The Money Is Green (13 page)

David kicked the dirt with his Bostonian shoes, sending dirt flying and leaving dust on his pressed slacks. “Yeah, you told me about that. What a crock of crap. Did you figure out how much it’s going to cost me?”

“It will be close to twenty-five thousand.” He put his hands out defensively. “I’m sorry about that, Mr. Wilson, but this guy put us in a tough position. We were almost dead in the water without that inspection and he knew it.”

“Don’t fret about it, Rusty,” he said. “I realize it’s the cost of doing business in Hong Kong. It’s happened before on other projects I’ve built and I’m sure it will happen again before we finish. It’s part of the culture here and there’s no way to fight it.”

“I know it’s the culture here,” Rusty said. “But I don’t have to like it.”

David’s phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out. He instantly recognized the number. I wonder what Mei Chen wants, he thought as he hit a button and answered.

“What a sweet voice you have, David,” Mei said in quiet voice. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. I miss you. I’ll be in Hong
Kong later tonight. Could we go to lunch tomorrow and catch up with each other?”

Starting up the stairs to the construction trailer, David paused on the landing and reached out for the door handle. He sensed something in her tone but wasn’t sure what it was. I have to be careful with this woman, he thought. She has way too much power, and I’m not sure what she wants from me. She’s definitely a sensuous woman, and entertaining, but she always has a purpose to everything she does. “That would be great Mei. I’ll be in Hong Kong all week and I can make myself free tomorrow. Let’s meet at the Royal Plantation and Polo Club around noon?”

“I love that place. I’ll see you tomorrow at noon.” She lowered her voice. “Maybe we can find something fun to do after lunch.”

David smiled. “Maybe we can.” He hung up and stared at the phone a second. Why do I have this feeling she’s after something from me?

♦

A light, fresh breeze from the sea flowed through the large open windows of the Royal Plantation and Polo Club. The white linen-covered tables each had a colorful arrangement of flowers on them, with crystal glasses and Waterford plates. Every table buzzed with light conversation as servers in crisp, white tuxedos flitted from table to table. Champagne appeared to be the beverage of choice, as silver trays of it sat on the large hand-carved oak bar in the corner of the room.

David, in dark slacks and a white pressed dress shirt with three buttons opened, sat at a square table by one of the windows, nursing a Johnnie Walker and soda. He checked out the patrons in the room, noting that there was not one who didn’t look like they were going to a formal dinner or a wedding ceremony. I think this is the British
tradition of Hong Kong, he mused. Everyone dressed so formal for a simple lunch. Jolly good!

Looking toward the entrance, he caught sight of Mei Chen as she swept past the maître d’ and headed toward his table, her long flowery dress flowing behind her.

He stood up and gave her a hug, then held her chair while she sat down. A server was at her side immediately. “A glass of champagne, please,” she said to him without looking. “You look great, David. You always seem so fit. What do you do to stay in shape?”

“I try to get to the gym a couple times a week, and I have a regular weekly tennis game,” he answered nonchalantly. “Thank you for the compliment. You look very pretty yourself. If I didn’t know better, I would think you had an appearance at the opera later.”

She threw her hand out dismissively and laughed. “Flattery will get you everywhere.” Her champagne showed up and she raised her glass. “Here’s to old friends.”

Raising his glass, he clinked hers. “So, what brings you to Hong Kong? I thought you were busy with your solar panel company. Did you say there was a large solar project in Nevada you were about to start?”

She sipped her glass and looked at him over its rim. She smiled as she set the glass down. “Yes, you have a great memory. I’m close to getting the bid on the Copper Mountain project. It will be a huge feather in my hat and one giant step up for Soltech!”

“Congratulations.” He raised his glass in a salute.

“Thank you.” Her face grew serious. “The reason I’m here in Hong Kong is official business for my husband.” She lowered her voice as she scanned the room. “A lot of members of the Communist Party look at Hong Kong with disgust. They think it’s a capitalistic cesspool that should be nationalized, taken over, and run by the Chinese government.”

David stiffened. Mei Chen reached over and grabbed his hand, patting it soothingly. “Oh, you have nothing to worry about, dear. This
is just tough talk among some hotheads in the Party. They’re jealous of the wealth that’s created here. Unfortunately, they are too stupid to figure how to take advantage of what’s available to them.”

David stared at her keenly. There’s more to this than what she’s letting on, he thought. Is she warning me of something coming down the pike or is there something else in play here? “Why are these people concerned about the business of Hong Kong all of a sudden?” he asked. “The Chinese government knew what type of society they were getting when it was handed over from the British. They knew they weren’t going to be able to change it or take over businesses without rioting in the streets.”

“You are absolutely correct about that, David, and the smarter people in the government, like myself, know that.” She shrugged and pulled a slice of bread out of a covered basket. “But they still want me to check out a few operations here that might be possible candidates for nationalization that wouldn’t cause a fuss. So I’ll spend a few days in your posh resort and pass on some suggestions to them.”

David put the white napkin folded in front of him on his lap. If they can take one company, they can take any company. A company like mine with all my hotels would be a great prize for someone. Maybe I should sell out and move on to someplace that’s a little different. I can build hotels anywhere in the world, so maybe it’s time to move on. “Do you think there’s any possibility that your government would go after landowners or business owners? What exactly are they looking for?”

Mei raised her eyebrows. “I’m not really sure what they’re after. But I bet they would want something that’s successful.”

“Like a hotelier with a dozen luxury hotels? Would that type of business fall into their sights?”

“You mean someone like yourself?” she asked innocently.

“Precisely,” he answered. “I don’t like the thought of your government taking what I’ve built. Do you think something like that is possible?”

Mei put her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands. “I guess anything is possible.” She paused while the server set an overflowing crab Louie covered in Thousand Island dressing in front of her.

David leaned back while the server set a plate of steaming sautéed trout with garlic-lemon butter and rice pilaf in front of him. “This looks really good, but I’m suddenly not that hungry.” He picked up a fork and pushed some of the food around on the plate.

Mei picked up a fork and took a dainty bite. “If you’re worried about your hotels being taken over, I might have a solution for you.”

She leaned forward while glancing around the room and almost whispered, “If you were to make me a partner in your empire, the Chinese government would leave you alone and look elsewhere.” She continued looking around while speaking softly. “I can also help you get control of many other sites throughout China for you to build many more hotels.” Her eyes narrowed on his. “I can get you some of the best sites in Hong Kong or any other city in China you would wish to build in.”

David studied her face as she ate. I was afraid of this, he thought as he set his fork down. I thought that sooner or later the government was going to step in, and now it’s sooner. I didn’t want a partner, particularly Mei Chen, but I may not have a choice. I need to buy some time and figure out what my next step.

He brought his napkin to his mouth and coughed nervously. “Well, I hadn’t thought about a partner, Mei, so you’ll have to excuse me if I’m surprised,” he said, trying to keep his cool. “I will need some time to figure out if this is the best thing for me to do. I have spent a lot of energy and money on my hotels, and it won’t be easy for me to bring someone else into what I have created.”

“Of course, I understand,” she said never taking her eyes off his. “But think of it in a positive way.” Reaching across the table, she put her hand over his. “We will make such good partners and we can have a lot of fun doing it.” Her eyes sparkled. “Maybe we could start having
fun this afternoon. I’ve rented the president’s suite at your Grand Palace Hotel for the next two months. Maybe we should go there and celebrate a new beginning for the two of us. But let me tell you how I think it could work.”

He listened to her proposal, nodding his head periodically. This is going to take some delicate handling. I can’t blow off her advances and irritate her or she could make my life miserable. On the other hand, getting intimate could open up a whole other set of problems, starting with the fact that she’s married to one of the highest officials in the government. How would he react if he found out? Would he have me shot?

Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips. “Mei, your offer of an afternoon together is very enticing and generous, but I must beg for another time. As much as I’d like to spend the afternoon with you, I’ve got to attend a couple of meetings in regard to the ongoing construction of my hotel. I promise I’ll make it up to you at another time.”

He signaled to the waiter to bring him the bill and put two one-hundred-dollar bills in the leather-covered folder.

He stood and bowed to Mei, carefully setting his napkin on the table. “It was a pleasure having lunch with you. I’ll think about your proposal.” He smiled and added, “Both of your proposals, and we’ll discuss them at a later date. I hope you have a wonderful afternoon.”

His mind raced as he headed out of the restaurant. Maybe I should put all my hotels on the market and get out of Hong Kong. I could start over again somewhere else in the world where the government is more business-friendly. When he got to the outside, he handed a young valet his ticket and waited at the curb under the porte-cochere for him to retrieve his dark blue Mercedes 300 coupe.

What if I bring Mei in as a partner? Could she actually open more doors and help expand the business? She definitely knows people in high places and would make introductions I could never get.

The valet pulled round the circular drive and up to the curb where held the door as David got in. He put the car in drive around the circular drive and headed toward the exit of the club. He asked himself out loud as he drove, “Don’t forget you’re dealing with Mei Chen. Would the risk be worth the reward?”

S
EVENTEEN

T
he Round Table Pizza restaurant was crowded and noisy for a weekday. Three tables of young boys, around twelve or thirteen years of age, fresh from their soccer practice, were hungrily diving into four family-sized pizzas. Six of their teammates were gathered around two pinball machines sitting in the corner of the room, watching the silver balls light up the machine amid lights, whistles, and numbers being racked up on the face of the machines.

Crystal watched all the commotion from a booth as Jason stood at the cashier and ordered their pizza. He came back with two plates and two plastic glasses and set them on the table. “Here you go, sweetie. Help yourself to some salad and a drink.”

Wordlessly, she took a plate and a glass and headed to the salad bar in the center of the restaurant. Jason watched her for a second then turned his eyes to the TV hanging from the ceiling across the room to see what the score of the Giants-Dodger game was. When Crystal returned, he waited until she had situated herself then went over and helped himself to the food.

Returning, he sat down across from her. “Hey, Crystal, you’re probably wondering why I picked you up from practice.”

She paused, holding a forkful of salad to her lips, and looked at him for a second. “Yeah, I thought something might be up.” She continued to watch him, her eyes curious.

“I’ve been offered a new position at Soltech,” he said as he played with his salad. “The good news is that it will be more pay, which means we can move from our apartment and get something nicer.”

“Really?” Crystal perked up. “Where will we move? Can I help pick the place?”

“Of course you can help pick it,” he answered with a smile. “At the moment, I have no idea where we’ll move, but we can take our time and decide.” He glanced back up to the TV as he took a bite of salad. After a second he continued. “The bad news is I’ll have to travel more. The reason that’s bad is I’ll need to find someone you can stay with while I’m gone.”

Crystal rolled her eyes. “Please, Dad, don’t tell me you’re sticking me with Janine. That was the longest week in my life when you took the trip to China.”

Holding his hands up defensively, Jason shook his head. “Hold on. I haven’t decided who you might stay with or where. I haven’t even agreed to take the position yet. I wanted to talk to you and get your input before I decided.”

A number was announced over the intercom and Crystal checked their receipt. “That’s us. I’ll go get it.” She jumped up, walked quickly to the counter, and came back with a steaming pizza. She set it in the center of the table and sat down. The smell of cheese and fresh dough was appetizing. “Well, if you want my opinion, I think if you make more money and we can move from that ugly apartment, I’m all for it. How long will you be gone at one time?”

Jason wiped his hands with a napkin. “I don’t think it would be more than a week. I might have to go back to China a few times to meet with the production people once we get some of these solar farms out of the ground, so on those occasions it might be slightly longer. Other trips would probably take a few days.”

“Will I still be able to go to the same school and stay on the same soccer team?” she asked him in a pleading voice. “I don’t want to start over in some new school with no friends.”