my daughter and I have plans for lunch." At this moment, Zarrah notices that she was not alone. She stood up and greeted Harold.

Realizing that they are standing in the doorway, Wendy invited Harold in. "Harold, this is my daughter, Zarrah. Zarrah, this is Harold, an old friend from college and He is the visiting executive I told you about."

"Hello, S…Sir." Zarrah softly uttered bowed. She has adopted the Chinese manner of greetings. Sensing that the two adults might have something to talk about, she excused herself. As she was about to leave the room…

"Are those designs yours?", Harold asked;

"No Sir. They are my Mom's" Zarrah was quick to answer.

"I mean. those in the notebook" Harold added.

"Yes, they are", Zarrah humbly answered.

Harold smiled. In his mind, he was thinking; "well, coming to China might not be a total waste of my time after all". Something just ticked in his mind. All of a sudden, he lost interest in inviting Wendy to lunch. All he wanted to do at the moment is to make a phone call and have somebody dig into the background of these pretty girls in front of him.

He quickly shook Wendy's hand and said, "Believe me, it's wonderful seeing you again Wendy but I have to go". Just like that Harold hurriedly left. As soon a he got to his car, he instructed the driver where to go and made that very important call.

Like her mother, Zarrah was surprised that Harold left in a haste. She stared at her Mom and said, "what happened?".

Wendy shrugged her shoulder and said; "I don't know".

Zarrah turned the Laptop off and started to pack her things. "I guess we don't need to think about that. Let's go, we have a birthday to celebrate"

"You bet!" Wendy said while winking at her daughter.