Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
“You think it’s cooler than the Palace?”
“No disrespect to the palace because it’s massive and insanely elegant, but this is doper than the Palace.”
“And what about Lotus Blossom?”
“That’s my home so I have to rep for my team.”
I raised one eyebrow. “You still don’t understand?”
“Understand what, Lei?”
“You’re mine—the Mountain Mistress.” I lifted my hand and pointed at the Mirage. “That means this is your home too as well as the Palace.”
To my surprise, excitement nor pride hit those pretty brown eyes. Instead it was fear and perhaps. . .nervousness.
I didn’t like that reaction, but I wouldn’t say anything.
Everything had been happening so fast for her. Just last month she had been living in Glory and struggling. Now she was staring at what would be another addition to a list of properties that she owned.
Slowly, Moni turned to me.
I could see the awe, the fear, and a glint of something else that was more intense.
An unspoken question lingered between us.
Unable to help myself, I grabbed her hand. “What’s on your mind?”
“It’s just that. . .I still see all of this as only yours.”
“Then, starting seeing it as yours too.”
“Lei, it’s not that easy.”
“Why not?”
“We’re super new.”
“Yet, that still doesn’t change the fact that you are home when you come here and when you go the Palace as well as when you step into Lotus Blossom.”
She swallowed.
“Don't be overwhelmed, Moni.”
“Commanding me to not be overwhelmed doesn’t fix that.”
I smiled.
Near us, the others began departing from the helicopters and heading toward the Mirage. Although the tallest of Moni’s ladies-in-waiting stopped for a moment and turned to our helicopter as if unsure if she should come and get Moni.
My smile deepened.
That’s right. Your main focus should be her, but today. . .relax.
Duck appeared and grabbed her attention.
Soon the two were walking off together, side by side.
Hmmm.
It appeared that Duck finally had a new focus for his heart.
Moni spoke, “So. . .I should tell you something. . .”
“Tell me what?”
She gazed back at the Mirage. “I didn’t get to tell you that your father had a lawyer with him, when he gave me the. . .present.”
I tensed. “And why was the lawyer there?”
Sighing, she put her view back on me. “Leo gave me Yan’s properties.”
I blinked.
Are you serious, Father? What move are you making now?
I tried to figure out what strategy he could have had with this. It made more sense for him to give everything to Aunt Min. She already had tons of property in Shanghai and investments tied to the Four Aces that she monitored.
To give my sister’s properties to Moni meant something deeper and it was clearly strategic.
Just when I think you are done plotting, Father, you surprise me again. It must be exhausting being you.
The pilot left the helicopter and made his way to our door.
Moni studied me, surely wanting my response.
I cleared my throat. “So. . .Cloud Sea Tower is yours as well as Yan’s other places in Shanghai?”
“Yes. I signed the documents, but. . .” She shook her head. “This was your sister’s stuff. If you feel like Chen, Duck, your aunts, or anyone else should have it—”
“No one is taking property from you that my father expressly gave to you. Even when he’s dead, they wouldn’t take it. And the few that would, Song would visit them and as you know. . .that would not be a good visit. It would end with blood. Lots of blood.”
“Then, we can tell them that Leo didn’t give it to me—”
“That tower is too important to the Four Aces. No one would believe that my father simply forgot to assign it to a new person before his death.”
“The tower is important?”
“Very important.”
“Lei, I have never left the States and I damn sure don’t know when I will go to Shanghai—”
“Soon.”
“Soon?”
I nodded. “Perhaps, after I bury my father.”
All of those emotions that had been in her gaze, shifted to concern. “We could wait longer than that. You’ll need time to mourn—”
“We can’t. You would need to introduce yourself to your new men in Shanghai.”
Now it was her turn to blink. “My new what?”
“Your new men. Thousands of them.”
She widened her eyes.
What were you thinking, Father? Are you trying to give her some form of protection from me? Or just additional security? She doesn’t need any. I’m protecting her.
My mother only had ladies-in-waiting and a security team.
Meanwhile, my father had given Moni a fucking army of killers.
But why?
The pilot slid open our door.
I held my hand up to let him know that we wouldn’t be leaving just yet.
Then, I took a deep breath and steadied my gaze on her. “This. . .property is not like Lotus Blossom. That is a home. Cloud Sea Tower is the center of the Four Aces' operations. It’s where we launder millions of dollars every month.”
“The center of operations?”