Page 170 of Roberto

“Yes, we’re members of the same country club.” Lau’s smile grew slightly sinister. “And he owes me a large sum of money. IfIsay you’re off limits, he will respect my wishes.”

I sat there in utter shock.

My father was a predator. A shark.

If Lau was the kind of man who could order my father around – someone my father owedmoneyto –

Then Lau must have been a Great White.

That gave me serious pause.

Of course, if you were a minnow and needed to protect yourself from a shark, it would be nice to make friends with a Great White.

…unless the Great White decided to eatyou.

“I need to be very clear about a few things,” I said, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.

“Proceed.”

“I don’t want to be involved with blackmail. No cameras or recording devices in my club. I won’t use people’s private activities against them – financially, politically, or any other way.”

“I can assure you, nothing of the sort will happen.”

“Then what is it you want the club for?”

“I have many associates who would enjoy an upscale,discreetservice. And, as I said, your business generates a great deal of revenue… most of which would be untraceable by the authorities.”

Ah.

‘Untraceable’ was the key word.

He was looking to make a lot of money and not have to pay taxes… which, in China, were considerable.

“We’re only making half a million a month, and only a fifth of that was profit.” I glanced around his office again. “I’m assuming that’s peanuts to a man like you.”

“You only made that much because you limited yourself to a local clientele. I would be supplying you with incredibly wealthy clients from the Middle East… Europe… Russia… the United States. You could easily bill them five times what you’re charging now, and they wouldn’t blink.”

I stared at him.

If what he was saying was true…

“What wouldourarrangement be?” I asked. “Fifty/fifty?”

He laughed louder and more spontaneously than at any other point in the meeting.

“Good heavens, no. You’ll get a 10% share of the profits.”

I frowned indignantly. “That’s insultingly low.”

“Consider this: you’re making 100% of the profits now, which you said are 100,000 a month. Far better to make 10% of three million dollars per month… wouldn’t you agree?”

300,000 a month instead of 100,000?

Damn straight it was a better deal.

Lau continued. “Not to mention, the stress of any problems will no longer rest on your shoulders. I will assume all the risk.

“You will manage the club and your employees as you see fit. In return, I’ll put up the deposit for a more upscale location… the fee for a top interior decorator… several million for the remodel… plus I’ll provide protection from the police and keep your father off your back.

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