Maid for the Billionaire(39)

Zhang translated for the shop woman then added in English, "Now that you have seen our need. Will you help us?"

With the pressure of both women looking at her, Abby squirmed. "What are you asking me to do?"

Zhang spoke in rapid Mandarin to the shopkeeper, promising to return soon. Abby followed her lead and used what little she knew to thank the woman for the tour. Without answering Abby's question, Zhang led the way back to the limo, much to the obvious relief of Scott and his men.

Zhang waited until the vehicles had pulled back onto the mountain road before she said, "Although women have broken through many social barriers in the city, funding for educating women in the rural communities is still rare. I am determined to change that."

"I thought your universities were free?" Abby asked in surprise.

"Free is still too expensive for those who must work to survive. Primary education has been mandated for all, but families still withdraw their daughters when it is legal to do so. Even rural families who wish for more for their daughters, cannot afford to send them away to school. Someone must pay for them to eat, for a place for them to live. Yes, free can still be very expensive."

Abby thought of the shop keeper she'd just met with a deeper understanding of her achievements. "Are you talking about a scholarship fund? You want me to ask Dominic to make a contribution to one?"

"It has to be more sweeping than that." Zhang said. "To make a real impact it would have to be National, set up by the government, and with maintainable funding. Dominic is in a rare position of asking our government to do just that. He could add this to his negotiations. It is within his power to touch the lives of many women who would otherwise continue to struggle in poverty."

"Why don't you talk to him, Zhang? He would listen to you." Abby said.

"I've tried," Zhang said in disgust. "Dominic has never cared about the people in any country he has dealt with. He came here for the money and power, not to facilitate a social change. But you—you have his ear. He might listen to you as he has listened to no one before."

"Forgive me, Zhang, but I think you've gotten misinformation as far as I am concerned. I've known Dominic less than a week. He's not going to make any business decisions based on my opinion." The words hurt as even Abby said them, but hadn't Dominic just warned her not to read too much into their short affair?

Zhang pinned her with piercing black eyes that missed nothing. One of her eyebrows rose doubtfully. "I didn't take you for a fool, Abigail Dartley. Don't take me for one. Dominic doesn't mix his women with his business. He made an exception for you. Don't underestimate your importance to him. Perhaps he hasn't said the words to you yet, but by bringing you here, he has already made an announcement to the world."

Oh, how Abby wanted to believe that, but she knew the truth. "What he announced, Zhang, was that he doesn't like to be alone when he is sad. He's mourning the death of his father."

Zhang clearly didn't believe her. "Is that what you've been doing all week? Helping him mourn?"

Abby turned sharply toward Zhang, her tone turning cold. "That's really none of your business, is it?"

Unperturbed, Zhang continued on smoothly, "Oh, but it is. Your relationship is very much my business. Your link to Dominic has given you, whether you want it or not, a role in the cultural revolution of China. Whatever you decide will impact the future of many."

"So, no pressure." Abby muttered to herself. Could this be real? How had Abby gone from struggling beneath the responsibility of raising one sibling to shouldering potential blame for the lack of adequate education for billions of women? It was almost too much for her to wrap her mind around. "What are you actually asking for? You want Dominic to negotiate for a national government scholarship for women?"

"Yes, and to fund the program by donating five percent of Coirisi Enterprises' annual profit."

Abby looked out the window. The mountain quickly disappeared behind them. Soon they'd be back on a major modern highway, heading back to the hotel. She wondered how Dominic's talks were going that day. Tonight there could be no excuses. She would have to tell him everything and let the chips fall as they would.

Dominic was not going to be happy when he heard about Scott. There was a good chance he was going to be less than thrilled that she'd left the city with someone who might very well be a business rival. She had only Zhang's word that what she said was true.

But if what Zhang said was true, how could she not at least mention the idea to Dominic?

Somehow, she'd have to work Zhang's proposal into the conversation. She didn't want to build up the woman's hopes that she would be successful at convincing him. "All I can do is try," Abby said out loud and turned back to meet the scrutiny of her companion. "He might not listen to me, but I will tell him about meeting you and what I learned today. Maybe I could even drive him out to meet Wen. I know how he comes across when you first meet him, but Dominic also has a caring side. He might agree to your requests when he sees all this for himself."