I sigh.
“Getting a business off the ground is demanding, so maybe you were working at the restaurant as you were ramping things up?—”
“That woman and her husband stole my life savings.”
Kaz’s eyebrows shoot to his forehead. “How the hell did that happen?”
“I fell for the glossy exterior package. The polished designer suits, her collection of Hermes handbags, her bling, his smooth talking, and pricey vintage sports car. It all lured me into a false sense of security. They were successful. I wanted that success to rub off on me. It was all smoke and mirrors. The two people I thought had the same vision as me were nothing more than common criminals.”
“Lawyers were involved in the business setup?”
“Yes. I hired my own legal representation.”
“Where did it all go wrong?”
That question still haunts me today. “Everything was going smoothly. The hours were brutal, but I was flying high. We had secured tons of restaurants and boutique hotels who wanted to lower their costs by flipping to monthly delivery of silk flowers instead of weekly delivery of fresh flowers. We even secured a few potential franchisees we connected with at industry events. I was already rubbing my hands together at the prospect of all that money flooding my bank account.”
“You didn’t get the outcome you expected?”
“No, no I didn’t.”
“What happened?”
“Ellen Pfeffer Zhang and Qin Zhang—my business partners at Silk Blooms Flowers—went on a shopping spree in Hong Kong. Qin grew up in Shanghai and speaks fluent Mandarin and Cantonese, so his language skills were a plus. Ellen wouldn't have been able to negotiate deals without her husband.”
“As a former British colony, I would assume they still speak English in Hong Kong.”
“They do, but Qin insisted knowing the local languages allows you to get preferential rates.”
“Makes sense,” Kaz says. “And you stayed in New York?”
“I did.” I take in a fortifying breath. “We had a shared bank account in which we each deposited a certain amount of money. While they were in Hong Kong, they called, panicked, because there were holdups with customs for a long list of reasons. They asked me to put more money in the joint account. They promised they’d do the same. For three days, they kept calling, making the same request. I was getting a little antsy, because that was a lot of startup money, but they assured me they were close to getting clearance on our much-needed shipment. By the fifth day, I was alarmed, but because I was blinded by my dreams of success, I transferred more money. The next day, I got a text, telling me we’d got the greenlight. I couldn’t contain my excitement. My business partners were supposed to take the first flight out of Hong Kong. One day passed without any communication from them. I figured they were getting their ducks in a row. On the second day without any contact, I thought something had happened to them. I called the hotel to make sure they were alive, and that’s when my world came crumbling down like a sandcastle.” I hang my head.
“They didn’t have a Mr. and Mrs. Zhang registered.”
That’s not a question.
That’s why Kaz is sitting at the helm of an empire while I don’t have two pennies to rub together.
I shake my head. “They lied about staying at that hotel.”
“Shit. They disappeared from the face of the earth.”
I nod. “I went to the small flower shop they owned, and I was met with more devastating news. There was a ‘for lease’ sign hanging in the window. “I called the leasing agent in the hopes she might have another phone number for Ellen and Qi.”
“Did she?”
“She told me for privacy reasons, she couldn’t reveal that information. I told her how desperate I was, but my plea fell on deaf ears. I kept texting her, hoping she’d change her mind, but in the end, she blocked my number.” I fidget with my fingers. “Ellen said she was from Bummerville, California. I tried to find Pfeffers living in the town of 200 people.” I twist my lips. “I came short.”
“She lied about where she’s from?”
“She lied about everything.”
He offers a slow nod. “How much money did she and her husband steal from you?”
I meet Kaz’s gaze. “Every penny to my name.”
“How much?”
