Office AU (Marilyn & Jake)

Sitting in her office on a friday afternoon Marilyn was putting the final touches on the drafts for her most recent client, cool and collected as the day had passed as per usual. The woman was extremely bright in her field and thus tended to get the biggest clients.

And this had nothing to do with her close relationship to Louis Clement. He'd known her since he was 18, since she was born. And when her parents died he'd stepped in alongside her grandparents and practically raised her. For all intents and purposes he was like a father to her. But appropriately he also held her to a higher standard, nothing was given to her without intense work.

Her rolex beeped and she stood, straightening her desk briefly before the clack of her heels announced her presence in the hall on her way to the meeting, breifcase in hand before taking her usual seat beside Louis.

"Now, I want all of you to know your performance hasn't gone unnoticed this week, but my decision has been made. The lucky soul jetting off to Hong Kong on Monday morning... Miss Montez.

Marilyn smirked happily, "Thank you, Sir." But her happiness was shortlived. Jake. Newbury. Was to accompany her. Assist her.

Her smile was tinged with disgust at his wink. Ugh. He was a walking harrassment suit waiting to happen. Well, not particularily clever that one, she thought, she could take him apart. He had no idea what was coming to him.

That being said... Marilyn stayed behind after the rest left, to talk to Louis, who instantly knew what she wanted to discuss.

"Marilyn, don't look at me like that." He said without looking up from his papers.

"Louis, he's a walking liability. I can handle this client on my own-"

"But you won't, because he will be with you. He's a people person-"

"And I'm not? I work in marketing for christs sake."

"Mari," he put his hand on her shoulder, "This isn't personal. He works hard. He deserves this chance. Now go home, I'll see you tonight, do tell your grandparents I'll be a bit late for dinner."

Grumpily she nodded but let him give her a fatherly kiss on the forehead before she turned and left, silently fuming.

And she was all ready to get into her lovely silver mercedes and drive home, but no. Such simple pleasures were never granted.

/
(Marilyn)

"Hi, I'm Jake, it's good to see I'll have someone to keep me company on the trip."

Marilyn rolled her eyes and shouldered her bag with an unmistakeable look of disdain on her pretty features. Keep him company? As if. That neanderthal would be content to just play with his own-

Her grip on her bag didn't tighten or reveal any more of the disgust she felt for him. She worked her ass off for this job, she had nothing handed to her and didn't want it. She knew his type. Sure he worked well, but was a complete player. No wiser than the carpet beneath her Jimmy chu's.

"Umm, I was wondering if you want to come for a drink with the rest of the office this evening, get to know each other before we jet off?"

Why, why was it talking to her?

"Right. This is all you need to know about me." Her expression remained neutral, but serious, "Don't. Get. In. My. Way. If you set one lady-killer-wannabe toe out of line on this trip so help me God I will ruin you." And all at once her sweet smile was back in place, "Now you can go back to the rest of the herd and tell them all about how mean the big bad wolf is because there is nothing I need to know about you that I haven't found out already."

With that she turned on her heel and click-clacked all the way to her car, silent all throughout dinner and soon back to pouring over client files and proposals.

And all too soon Monday came around and she was being driven by her grandparents chauffeur to the airport and even sooner she was standing at the gates waiting for her...partner.

(Plane Marilyn)

"Hey, sorry, my bus was delayed. Shall we head through?"

Marilyn simply nodded and turned, going through security without problems and walking through to, eventually, their seats on the plane, "I was working." was her only reply to his question of how her weekend was, and working she had been, absolutely pouring over her notes and the personal files on each specific person in the client group. Their hobbies and most importantly their weaknesses. The boss, Mr. Wang, had a hanker for gambling and for sleeping with his secretaries. His assistent Mr. Lin was a collecter of rare coins.

Thus Marilyn had appropriate arrangements made. "This is our itinerary, no time to get used to the time difference so if you don't drink coffee I suggest you start, our first evening is a get together at a high end casino, I hope you packed something suitable," the rest of the paper listed each meeting they'd be having with whom, when and where.

Without further ado Marilyn set her watch timer to wake her up exactly 30 minutes before landing so she would be as fresh and awake as possible, reclined her seat and pulled her black sleeping mask over her eyes, "And unless you are dying do not wake me, Newbury."

"Yes, all weekend, some people actually enjoy their work."

After that Marilyn enjoyed her sleep, having gotten up at the ass crack of dawn, but it was, as many pleasures lately, short lived.

"Montez, Montez, did you feel that?"

"I rectify my earlier statement, Newbury," she growled, lifting the sleep mask, "If you wake me again and you're not dying I will kill you myself. What is it?"

"I swear to God the plane just shook!"

Marilyn let her head fall back onto the pillow, "Of course it shook, we are on a twelve hour flight through different climates. It's just turbulance, have you never flown before?" Mari inquired, though it was mostly rhetorical seeing as she didn't legitimately care whether or not the neanderthal had ever left his cave.

"Now do calm down, go to sleep, I'm serious, you're going to need it, I won't be carrying your dead weight during this trip. Oh and Newbury," She added, slipping on her mask again, "Don't touch me again."

Marilyn's timer went off at exactly 30 min before landing, giving her ample time to freshen up in the bathroom before they actually landed. Which was more than she could say about her coworker, who looked exhausted. She'd warned him...

Oh well. The next stop was their hotel and Marilyn felt like she'd been slapped when she saw the single key. "You've got to be kidding me." But there was nothing to be done, no extra room for her companion. "Louis..." she grumbled under her breath, she'd definitly be calling him later to see what the big idea was, sticking them in one room- one bed.

Walking into the suite Marilyn ignored Jake's wonder and set her briefcase on one of the desks, stuck her phone in one of the chargers and set her suitcase on one side of the bed. They had three hours until the more elegant part of the evening and in her usual efficiency Marilyn was making use of every moment. So while Jake was caught in wonder she grabbed her clothes and went to the bathroom, the sound of a shower running following.

About half an hour later Marilyn wrapped a towel around her figure and began doing her hair and makeup, leaving her hair perfectly coifed in curls that framed her face, blood red lips setting the look off as she slid into her robe and heels. Her dress was in a bag, spread on her bedside, she'd only put it on before they went so as to not wrinkle it. So that was how she walked back to her desk and started unpacking the files she'd brought with her and packing her purse bag. The gift for Mr.Lin, a bicentennial coin in mint condition, then the notes on cultural differences and how to act accordingly... Marilyn crossed her legs as she grew more focused, murmuring notes under her breath until a ding from her phone alerted her of a message.

Louis: "Arrived well?"

Marilyn scowled as she texted: "Why do we only have one room, Louis?"

Louis: "Cost managing."

Marilyn: "Bull."

He didn't reply and the woman didn't check her phone again.

Since Jake still seemed to be in the bathroom she dropped her robe, back to the bathroom and stepped into her dress, hands correcting her hair after she pulled the deep cut of the dress to where she wanted it.

(Mari)

"You look... great."

"Yes." Marilyn drawled, not looking up from her phone where she kept a shorthand version of all of the notes. Walking through the door without giving him a second glance the business woman replied.

"Lin is the collector, I've got him taken care of, Wong is the gambler, hence why I orginised the casino night, he also has a penchant for young women, also taken care of. Lin is single," her voice turned wry, "You can take him."

"Also if they seem to have a thing for illegal substances, don't accept any, also don't eat the blowfish," Mari stepped into the cab, waiting for him to sit next to her, "It's poisonous."

Letting him digest that she carefully set her phone on vibrate and checked her bag again, double checking that she had everything, which she thankfully did and mentally checking her language skills.

Perhaps it had been arrogant to a certain degree, but Marilyn had been 100% sure she was going to get this job and had thus taken an eight week language class, every night, seven days a week, prior to this trip. A skill she was certain would be very handy now.

Stepping out of the cab she was greeted by a face familiar only through pictures.

“Nín hǎo, wáng xiānshēng, zhè shì yīgè hěn gāoxìng zhōngyú kěyǐ miànduìmiàn" Marilyn smiled and bowed slightly before shaking his hand as commanded the etiquette, greeted by a happy and smiling Mr.Wong who clasped her hand in his.

"This one knows her chinese!" He grinned, “Hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ, méngtè zī xiǎojiě, wǒmen yǐjīng tánle nàme jīngcháng zài shǒujī gǎnjué shàng hǎoxiàng wǒmen zhīdào duìfāng hěn qīnmì”

Marilyn laughed and nodded before giving Mr. Lin the same greeting, "And of course, we could not possibly come without bearing gifts, Mr.Lin, for your collection, I believe." The woman presented him with the velvet box holding the coin, much to his pleasure, "And Mr.Wong, the company would be honoured if you played on the account we provided, on the house, so to say." Her smile was smooth as her voice and the clients looked very pleased, motioning their thanks and for the two to join them inside.

Casting a smooth smirk in Jake's direction she graciously took the arm offered her by Mr. Wong and walked inside.

Marilyn spent the first minutes letting the boss relentlessly flirt with her, playing coy and laughing at his jokes whilst leaving Jake to Lin's devices with only the tiniest bit of amusement. But this evening was important, absolutely key to the future business. The Chinese didn't do short term, there was only room for long term partnerships in this business. And that was simply not built in a day.

Or night. But Marilyn was hard at work to build up their trust over the next ten days, that was her goal and she refused to fail. So she smiled politely, bowing out as Jake and Wong went to the poker tables and she and Lin decided to get another drink and discuss the ups and downs of the coin collecting scene. Sure, Mari didn't actually care, but she was a damn good actress and she'd done her research.

But even she could only hold out for so long, thus moving Lin and herself to the poker table, just in time to hear the word 'project' fall from Newbury's idiotic lips. That imbecile, did he not read the information packet she'd written? No. Talk. Of. Business. Wong seemed to have noticed it as well, but thankfully something charmed a smile on his face again.

"I hope you're not boring our new friend with business talk," she purred, sliding in to sit right next to Wong, just as Wong revealed his cards and the turnout seemed to be good as the chips were pushed to him, "Miss Montez, you seem to be my lucky charm," he grinned at her and she chuckled.

"Let's test that theory then." And another round began. Much to Marilyn's relief he won the next game as well, only stopping to order and toast another round of drinks. When Wong excused himself to go to the bathroom Lin followed, leaving Jake and Marilyn alone.

"Get off my back, Montez. I know what I'm doing."

"Obviously." she drawled, unworried and undaunted, smiling as she took another sip of her drink. He had no idea about doing business with the Eastern World and it was becoming despairingly clear. And whilst for her personally she didn't care of he made a fool of himself on his own time, but this was the company, Louis' company he was representing here.


"Also, if you don't plan on fucking him, stop throwing yourself at him, I can get him a number of hot girls in here, but the lecherous bastard won't look away from you with you playing coy."

Rolling her eyes slightly she set her drink down, "I'm not supposed to fuck him, we're here to stroke ego not cock. He has a wife and a child, we're supposed to make him happy not get him a lawsuit on his hands. He's a very prominent figure, I'm supposed to be coy, make him feel flattered. Not shove him at a prostitute, good grief, do you have any idea how much that would ruin? To be pulled into a sex scandal on that level?" she lifted the drink to her lips and put on a smile for the approaching guests.

"As always I'm two steps ahead of you, Newbury." Mari added under her breath.

Marilyn had rarely been so proud of her self control as when she saw Lin's hand on Jake's thigh. It took every ounce to not choke on her drink with laughter, instead just smirking and laughing at whatever Wong had just said.

Luckily the evening didn't drag on, as they all had meetings the next morning, and soon Marilyn was back in the cab with Jake, both on their phones. Jake pointedly ignoring Marilyn and Mari had a smug aura about her as she texted Louis.


Marilyn begrudgingly texted the man goodnight and put her phone away, just as they pulled up. Without another word she grabbed her night bag and strolled into the bathroom to get ready for the night. Then she realised the fact that a) she wasn't exactly dressed for company and b) that they had to share a bed. Ugh. Grand.

(Mari)

"Is this my reward for the evening?"

Marilyn rolled her eyes and slipped out of the robe that had been covering the pale pink silk garments that she wore and setting it on the chair next to the bed, somewhat oblivious to the fact that her garments and underwear didn't quite match up and the top of her thong was ever so slightly peeking out of the top of her shorts.

Then she slid into bed, pulled her reading glasses on and set a huge pile of files onto her lap along with her iphone, comparing data and making notes of their various appointments, checking in with the places that Wong had booked for them the next day. Ever prepared.

"What will we be doing tomorrow after we've slept together?"

Sighing in frustration Marilyn lowered her glasses to look at him sternly, "Tomorrow we have a luncheon at three with the exectutive board, then a tour of the city and finally..." she scrolled down, "...dinner at a karaoke bar with Wong and Lin."

Shuffling her paperwork together she set it on the table with her glasses and got comfortable.

"And don't flatter yourself, Newbury, if you actually slept with me you wouldn't be capable to doing anything the next day."

"I'll look forward to Thursday night then."

Without response the woman turned her light off and went to sleep after setting her watch  alarm for seven. And seven came, far too early, but that was the price that came with her job. As much as she hated getting up she knew she had to so she went to the bathroom to get ready and emerged thirty minutes later, grabbing her phone and an apple from the kitchen.

"Are your notes not sufficient, Newbury?" Mari remarked dryly, having noticed her notes gone from her bedside before, and now strolling into the area Jake was sat in, her eyes on her phone as she skimmed the stock market news. Their company had gone up 2%, that was good, and Mr.Wong had remained stable, also good.

"We'll be back here after the tour to get ready for the evening. Hope you like singing." She quipped before sitting opposite him.

...

The lunch went by without anything spectacular. They were polite, they made connections and didn't mention the deal once, so Marilyn, reporting back to Louis simply texted, "He hasn't fucked up, yet, today.". The tour was something Marilyn actually enjoyed, though she didn't show that to Jake, but Marilyn loved travelling. And through she missed Louis and her grandparents, she had an 'advantage' towards her coworkers. They had families to come home to. Parents. Siblings. Marilyn didn't have that, She lived on her own in a huge penthouse apartment above Central Park.

So travelling was her favorite distraction.

That afternoon they returned to the suite and again Marilyn got ready. This time pinning her curls into a wavy faux bob and smirked at her reflection, satisfied in knowing she looked jaw-droppingly sensual and elegant at the same time. Perfect.

"Alright, Newbury, let's get this show on the road," she called out, sauntering into the living room.

(Mari)

"Jake. My name is Jake."

"And mine is Marilyn, not that you've made use of that fact," The woman quipped without missing a beat. But she could tell that he was starting to lose his nerve. Perfect. The sooner he realised he wasn't cut out for this job the better.

The cab drove them to the downtown area, right up to a large karaoke bar where Wong and Lin were already waiting inside. After the appropriate greetings Marilyn sat down next to Wong, leaving the seat next to Lin free with a small smirk. Two rounds of drinks and a soup later, (wonton, Marilyn loved Chinese food) Wong was up for a song and Marilyn clapped along with the rest of the bar, enduring his poor rendition of 'I was made for loving you' with a steadfast smile.

Wow, he really butchered that song, she thought, but he was having fun and the rest of the bar cheered when he finished, and she cheered with them. The atmosphere was warm and light and it was clear that everyone in the bar was enjoying themselves immensly, which brought a polite smile to Marilyn's lips, who for her part was content to not have to sing.

But, as per usual, that simply wouldn't do.

"You next, Miss Montez, such a pretty lady must amuse herself."

Somehow Mari had the feeling it would not be herself she'd end up amusing. Anything for the client...

"As you wish, Mr.Wong." She complied and took the stage where her eyes widened momentarily at the song she was given. The woman knew it by heart, due to her love of cheesy films. But this...oh this was going to be mortifying.

She gave it her best, really coöperated with the situation. And she had a nice voice, that she knew, and a bombastic figure, so the woman decided to just use what she had.

"They all say “Darling, what did you do for those pearls?”
What?! I am a good girl..."