Steven went to discuss through video conferencing with a guy called Xavier. I was left with the team. There is Basco, Porky, Lulu, Keith and Veronica all together we make seven. Gillain pulled out an old city map and we are comparing it to the new one to make sketches of the current condition. I roughly briefed them about the different areas around the mall.
We decided to split into three groups to do a more through survey and pinpoint all units in the quarter as research material for future drafting after lunch. Basco and Lulu will tackle the more develop south and east part of the old quarter while Proky and Veronica will survey the damaged area in the north. Keith and myself are going to the west, I offer to go voluntarily because I knew the are well enough to run or hide if we are disturbed by delinquants roaming about in the area.
Steven came back right before we depart from the hotel lobby. He reorganised our team; Porky ended up with Basco and Lulu since their coverage was actually bigger although safer and I will go with him to the west of the old quarter. He is a hands on manager and he take care of his colleagues. I respect him for that.
Decided, we went on our separate way. Each team will work independently to mark their area on an amplified map. After which we need to draw up a new one plus summarise our thoughts for the area suitability for development. All of us walk to the old Empire Mall and split up from there.
Everything is quiet when we enter the west quarter. Upon the third row, there are three men barely out of their teenage years smoking and playing games on their phones. We disregard them and continue marking and matching the units in our map.
A few minutes later,"You are the missy from the noodle shop right? What are you doing with the noob next to you? He looks loaded."
"Anyone in a suit will look loaded to you free loaders. Go mind your own business and leave us alone," I reprimand them.
"Can't do that missy, Brother Lok assigned us as daytime scouts. We need to report back anything fishy including intruders to him. Why don't you bring that noob out of here before we rob him blind in broad daylight? It's a favor for you seeing that you lived around here and Big Brother seem to have a thing for you,"one of the boy warned.
"Boys, just leave us alone before I break your nose. Whatever we are doing is none of your business," I warned them back.
He didn't like my warning I suppose because by reflex I punched out when I saw him moved forward.
"Shit! My nose! Damn bitch, you just wait," I turned to Steven and tell him we should hurried when they ran away. I kept looking around to see if they came back or not. It's one thing to spook the boys but if they really went to get LokLok then it's trouble.
We managed to move on to the fourth row before footsteps was heard running towards us. Damn! we are not even half done.
I turn to face the crowd. It's really LokLok with 5 other men. I can fight off the teenagers or one big man but I don't have the ability to fight off 5 big guys. Maybe I can stall for time and make a run with Steven,"Hello LokLok, how are you today?"
"My pretty YaoYao, you look all dolled up today with your dress and shirt. Looks like one of those office worker but much prettier. What are you doing on my turf?" he question.
"Nothing really, I have found this new job to survey the area we are living in for future development. It is good for everyone here to have some improvement. This is my boss so it would be really helpful if you don't create trouble for me,"I indicate.
"Trouble? Nah....we just protect what is ours right boys? We don't want this place to develop. Once it does, we will have nowhere to go. Why don't you be a good girl and leave your boss here? We will teach him a lesson so he can bring the message back to whoever who has the idea to kick us out of our place,"LokLok is getting agitated.
I throw a bunch of my stationary at the men to distract them, grab hold of Steven hand and pull him to run. The one thing I forgot, I was in working heels not my normal sport shoes when I was doing delivery. Just a few meters away from the previous spot, I sprained my right ankle. Steven managed to pull me against him as I fall thus I didn't fall on the ground. He has a broad chest and some muscle under that shirt I realised.
He commanded,"Squat down."
Somehow I automatically followed. A lot of actions are going on above me but somehow I was not touch. Moments after Steven pull me up against him again,"Now gentlemen, we will continue our work tomorrow and I hope I won't see you again by then. If you will excuse me."
All the five big surly men were groaning on the ground. One moment I was amazed looking at Steven, the next I was swept off my feet quite literally.
"What are you doing?" I shouted.
"I don't think you can walk my dear." Just like that he carried me and the rest of our things for 30 minutes like I weight nothing back to the hotel. Who exactly is this man. I don't think such person exist in real life. His look and his charm spelled Prince Charming all over.
He put me down on the couch in our room after he order ice packs at the concierge while coming up. Customer service were great at this hotel, ice arrived very quickly. I was examining my ankle at one point before he squat in front of me and place it on his lap instead. "Tell me if I pressed too hard," he administered the ice pack on my ankle.
A weird feeling crept up on me that I hardly recognised.