Wife for a Week(49)

Kai gave her one of his rare, slow smiles and then the loading bay door opened and two suited sentries stood waiting for them. Hallie took a deep breath and then another before reaching for the door handle. She could do this. Would do this, dammit, because this little catastrophe was of her making and she was going to fix it. What was more, Nick trusted her to fix it.

It was time to go do business.

The plaza was deserted and eerily quiet, but the door to the little corner shop was open, the lights inside were on, and the young salesman she’d bought the vase from stood waiting by the counter. He wasn’t alone. An older man with greying hair and hard black eyes stood beside him. Whoever he was, and she really wasn’t inclined to ask, he wore authority like a cloak and power as if he was born to it. Maybe he was.

‘Thank you for agreeing to see me at such short notice,’ she said politely.

‘We have no quarrel with the Tey organization,’ the older man said in heavily clipped English. ‘We prefer to keep it that way.’ His cold black gaze shifted to Kai and then returned to her. ‘You have business with us?’

‘Business that should have been concluded by now,’ said Hallie smoothly, knowing instinctively that this man would not tolerate weakness. ‘I now find myself in the rather unfortunate position of having to change my plans.’ She smiled, a careful, charming smile. ‘I’m afraid your services are no longer required.’

‘I’m afraid, Mrs Cooper, that we do not renegotiate contracts. Not even with those who place them,’ said the older man with a charming smile of his own. ‘It’s bad for business.’



Nick kept himself occupied by pacing from one end of the Teys’ long living room to the other. Jasmine had made tea, two lots of tea, and thirty minutes had come and gone. The first twenty had been bearable. The first twenty minutes had involved Hallie and Kai getting to where they were going. Now it was different. Now, thought Nick grimly, Hallie was meeting with contract killers, firing them, to be precise, and Nick’s nerves were stretched to breaking-point. Any time now, they’d call.

‘Your wife is a very resourceful woman,’ said John. John, who had been a quiet, reassuring presence throughout the entire debacle. ‘I’m confident she’ll succeed. And Kai is with her. They will not dismiss him lightly. Not the man, nor the organization he represents.’

Nick sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. His primary concern was for Hallie’s safety. Once she was safe he would worry about the next problem, namely that Kai’s presence at the meeting and the implied involvement of Tey Enterprises would have unwanted consequences for the older man. ‘How far will this place you in their debt?’

‘Not that far,’ said John with a slight smile. ‘We are neither enemies nor allies, our two organizations, even though both wield a great deal of power. We coexist. We are respectful of each other. I do not believe this small transaction will upset that balance.’

Nick didn’t know whether to believe the other man or not. His explanation sounded too simple and far too easy, given what he knew of Chinese culture. ‘Let’s hope you’re right,’ he said wearily. ‘I know it’s a risk, but I couldn’t let her go alone.’

‘Nor I,’ said John. ‘I am your host. I allowed my daughter to take your wife to Lucky Plaza in the first place. My conscience would not allow it.’

‘Thank you,’ said Nick quietly. He appreciated everything the older man had done for them. He really did.

‘Your wife made a simple mistake,’ said John magnanimously. ‘It could have happened to anyone.’

Nick just stared at him.

‘Okay,’ said John. ‘Maybe not anyone.’



‘Of course you don’t renegotiate contracts,’ said Hallie, deciding it was time to examine a magnificent porcelain vase displayed on a marble pedestal. ‘These really are the most exquisite pieces,’ she said admiringly, and then, on a more businesslike note, ‘I understand your position perfectly, but I’m not here to renegotiate. The delivery was not made in the specified time. Our contract is void. I have no need of another.’ She was politeness itself. Tris would be proud of her. Nick would be amazed. ‘I simply wished to let you know in person that I consider our business complete.’

He wasn’t going to go for it. Hallie held the older man’s gaze steadily, knowing in her bones that he was going to say that he didn’t do this either. That the contract was complete when the delivery was made and not before. That was good business too.

‘This is the first time we have had such a problem,’ said the older man bleakly as he looked to the young salesman. ‘Make it the last.’