I glared at Leo as we walked towards the plane and he pointedly ignored me. Mr Chen seemed oblivious, and Simone chatted about visiting Aunty Kwan. It was as if nothing had happened.
I held Simone’s hand as we walked up the small staircase into the jet. It was about the size of a bus, with large comfortable seats inside and a couch against one wall. Leo almost had to crouch to go through the door.
We sat in the seats and buckled up. The ground staff closed the door and rapped on the side. Mr Chen went up to the cockpit to talk to the pilots.
‘Been on a private jet before?’ Leo said.
‘No,’ I said. ‘Pretty cool.’
‘Yeah. Mr Chen had this one specially fitted. Behind the kitchen there’s a little bunk for Simone.’
‘He owns this plane outright?’
Leo hesitated, then, ‘Yes.’
‘How much money does he have anyway?’
‘Let’s just say that if he wanted his own 747, he could buy one tomorrow.’
‘But I’ve never seen his name on the Richest Men list.’
‘That’s because he doesn’t want to be,’ Leo snapped, and turned away.
Mr Chen returned from the cockpit. ‘Brian says we should have smooth flying most of the way.’
After we’d taken off, Mr Chen rose and touched Simone’s shoulder. ‘Are you tired, darling?’
‘No, Daddy, I’d like to draw.’
‘Leo, show Emma where everything is. I’ll go up the back and rest. If anything happens, call me immediately.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Make sure Simone drinks plenty of water, please, Emma.’
‘Sure, Mr Chen.’
He nodded and went towards the back of the plane.
Leo pointed at the back wall. ‘There’s a little kitchen in there. Behind that is the bunk room. Anything you need, it’s in the kitchen.’
‘Can you turn on the video for me, Leo?’ Simone said.
‘Sure, sweetheart.’ Leo went to the television which was set into the wall. ‘There’s a few videos in the cupboard here, Emma – just put something on for her, it’s a long flight.’ He showed me where the videos were, turned on the unit, then went into the galley and returned with a soda for himself and an apple juice for Simone.
Simone watched some of the videos then fell asleep in my lap. I must have fallen asleep as well, because the sound of their quiet voices woke me. I heard my name mentioned so stayed still to listen.
‘You should tell her, my Lord. She won’t stop pestering both of us until we do. And if we don’t tell her soon, she’s going to resign. You’ll have to tell her, and prove it.’
Mr Chen’s voice was full of pain. ‘I can’t do anything to prove it, Leo. I am too weak.’
‘It’s really that bad?’
Mr Chen didn’t reply.
‘Damn,’ Leo said softly. ‘You left it too long. But you still have to tell her, otherwise she’s going to lose her goddamn temper again and leave us anyway.’
‘I don’t want to lose her,’ Mr Chen said, wistful. ‘If we tell her the truth, she may be scared away.’
‘She won’t be scared away. She doesn’t seem to be frightened by anything.’
‘You’re quite right, she’s remarkable.’
‘You should tell her.’
‘I know.’ Mr Chen groaned. ‘She keeps pushing me to tell her, she knows something’s going on. We’ll do it in Paris. I was planning to tell her there anyway, with Mercy present. No, I have a better idea. You do it. Mercy can help you if she takes it badly.’
‘As long as somebody tells her,’ Leo said. ‘She’s been working here for months without knowing who you really are.’
‘I’ve had staff who worked for me for years without knowing who I was,’ Mr Chen said. ‘Look at Monica.’
‘Monica knows all about it. She just ignores it because it freaks her out.’
‘I don’t want to lose her,’ Mr Chen said. ‘I’d love to teach her. She moves with natural grace and would probably be a formidable warrior.’
‘Teach her then. She wants to learn.’
‘She’s agile and fearless. She’s intelligent too, it sparkles in her eyes.’ His voice became wistful again. ‘She has wonderful eyes.’
‘Well then, teach her.’
Mr Chen dropped his voice. ‘I will discuss the possibility with Mercy, but I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to spend so much time in close physical contact with Emma.’
Leo was silent for a moment. Then he spoke again, his voice a soft growl. ‘No way. I do not believe this. No way.’
Mr Chen was silent.
‘Tell me it’s not true,’ Leo said.
Mr Chen sighed loudly.
‘This is all we need,’ Leo said. ‘You should dismiss her now, my Lord. Don’t even think about starting something you can’t finish.’
‘Simone adores her.’
‘And you?’
Mr Chen was silent for a moment. Then, ‘I don’t want to lose her. I love being with her, having her around.’ His voice softened. ‘I wish things could be different.’
My heart leapt.
‘Well, they can’t, so both of you will just have to get over it,’ Leo said. ‘If you really feel that way then you should let her go.’
They fell silent again. I was about to make a display of waking when Mr Chen spoke. ‘There are some interesting weather patterns over the Mediterranean.’
‘Mess with the weather and Ms Kwan will rip your shell off,’ Leo growled. ‘How long before they’ll come after us? They know how weak you are.’
‘It is only a matter of time. Mercy can tell us more. We should be safe now that we are far from their Centre. They are weak.’
‘So are you. You shouldn’t have waited this long to see her.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
‘You shouldn’t take risks like this!’ Leo hissed. ‘Think of what’s at stake here!’
‘I am very well aware of what’s at stake here!’ Mr Chen whispered ferociously.
Leo threw himself out of his chair and went out. Something crashed in the galley and Simone shot upright with a squeak.
Charade over.
‘It’s okay, sweetheart,’ I said, and pulled her to me.
She freed herself from my arms and scurried to her father, then clambered into his lap and curled up. He smiled down at her and stroked her hair.
I yawned, stretching. Leo came out of the galley with a soda and flung himself into one of the chairs, which protested under his weight. ‘You snore.’
‘I do not!’
‘Leave her alone, Leo.’
Leo grunted and turned his chair away from us.
‘Leo, you are very tired and you have lost your edge. Go and rest.’
Leo didn’t move.
‘That’s