‘Moving to the Celestial …’ She smiled slightly. ‘It’s a chance that’s too good to refuse. I’ll be able to learn what to do to attain Immortality, and who wouldn’t want that? Even if I don’t attain it, I’ll live extra long and illness free. I’d have to be completely crazy to turn down an opportunity like this.’
‘And the Mountain?’
‘Doesn’t matter where we live, as long as Michael’s happy,’ she said. ‘Both places are beautiful in different ways, and we’ll spend time in the Western Heavens anyway.’ She leaned towards me. ‘But … would you have something like a job for me to do? I’d die of boredom being a housewife for Michael. I’d rather stay on the Earthly Plane if I can’t work.’
‘We’ll definitely have something for you to do, and it won’t be mundane, I can guarantee it,’ I said. ‘We have extensive investments on the Earthly that need to be managed, and frankly, if you could take over the management of the shares and properties down there it would be a boon for both me and Jade.’
‘A portfolio?’ she said.
‘Several hundred million Hong Kong dollars worth,’ I said.
‘A really big portfolio all to myself? That’s a dream come true,’ Clarissa said with enthusiasm.
‘As for me, I want to take up duty full-time as your personal bodyguard again, ma’am,’ Michael said. ‘If you’ll have me, that is. I want to permanently join the staff of Wudang, as opposed to the Western Heavens.’
Clarissa turned to glare at him. ‘What are you talking about? I never agreed to that. You said you were just coming on staff to teach, there wasn’t anything about being her bodyguard again.’ She glanced from me to Michael. ‘You just took a bullet for her the other night, you haven’t even recovered from that and you want to put yourself back in the firing line again?’
‘It’s all right, Clarissa, I won’t let him do it anyway,’ I said. ‘Michael’s been injured too many times protecting me, and we’ve decided it’ll be best if I’m only guarded by Immortals.’
She exhaled loudly. ‘Well, that’s a relief.’
‘You decided, did you? Without consulting me? You can’t give the job to anyone else — I won’t let you!’ Michael said.
‘Not even Leo?’
Michael swiped his hand through the air. ‘Leo’s in a wheelchair.’
‘You say that in front of him and he’ll call you out,’ I said.
‘And own my ass,’ he said wryly. He sagged. ‘I concede if it’s Leo.’ His expression grew stern. ‘But nobody else; and if I get good enough or attain Immortality, the job is mine, right?’
‘Deal,’ I said.
I put my hand out over the table and he shook it.
‘Good,’ he said. ‘So, can I come?’
I pulled a blank scroll off a stack sitting to one side, pushed it open, scribbled the directions to give Michael a staff position and residence on the Mountain, then signed it. I pulled my black jade chop — square and three centimetres to a side — closer, flipped open the modern Japanese stamp pad, inked the chop well and stamped it over my signature. I rolled the scroll back up and handed it to Michael. ‘Orders. Give them to Gold.’
He took the scroll with both hands. ‘Ma’am.’
‘That seal is beautiful. What’s that on top of it? Is it a dragon?’ Clarissa said, curious.
I passed the chop to her and she admired it, carefully avoiding the remaining red ink on the bottom. ‘Oh, it’s a snake.’ She turned it in her hands, then glanced up at me. ‘Is that what you look like?’
I nodded.
‘Is it big?’
‘Huge,’ Michael said. ‘Smallest is about three metres long, and I’ve seen her up to ten metres when she’s really big.’
Clarissa appeared thoughtful as she handed the seal back. ‘To look at you, no one would ever think you’re something so completely scary.’
‘What you’re seeing now is the scariest Emma ever,’ Michael said. ‘The snake is nothing.’
‘Give me that scroll back and go home to your father,’ I said. ‘I don’t want you.’
He saluted me with it. ‘I’ll be back when I’m done moving in, and we can talk about what you want me to do.’
‘I’ve told Gold to give you Persimmon Tree Pavilion; it’s a nice one, and nobody’s living there right now.’
He fell to one knee and saluted me. Clarissa smiled and they went out together.
A couple of hours later my mobile rang.
‘Miss Donahoe, is Citrus. We have major problem in Wellington Street. Can you come over visit now? We need you.’
‘I’m on my way,’ I said, then called Leo. ‘I have to go down to Wellington Street — Citrus sounded really upset. Can you take me?’
‘On my way.’
I thought for a moment, then tapped the stone in my ring.
‘Yes? I was asleep.’
‘Of course you were. I need to go down to Wellington Street. Ask Zara if Clarissa would like to come along.’
The stone was silent for a moment, then said, ‘Clarissa’s on her way. Zara says she’s eager to take up her duties. Do we have to continue calling it Zara? It should take its stone name back.’
‘Zara says she likes being female and she likes being called something that means “star”, so deal.’
‘Humph.’
Leo wheeled himself into my office. ‘What happened?’
‘Citrus wouldn’t say. Can you carry me and Clarissa?’
Clarissa came in behind him, obviously excited. ‘Looks like I have things to manage before I’ve even signed the contract with you. Do you guys even work with contracts? How much do you pay? What are my hours?’
‘Whatever you like, on both counts,’ I said.
‘She’s tiny. I can carry both of you,’ Leo said.
‘So, how about ten million a year and four hours a day?’ she said, grinning with mischief.
‘Oh, I like this one,’ Leo said.
‘Done,’ I said. ‘Whatever it takes to get the job done and free me and Jade up.’
She saluted me Western style, hand to forehead. ‘Ma’am. Let’s go down to Wellington Street and see the paperwork. How old is the building?’
‘About thirty years old.’
‘Okay. I want to start by ensuring that you’re making enough rent, and that the property’s being maintained to a satisfactory standard. Some of those older buildings in Central are falling down. Let’s go down and check.’
‘I really like this one,’ Leo said.
Clarissa touched his arm where it rested on his wheelchair. ‘That means a lot to me, Leo. Michael’s told me about you — how you saved him and helped make him into what he is today.’
Leo dropped his head.
‘He’s blushing,’ I said. ‘Shame you can’t see it.’
Leo waved me forward. ‘Get over here and let’s see what the big emergency is.’
We landed outside the Celestial Arena door at the end of Wo On Lane where it connected with Wellington Street — a small, narrow, well-hidden spot.