She should have followed her instincts and gotten off the plane in New York. She could be back in her old life right now.
Safe.
Bored.
Half alive.
Half alive is better than dead.
Abby shuddered and rested her hand lightly on the neck of one of the lions. I wouldn't mind a little of your protection today.
Whether the answer came to her from the ancient guardian or from a revival of her own inner fortitude, the result was the same. She resolved to trust Dominic and tell him everything she knew as soon as he returned to the hotel. Fear is not going to rule my life anymore.
A petite Chinese woman stepped out of a crowd of tourists and stood next to Abby. In thickly accented English, she said, "Excuse me, Miss Dartley?"
Before she even had time to turn fully, Abby sensed her bodyguards closing ranks around her. "Yes," Abby said, amazed that someone here would know her and wondered if it was someone from the hotel staff. Did she have a message from Dominic?
"Zhang Yajun would like to meet you for tea at your hotel lounge," the woman said with a slight bow of her head.
Abby sought advice from the only person she had to rely on. "Scott?"
He assessed and dismissed the risk. "She is one of the most influential women in China. She made her money in real estate and food essences, I believe. I don't think there is any harm in meeting her in a public place."
"I don't-—" Abby started to disagree, then stopped herself. If this trip was really the jumpstart to the next phase of her life, then it was high time she started embracing opportunities as they came. How often did one get the chance to meet one of the most influential women in China? "Do I have time to change?" Abby asked the woman.
"She waits for you as we speak," the woman said apologetically. "She requests just a few minutes of your time."
Tea sounded pretty harmless. People who were going to kidnap you or threaten your life probably didn't offer you such a soothing beverage, did they? Should she call Dominic and tell him where she was going? By now he could be meeting with the Minister of Commerce, how insane would she sound interrupting that to ask if she should meet with a woman who was probably just curious about Dominic's choice of companionship?
"Lead the way," Abby said patting the white lion one last time.
The hotel tea lounge was busy, but Zhang Yajun would have stood out in any crowd. Her confidence outshone the simplicity of her loosely restrained black shoulder length hair and the starkness of her white pin striped shirt. She sat at a corner table appearing completely undisturbed by the obvious interest of the patrons around her.
She stood as Abby crossed the lounge. Her stare was direct; a blatant assessment which bordered on rude. She was the opposite of every meek Asian Hollywood stereotype. Her greeting was a nod rather than a bow. She waved for Abby to join her at the small table. Abby sat and accepted the tea the woman poured for her.
"I am glad you could join me," Zhang said in perfect, although somewhat stilted English. Her accent hinted at education in Europe, rather than the US.
"The invitation was an honor," Abby said honestly. Who wouldn't want to meet a woman who achieved money and power in a country still mostly dominated by men?#p#分页标题#e#
"You are a surprise to many, Abigail Dartley," Zhang said ambiguously.
"In what way?" Abby asked.
Zhang looked around the room, her eyes resting briefly on each of Abby's four security guards. "Dominic is not known to mix business with pleasure. Is it true that you have only just met him?"
"Why is how long I have or haven't been seeing Dominic important?" Abby countered. Please don't let her say it determines the amount of the ransom. Please.
Instead, the woman asked, "Do you know why he is here?"
The truth will set you free. "Not really, no."
Zhang laced her fingers together, choosing her words with care. "Dominic has gathered some hefty investors and petitioned the Chinese Minister of Commerce to open the technological market to Corisi Enterprises. Once that contract is signed, the internet across China will be revolutionized. Some say there will be a computer in every home, even before there is a washer."
"Don't you already have the internet? I've seen computers at the hotel and in the tourist office." Despite the age of the buildings, the hotel had been outfitted with every modern gadget associated with luxury and convenience.
"We do, but not to the scale that Dominic proposes. He has designed a software and a network that could handle the amount of traffic our country would produce if it were to collectively get online."
"Sounds like it would benefit both sides," Abby said, more than a little relieved to discover the nature of Dominic's current project.