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‘No, Daddy, I’d like to draw.’
‘Leo, show Emma where everything is. I’ll go up the back and rest. If anything happens, call me immediately.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Make sure Simone drinks plenty of water, please, Emma.’
‘Sure, Mr Chen.’
He nodded and went towards the back of the plane.
Leo pointed at the back wall. ‘There’s a little kitchen in there. Behind that is the bunk room. Anything you need, it’s in the kitchen.’
‘Can you turn on the video for me, Leo?’ Simone said.
‘Sure, sweetheart.’ Leo went to the television which was set into the wall. ‘There’s a few videos in the cupboard here, Emma – just put something on for her, it’s a long flight.’ He showed me where the videos were, turned on the unit, then went into the galley and returned with a soda for himself and an apple juice for Simone.
Simone watched some of the videos then fell asleep in my lap. I must have fallen asleep as well, because the sound of their quiet voices woke me. I heard my name mentioned so stayed still to listen.
‘You should tell her, my Lord. She won’t stop pestering both of us until we do. And if we don’t tell her soon, she’s going to resign. You’ll have to tell her, and prove it.’
Mr Chen’s voice was full of pain. ‘I can’t do anything to prove it, Leo. I am too weak.’
‘It’s really that bad?’
Mr Chen didn’t reply.
‘Damn,’ Leo said softly. ‘You left it too long. But you still have to tell her, otherwise she’s going to lose her goddamn temper again and leave us anyway.’
‘I don’t want to lose her,’ Mr Chen said, wistful. ‘If we tell her the truth, she may be scared away.’
‘She won’t be scared away. She doesn’t seem to be frightened by anything.’
‘You’re quite right, she’s remarkable.’
‘You should tell her.’
‘I know.’ Mr Chen groaned. ‘She keeps pushing me to tell her, she knows something’s going on. We’ll do it in Paris. I was planning to tell her there anyway, with Mercy present. No, I have a better idea. You do it. Mercy can help you if she takes it badly.’
‘As long as somebody tells her,’ Leo said. ‘She’s been working here for months without knowing who you really are.’
‘I’ve had staff who worked for me for years without knowing who I was,’ Mr Chen said. ‘Look at Monica.’
‘Monica knows all about it. She just ignores it because it freaks her out.’
‘I don’t want to lose her,’ Mr Chen said. ‘I’d love to teach her. She moves with natural grace and would probably be a formidable warrior.’
‘Teach her then. She wants to learn.’
‘She’s agile and fearless. She’s intelligent too, it sparkles in her eyes.’ His voice became wistful again. ‘She has wonderful eyes.’
‘Well then, teach her.’
Mr Chen dropped his voice. ‘I will discuss the possibility with Mercy, but I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to spend so much time in close physical contact with Emma.’
Leo was silent for a moment. Then he spoke again, his voice a soft growl. ‘No way. I do not believe this. No way.’
Mr Chen was silent.
‘Tell me it’s not true,’ Leo said.
Mr Chen sighed loudly.
‘This is all we need,’ Leo said. ‘You should dismiss her now, my Lord. Don’t even think about starting something you can’t finish.’
‘Simone adores her.’
‘And you?’
Mr Chen was silent for a moment. Then, ‘I don’t want to lose her. I love being with her, having her around.’ His voice softened. ‘I wish things could be different.’
My heart leapt.
‘Well, they can’t, so both of you will just have to get over it,’ Leo said. ‘If you really feel that way then you should let her go.’
They fell silent again. I was about to make a display of waking when Mr Chen spoke. ‘There are some interesting weather patterns over the Mediterranean.’
‘Mess with the weather and Ms Kwan will rip your shell off,’ Leo growled. ‘How long before they’ll come after us? They know how weak you are.’
‘It is only a matter of time. Mercy can tell us more. We should be safe now that we are far from their Centre. They are weak.’
‘So are you. You shouldn’t have waited this long to see her.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
‘You shouldn’t take risks like this!’ Leo hissed. ‘Think of what’s at stake here!’
‘I am very well aware of what’s at stake here!’ Mr Chen whispered ferociously.
Leo threw himself out of his chair and went out. Something crashed in the galley and Simone shot upright with a squeak.
Charade over.
‘It’s okay, sweetheart,’ I said, and pulled her to me.
She freed herself from my arms and scurried to her father, then clambered into his lap and curled up. He smiled down at her and stroked her hair.
I yawned, stretching. Leo came out of the galley with a soda and flung himself into one of the chairs, which protested under his weight. ‘You snore.’
‘I do not!’
‘Leave her alone, Leo.’
Leo grunted and turned his chair away from us.
‘Leo, you are very tired and you have lost your edge. Go and rest.’
Leo didn’t move.
‘That’s an order, Leo.’
Leo glared at Mr Chen and stomped towards the back of the plane.
Mr Chen and I shared a smile. ‘Sleep well?’ he said.
‘How long was I out?’
He checked his watch. ‘Only a couple of hours.’
We sat quietly together. He stroked Simone’s hair.
I shifted and he glanced at me. I opened my mouth to say ‘Mr Chen, are you a god?’ and then closed it again, feeling ridiculous. I decided to make a sideways attack on the issue.
‘Mr Chen, what’s your real name?’
He looked straight into my eyes and I nearly became lost in them. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Because on the letters that come in, you have six different first names.’
‘You’ve been in my study?’
‘No, of course not, I respect your privacy. But I’ve seen the letters.’
‘I’ll have to tell Leo and Monica that; they’re always trying to tidy my study.’ He didn’t seem fazed. ‘Six names would be about right.’
‘So which one is the right one?’
He smiled slightly. ‘They all are.’
‘Oh, come on,’ I said. ‘What’s your real name?’
‘Right now, my real name is John Chen Wu. That is me.’ He smiled into my eyes. ‘You can call me John if you like.’ His gaze became intense and he dropped his voice. ‘Call me John.’
I looked back at him and spoke softly. ‘I don’t think that would be appropriate.’
‘As you wish.’ He leaned back and stroked Simone’s hair. ‘We’ll be there soon.’
Loud snores floated from the back of the plane and we both smiled.
CHAPTER EIGHT (#ulink_20cc528b-6ad5-5a2c-8009-b5c62316f121)
Once again Mr Chen did something to the airport staff and they didn’t notice the bag as it went through the X-ray machine.
A van with a driver was waiting for us at the airport and took us into the city of Paris. Simone stared out the window, delighted, as we drove past the elegant, old-fashioned buildings. We pulled into a side street on the edge of Montmartre, around the corner from the Moulin Rouge. Five-storey town-houses stood either side of the tree-lined street, with curved façades and elaborate windows.
The driver parked the van outside what appeared to be an apartment building. Inside, it was a house. The large entry had sweeping Art Nouveau stairs and a glittering chandelier.
A slender, middle-aged Chinese lady came down the stairs to meet us. She wore a flowing pantsuit of white silk, and had an enormous amount of hair piled on her head. She moved with the grace of a princess and her smooth oval face was angelic.
Simone ran to her and clutched her around the legs. ‘Aunty Kwan!’
Ms Kwan crouched and pushed a stray lock of hair out of Simone’s eyes. ‘Simone, Simone. You are more beautiful every day, and more and more like your mother.’
Simone kissed her loudly on the cheek.
Ms Kwan rose and went to Mr Chen. She put one slender manicured hand on his shoulder and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek.
I’d never seen him blush before. It was charming.
‘Hello, old Wu,’ she said. ‘Keeping well?’
‘All the better for seeing you, my Lady.’
‘You have left it a long time, my friend.’
‘I know.’
‘Jade and Gold?’
‘Coping.’
She sighed. ‘Next time I will come to you.’
He shook his head.
‘Fine then, be stubborn.’ She saw me. ‘Who is this?’ Her eyes widened. ‘I don’t believe it. Haven’t you learnt your lesson?’
‘No, no, this is Simone’s nanny. Miss Emma Donahoe.’ He looked into her eyes. They concentrated on each other, then both snapped out of it.
‘I see.’ Ms Kwan glanced down at Simone. ‘And is Miss Donahoe a good nanny?’
‘Emma’s great,’ Simone said. ‘She’s fun.’
‘Then Emma is a welcome guest. Welcome to Paris, Emma.’
I had the irrational feeling that I wanted her for my mother. ‘Thank you.’
Ms Kwan patted Leo’s arm. ‘Make sure he comes sooner next time, Leo.’
