Ticking Time Bomb

"So you saw Zen. How was he? Was he handsome?" Lia asks after listening to my story about the interview. We are sitting on the couch in the living room eating ramen for dinner. "Hmm" I think for a moment "quite handsome but he isn't my type. I prefer a man with darker hair and eyes like Eli" I say blushing. "Not to mention, Zen's do whatever and say whatever he pleases attitude makes me want to smack some sense into him. Oh but I did appreciate the help he gave me with the director."

While Lia fonds over Zen I continue to slurp my Raman. When I finally can't take anymore of her nonsense I speak up "If you want to know an Artist you have to look at their assistant, the poor girl looked scared to death of him. You know he is always posting whatever he wants on social media and I bet she gets blamed when he spoils something in a post or says something rude. I definitely wouldn't want to be in her shoes."

"An artist is always arrogant though Sierra" retorts Lia "Let's see if Zen has posted anything on Instagram." She scrolls through her phone and stops coming over to my side. She points at her phone "He posted something about the new music video" I stare at where she is pointing and sure enough a snippet of the music video is playing and Zen's comment is an insult towards the director and crew. "Oh he is going to be in trouble now, if I know anything about Boss Li of the PR department it's that he is not someone to mess with and Zen just made problems for the PR department."

"Hey Sierra, if you get hired then you'll be able to see Zen in person"

"Lia shut up who would want to see that arrogant Artist. I would definitely stay away from him or I would die." I state as I push Lia onto the other couch.

"Didn't you attend a talent show with him? You two could be considered half-friends." Lia states with conviction. "Lia, he was barely conscious and I asked him. He didn't even remember me." I respond. She sighs "I guess that is to be expected when you are famous you purposely forget your painful past." I fake a pout, "Are you calling me a painful memory Lia?" When she responds yes I throw my pillow I had been leaning on in her face. "How dare you!" I say with mock anger. And so begins our violent pillow war.

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The sound of my panting can be heard throughout the courtyard. I had just finished my second set of front kicks when Lia opens the living room sliding door leading out to the courtyard. She walks up to a bench in the corner and sits down observing my taekwondo practice. "Hey Lia" I pant, "What are you doing out here?"

"Oh, nothing really. How can you get up so early in the morning, Sierra?" She asks. "It's kind of a habit." I respond, "and it feels good. Want to join me?" I walk over to her and stick out my sweaty hand in offering. "No" she cries out adamantly refusing my sweaty hand. Well i wasn't expecting much anyway Lia has always been more of a girly girl than I have ever been. She doesn't really enjoy participating in physical activities and the day she says yes to my taekwondo training offer is the day that the world explodes.

My phone that has been resting on the table next to Lia starts to ring. "I had better get that" I say to Lia, grabbing my phone off the table and walking over to the other side of the courtyard. I swipe my phone screen and answer the call.

"Hello this is Hannah Swann, front desk employee of Bright Entertainment Company. Is this Sierra Johnson"

"Yes, I am Sierra Johnson. What can I do for you?"

"You have been hired as an employee of the PR department, and Boss Li requests your presence at the company immediately."

"Oh that's great! I'll be there soon. Thank you. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

As soon as I hang up the call, the joy I had been suppressing comes bubbling out of my mouth in the form of a high pitched shriek. Lia, curious about the cause of my shriek, runs over, but before she can ask me what happened I tell her about my conversation on the phone. "Congratulations Sierra! Now you must work hard to continue fighting for your dream." Lia exclames. I nod in accent and head into our house to get ready to head to work.

_______________________

Entering the huge entertainment building is just as awe inspiring as it had been the last time I had come in for an interview. I wonder what mess I'll make this time, I think to myself, recalling the incidents with the MV and Vice-Presidents computer. Walking past the personnel at the front desk I notice how clean this place is. It must take at least a dozen people to clean this whole entrance area not to mention all the departments. I can even see my reflection in the marble floor, I'll give the cleaning staff 5 stars. A voice from the front desk personnel calls me over and tells me that Boss Li wishes to speak to me.

I enter the bustling PR department and head up the flight of stairs to Boss Li's office. Today Boss Jia is not in the office, instead a woman around my age is talking to Boss Li. Remembering yesterday's reprimand about not knocking before I enter his office I decide to wait patiently at the door. Observing their conversation I can tell that Boss Li is pissed off about something. He notices me and scowles, "What are you doing hanging about at my door?"

I shuffle inside nervously and go to stand right next to the woman, across from Boss Li. "I'm sorry I didn't want to interrupt your conversation. I was told that you wished to see me." I say. "Well perfect timing." He jesters to the woman beside me " This is Natalia, Zen's Manager" She looks me over and then decides to ignore me. I stick out my hand for a hand shake and introduce myself, without looking at me or taking my hand she nods. I fume, how rude of her not even to look me in the eye when we are conversing.

"Sierra I called you here because the Vice-President specifically approved of you, If you had told me you knew the VP then a lot of the hassle at the interview could have been avoided." I shake my head. "Wait, the Vice-President specifically asked for me to gain this job? That doesn't make sense. I didn't know her until after the interview."

"Well whatever you did must have impressed her. And if she is impressed then you are definitely worth keeping at the company" Boss Li explains, "Now for the business at hand and why Natalia is here. Sierra, have you heard of Zen our most popular artist at Bright Entertainment?" I nod my head in reply. "Well then you must know that he is an irresponsible child, a time bomb just waiting to explode."

"That sums him up perfectly," Natalia states.

"He has just uploaded on instagram that he will release a secret about Bright Entertainment at three PM today. I want you to find him and stop him from releasing this information whatever you do. If you are unable to do this then you will be fired." states Boss Li.

"Hold on how in the world am i supposed to find and stop Zen, this is a crazy job for a newly employed person like me to do." I stutter trying to find a way out. Natalia smirks at my discomfort. "Wait shouldn't Natalia be the one to do this since she is his manager?" I ask.

"No it was his assistant's responsibility to make sure he didn't post anything on Instagram. Its not my fault. And anyway I don't have the time to watch over Zen" Natalia says while observing her nails. I am incredulous aren't you his manager, that's your job. Boss Li interrupts my train of thoughts, "Get to work you only have a few hours to stop Zen from posting." I sigh in defeat "What will you do if I can find him and stop him?" I ask Boss Li. He replies that he will change his name to Miss Lillian if I could do it. I know he says it half jokingly, but i will make him eat his words.

"Alright, Sierra I hope we can depend on you. Go to Zen's house and tell him to stop posting on Instagram. He lives at xxxx street." Natalia orders.

"Boss before that if you could have someone give me a quick tour of the PR department and show me my work space I would appreciate it." He nods and calls someone from downstairs to show me around. The person in charge of my tour is the man I share a workspace with. He tells me his name is Mark Hall and if i have any questions I could ask him. I thank him and get to work on stopping Zen from posting on his Instagram account.