“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 whenmy 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?”
I pull my lips between my teeth. “Between what I invested as starter cost and the numerous transfers I stupidly made, it’s about two-hundred-twenty-thousand-dollars.”
He lets out a low whistle. “With your back up against the wall, you could no longer pay your rent? Is that why you had to move in with roommates?”
I shake my head. “I couldn’t juggle it all, and because I missed so many payments, the bank repossessed my house.”
Kaz leans into the table, his expression dark and ominous. “You lost your house?”
“Yes. Ellen and Qi left me with the burden of the expenses we had already incurred. All the operating costs. The rental of the warehouse…” I blow out a breath. “I sold all my valuable possessions in an attempt to make the payments, but it wasn’t enough.”
“What about your family? Weren’t they able to help?”
Ah. My dysfunctional, fucked-up, trailer trash family. “They weren’t.”
“Does your family live in New York?”
“Um…” I fidget with my napkin. “Well…” I can’t reveal that secret. The truth is so ugly, he’d have to rename that ice cream flavor because he’ll never want anything to do with me. “They…” More throat clearing. “They’ve relocated…” I shrug. “It wasn’t the best relationship, anyway.”
“I understand not wanting to talk about your parents if you have a strained relationship.”
Thank God he’s not pressing for more.
“What about your friends? Couldn’t you have stayed with one of them?”
I bite the inside of my cheek, as I weigh my words. “I had a lot of business contacts, but I don’t have that many friends. My best friend is married to a Dane and she now lives in Europe. Her husband flies to the US for business, but they spend most of their time across the pond. She was dividing her time between Berlin, Paris, and Copenhagen, but she had to stop traveling. She’s expecting triplets—it’s her third trimester. She’s feeling the weight of those three little peanuts growing in her belly, and her legs are super swollen, making it hard to walk.”
