Read Online Heaven to Wudang by Kylie Chan - Free Book Online Page B

battle.’
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    Leo drove us to the Convention Centre that evening, with Michael in the front seat next to him. Simone and I sat in the back.
    We all headed up to the main area together, to be greeted by David Hawkes, the taipan of one of the biggest multinationals in Hong Kong, and his wife, Bridget. David was one of the younger taipans, being only in his early forties, and one of the most talented members of the company family to come up through the ranks in a while. He was very tall due to his Scottish heritage, but his grandmother had been Chinese, giving him dark hair and eyes. Like most long-term Hong Kong residents he spoke with an accent that was a mix of English and American. Bridget Hawkes was small and slender with bright red hair. She appeared elegant and relaxed in her made-to-measure tailored suit, but I’d competed against her in dressage up at the Jockey Club and she was a fiendishly good rider on her massive warm-blood mare.
    â€˜Good to see you, ladies and gentlemen,’ David said. He moved closer to speak softly to me. ‘There’s something strange going on here. Can you check it out?’
    â€˜What sort of strange?’
    â€˜There’s this woman … she wanders through the place with these men following her, and wherever she goes, everybody falls in love with her. Do you think she might be,’ his voice dropped even further, ‘a demon?’
    â€˜You see demons around every corner, David,’ I said with amusement.
    He smiled down at me. ‘Wishful thinking, I know.’ He glanced behind me and his smile widened. ‘You didn’t tell me you were bringing John!’
    He strode past me and I turned to see. It was John, in his Mountain uniform, his expression puzzled.
    I quickly moved to stop David. ‘He may have amnesia. Let me talk to him first.’
    I went to John and gazed into his eyes, putting one hand on his arm. He looked down at me without recognition. ‘John, it’s me, Emma. Do you know who I am?’
    â€˜What am I doing here?’ he said.
    I turned and called quietly to Simone. She was talking to Bridget about the function, oblivious that her father had entered. When she saw him, she rushed over to us. ‘Daddy!’
    John still appeared confused. ‘Simone?’
    â€˜Let’s take him over to the side and sort this out,’ Leo said, looking around to ensure we hadn’t attracted too much attention. A couple of people were watching with curiosity but hadn’t approached.
    David put his hand on my shoulder and spoke in my ear. ‘Take him downstairs to the lobby level next to the harbour. All the shops there are closed and it’ll be deserted. I’ll cover for you.’
    â€˜Thanks, David.’ I took John’s arm. ‘John, you need to come with us.’
    John looked from me, to Simone, to Leo, then Michael, obviously made the decision and nodded.
    We took him in the lift down to the small shopping mall under the Convention Centre. Floor-to-ceiling windows on one side looked onto an open area containing a large gilt statue of a bauhinia flower. A row of convenience stores, all closed for the evening, stoodacross from the glass. We found a bench and I sat next to John, with Simone on his other side. I took his hand. I wanted to give him a huge hug but was wary of scaring him away. Michael and Leo took up positions on either side of us, guarding.
    Simone leaned on his shoulder. ‘It’s good to have you back, Daddy.’
    â€˜Simone. Your name is Simone,’ he said. He looked at me, still confused. ‘Michelle?’
    â€˜Oh, God,’ Simone said quietly.
    â€˜No, it’s fine,’ I said. ‘I’m Emma, John.’
    â€˜Emma?’ He looked up at Michael and Leo. ‘Lion? Tiger?’ He looked at me again. ‘Snake?’
    â€˜Welcome to your family,’ I said with amusement. ‘The Turtles are still in the Northern