It was the MD's birthday, and we'd plan a li'l suprise gathering for him, juz coz he's a good boss. But mostly coz he's the boss of the entire company. Him being polite and agreeable juz makes it easier for us to do something nice for him.
So Hori suggested that we get a Strawberry Shortcake from Bakerzin, which costs RM100 after tax, which is expensive for an 18x18 inch cake, which Kuri brought up ('With that kinda money we can buy TWO cakes for everyone to share!') but Hori said it might be a tad bit expensive but it's for our MD so it's worth it. Which was followed by her folding her arms across her chest and raising her chin defiantly, daring Kuri to go against her decision.
Kuri scuttled off to collect RM3 from everyone who wanted to join the gathering. "Before noon please. Nicole's gonna go get the cake after lunch," Hori called off after him as she checked her reflection on her handheld mirror, fluttering her permed (in a Tokyo beauty parlor, mind you) eyelashes with a satisfied smile on her face. I, ever the peacemaker in our three-person department, joined in Hori's enthusiasm with a plastered smile, but really I held the same sentiments as Kuri. Trust me, getting on Hori's hated list is a hundred times' worse than being on Kuri's. If he even has one. (did I mention he's our direct leader?)
So things went as (Hori) planned, and the cake was set up in the designated (by Hori) room at 5.40pm sharp. There was a bit of a ruckus as the three of us tried to trick MD into the room, but it was kind of a challenge coz you can't exactly trick someone when they're MIA and you can't get thru their cell phone.
People were getting impatient, complaining that it's after working hours (meaning they're no longer paid to be here) and they need to get home to their children/pet dog/PSP2, so when I saw Kuri practically dragging MD (engaged on the phone, naturally - I'm almost sure he's got the N series surgically attached to his right ear - by the arm toward us, I was ready to drop down and kiss his feet.
Birthday song sung, candles blown, big, brown-nosing round of clapping and hooting, cake cut. It being um, the not-very-big size that it is, not everyone got to taste it, especially since we work under an apartheid rule that All Good Things Go To Jap Staff First, some of them gave up hope of tasting the wonders of Bakerzin and left quietly, resigning to their inadequate Local Staff status.
Me, Traitor of Local Staff, with paper plates decked across my arms, went off to the desks of all Jap chiefs to serve them cake. When I finally got to GM's desk, he shot me a look of disdain and said plainly, "I'm not eating it."
I stopped at my tracks, thought for a millisecond to maybe ask why but then figured I really din care to know, gave him a prompt nod and started to leave. He looked like he got hit by a big-a$$ water balloon. In the face.
Too bad he recovered right after, and started to rant his baboon head off about how inappropriate it is to celebrate the BOSS's birthday when nobody celebrated his this year (he's the second biggest boss after MD). And how he was all alone in some sleazy bar trying to get a scantily-clad bartender who can only speak dirty Japanese to 'service' him.
I knew everyone in the office saw him refusing the cake and chastising me for my 'misplaced loyalties', coz people were giving me sympathetic looks and even coming up with new creative nicknames for GM to comfort me, but all I could think of as I popped a glazed strawberry into my mouth is how there's more cake for ME and none for YOU, you miserable, childish man.
