The Money Is Green Read online

  “Sometime in the next week or two, I’ve got to take a trip for work. It’s a really important career trip for me.” He swirled some noodles on his fork. She stared at him intently as he spoke. “It’s going to take me away from you for at least a week.”

  “Where are you going?” she asked between bites.

  Jason looked down at his plate and picked at his food. “I’m going to China to meet with my boss, Mei Chen. I’ve asked Janine to stay here with you and help you get to where you need to be while I’m gone, and she has graciously agreed to help us out.”

  Crystal flipped her fork onto her plate. “You’ve got to be kidding, right?” she asked, as she raised her voice. “No way! I don’t want her to stay here and I don’t want her taking me to school. How can you do this to me?” She stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Mom told me Janine was the reason you guys broke up.”

  “Crystal, please. We’ve been through this before. I didn’t meet Janine until your mother had moved out on me. You can’t blame our divorce on her; it’s not true and it isn’t fair.” He looked into her eyes. “I need some help, Crystal, and Janine can do this. You can’t blame her for something she didn’t do.”

  “That’s not what Mom says,” she said, raising her chin. “She says if you hadn’t been so busy chasing Janine around, your business wouldn’t have failed and she wouldn’t have left you.”

  Jason could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. “You know that isn’t true. I’ve never laid a hand on another woman while I was with your mom. The reason my business failed was because of things I had no control over. I tried everything to save it. It happened to a lot of people who had construction businesses like mine. I’m sorry your mother left, more than you know. But it was not because of anything that I did outside of our marriage. And Janine had nothing to do with it.”

  Crystal grabbed her books and backpack and stormed out of the kitchen, her bedroom door slamming a few seconds later.

  Jason yelled after her, “You’d better get used to the idea of Janine, because whether you like it or not, you’re going to be spending a lot of time together!”

  He stared down at the floor for a second then walked over and opened the refrigerator door. He pulled a beer out of the door, opened it, and took a long swig. Oh, Janine, what have I signed you up for? I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but I had hoped Crystal would have come around by now after all the time we’ve been dating. Janine has gone out of her way to be nice and get along. I hope when I get back from China they’re both still talking to me.

  Just as he was lifting his beer for a second sip, his phone rang. He recognized Brian Thompson’s number. He answered. “Brian, what’s up?”

  “Jason,” Brian said, a tone of seriousness in his voice. “I need to see you first thing in the morning at my office.”

  Jason swallowed hard. “Sure, Brian, I can be there right after I drop Crystal off, around 8:00. Can I ask what’s going on?”

  “There’s been another accident at the Soltech solar panel plant in Shanghai. Three workers were killed. This isn’t good PR for your firm.”

  Jason felt a knot growing in the pit of his stomach. “That isn’t good. I’ll see you in the morning.” He hung up and slumped into his chair. Why didn’t Mei Chen say something about this to me this afternoon? Is this why I’m going to Shanghai? What’s going on over there?

  TWO

  The sound of engines quietly humming could be heard above the din of voices coming from the front of the plane. A plush Persian carpet of intricately designed peacocks and tigers ran the length of the 747 jet. Walnut paneling with thick crown molding covered the interior, and colorful watercolor paintings hung from the walls. Mei Chen relaxed in the spacious center room of the plane on a massive leather couch. In one hand she held a book, The Art of the Deal, by Donald Trump, and in the other a martini.

  Small Bose speakers suspended from the ceiling emitted soft piano music. Mei set her drink down on the mahogany coffee table and closed her book. Pulling the curtain back from the small oval window, she looked down at the vast expanse of Pacific Ocean thirty-five thousand feet below her. She could barely make out the white caps of the waves, and looking closely, she could see a tiny dot that would be a cargo ship making its way to the orient.

  A young woman in a traditional Chinese kimono came up to her and half-bowed. “May I get you another martini, Madam Chen?” she asked.

  “Yes, that would be good, Xie Tung,” she responded, handing the woman her empty glass. “How long until we reach Hong Kong?”

  Without looking up, the woman answered in a wavering voice. “We have five hours until we’re in Hong Kong, the last I checked. Would you like me to find out precisely when we will arrive?”

  Mei waved her hand dismissively. “No, that will be all. Just bring me my drink.” She leaned her head back and smiled. That should give me plenty of time to get ready for the party at the Royal Plantation and Polo Club. She looked forward to all the pomp and ceremony that the British put out. Not to mention the fact that David Wilson, the largest hotel owner in Hong Kong, would be attending.

  She pulled a compact from her purse and checked her lipstick. This will be our second meeting, and I left him wanting after our first. He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to be his new partner in his hotel business. He won’t be happy about it, but once I explain the alternative, he’ll see things my way.

  Two minutes later, the young woman reappeared and set a fresh martini on the table next to Mei. She bowed in silence and left. Mei absently looked out the window again, observing the two massive Rolls Royce engines hanging from under the wing of the Boeing aircraft. The dull white color of the exterior was in sharp contrast to the lavish and lively interior of the plane. The plane was one of fifteen used by the upper members of the Communist Party and as such had to look as non-descript from the exterior as possible. But her husband had allowed Mei to redo the interior, and she’d spared no expense. The fact that she spent more money decorating the plane than whole villages in China made in two years did not bother her. Her family had paid its dues and it was good to reap the rewards.

  Her father’s image came into her head and with it the memories. I know you were disappointed I was not a boy when I was born, Father. I did everything I could to prove to you I was worthy. Yet no matter what I did, Father, no matter how hard I tried to prove my worth, I would never be a boy. I out-studied everyone in my class and graduated number one at the University. I worked harder at my government job than anyone else and was rewarded.

  She knew if he had lived, he would be proud of what she had accomplished—both proud and appalled. He’d be proud that I am so elevated in the Party, but appalled at my desire for the material things of this world. Although she knew he would disapprove of her material interests, she couldn’t forget the same dull gray outfits everyone wore as she grew up. She thought about all the meager things they’d had at home, when at the snap of a finger her father could have improved their lives immensely. Not anymore, she thought. She’d worked too hard, had sacrificed enough, and was going to enjoy the privilege her status gave her and take advantage of her power.

  She picked up a memo sitting next to her that Jason had given her before she left. She studied it for a few minutes and then set it down. Jason is a great asset to my company. He’s smart, loyal, and works hard. I like his ideas. She smiled to herself. And he’s easy on the eyes. He could almost pass as George Clooney’s younger brother. She licked the rim of her glass, thinking. If he didn’t work for me, I would keep him for myself, to be my paramour. However, since he did work for her, it was out of the question. She envisioned him as being the face of Soltech and being in charge of the whole company.

  Her thoughts were interrupted when the plane hit some turbulence and bounced a few feet in the air, causing her to fall forward, almost hitting her head on the table. The martini tumbled to the floor.

  She yelled, and immediately a uniformed man appeared at the door.

/>   “Yes, Madam Chen, can I help you?” he asked as he held onto the doorframe for support.

  “You tell those two pilots to steer clear of bad air!” she screamed. “Tell them to fly this jet correctly, or I will have them both decommissioned and sent off to the North Korean border.”

  The man bowed. “Yes, ma’am, I will order them to fly the plane correctly. There is no excuse for this type of discomfort.”

  “Good, and get Xie Tung to clean up this mess and to bring me another martini!”

  He bowed again. “Right away, ma’am.”

  Mei stared at the spilled liquid in disgust. I need to inform my husband of such poor flying. This type of performance should not be tolerated.

  ♦

  Mei glided down the stairway, her colorful kimono fluttering in the breeze. She walked ten steps and then slipped into a black stretch limo, accompanied by Xie Tung, her valet, and Cho Loy, her personal assistant. Before the doors were closed, she started dictating a letter, speaking so quickly Cho had to use stenography to get it all down. The limo left the tarmac led by two military jeeps in front and two in back. All of the jeeps were occupied with soldiers armed with automatic weapons raised straight up but at the ready. Traffic pulled aside as they approached to let the convoy through, and within twenty minutes Mei stepped out onto the porte-cochere of the Grand Hyatt.

  She made her way to the elevator with Cho following close behind, and after a quick ride up, she was standing outside on the presidential suite balcony on the forty-fifth floor, where she gathered in the majestic view of Hong Kong. Inside the suite, a magnum of Dom Pérignon champagne sat in an ice-filled silver container on the granite counter next to an enormous bouquet of flowers. The note on the flowers read in Chinese, “The People of Hong Kong welcome Madam Mei Chen.”

  Cho, wearing a gray business suit and holding a legal pad, stood silently by Mei’s side, ready to start scribbling should she begin to talk. She turned and looked at Cho. “You may go now. I need to get ready for the party, so instruct Xie Tung to draw my bath. Send that memo out right away.”

  Pushing her glasses back, Cho bowed and headed for the door, writing furiously as she walked and calling out for the personal valet. Mei followed her back into the suite and hurriedly threw off her clothes. This is going to be fun, she mused. I can’t wait to see Mr. Wilson again.

  ♦

  Mei stood at the landing on top of the marble stairway and slowly made her way down to the grand ballroom at the Royal Polo Club. The room was capable of holding over a thousand people at any one time, and this was one of those times. The light-stained parapet floors shined from the recent waxing. A large crystal chandelier hung from the ten-foot ceiling, which had twelve-inch white box beams set in a checkerboard pattern across the room. Large floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded two exterior walls overlooking a lush garden with a fountain and koi pond.

  Mei paused halfway down the stairs as she took in the scene below her. It brought back memories of the days her father had brought her to Party events here. The difference was back then there was nothing ornate or special about the festivities. Everyone dressed the same and looked the same. There were very few decorations, other than Communist flags, which were hung everywhere around the room. She smiled and continued down the stairs, her head held high. Servers in black slacks, white blazers, and white gloves carried silver trays of salmon mousse, stuffed mushrooms, and enormous shrimp, along with other tasty appetizers from the club’s world-famous kitchen. In all four corners, bartenders furiously tended to drink orders.

  Mei took in the circular tables with white tablecloths, white rose centerpieces, and expensive bone china. The full orchestra, dressed in black tuxedos, on the stage in the center of the room, played music softly as directed by a balding conductor. Women in long flowing dresses with diamonds dripping off their necks and ears flitted from one group of tuxedoed men to the other, their laughter and conversation filling the room with merriment.

  Mei stood at the entrance to the room and waited to be recognized. Her full-length white evening gown fit her curves neatly and showed enough cleavage to get attention, but not enough to be scandalous. Her diamond necklace sparkled as she moved, bouncing the light around the room.

  Mei spotted David Wilson across the room talking to Blake Keel, the US Ambassador to Hong Kong, and his wife. She walked gracefully and deliberately towards them, stopping to greet the prominent citizens of Hong Kong as she came across them. Her conversation was light and carefree, her laughter controlled and deliberate. Eventually, she arrived at David’s side and gently tugged at his arm.

  “Ah, Mei, my favorite Communist,” he said with a smile as he bent over and kissed her gloved hand. “You look splendid, as always. Do you know Ambassador Keel and his wife?” He held his arm out in the direction of the Ambassador.

  Mei gave a slight curtsy. “Of course we have met, many times. Nice to see you, Blake, and you also, Loren.”

  The ambassador bowed and turned to David. “Excuse us, I just spotted Congressman Gordon, and I need to speak to him before he gets away. Nice to see you again, Mei. Say hello to your husband for me.”

  Mei forced a slight smile and watched them as they wandered off. She turned back to David and looked up at him. “How long will you be in Hong Kong? Will I be able to get the dinner you promised me?” She playfully pulled at his sleeve, pouting her lips. Her red lipstick glistened in the light.

  “As a matter of fact, I’m going to be here for a week, so if you can find time in your busy schedule, I would love to take you to dinner. Speaking of busy, how is the green energy business treating you?” He took a sip of champagne as he gazed into her eyes.

  “It’s going well. Now that the United States government has set aside billions for renewable energy projects, my factories are busy operating twenty-four hours a day to keep up with the demand. You watch, by this time next year Soltech will be the largest photovoltaic panel maker in the world!” Her eyes narrowed as she put her arm inside his. “Wouldn’t you like to be part of that, David? I could make it happen.”

  “Really?” he responded in an amused voice. “Why would I want to get involved in a solar company when I have ten thousand hotel rooms to look after and another three thousand to build in the next two years?”

  She looked over her shoulder and then spoke in a soft tone, barely enough to be heard above the noise from the orchestra and the crowd. “Because, I have reliable information and an inside track on some of the largest solar farms being built in the world. My company will make billions in the next few years while you’ll be busting your fanny to make a few million.” She leaned back, a smug look on her face. “That’s why.”

  “Okay, I get that,” he said, suddenly more interested. “But why do you want me to be part of this? You’ve got the Chinese government on your side, and from what I’ve heard, they’re subsidizing your company so much that no one can compete with you. What would I bring to the table?”

  “David, you’re a successful real estate developer who builds multi-million-dollar resorts. You have the ability to navigate through complicated deals, and you know how to get things done.” She winked at him and a wicked smile crept across her face. “Besides, real estate is a great way to hide lots of money.”

  She grabbed his elbow and guided him towards the other side of the room. “Come sit with me, David. There are many reasons I would like you to join up with me.” As they walked, she acknowledged people as they passed. She slid into a booth toward the back of the room and patted the seat beside her. Once David got settled, she put her hand through his. “Let’s see. Where was I? Oh yes. Because of my husband’s high position in the government, the powers that be allow me to run my company as I see fit and take advantage of the subsidies the government makes available. But if my company is as successful as I know it will be, the government will never let me keep all the money. That’s where you come in.”

  They came to a table where four other couples were already seated, and
David held out a chair. Mei acknowledged the other couples and continued, speaking in a hushed tone. “I want to have a partner help me keep all of the money my company’s going to make, preferably here in Hong Kong.” She looked into his eyes and slid her hand down under the table to his lap, playfully giving him a squeeze. “Besides, there might be other benefits, too.”

  David let a smirk come across his face and then leaned in next to her ear. “I might be mistaken, but are you not already spoken for and is not your husband the third highest member of Communist China’s government? I don’t think playing in that shark tank would be healthy for one’s longevity. I realize we went down this path once before, but I didn’t think you or I wanted it to be a long-term affair. It would increase the chances of getting caught.” He raised his eyebrows at her.

  Mei batted her eyes at him with and waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, David, don’t be such a wimp. Ho knows only one life and that is the Communist Party. Outside of the Party, he does what I tell him to and he knows that what I do with my life is none of his business.” She reached for her glass of champagne and took a sip. “Think about my proposition. I know you’re already wealthy, but you can never be too rich.”

  Picking up a dinner roll, David broke it in half. “I’ll give it some thought and let you know.” He patted her thigh under the table. “You’re making me a tempting offer. I may find it hard to refuse.”

  THREE

  Four cars sat ahead of Janine, their engines idling while their drivers waited for the school bell to ring and unload the students from the classrooms and out to the waiting parents. Janine, on her cellphone with her administrative assistant, watched the first door of the school building up the walkway twenty yards away.

  “I like the concept, Kristin, but I’ll need to see it when I get back to the office. Run it by Patrick and get his thoughts.”