“But where?”
K. tapped at the pad a moment, then the screen lit up again. It showed the main Murdoch news channel, Channel 96. A newscaster was talking, a panel on the wall behind him showing a steaming rocket ship that had just set down at Tientsin Spaceport Two great banners flew together behind the ship. One was the red dragon on a golden background of the Chinese Empire, the other the red white and blue of the United States, the 69 stars boldly emblazoned in one corner. As the picture grew to fill the screen, a caption came up in English and Mandarin, even as the newscaster spoke again in his best mid-Pacific accent “United States President Robert Newell arrived this evening at Beijing Spaceport on his way to tomorrow’s meeting with President Wei. They will meet at noon at the Imperial Palace to sign the latest draft of the Sino-American trade agreement...”
“Oh, shit1” K. said, clearing the screen then looking to Kim. “We’d best get back immediately.”
Han Ch’in saw her at once, there at the far end of the crowded reception hall, beside the trader, Wyatt Blonde, extremely busty, and with the kind of bored look on her face that said “escort” as clearly as if she’d had it tattooed on her forehead.
Excusing himself momentarily, he made his way across.
“Edmund...”
Wyatt turned, then smiled. “Han Ch’in! How are you? I hear you’re escorting the President””That”s so. And that”s why I’ve come to speak to you. I have .. . well, a little proposition, shall we say.”
Wyatfs smile broadened. “You want to deal, Han Ch’in?” “There’s a room,” Han answered, maintaining his dignity, “just along the corridor. If we could talk there?”
Wyatt looked to the girl. “Wait here, Susan. I’ll be two minutes maximum.”
She stared at him doe-eyed and nodded, then went back to sipping at her drink and looking about her, a glazed expression returning to her features. Han Ch’in studied the girl a moment, wondering what an intelligent man like Newell was doing fucking bimbos like this, then, turning back to Wyatt, he gave a tight smile and put out an arm, inviting him through.
Li Yuan took off his jacket and threw it down on the chair, then went over to the sink and, turning the tap full on, sloshed water up into his face.
What am I doing? What in fuck’s name am I getting involved in? If Han Ch’in should find out1.
But it was too late now. He’d had the girl. And not just once, but three times. No. He had to go through with it now. Had to. And then, for the first time in his life, he’d have to pretend. To Han Ch’in of all people! “Aiya...”
Li Yuan turned and looked back through the door at his luxury apartment He had lived here fifteen months now, ever since Hu Sho had thrown him out. Not that he blamed her. It couldn’t have been nice to come home and find your husband shagging not only your best friend, but her daughter too! And now, once again, his dick was getting him in trouble. Only this time he could not afford to be caught. This time he had to set things up so that he couldn’t be caught.
He went over to the comset and punched out the number the woman had given him. For a moment there was no reply, and then the screen lit up. “ Ahh... Mister Huang. Have you made the arrangements?” Li Yuan nodded, then sheepishly read out the details. He had bought an apartment in Shanghai, using a company account At the same time he had set up a fund to pay the woman and her daughter enough to live on for the next thirty years. And not just subsistence living, but a comfortable sum -enough to allow them many little luxuries.
But if he knew the mother, she’d find other ways to supplement her income, promise or no promise.
The girl, however, was another matter. He was determined not to share her. Not now.
No strings. The girl had been right to question that, for all relationships - even of this crude, mercantile kind - had strings. That was how it worked. Maybe it was even why it worked.
“You’ll leave tomorrow morning,” he said finally. “The tickets will be waiting for you at Central Station, in your name.”
“First Class?” the woman asked, a tightness born of greed in her face. “Of course. And you will be met at the other end and taken to your new apartment You will receive a decorating allowance. And there will be special payments.” “Special?” The woman’s eyes lit.
‘Tor your silence. Which will cease the moment that a word is said about this agreement between us.”
“I understand.”
“Make sure you do, Madam Yin. Make doubly sure you do.”
Li Yuan broke contact, then slumped down onto the sofa. He sniffed his fingers. He could still smell her on him. The very thought of what they’d done made him stiffen again.
No wonder Han Ch’in had wanted her; whore or not Such a woman could rob one of all sense.
Yes, and he would raise his brother’s son as his own. Would do well by him. Make sure he had nothing but the best But the thought slipped into the background as he thought again of the woman and the way she had of presenting her breasts to him, that teasing light in her eyes, and the noises she made.”Aiya ...” he said, going across and beginning to strip off, knowing that nothing but a cold shower would cure this. “The gods help me for what I’ve done!”
The President lay on his back, the girl astride him. As he came, he reached up, burying his head between her breasts.
As he relaxed again, the girl straightened up a little, then giggled. “That better, honey?” “Fucking wonderful...” “You want me to stay? I can, if you want” Newell looked up at her. In the light from the single bedside lamp she looked magnificent A red woman, not like those tight-arsed frigid little bitches that manned his office back in Washington. That lot didn’t have a decent pair of tits between them! “You stay as long as you want sweetheart I sure as hell ain’t kicking you out!”
“That”s good,” she said, giving him a lascivious smile. “Because I know one or two tricks you just might like.” “Oh yeah?” He raised an eyebrow, interested. “Yeah,” she said lazily, reaching up to cup her breasts, her erect nipples drawing his eyes. “And I ain’t talking about tricks you can teach your kids.” “I didn’t think you were ...” He paused, then. “You ever thought of settling in Washington?” “You offering me a job?” “I might be. Depends if you pass the interview.” She grinned, then reached down, gently taking his flaccid cock in one hand, beginning to coax it back to life. “Well now, let me see if Pve got this right...”
Li Yuan was dozing in the chair by the screen when it came alive.
“What the .. .?”
Cho Yi’s ancient, timeless face stared back at him. “Yuan! Wake up! If s me. I’m in the office. You must come at once. Something’s happening. Something big. I need your help!”
“Master Cho?”
The screen went dead.
Yuan shook himself, then stood, feeling unsteady. He was tired. To be honest he was knackered after being with the girl. But Cho Yi had sounded desperate. Walking across, he took his jacket from the back of the chair and pulled it on, then, responding to the urgency in Cho’s voice, he went back to the screen and tapped in the code for Rapidcabs.
“Yes, Shih Li? You want a glide now?”
“Yes, Hung,” he answered, recognising the young man. “To go to my office. Fast as you can.”
The young man looked down, checking something, then looked up again, a wide grin on his face. “One minute. He’ll be there by the time you get up onto the roof.” “Great!” Yuan said. “Bill me double, Hung, okay?”
Hung bowed, hands together. “Very generous, Shih Li. Any time you need us ...”
“... I’ll phone you.”
He cut the connection, then hurried across, turning off the lights behind him.
Something big, eh? Now what could that be?
Turner, Newell’s Security Chief, was a big, uncompromising man. He stood now nose to nose with Li Han Ch’in in the corridor outside the President’s suite, bellowing at the Han, his face and neck bright red with exertion. “I don’t give a shit what the President wanted! I’m not here to satisfy his fucking carnal needs, I’m here to stop the fucking asshole getting topped!” Han Ch’in glowered back at the man.