White Tiger

us.’
    He smiled slightly. ‘Yes, there would.’ He straightened. ‘The only problem is that we require a shield. Wait.’ He concentrated.
    Ms Kwan appeared behind Mr Chen. She smiled sadly. ‘Be aware, Emma, that I will know everything there is to know about you. If there is anything you wish to keep a secret, do not do this.’
    ‘I don’t have any secrets,’ I said pointedly, looking at Mr Chen. He made a soft sound of amusement. I turned back to Ms Kwan. ‘John’s right. I’m so talented, it’s scary. I picked up the energy work in no time flat. If I’m something special, then there’s hope for us. I want to know.’
    ‘Very well. Let us see exactly how much trouble you and this young human are in, Ah Wu.’
    ‘A great deal.’ Mr Chen rose and came around the desk to me. ‘Pull back from the desk, Emma, and sit so that Mercy can hold your hands.’
    I moved a little way back from the desk. Ms Kwan stood between me and the desk and leaned against it. I raised my hands and she took them.
    ‘Relax into a light trance,’ Mr Chen said. He rested his hands on my shoulders. It was a wonderful, relaxing feeling to sit in this way.
    He moved into my mind and I blocked him. He stopped at the entrance to my consciousness.
    ‘Let me, Emma,’ he whispered. ‘Trust me.’
    I tried to stop blocking. I imagined myself welcoming him in.
    ‘Thank you,’ he said with amusement. ‘Don’t mind if I do.’
    It was like having someone come into my house and look around. He shuffled through me and poked his nose into all my corners.
    He stopped dead. ‘Well, will you look at this,’ he said. ‘I seem to recall a young woman shouting at me just a couple of days ago that I keep too many secrets from her. And the first time I look inside her head, I find this.’
    I’d completely forgotten that I’d kept this a secret from him. I imagined myself pulling a large hat way down over my head with shame.
    ‘You look very cute like that,’ he said. ‘Two secrets.’ He examined them. ‘Your undergrad degree was only just a pass, but you still made it. Why wasn’t it on your CV?’
    The reason popped into my head.
    ‘It would not have bothered me; in fact I would have been delighted to have a nanny with a degree. But I can understand that many older residents of Hong Kong don’t have a degree and would find yours intimidating.’
    Yeah. Kitty Kwok doesn’t have one.
    ‘She says she does, you know.’
    I’ve been in her office and done her filing. She lies.
    ‘Quite common.’ He somehow indicated the other secret. ‘And then we have this.’
    ‘A part-time postgraduate degree, Emma?’ Ms Kwan said, incredulous. ‘How in the Heavens did you find time to do this while you were learning the Arts and caring for Simone? And without telling Ah Wu at all? You are remarkable.’
    ‘I honestly wondered what you were up to,’ Mr Chen said. ‘I knew it wasn’t a young man, because your ching level never changed. But you’re always locking yourself in your room and asking for leave at unusual times. And this is why.’
    He flipped through my MBA studies.
    ‘Only six months of coursework to go. Very impressive. You received a High Distinction for Accounting, I see. Remind me to give you the budgeting spreadsheets for the Mountain when we’re back home.’
    I flinched with horror and he felt it.
    ‘I don’t know which of us hates budgeting more,’ he said, amused. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were doing a Masters part-time?’
    The answer popped into my head.
    ‘I see. You’re right, you know. I would have supported you, but I would have expected you to resign the minute it was finished, to look for something better than just being a nanny.’
    The real reason surfaced.
    ‘No. Just for the challenge? The woman cannot resist a challenge. Well, I’m sorry, Emma, but those skills will be extremely useful to you after I’m gone. I will help you finish this degree and attend your graduation with a huge proud smile on my face.’
    No way.
    ‘All right, if that’s how you want it: I won’t help you, I’ll let you do it all yourself.’ He paused, musing. ‘Your grades are excellent for part-time study. Exactly how intelligent are you anyway?’
    I drew back, but it was too late. He grabbed me, held me down, stretched me out and measured me. He released me and I snapped back.
    ‘That was unnecessary, Ah Wu,’ Ms Kwan said.
    He bowed an apology to me. I waved it away. As far as I was concerned he