White Tiger

Donahoe.’ ‘You’re with John Chen?’ ‘Uh…yes.’
    ‘Good. We were all wondering who he’d hook up with after Michelle died. Half of Hong Kong’s eligible women are sharpening their knives and eyeing your back.’ He bent forward. ‘And it’s a very pretty back too. That dress shows it off well.’ He studied my back. ‘Lovely and white.’
    I took a step back to lean against the wall. ‘I’m not really hooked up with him, I’m just a friend.’
    ‘I heard you were staff. ’
    I sighed. So it was out. Kitty Kwok was chatting with the patriarch of one of the Indian dynasties nearby. She saw me watching her, raised her glass and smiled spitefully.
    ‘I’m Simone’s nanny.’
    ‘Simone? His daughter?’
    ‘Yes. She’s four years old and an absolute treasure.’ ‘A treasure, I’m sure she is.’ He spoke more softly. ‘Has he been teaching you?’ ‘What?’ I turned to study him.
    He smiled at me. ‘If he has been teaching you, then you are very lucky. You look like you’ve been learning.’ He turned back to watch the crowd. ‘Do you know who he really is?’
    Something started to feel wrong. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
    ‘Oh, okay.’ He shifted slightly closer to me. ‘You are very beautiful, you know. That dress is spectacular.’
    I didn’t say anything.
    ‘I know a lot about him. I could tell you exactly what you want to know—about the Mountain, about the Celestial, about everything. How about we go for awalk down by the Harbour and you can ask me anything you like? The lights are spectacular.’ He turned, put his hand on my arm and smiled into my eyes. ‘Come with me. I can show you some things that you wouldn’t believe.’
    I brushed his hand off and moved slightly away. ‘I think I’ll just stay here for now, thank you. Don’t you have other people you need to talk to?’
    ‘No, I’ll just stay here too. So, tell me about yourself, Emma. You’re from Australia? Which part? I’ve never been there.’ Then he stiffened.
    Mr Chen had seen us. He placed his mineral water on a passing tray and ambled towards us. He stopped in front of Wong with his hands clasped behind his back. ‘Is he bothering you, Emma?’
    Wong held his hand out. ‘Hello, John. My name’s Simon Wong.’
    Mr Chen eyed the hand as if it were toxic, then smiled grimly and reached to take it.
    Wong snatched his hand back. ‘We can take you. You are weak.’
    I moved slightly closer to Mr Chen. Thought so.
    ‘You didn’t even know I was here,’ Wong said.
    ‘Try me,’ Mr Chen said. ‘You will face the armies of the Four Winds and the Elite Guard of the Jade Emperor.’
    ‘Because you are too weak to fight us yourself,’ the demon hissed. ‘You cannot even protect your own woman and child.’
    ‘Be glad you are in a public place,’ Mr Chen said, his voice a menacing rumble. ‘Otherwise you would be in two pieces by now.’
    ‘There is a private place by the waterfront,’ the demon said. ‘The woman can be the prize.’
    I opened my mouth to say something loudly, then closed it again and moved closer to Mr Chen, slightly behind him. I’d let the expert handle this.
    ‘You really think you can take me?’ Mr Chen said. ‘You are extremely stupid.’
    ‘I am the One Hundred and Twenty-Second son of the King.’
    ‘Still alive? How many of your brothers have tried to kill you?’
    ‘Fifty-seven,’ Wong said with pride. ‘I have destroyed them all.’
    Mr Chen smiled slightly. ‘I could just sit back and let you destroy each other.’
    ‘That’s what you are doing,’ the demon said. ‘You are so weak. I will take your head to my father and be promoted to Number One.’
    ‘I have much better things to do with my time than deal with you,’ Mr Chen said. He linked his arm in mine and turned away. ‘Say hello to your father for me.’
    ‘I will say hello and present your head as a gift,’ the demon hissed behind us.
    ‘Are you okay, Emma?’ Mr Chen said as we walked away.
    ‘Is he following us?’
    ‘No. He’s gone.’
    I breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed. ‘I knew something was wrong there. He asked me to go outside with him.’
    ‘Then he has excellent taste.’ Mr Chen studied me carefully. ‘He didn’t do anything to you, did he?’
    ‘He shook my hand. I think I need to wash it.’
    ‘He’s in human form; touching him won’t hurt you.’
    ‘That’s not why I want to wash it. Oh,’ I said as I remembered, ‘I told