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Chocolate and Gold Ch. 01

By: coaster2



Author's Notes: This is a work of fiction, and perhaps even fantasy. There is some sex in the story, but not a lot, and it's certainly not a "stroke story." Maybe someday there will be Metzler Cell. The way science is progressing these days, it wouldn't surprise me. I was just imaging what I might do if I were Harry Zheng and I were in his place. I'll be interested to hear what you think.

My thanks to ErikThread and DaveT for their editing skills and technical advice.

*

I have an active imagination. I'm not sure if it's hereditary or just one of those things that comes with being a healthy, heterosexual, perpetually horny Chinese-American man. I keep having this vision. Sometimes it appears during my sleep, and sometimes during the day when I lose focus on what I'm doing and start to daydream. 

The dream is a woman, of course, naked, standing on a sandy beach, the hot sun beating down on her. Her back is to me, her legs spread about a foot, and her arms are outstretched with her hands limply hanging down. Her head is turned, and I can see one eye as she looks back over her shoulder at me with the sexiest look you could possibly imagine. Oh yes ... she is black and her body is shiny, as if it had been oiled. 

She has one of "those" bodies. Perfection! Fabulous hips and glorious ass. Long, beautifully tapered legs with sculpted calves. I can see little of her breasts, but I'm sure they are faultless as well. Her shimmering black hair is slightly more than shoulder length, falling in sensuous waves as it caresses her skin. 

I was sitting in a sidewalk café in Ste. Maxime, France, when she walked by. It isn't very often that I am totally distracted by a woman, but in this case it was no ordinary woman. In the three or four seconds that I saw her, I had already concluded that she was my version of the perfect female form. She was the woman in my dreams.

The brain can assimilate a lot of information in a very short period of time, and mine was currently in overdrive as she turned and stepped into the café. She was about six feet tall, extraordinarily voluptuous in every dimension, and blessed with a flawless dark chocolate complexion. Expensively dressed in business attire, she had a large, black leather handbag slung over her shoulder, black patent high heels, and my last glimpse of her was her shiny black hair in a cut reaching just past her shoulders. Strikingly familiar.

I turned my attention back to yesterday's European edition of the New York Times. I'd read the first sentence for almost the tenth time when I saw her walk out of the shop toward the sidewalk tables, a cup and saucer in hand, searching for a seat. A quick look told me there were none, and before anyone else could pre-empt me, I stood and gestured to the open chair at my table.

She smiled, capturing me by that simple gesture. She walked toward me, accepting my offer. I was surprised at her size. She was only a couple of inches shorter than my six-foot-four. 

"Bonjour," I said, using one of only a handful of French words I knew.

"Hi yourself," she smiled again.

"You're not French," I reasoned instantly.

"Ha, no ... and neither are you with that accent."

I waited for her to be seated before I sat. "I'm Harry Zheng," I said, offering my hand.

"Savannah Wilson," she replied, taking it gently.

"You're dressed for business, not as a tourist."

"Yes, I'm a representative for a cosmetics company. I'm here to help launch a new product line."

"Huh! The last thing I would expect would be an American showing the French how to sell perfume."

"The times are changing, Harry. This part of the world is full of very discriminating women who only want the latest and best. They don't really care where it comes from any more."

"How's it going?"

"Very well, thank you. Of course, it never hurts when some of the glitterati at Cannes feature your product. We're doing fine. I'll hate to finish up, really. I'm enjoying the south of France and this lovely May weather."

"I know what you mean. Where are you from, New York?" 

"No ... not at all. Naples, Florida. And you?"

"San Francisco, originally, but Seattle right now. Just about as far from Naples as you can get."

"And what brings you to Ste. Maxime?" 

"Just cruising around, looking for something to do."

"You don't look like you're a typical underemployed." 

"Yeah ... well ... it's a long story."

"I've got some time. Tell me about it."

She seemed to be sincere and since she was far and away the best looking woman I'd had a conversation with in many moons, I went for it.

"I am ... or was ... a marine biologist. I worked for the University of Washington, gathering and identifying specimens in the North Pacific. It's what I always thought I wanted to do, so when I got my masters, I just stayed on as a paid employee.

"What I didn't realize was the amount of time I would be spending on an eighty-foot boat in forty-foot waves in the Gulf of Alaska. I toughed it out for a couple of years, but cramped quarters and constantly battling the elements just wore me out. It was never a fun job, but I was determined to follow my dream. Now that I've done that, it's on to something else."

"Wow! I can get seasick just listening to that." 

I nodded solemnly. "You don't know the definition of seasick until you've been where I've been." 

"No need to explain," she said quickly.

I laughed. I was enjoying our conversation.

"So, where do you go next? Back to Naples?"

"No ... Monte Carlo, then Milan, Rome, then Naples ... the one in Italy."

"How long?"

"Another ten days. It isn't hard. It's almost like a vacation. I don't dare tell the other girls how much I'm enjoying this when I get back to the office."

She paused, sipping her espresso, just looking me over I suppose.

"What's next for you?" she asked at length.

"Don't know. I haven't been to Monte Carlo yet, so I'll stop there. Then ... I'm not sure. I really don't have any plan."

"It's not cheap in this part of the world. Are you looking for work?"

"Not really. I lost my parents a few months ago, and that prompted me to quit the job and look after their estate. When that was done, I just wanted to get away on my own, see the world."

"I'm sorry ... about your parents."

"Yeah ... me too. They were on their annual vacation. Their plane crashed in the Indian Ocean ... near the Seychelles. It was a big shock to me, my sisters, and my grandparents."

"Oh ... that must have been hard. I lost my dad a few years ago. I know how hard that was on Mom ... and me. We weren't expecting it. He just dropped one day."

"Yeah. I was thinking though ... my parents ... if they had to go, I'm kind of glad they went together. I don't think either one would have survived without the other. They were so close ... for so long."

"You said you have sisters?"

"Yeah ... two ... Jeannie is the oldest. She's married with two children, a boy and a girl. She still lives in the San Francisco area. Her husband is some kind of earthquake specialist doing construction work. Charlie ... Charlotte ... has just finished college. She's busy saving the world. You know ... Ban the Whales, Save the Bomb ... that stuff," I joked. "She's either going to join the Peace Corps, Doctors without Borders, or the Red Brigade. I can't tell which."

Savannah was laughing at my description of my younger sister. "She's a little bit left-wing, huh?"

"Yeah ... just like Genghis Kahn was a moderate conservative."

My charming dark companion was laughing and enjoying our little conversation. She had perfect brilliant white teeth which contrasted beautifully with her dark-skinned features. She was incredibly lovely in every way.

"Are you working nearby?" I asked, attempting to keep the exchange going. 

"No ... in St. Tropez this afternoon. I told you, this isn't a very demanding job."

"Is it always like this? I mean ... easy?"

"Yeah, to tell the truth, it is. I'm hired because they think I project the right image for the company. I look right, I talk right, I dress right ... you know ... all the superficial things you need to sell a superficial product." She said it with a hint of disapproval.

"What would you rather be doing, if not this?" 

"I don't know. Something more ... worthwhile, I suppose. This is so shallow. Dress nice, put on a big smile, pass out some samples, get some pictures taken with celebrities and show the product name ... you know ... that kind of shallow."

I nodded in understanding. Glamour had its shortcomings, it appeared. "Well, for what it's worth, you look fabulous. If I were a celebrity, I'd want to get my picture taken with Savannah Wilson. It would be good for my image ... and my ego."

"That's a very nice compliment. Thank you," she smiled. 

"When are you going to Monte Carlo?" 

"Tomorrow. A car will pick me up and take me there. I don't think it's very far from here."

"Where are you staying tonight?" 

"At the Azur in St. Tropez. It's very nice. What about you? Where are you staying?"

"Don't know. Haven't looked yet. I should be able to find something."

"If you have a problem ... there's room at the Azur. It's expensive though. Maybe a little rich for you right now," she said cautiously.

"Not a problem. If you're going to be there, maybe I can talk you into having dinner with me." I was curiously calm about this invitation. She should have had me shaking in my boots -- as attractive as she was.

"Are you sure? You said you were unemployed. You don't want to spend all your money in one night." 

"I'm fine. I was the executor and chief beneficiary of my father's will. He ran a very large, very successful import business. I'm on this trip to try and make up my mind what to do with the rest of my life. I'm financially set ... enough that I don't have to work if I don't want to. I need something to keep me occupied. I just haven't decided what it is yet."

"I guess in a way, that's good, Harry. You can take your time to decide. No pressure. Look until you find something." 

"Yeah. That's the plan. I'm not cut out to be a businessman. I don't have the right instincts. But I don't want to be just another playboy, piddling away my inheritance. I would like to find something that's significant."

"I feel the same way. This job ... it doesn't make me feel like I'm accomplishing anything. I should be jumping for joy. A chance to travel and meet interesting and glamorous people, well paid, a big clothing allowance. It should be everything I ever wanted. But ... it doesn't seem very important. If I'm just a pretty face, then ... well ... as I said ... it's pretty shallow." Savannah seemed a bit down as she talked.

"OK then ... how about this big Chinese guy takes you out for a nice dinner? Maybe we can find a jazz club or a night club and have a bit of fun? If that doesn't work ... heck ... there's always tomorrow and Monte Carlo," I grinned.

"Yeah ... let's do that Harry. At least I won't have to struggle having a conversation. I'm still trying to learn enough French to make a reasonable presentation." Savannah was rolling her eyes as she spoke.

"Don't look to me for help. I've only been in France since last Sunday, so you heard a big part of my vocabulary when I said hello." 

"How are you getting around? Do you have a car?"

"Yeah. I have a rental. Lots of room for you if you want a ride after you're finished."

She didn't hesitate. "Great. Why don't we meet here about one o'clock. I'm sure I'll be done by then."

"Sure. I'm just going to wander around the town. See the sights."

"Me too. Why don't we do that together?" 

"Done! It'll be good to have some company ... especially such good-looking company." I hoped I wasn't laying it on too thickly. 

I guess I should describe myself, so you can get an idea of who Savannah was looking at. I mentioned I'm six-four, about two-twenty. I let my hair grow long when I was on the boat, and when I came ashore, I had it cut to the back of my neck, but left it long otherwise. It's thick and jet black of course, so it wasn't a problem just to comb it straight back. When I looked in a mirror, I didn't think I'd frighten anyone. 

I have all my own teeth and they're mostly straight. I had picked up a bit of frostbite on my ears and cheekbones, and the skin was a bit mottled as a result, but not so badly that it would bother anyone. My complexion was a bit darker, thanks to all the outdoor activity and the fact that my ancestors were from southern China. All in all, I cleaned up fairly well.

As we left the little café, she slipped her hand into mine and looked at me with a smile. She was telling me she was comfortable with me, I suppose. Comfortable is good. I was anything but comfortable. My erection, which had been coming and going in her presence over the last half hour, was now reasserting itself. But something else was happening too.

The woman in my recurring dream. The black woman with the shining skin on the sandy beach, walking into the blazing sun. She was back. The image was vivid as I walked quietly with Savannah along the narrow ancient street. 

I must have been frowning and Savannah picked up on it.

"What's wrong?" 

"Huh? Oh ... nothing. Just something I was thinking about. No problem." I smiled, perhaps not quite the same way as I normally would. 

Savannah looked a bit dubious, but said nothing. 

"It's warm for this time of year, isn't it?" she commented.

"I think so. The tourists usually wait until June, but my guide book said it gets so crowded that it's takes away from the experience ... whatever that means."

She nodded agreement. "Yeah. Naples is like that in the winter and early spring. So many visitors from the north, most of them well off and older though."

"Well, it's not something you and I have to work on, is it?" As soon as I said it I cringed, hoping I hadn't offended her. Her tinkling laugh put me at ease.

We wandered through the mid-town streets, admiring the ever-present displays of bougainvillea and hanging plants with their brilliant color. I could smell the sea, but it took us a few minutes to find a portal to the waterfront. We were near a very large marina, and when I looked at the guidebook map I realized we were less than two blocks from the café where we began our stroll. 

It was nearing noon. I suggested we stop for a light lunch, and Savannah agreed. We found a very nice little bistro. We dared to have a glass of wine with a light salad, some cheese and a fresh baguette. I must have been smiling through the entire lunch, because Savannah was watching me and reacting to my mood.

"You have been grinning like a Cheshire cat for the entire lunch, Harry. What's going through that fertile mind of yours?" Savannah was smiling just as much, of course.

"Hah ... I guess I'm pretty transparent, huh? I was just thinking how much I am enjoying this. It's the first time in a while that I've really had a chance to relax and appreciate what's going on around me. I've been pretty tied up in my own little world. You seem to have found the key to kick me out of it."

"Good. I'm glad. You look so much more handsome when you smile," she said shyly.

"Thank you. I'll try to do it more often if you like, Savannah."

She looked at me, just a flicker of a smile on her lips. "My friends call me Vannie. I think you can consider yourself a friend."

"Thank you, again. I'm honored." I flashed my biggest smile. I raised my glass in salute and she responded. "I'm afraid that just plain old Harry is all anyone calls me."

"Didn't your mother call you Harold when she got upset with you?"

"No, Harry is my full, proper name. Different, huh?"

She shrugged. She looked at her watch and I got the hint.

"Time to go. We're only five minutes from my car, so we'll be in St. Tropez in plenty of time for your appointment." 

"Good. Let's go. If my meeting doesn't last too long, we can check you into the hotel and go for a swim on the beach. Then we can eat and play later," she said brightly.

"I'm with you." I stood and steadied her chair as she rose. I marvelled at how well she had navigated some of the old stone sidewalks on her high heels. It was hardly ideal footwear for this town.

It was barely a fifteen minute drive to the harbor in St. Tropez, and with almost an hour to kill, we decided I would check into the Hotel Azur, unload my overnight bag and park the car. We could retrieve it later if we needed it. 

As soon as I was checked in, it was time for Savannah to go to her meeting. She chose to take a cab for the five minute ride. I promised I would meet her back at the Azur when she was done. The more I thought about it, the more a swim in the Mediterranean was appealing, especially if Savannah chose to wear a bikini.

I waved as she left in the cab and went inside to find the concierge. I needed a swimsuit and he pointed to the shop adjacent to the lobby. No need to go anywhere, it seemed. I walked in and began to look among the shelves. An attractive older woman approached me.

"May I help you, Monsieur?"

I was pleased that she spoke English and asked her about swim suits. I had in mind a pair of baggy shorts, but she frowned and shook her head.

"No, Monsieur. That will not do for you. You are too handsome. You would look much better in these," she said, holding up a suit that was little more than a jockstrap. I must have looked aghast because she laughed. 

"Do not be embarrassed. All the handsome men wear these. Even some of the not-so-handsome men."

I shook my head and she frowned, but then smiled. "Perhaps this, then," she said, holding up something I would have called a Speedo. At least it offered some cover at the back. I looked at it, vacillating back and forth about what Vannie might think, but gradually, under the approving eye of the clerk, I succumbed, and she smiled.

I went to my room to try the suit on and after looking in the full length mirror, I decided that if it wasn't indecent, it was not far from it by American standards. However, this was France, and if it was OK with them, it wouldn't get me in trouble. I stepped into a pair of cargo shorts and pulled on a t-shirt and my almost-new sandals. With one more look in the mirror, I picked up my wallet, passport, Euros, room key, and sunglasses and headed downstairs. I had at least an hour to kill after checking my valuables with the front desk. I wandered along the waterfront and enjoyed the view. 

For the next day or so, I would be in the company of Savannah Wilson, a woman of extraordinary beauty. She must be quite well respected by her company if she could be sent to a foreign country on her own to promote new products. What was even more remarkable was her interest in me. I didn't think I was typical companion material for her.

I lost track of time, but I hadn't gone so far down the avenue that I couldn't stroll back to the hotel and arrive before Savannah. I don't recall much of the sights because I was thinking about other things ... or more correctly ... Savannah. 

I didn't know if we would catch up to each other in Monte Carlo, but it was worth a try. As for Milan, Rome, and Naples, I doubted I would be seeing her there. Maybe I could look her up when she got back home to Florida. 

I wasn't really surprised that she was dominating my thoughts. That's to be expected when I thought about how gorgeous she was. But she was also very down-to-earth. I didn't get any sense of the prima donna about her. I would love to know her background. It must have been unusual to produce such an interesting woman.

I sat in the lobby for fifteen minutes before Savannah arrived. She looked cool and collected as she strode purposefully through the foyer toward me. I got a big smile from her as I stood, and she surprised me by giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. 


Chocolate and Gold Ch. 01



"You must have had a very successful meeting," I suggested.

"Yes, I did! Very successful! I think my boss will be very pleased when I e-mail her tonight. But that can wait. I'm going up to my room to change. Are you ready to go for a swim?"

"Yes, ma'am, I certainly am."

"Good. Wait here and I'll be right down."

With that, she was off to the elevator and I sat down once more, knowing from experience that "I'll be right down" could mean anything from fifteen minutes to an hour. I would be patient. I knew the wait would be worth it. 

Savannah surprised me. She was back in less than ten minutes and I was right. The wait was more than worth it. She was wearing a diaphanous wrap with wide loose sleeves that came to her elbows and a hemline somewhere near the base of her butt cheeks. Beneath it, I could see a dark colored bikini of scant proportions. Throw in a big, floppy straw hat and sunglasses, and we were ready to go.

As she turned to walk to the entrance, I immediately saw that the bottom of her bikini didn't cover anything in back. It was no more than a thong with a thin, dark strip around her waist and another thin dark strip rising up from between her cheeks to meet it. I now knew what kind of trouble I was going to be in. My swim suit wasn't going to be able to contain my enthusiasm for her appearance. Right now, the cargo shorts camouflaged the issue, but when it came time to reveal all, I was going to be in trouble. Or so I thought.

Savannah pranced out to the sidewalk and immediately a cab appeared. I was not surprised. We slid in together and she told the driver where she wanted to go. He gave us both a good long look, shook his head, and pulled away from the curb.

"The concierge told me about this beach. It's clothing optional," she smirked. "Does that bother you?"

"Uhhhmmm ... well ... I can't say I've had any experience ... but hell, if you're OK with it, then let's do it." I was talking more bravely than I was feeling. Clothing optional? Did that mean tops and bottoms? Men too? Oh well ... nothing ventured. Besides, I'd get to see all of Savannah Wilson, and that would be worth any amount of embarrassment.

I don't think the cab ride lasted five minutes and we were deposited in front of a screened area just outside of the town. It was a private beach, and apparently we were entitled to use it because we were guests of Azur. I paid the driver, and as we walked through the baffle I noticed the beach wasn't very crowded. At four o'clock on a warm May afternoon, I expected there might be more people.

Savannah had brought a canvas tote bag with towels and sunscreen. She walked down to the beach and looked around for a likely spot. We had plenty to choose from. She looked at me, shrugged, and walked about fifty yards west before stopping to see who was nearby. The answer was ... no one. She put down the bag, untied the sash on her wrap and folded it, putting it in the canvas bag. The hat followed and then the sunglasses.

"Help me with the sunscreen please, Harry," she said as she handed me the container.

I gingerly squeezed some out into my hand and began to spread it across her shoulders and down her back. Her bikini top had what I could only describe as a thick thread across the back and very little more in front. As I looked over her shoulder, I could see almost an entire breast swaying as I rubbed the lotion into her back. 

Now the moment of truth. I delayed the inevitable and began putting lotion on her calves and thighs, working my way up.

"Make sure you put lots on my ass, Harry. Nothing worse than a burned butt for sitting down." She seemed so calm about it that I was encouraged to proceed.

I'm not really an ass man ... more like an all-around man. I love a nice set of breasts, a slightly rounded belly, strong thighs and prominent calf muscles. But Savannah's ass was something to behold. If they were looking for a prototype to model for the perfect booty, she had it. I began to apply the lotion and my cock was so damn hard I could barely stand it.

"Oh ... that feels good, Harry. Just like a nice massage." She was looking over her shoulder at me. "Now it's my turn. Get rid of the t-shirt and shorts," she said nonchalantly.

Oh! Oh! This was going to be difficult. I willed myself to be calm and slowly pulled the t-shirt up over my head. I turned my back to Savannah, undid the button, unzipped the fly, and let the shorts drop to my feet. 

"Oh ... nice ass, Harry." She planted both hands on my butt and began to squeeze. "I like the suit, too. Fits you perfectly in back. Very sexy."

"Thanks," I squawked. I could feel the cool lotion as she began to rub it into my shoulders and work her way down my back. She seemed to spend a fair amount of time on my ass, but that may have been my imagination. In any event, she was very thorough and of course, my erection was now pushing upward against the top band of the swim suit. 

"There!" she said, smacking my ass playfully as she finished. "Want to do my front?" she teased. 

"Uh ... I think you and I can manage our own," I said, embarrassed at my wimpy answer.

"Yeah ... but it might be more fun the other way." Again, I could tell she was teasing, if not outright taunting me.

"Oh, Harry. I seem to have your attention," she said seductively, reaching for the front of my trunks and giving my manhood a squeeze.

"Vannie! Don't do that. You'll get us arrested." I had no idea if that was true, but she was really pushing my comfort envelope this afternoon and I was wondering why. That is, I was wondering during the few lucid moments I was having. 

"Come on, Harry. Let's go for a walk along the beach. It's such a beautiful afternoon and we're here on the French Riviera, staying in a five star hotel and having a great time. At least ... I am. Are you having a good time, Harry?"

"Yeah. I am. But you are a tease, you know. You like pushing my buttons to see what will happen, don't you."

"I'm not all tease, Harry. I'm just having some fun with a guy I like, who needs to have some fun too. You've had a tough time lately, losing your parents. It's time to relax and get a little reckless," she said, turning to me and speaking seriously. 

"Well, if reckless is the idea ... then I'm with the right girl."

She gave me a huge smile. "Atta boy, Harry. Reckless it is!" And with that, she pulled the end of the tie on her bikini top and shrugged it off.

"What do you think of these?" she asked, looking down at her breasts, cradled in her hands.

"Fabulous!" They were, too. 

"I just love it when they're free. Free! Free like a bird!" she shouted and began to run down the beach, her arms outstretched, flapping occasionally. 

I stood stock still. A chill ran through me. She stopped when she sensed I wasn't following her, and with her arms out, hands pointing to the sand, she turned her head and looked back at me. The sun shone brilliantly in front of us, the sea almost coppery-gold, the silhouette of Savannah turning her skin black, shining with lotion. 

She turned back, tilting her arms like an airplane making a turn, and ran to the sea. I ran after her. Now I remembered the rest of the dream. I would follow her into the sea, but I wouldn't be able to find her. I would dive and call and search, but she was nowhere to be found. 

That was where the fear was centered. So many times had I awoken in a cold sweat, reliving the frustration of not finding her. And now ... it was happening in real time. I ran as fast as I was able, crashing into the light surf, chasing the naked woman of my dream. My nightmare! I had to stop her.

She was taunting me as I crashed toward her, moving as quickly as I could against the drag of the water. I caught her when she was almost chest deep in the little swells, her two beautiful brown globes bobbing. I grasped her around her waist and lifted her, pulling her to me and holding her tightly.

"Harry! What are you doing, Harry!" she gasped, unsure if I was playing or not. 

"I couldn't let you disappear. I couldn't lose you again. I had to save you."

"What are you talking about? Save me?"

I was breathing heavily from the exertion and gradually it dawned on me that this wasn't what it seemed to be. I had confused reality with my dream. I had reacted to an imaginary stimulus and I had probably frightened Savannah.

"I'm sorry, Vannie. I'll try and explain, but not now. I need to get my head straight."

"Yeah, I can see that. But since you're here, and since I'm safe now, why don't we have some playtime?" 

With one arm wrapped around my neck, she reached down and grasped my now-deflated cock and squeezed it. It started to respond immediately. Her breasts were pushing into my shoulders and I was holding her underneath her buttocks, lifting her against me. As I walked with her, she got lighter as we moved a bit further out into the water. Her buoyancy was helping me.

"You're going to drive me crazy, Vannie. You can't tease a man like this and not expect something drastic to happen."

"Oh? What kind of drastic?" she grinned.

"The kind that could get me in a lot of trouble. This swimsuit isn't tall enough to hide everything when you get me going. I don't want to embarrass you."

"I know how to make it go down, Harry." 

I looked at her, not daring to challenge her. I shouldn't have bothered. She reached down again, sliding her hand inside the top of my suit and grasping my cock firmly. Pulling it up and out of its confinement, she pushed the top of my suit down, leaving my rigid cock and scrotum exposed.

She had a wicked grin on her face and I knew I might as well surrender, since she had complete control of the situation. I felt her push her thong aside and before I could react, she pushed the head of my cock into her pussy and began to sink down on it. 

"Oh, Harry. That feels sooooo good. I'm so horny, Harry. I had to have you. It's all I've been thinking about all afternoon. You feel fantastic. It feels so good. Thank you, Harry," she crooned. 

I began to kiss her and she responded passionately. My hands were full of her ass cheeks and now I was contributing to our joining, pulling her up and letting her down as we moved silently into each other. I had no idea if anyone on shore could make out what we were doing, but I was long past caring. This was out of my control.

The way we were going at it, I wouldn't have been surprised if someone on the beach had hollered "surf's up!" Savanna was hanging on for dear life and I could hear her grunts of satisfaction as we carried on. Finally, it was coming to an end. I couldn't hold out forever and I had to hope that she got what she wanted. She must have. She went rigid in my arms and then shook when I drove myself into her and held her there as I released. 

A few seconds later I felt myself relax and she slowly slipped out of my grasp.

"Have you ever done anything like that before?" she panted.

"No ... never. Not in my wildest dreams." 

She laughed. "Neither have I. That was crazy ... but fun."

I looked at the beach to see if anyone was reacting to us. I couldn't see anything unusual. Either it was a common occurrence or no one noticed. My breathing was returning to normal, but I was still holding Savanna in my arms. The water was almost up to her neck, so I began to gradually move us toward shore. 

I pulled my suit up to its proper position and held Savannah's hand as we waded slowly ashore. The light breeze was cool on our wet skin as we walked back to the bag and the towels. While we dried off, I began to wonder just what had happened between us. I had now identified the dream I had been having, but I was reluctant to tell Savannah about it.

She seemed quite happy and carefree about our passionate encounter, and I think that made it easier on me. I wondered if sex was something common and unimportant to her. I would be disappointed if that were so. It sure wasn't unimportant to me. 

She retied her top and then put her wrap on before we began to walk back to the opening in the screen. There was no cab in sight as we got there, but neither of us minded walking back to the hotel. 

"Harry ... would you mind staying with me tonight?" she asked after a period of silence.

"You mean ... in your room?" I was not quite sure if she was asking what I thought she was asking.

"Yes." She had stopped and turned toward me. "I get lonely and you and I seem to have something. I don't know just what it is, but I trust you and I like you and I want to be with you tonight."

"How in the world could I possibly say no to you?"

"Good ... it's settled then. I'm glad. All we have to do now is decide where to go to dinner and where to go afterwards."

"I can help with the nightclub," I volunteered. "The concierge knows a place that is the hottest place this side of Cannes."

"Wonderful! Why don't we eat at the hotel? I ate there last night and it was very good."

"Fine with me. As long as I'm with you, I'm sure I'll enjoy myself."

"That's nice, Harry. If feel like that too. Isn't it funny ... we met only a few hours ago and I feel like we've known each other forever."

I had another cold shiver go through me as I thought about the dream and today's reality. 

"What is it, Harry? I just felt you shiver. Are you cold?" 

"No. It's a strange story. It relates to what happened when you ran into the water today."

"Tell me about it."

I looked at her. I wondered if I wouldn't be ruining the great feeling we had developed. 

"I'm not sure I should tell you. It's going to sound very strange ... weird in fact."

She gave me a funny look. "Go ahead. Don't worry about me. I can handle it."

I stopped, moved to a low stone wall, and sat. I took a deep breath.

"Not long after my parents died, I began having a recurring dream. I don't usually remember dreams, but this one was quite vivid, and I was having it over and over again."

I stopped and looked at Vannie. She was paying close attention and I decided to continue. I told her about the vision and the woman and the beach. When I got to the part about this afternoon, I paused again. 

"When you ran down the beach and then stopped and looked back, you were duplicating my dream. It was exactly as I remembered it. The sun making your skin look shiny black with the lotion on it. You were naked in the dream and from behind this afternoon, you appeared to be naked. When you ran into the surf, I began to remember the rest of the dream.

"I chased you because in the dream, I couldn't find you. You disappeared. I was actually frightened that it might happen that way. I couldn't take the chance. I had to save you." 

"Wow ... Harry ... that's wild. What do you think it means. I mean, dreams always mean something."

I shook my head. "I don't know. I can't figure it out. But what's more disturbing is that I've had this dream for weeks now ... long before I met you. But it was you in that dream."

"That's spooky. I've got to tell Mama about this. She'll know what it means." 

"How so?"

"Mama is full of stories about charms and curses and dreams and such. According to her, everything means something. This is really interesting, Harry. Are you frightened by it?"

"No ... not frightened ... maybe just ... shocked. I had that feeling when I saw you for the first time ... walking into the café this morning. Then on the beach, it was an even stronger sensation."

"I got to admit, Harry, you are interesting ... and sexy. I have this feeling that we are going to get along very well."

"That's going to be a bit difficult with you leaving in the morning." 

She cocked her head. "Come with me. Or meet me there."

"And when you go to Milan?"

"Harry ... let's work on it. There'll be a way. I know it. I feel it. Just like your dream. You are someone special to me. I don't know how I know it, but I know it."

I laughed. "How could I say no?" 

She laughed with me. "Haven't you told me that already?" 

We made it back to the hotel and we went to the front desk to make a reservation for dinner at eight. That gave us a couple of hours to relax and save our energy for later. Savannah was threatening to wear me out tonight. I was anxious to find out just how she would go about it.



Chocolate and Gold Ch. 02



Savannah and I had dinner at the Hotel Azur, but when I thought she wanted to head out to a well-known local nightclub, she surprised me again.

"Harry ... would you be upset if we stayed here tonight? I would really like to get to know you better, and I can't think of a better way than if we go up to my room and ... talk." 

The implication was obvious. Mrs. Zheng didn't raise any stupid kids, so naturally, I did the only responsible thing.

"Should I get some condoms first?"

She laughed out loud. "No ... I don't think so. Besides, after this afternoon it's a little late for that, isn't it?"

I was embarrassed, as I should have been. I could have killed the whole mood and maybe put an end to the evening. Fortunately, Vannie's effervescent attitude and ever-present smile was reassurance enough that I hadn't ruined my chances. 

I signed the bill and we left for the elevator and Vannie's room.

We did talk. Quite a bit actually. Not all of it was coherent though. 

During my college years, I learned that women usually wanted foreplay before having sex. My "teacher," an attractive older woman from Korea, had worked for several years to save enough money for college. We had our heritage in common, but our size was quite different. She was very short to go with my unusual height, but we didn't mind being a bit of an odd couple; me being a head-and-a-half taller than her.

Her name was Wendy Kim, and I credit her with introducing me to what I needed to know about making love to a woman. She had the experience, and I had the youthful enthusiasm and stamina. We were a very good couple for two years until I graduated. We never expected to remain together, so when it was over I moved on to my career and she continued with her senior year.

Vannie welcomed me to her room by closing the door and turning into my arms immediately.

"I'm just as horny now as I was this afternoon, Harry. You have some kind of power over me, and you can do anything you want with me. I'm yours for as long as you want me," she murmured in a seductive growl.

I began by kissing her passionately, then slowly, very slowly, undressing her. Although I had seen her this afternoon in an almost naked state, I was again mesmerized by her. I don't really remember taking my own clothes off, but somehow they were gone as we tumbled onto the bed. 

A naked Vannie is a sight to behold. Although very tall, she is beautifully proportioned, even a bit larger than life. Her incredible ass is fastened securely to wondrously wide hips, atop long, tapered thighs, perfectly flared calves and delicate feet. Her breasts are large with upward pointed nipples balanced below her wide shoulders. Everything about her is big, and yet not out of scale. 

For a man my size, she was exactly what I would fantasize as an ideal woman. Two years on that ship had made me very fit. The tiny onboard exercise cabin had been my only refuge from work. I would soon discover that my fitness and endurance was going to be important, and happily in that regard, we were a perfect physical match. 

I kissed my way down her body, lingering on her breasts before gradually moving toward her hairless mons. She spread her legs, willingly inviting me to her already moist center. I began slowly, gently using my thumbs to separate her labia and using only the tip of my tongue to torment her. Her hips rose and swayed with my deliberate moves. I could hear Vannie grunt and groan, exclaiming the effect I was having on her. 

Her hands moved to the back of my head, attempting to pull me even closer into her sex. I had not yet touched or explored her clit, but that was coming soon. I drew back briefly to see that it had become enlarged and prominent. I stroked it gently, first with my finger, then with my tongue. Vannie exploded beneath me.

"Oh ... God! Harry ... please! Oh God!" I was about to move up when her back arched and she went completely rigid for at least five seconds before collapsing back on the bed. She shook with what I thought were convulsions two or three times before I saw her gasping for breath.

"Are you all right, Vannie?" I asked, worried she had possible had a fit of some kind.

"Yes. Oh, God ... Harry." She was still gasping for air as I rose to make sure she was not in trouble.

Gradually, she became a bit calmer and her breathing became more regular, but still rapid.

"What happened?" I asked, tentatively.

She looked at me in surprise. "What do you mean, what happened? That was the mother of all orgasms, Harry, that's all." 

Her eyes were wide and she was still breathing heavily, but the smile on her face grew. She grabbed me and pulled me up to her for a long, soul-searching kiss. 

"I've got you now, Harry. I'm never going to let you go, you know. You're my prisoner forever," she gasped, still slightly out of breath.

"Vannie ... we haven't even got started yet. Are you sure you're up to this?"

"Try me!" she challenged.

I did. There is something about making love to a powerful woman. She is your physical equal in many respects, and her expectations are very high. At least Vannie's were. As I said earlier, my fitness would become important to me ... and her.

We made love, or had sex, or just fucked, for who knows how long. We were in a continuous process, moving from one position to another, with brief rests to allow one of us to recover from an orgasm before moving on. Vannie had a series of her rigid/convulsive orgasms, only one of which rivaled the very first, but still very pronounced. I never had any doubt when it was happening, and while it took some getting-used-to, I began to accept that it was a natural occurrence for her.

At some point, we called a halt and lay back on the cool, sweat-soaked sheets. I was wide awake despite all the physical demands I had put on myself. I had never encountered a woman as dynamic and sexually aggressive as Savannah Wilson. On the other hand, I got the impression she hadn't had a partner that could keep up with her for some time, if ever. It was good for my ego, even though it had already been boosted very nicely just by being around this woman.

"Harry."

"Hmmmm."

"Do you believe in love at first sight?"

"Huh! No ... I don't think so. I'm not sure. I suppose it's possible."

"Oh." There was a hint of disappointment in her voice. I rolled toward her.

"Vannie, we just met a few hours ago. Aren't you jumping the gun a bit?"

She rolled toward me. "Maybe. Maybe not. There's something happening here. That dream of yours. It drew you to me. Then, when you thought you were saving me, you ... you really looked relieved. Like you were frightened for me.

"I wanted you, Harry. I wanted you from the moment we went for that walk in Ste. Maxime. You were all I could think about, even when I was in that business meeting. I'm sure those women could smell the arousal on me. I was dripping, just thinking about you. I think you helped me make that sale. You just didn't know it," she grinned.

My face must have been a question mark.

"I smelled like a horny woman and that's the scent you want a certain type of perfume to suggest. Maybe a bit more subtle, but sex is what perfume is all about. I was selling sex and I'm sure those women buyers could tell."

"Do I get a commission?" I joked.

"You already have." She was smiling and she was right. "From now on, you're my faithful assistant, preparing me for the big sales. I can't miss with you by my side."

We lay there for a while, quietly relaxing. Her question about love at first sight had been disconcerting. Was she telling me something more than I wanted to hear? It was definitely too soon for me, wasn't it? I had no idea what being in love was all about. Not yet anyway ... but I was curious.

"Vannie, have you ever been in love?"

"No. Well, not until today," she smiled.

"That's lust, Vannie. You don't want to confuse the two."

"Don't tell me what I feel!" She was rising up on her elbow with an indignant look.

"OK ... OK ... but ... you have to admit ... you are making a big leap in a very short time." I said it in what I hoped was a conciliatory tone.

She looked at me sternly, then a small smile crept onto her lips. "The whole idea scares you, doesn't it?" 

"A bit. What makes you think that you might be in love?"

"I don't know if I am or not. I've got this funny feeling about you and me. I can't explain it. I've been wandering around in my short life without any real sense of direction. I went to school and then to college and then I got this job and then ... and then ... I met you. Nothing really mattered ... until now."

She had a strange look, almost surprised, or perhaps confused. This wasn't the frivolous topic I thought it was. She really was wondering what was happening to her.

"Talk to me, Vannie. Tell me about yourself. Tell me about growing up in Naples."

"I didn't grow up in Naples. I was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and went to grade school there. My dad joined the Canadian Navy and he did really well. He got assigned to a NATO base in Europe for a while and became an expert in submarine detection. Later on, he left the Navy and got a job in Connecticut working for Westinghouse. I guess they used his knowledge to build better anti-detection equipment or something. He never said.

"Anyway, he retired at fifty-five and moved to Naples with Mom, my brother and me. We both went to high school there, and I went to Southwest Florida College. My brother is a brainiac and went to Georgia Tech on a scholarship. He's an electrical engineer and lives in Dallas now. Still not married and he's almost thirty."

"I'm twenty-eight and still not married," I said with a grin.

"I'm twenty-five and still not married. The clock is ticking," she said with an arched eyebrow.

She seemed to be in a hurry for no good reason, I thought. "No rush. I only intend to get married once. I want what my parents have ... had. There wasn't any doubt they were happy together, and together for life." 

"Me too. When Dad died, I thought Mom might too. They were so close for so long. She's OK now, but I know it still hurts and I worry there won't be anyone else for her. She has some friends, but so far no one that might replace Dad."

"So, both of us want the same thing ... what our parents had. I think that has a big influence on who you marry, don't you?"

She was nodding in agreement, still perched on one elbow facing me. 

"Any boyfriends?"

"A few. Nothing serious. I got curious about sex when I was sixteen, but I held off until I went to college. My first experience wasn't a great one, but I did meet a couple of nice guys that I went steady with. I was never going to marry them, but then ... they knew that. I had my own plan for the future. I was going out into the big, wide world and become a success."

"You've done pretty well for yourself. Not many companies would send a young woman on her own to a foreign country to introduce and sell a new product. That's quite an honor, I would say."

"I'm not really on my own. I have some staff with me, and they do the arrangements and setting up for the meetings and photo sessions. I just have to show up and look pretty. So it isn't quite that demanding, as you've already discovered."

"I haven't seen any sign of them. Do they stay in this hotel?"

"No. They've already left for Monaco. I'll see them in the morning tomorrow, and then they're off to Milan. They don't get to stay in the glamour hotels. They put me up here because it's good for the image of the company. We have to look like an established, high-end company. So, I get the rewards that the others don't. It isn't fair, but that's business."

"I wonder what they'd say if they knew I was here with you?" 

Vannie laughed. "Nothing nice, I bet. But, it's not costing the company anything. In fact, you paid for dinner tonight, so ... they actually saved money."

"Good rationalization. I hope they buy it if they ever find out."

"Maybe I'll tell them," she said with a clever look. "Maybe I'll tell them that you're my secret weapon. Of course, I'll never tell them what kind of secret weapon."

"I guess if you sell your product to all the buyers, you don't really have to worry about it," I suggested.

"You got it. Sell! Sell! Sell! That's my job." She didn't say it with any glee.

We were quiet again for a while. Vannie had flopped back on her pillow and was awake, staring at the decorative plaster ceiling.

"What about you, Harry? Any girlfriends?"

"Nope. Not lately. I had a serious girlfriend in middle school. She and I were the smartest kids in class, so we kind of hung out together. We were fourteen and she was just a bit taller than me. That's before I grew quite a bit. Anyway, we were close, but no funny business ... you know? 

"She was from a Japanese family. They were in the fishing business. Anyway, she was really cute, and because we were both Asian we didn't have any problem with our classmates. Then they moved to another part of the city, and I didn't see her anymore. Last I heard she was the personal assistant to some executive at Cisco Systems and drove a Porsche. I guess she survived missing me," I laughed.

"That was a long time ago. Anyone since then?"

"Yeah. I had a steady girlfriend ... lady friend actually ... in college. She was from a Korean family. She was quite a bit older than me, but we were in a lot of the same classes and we seemed to have a lot in common. It sort of evolved into a relationship. We lost track of each other after I graduated. I don't know where she is now."

"Do you miss her?"

"Yes and no. We were never going to be more than friends with benefits. We both knew that."

"Did you ever have any white girlfriends?"

"One or two. Not really girlfriends. More like dates. I think they were curious ... you know ... about how different we might be."

"Did that bother you?" She was asking a genuine question, but I wondered if there was more to it.

"A bit. I was always a minority. Even more than the black ... I mean African American kids. There were a few of us in school, but we never seemed to quite fit into any group. It was easier for us guys, I think. I don't think it was easy for the girls, though."

"Harry. There's something I have to tell you. I'm black. African American ... or African Canadian ... or something," she laughed.

"No! Really! Jeez ... how about that. I'm Chinese American. I don't suppose you noticed that." 

"Well ... there you go ... a pair of oppressed minorities. The two of us. We must be a natural fit, don't you think?"

"If we are oppressed, we're not doing a very good job of showing it," I said, turning to her again.

"Yeah. It is a bit of a hard-sell." She rolled towards me as well.

"What are you going to do with your life, Harry Zheng?"

"Well, about six months from now, I have to chair the annual general meeting of my late father's company. I don't have anything to do between now and then, though."

"So, what's your title?"

"Chairman of the Board. I knew I was never going to be directly involved in the business, so I made sure the board found someone to run the company the way my father would have wanted it run. Luckily, he was already there and ready to take over. I'm just a figurehead."

"Yeah ... but what a figurehead," she teased, reaching for my soft cock once again. "So, that's why you don't have to work?"

"Yeah. That's why. I just sit back and watch the money roll in. Our family owns fifty-one percent of the business. According to my father's will, I was supposed to be given all fifty one percent, but I cheated. I split the stock with my sisters. We each own seventeen percent. After all, my parents left their estate to be divided equally, so I felt they should have an equal share of the business."

Vannie was laughing. 

"What's so funny?"

"I was just thinking of Charlie, your radical sister, sitting in a board meeting. God, I'd love to be a fly on the wall."

"It hasn't happened yet, but ... six months from now, it could be interesting. Besides, Charlie's a sweetheart. She was a tomboy for the longest time. Now she's the spear carrier for a lot of righteous causes."

"So ... what do you want to do, Harry?"

"Same as you, Vannie. Something useful. Something meaningful. I have access to funds that could create or support something important. The question is ... what?"

"Maybe we could find something to do together," she suggested.

"I know something we can do together. We've already been practicing too."

"Are you getting frisky again, big guy? 'Cause if you are, I'm ready."

She was too. I'm not sure when we wore each other out that night, but it was into the small hours of the morning. Vannie had set the alarm for nine o'clock and neither of us had any trouble sleeping until then.

"Where are you staying in Monaco?" I asked. She was toweling her hair, standing naked in the doorway of the bathroom.

"The Fairmont. It's right on the water and near the Casino. Don't bother booking. You'll be staying with me in my room." It was a simple statement of fact.

"Yes ma'am," I returned with a small salute.

She turned and looked at me. "Are you having second thoughts, Harry?"

"No. Don't take me too seriously ... but then ... don't take me for granted."

She dropped the towel on the floor and strolled to the bed, her breasts swaying provocatively. 

"Harry ... I would never take you for granted. Not after yesterday and last night. I just assumed, since you were going to be in Monte Carlo, that it would be convenient and cost-saving to stay with me." She smiled provocatively as she crawled up onto the bed and me.

I laughed. "Bullshit! You just want your rent-a-hunk nearby." 

"There's no need for naughty language, young man," she stated in a haughty voice, her hand now firmly wrapped around my morning woodie. She was looking me straight in the eye as she stroked me to full readiness, then swung her leg over and mounted me. No foreplay. No need. She was ready. 

There was no urgency or frantic pace to our sex. She was quite happy to coast along at a steady pace, her eyes closed as she hummed some unrecognizable tune. Again, her breasts would sway in time with her strokes, and I had only to lie there and enjoy every second of it. I was being looked after in the most pleasurable way. 

I was still in awe, if not a bit of worry, about Vannie's orgasms. They were so dramatic when she stiffened, I wondered if she wasn't going to strain a muscle. The spasms afterward were disconcerting, but she didn't seem the least bit uncomfortable. If there was a positive, it was the clear signal that I was bringing her satisfaction. I couldn't imagine anyone faking a reaction like hers.

Our belated session almost made her late, but she quickly recovered, got dressed, packed her small bag, kissed me and told me to meet her at the Fairmont at four that afternoon. In a whoosh, she was off. Her company had hired a driver for the hour-and-a-half trip, while I would follow later in my rental.

I checked out of my unused room and was out of the hotel an hour later. After having a coffee and croissant at a sidewalk café, I drove along the coast toward Monaco. When I arrived, I was surprised to find that the principality and the town were virtually hanging on the side of a cliff. I carefully wound my way down into the town, found the Fairmont, and parked my car. Check in time was three, but I took the opportunity to see if Vannie had already checked in. She had, but since I didn't have a key and wasn't registered as a guest, I'd just have to wait a while until she showed up.

I strolled over to the casino and asked the attendant at the door about the dress code for the main casino. A coat and tie would be appropriate, he said. As I looked around, I saw a wide variety of men's dress, including Bermuda Shorts, a kilt, jeans and blazer, but no sign of a tuxedo. Perhaps it was too early in the day.




Chocolate and Gold Ch. 02



I had packed a tan, lightweight summer suit for my travels. I would be fine with that the attendant assured me. I couldn't go to Monte Carlo and not throw down a few dollars on the roulette wheel at the famous casino. I smiled as I thought Vannie would enjoy it too.

I returned to the hotel and wandered through the shops. In the menswear area, I found a lovely silk tie; hand-painted in brilliant Mediterranean blues and greens. It would go perfectly with a pale blue shirt and my suit. Fifteen minutes later, I was being fitted for a very comfortable pair of alligator leather loafers. It was a bit of a splurge, but I was trying to make sure I didn't embarrass Vannie. I wanted to look good for her. I also had a plan for her.

It was going to be another lovely, warm evening, and at the suggestion of the concierge, I booked a table at the rooftop restaurant. I hoped I wasn't being too presumptuous. I sat in the lobby, watching all the "beautiful people" come and go. I wondered idly where they were from and what they were doing here. It was only ten days to the Grand Prix, and I could see the preparations for the race were already underway.

Vannie arrived at the hotel at twenty past four and spotted me immediately. I rose and we greeted each other with a kiss. After retrieving my bag from the storage room, we went to the elevators. The room was terrific, with a full view of the harbor and the yacht basin. 

"I booked a table at the rooftop restaurant for seven o'clock. I hope that's alright with you?"

"Sounds wonderful. I love this place already. What do you want to do after dinner?" she asked with a sly smile.

"Well ... I thought we might go to the Grand Casino for a while ... before retiring." 

"Oh, I'd love that. I've seen it in so many movies. We have to play roulette ... at least once," she enthused.

I smiled. "That was in my plan too." 

"This is your plan?" Her eyebrows were raised in surprise.

"Yes ...this is my plan."

I watched her carefully as she strolled from the window towards me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me. It was a full, very intense kiss and my hands were busy fondling her perfect cheeks as we joined.

"I like your plan, Harry. But I don't have an evening dress with me. I'll have to wear my business clothes," she said with a frown.

"No ... not tonight. We're going down to the ladies wear shop in the lobby. I saw a very nice dress that I think would look spectacular on you. My treat."

"No ... no Harry. I can't let you do that," she protested.

"Yes ... you can ... and you will. That's final!" I was leaving no room for argument.

She looked at me again, trying to determine if I was serious. 

"All right. But I'll pay you back."

"No ... that would spoil the pleasure of giving something to you. Besides ... you don't even know if you will like my choice."

She was shaking her head, looking at me with a stern expression.

I wanted to close the discussion. "Come along, now. We don't have time to waste. They may have to make alterations and they said to give them at least ninety minutes."

Vannie gasped when she saw my choice. She loved it, I could tell. I was proud of my ability to find a complement to her beauty. Luckily, they had something close to her size and the alterations were minor. It would be delivered to our room at six-thirty, the saleslady assured us. Vannie was walking on air as we left the shop.

"Now I know I'm keeping you for myself, Harry. Your choice was perfect. I love it and it looks good on me. Not everything does, you know."

"I would tend to disagree. I think you'd look good in a potato sack, but I don't suggest we find out just now."

I was partly serious and partly kidding and Vannie picked up on it.

"You're in a very good mood, Mr. Zheng. I think we are going to have a lot of fun together. I can't wait to walk into the casino in my new dress."

"We aren't done yet. We need to get you a nice pair of shoes to go with it. You can't go in half-dressed."

"No ... Harry. You've done too much already. Please. Let me look after the shoes."

"Fine. But make sure you're happy with them. They're your feet you have to protect." 

She found a pair of high-heeled sandals she liked, and I agreed they would go well with the new dress. She paid the clerk and we left to return to our room.

"You haven't shown me what you are going to wear tonight," she said, curious.

I walked to the wardrobe and opening my suit bag, pulling out the tan suit and blue shirt.

"Oh ... that's sharp, Harry. We're going to look very cool tonight."

"Wait 'till you see my tie," I said, flourishing it in front of the shirt."

"Wow ... it's beautiful. We are going to be the best-dressed couple in the casino for sure." 

I could see the enthusiasm bubbling up in her. I hung my suit back in the wardrobe and wandered over to her as she turned back to the view out over the Mediterranean. I wrapped my arms around her waist as I stood behind her.

"I can't believe everything that's happened in the last day, Harry. You came out of nowhere and yet it all seems so right ... so familiar. I can't help thinking about that dream of yours and what it all means."

"I've stopped thinking. I'm just enjoying. I've found myself in the company of a very beautiful woman and I'm savoring every moment. I don't know how long this will last, but I'm going to appreciate every minute of it."

She turned to me, her arms going around my neck once more. 

"Let's make it last a long time, Harry. If it's this good ... let's make it last a very long time."

A knock on the door interrupted our private moment and I moved to open it. A smiling woman handed me the altered dress, and I thanked and tipped her for her speedy work. I turned to Vannie and passed the lovely, colorful dress to her. She couldn't wait to try it on and began stripping off her business wear. 

"Nice show, babe," I laughed.

She wiggled her ass and struck a very sexy pose. "Later, big guy, later."

She slipped the dress on over her head and let it fall in place. It fit perfectly and she looked stunning in it. 

"Do you really need a bra for that dress?" I teased.

"Now look who's reckless," she said, surprised. "I don't know. They might not let me in the casino if it's too revealing."

"Have you looked at what the other women are wearing in this town? I don't think you'll shock anyone." I had noticed some very scantily clad young women in the casino. I was challenging Vannie to be a bit more daring.

"You think?" She looked unsure.

"Reckless! Go for it," I said firmly.

She looked at me and smiled. "You just want to see me bending over the roulette table with my boobs hanging out, don't you?" 

"The thought had occurred to me. I was thinking just how many jealous men I could taunt with you on my arm tonight."

She grinned, and then reaching behind her, undid the snap on her bra. She did that female thing where she was able to get out of it without taking her dress off.

"Satisfied?"

"Very. There are going to be some very aroused men when they see you tonight. Maybe some very unhappy women too," I kidded.

"There's only one guy and I want aroused," she said, walking back to me. She put her hand on my now growing cock and squeezed. "It's a good thing we have that dinner reservation. I might get hungry and eat you right up." 

I was surprised there wasn't smoke coming off her. 

We had a very fine meal in the rooftop restaurant. The service was impeccable and nicely paced. We shared a bottle of wine and were feeling very mellow as we walked to the casino. I had already arranged for a five thousand dollar line of credit, and as I escorted Vannie into the Grand Casino, I couldn't help noticing the number of eyes that traveled over us, particularly Vannie. She looked incredible and she knew it.

We strolled around the casino, avoiding the slot machines and the card tables. We found a roulette table with a few active players and decided to make ourselves at home. We passed on the offer of a drink from a hostess and Vannie sat as I stood behind her, hands on her bare, beautiful shoulders. 

"You know how this works, Vannie?"

"I think so. I pick a number I like and if it comes up ... I win."

"Yes ... that's pretty much it. You can bet on more than one number at a time, and you can bet on whether the ball will fall on a red space or a black space."

"I've already decided. I want to bet on number twenty-eight." There was no doubt in her voice and she placed five chips on the number.

"How much am I betting?" she asked as the wheel spun.

"Five hundred dollars," I said, smiling.

"What! That's crazy. Why did you let me do that?" she hissed.

"You seemed pretty sure of yourself. Let's see what happens."

The ball slowed and began bouncing in the slotted places on the wheel until it finally came to rest. Number twenty-eight had won!

"I won! I won! I can't believe it, I won on the very first try," she cried, jumping up and down, causing her unfettered breasts to bounce merrily in and out of her dress. 

"Yes you did," I said as I tried to calm her. She was getting a lot of attention from several of the men at the table, and it wasn't just because she'd won.

"How much did I win, Harry?" 

"Seventeen thousand, five hundred dollars," I replied, as calmly as I could. I was amazed. I had never seen anything like it. One spin of the wheel and she had won. The look on Vannie's face was priceless. I don't think she could quite believe it. 

"That's insane! I couldn't have won all that. I just made one bet on one spin," she said with a befuddled look.

"True, but the odds are very high that you won't win again, so the payoff is very good when you do. How did you decide on the number?"

"It was your age ... twenty-eight. You're my good luck charm, remember? I just can't believe it. I've never won anything before." 

She was giggling and happily stacking the chips in front of her. "I have to make another bet, Harry. What is your birthday?"

"December tenth," I answered.

"OK ... let's see. Two hundred on ten, two hundred on twelve, and two hundred on twenty-two," she said, concentrating.

Once again the wheel spun and as it slowed, the ball came to rest in the pocket for ten. She had won again. Unbelievable!

"How much did I win this time, Harry," she yipped in gleeful excitement.

"Well, seven thousand on the winner, less the four hundred on the losers. Six thousand six hundred all told."

"It's amazing! You really are my lucky charm," she squealed.

"Harry! What's your waist size?"

"Uhmmm ... thirty-four."

"Right! Three hundred on thirty-four," she announced.

She lost. She seemed puzzled. She looked at me like she didn't understand how she could have lost.

"Are you sure your waist size is thirty-four?"

"Yes. Pretty sure. Maybe thirty-five, but they don't make that size as standard."

"Ah Hah! Three hundred on thirty-five!" There was no equivocation in her voice.

Thirty-five won. I was beginning to get a funny feeling. Vannie had won almost thirty-five thousand dollars in four spins of the wheel. I was getting nervous about this. There was something going on that wasn't real. We had gathered quite a crowd around the table now as word of the big winner had spread.

"Vannie, don't you think you should take your winnings and retire. I mean, you've had an amazing run of luck. It can't last forever."

"It's not luck, Harry. It's fate. It's you and me and the gods all coming together at once. It's your dream and my fate. This is the way it's supposed to be, Harry." She was a bit wild-eyed at this point and I thought it would be smart to pull her away from the table to calm down.

"Why don't we go over here and have a drink and a rest. The croupier will look after your winnings," I suggested.

She looked at me strangely and then, unexpectedly, she smiled and agreed. "Yes, let's do that. This is very exciting. I need to calm down and think about it."

We'd barely left the table when a liveried waiter approached us and took our drink order; champagne of course. A hostess led us to a private table and seated us. It wasn't long before a bottle of Perrier-Jouet was sitting in a silver bucket and two flutes were being filled. 

"I got a little crazy, didn't I," Vannie said contritely.

"Don't worry about it. Everyone was fascinated with your winning. You've made a lot of money tonight."

"No I didn't. It's your money. You bought the chips. I just picked the numbers."

"Well, then it's a true partnership. How does that sound?"

She smiled that fabulous, white smile. "Perfect!"

"You know what I want to do now?" she asked after a few moments silence.

"No ... what?"

"I want to cash in my chips, drag a certain handsome man into my ... our ... room and make love with him." 

I was certain the smoke was rising off her now. "I think that sounds fantastic. Let me look after it." I signaled the waiter and requested our chips be cashed and sent to the Fairmont front desk in Savannah Wilson's name. He nodded silently and it was done.

"Let's just finish our champagne and we can stroll out of here as one of the big winners at roulette tonight." 

"Yes. I get to smile knowingly at all the others who didn't win and leave with my stud on my arm. There won't be one of them who isn't jealous."

"Oh ... so now I'm just a boy-toy. Is that it?"

"Harry. You are never going to be a boy-toy. First of all you are a man ... and second ... you never would be a toy. You are the real, grown-up thing."

She rose as she drained her glass. We had barely touched the bottle of champagne, but that wasn't important.

"I have one more request, Harry."

"And that is?"

"If you have any more chips, put them on eight for one last spin."

I reached in my pocket and found four one-hundred dollar chips. I took them out and handed them to Vannie. She smiled widely and walked back to our table, waiting for the next spin of the wheel. When it came, she slapped down the four on number eight and waited for the result.

Why was I not surprised when she won? I asked the croupier to add the amount to our previous winnings and forward it to the Fairmont. Once more a wordless nod as I led a stunned Vannie from the table and toward the exit. I could hear a smattering of applause as we left and I acknowledged it. Vannie was still in a state of shock. 

"What was the number eight related to?" I asked.

"I'll tell you later. It's very private," she said seriously.

We walked back to the hotel slowly, her arms wrapped around my arm as she leaned into me. I was surprised how comfortable I was with Vannie. When the elevator doors slid shut, she encircled my neck and gave me another of her passionate kisses.

"Do you believe me now?" she asked in a sultry voice.

"Believe what?" 

"That you are my lucky charm ... my talisman."

I chuckled. "I believe that you believe it."

"You're hard to convince, Harry Zheng."

"If anyone can do it, you can," I said as the doors slid open on our floor.

"It isn't just the money, you know. It's my sales too. I've made almost every sale to every potential customer since I met you. That's never happened before. You can't tell me that's just luck," she said as I opened the door to our room.

"No ... of course not. You are a superior salesperson with a superior product. That's all."

"Harry ... be serious for a moment. There's something special going on with us. I don't know what it is, and I don't know how long it's going to last, but I know this for a fact!" She was very emphatic with her opinion.

I wrapped her up in my arms and kissed her. "You're right about that. There is something special going on with us. And I want it to last a long time, just like you do," I admitted.

We worked our way slowly toward the bed, loosening our clothes as we went. It took a while, but I was finally naked. It didn't take Vannie very much time at all. One pair of shoes, one dress, one pair of panties and she was ready.

"Did I tell you how sexy you looked tonight, Harry?"

"A time or two. I had to look good to be seen with you."

"You say all the right things. Now ... why don't we celebrate our good luck?"

Our lovemaking, and that's what it was, lovemaking, took quite some time that night. It lacked the frantic joining of yesterday, and was more erotic and passionate. We had found each other's perfect place and settled down in it. That didn't mean that it wasn't dynamic and powerful at times, but in the end it was considerate and giving. Both of us seemed to be trying to please the other. 

"I never told you about the last bet, did I?" Vannie spoke as we lay side-by-side after our most recent orgasms.

"No. Number eight, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. It's how big I think you are ... you know ... lengthwise," she snorted.

"Oh ... well ... how about that. And you won. But ... the truth is ... it's more like seven."

"No matter. It was still a lucky number. Maybe the gods were rounding-up tonight."

That started a contagious laughing match between the two of us. First one would start and as it wound down, the other would begin. It was juvenile and silly and ... fun. That was what I enjoyed about being with her the most. It was fun. 

"So ... what's the plan for tomorrow?" I asked.

"I'm supposed to catch the train to Milan. I think it leaves just before eight tomorrow morning. I'm sure they will have room for you." She looked at me questioningly, perhaps wondering if I would follow her.

"No need. I'll drive you. Save the company money and we can see the sights along the Italian Riviera before we head north. It's about a three-and-a-half hour drive. The train takes forever, and you have to change in Genoa."

"You'd do that for me ... drive me all the way to Milan?"

"Uh-huh. I gather you don't have any sales calls tomorrow."

"No. Tomorrow is a travel day. Friday in Milan, Saturday and Sunday off, Monday travel to Rome, Tuesday in Rome, Wednesday travel day to Naples and Thursday is my last call. I'll probably fly home on Friday or Saturday."

"Do you have to?"

"What ... fly home?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know. I still have to be at work on Monday, and I'll need to recover from the jet lag. Six hours is a big jump. I'll need some rest and I've learned I can't sleep on planes."

"Nine hours for me. I know what you mean, though. But here's my plan. Tell me if you're okay with it," I said, looking at her carefully.

"I'll drive you all the way to Naples. I assume your plane leaves from Rome?" 

She nodded.

"Good, then I'll drive you back to Rome to the airport and see you off. Then, I'm heading north to Turin, and then across to Lyon. Drop my rental off and take the train to Paris and then, if it's still OK with you, I'll catch the plane to someplace close to Naples and meet you there for the following weekend." I looked at her to see how she was going to respond to my suggestion. It didn't take long.

"You will! You'll come to Naples ... just to see me?" She was up on her elbow, looking at me incredulously.

I rolled toward her. "Yes. Just to see you. Actually, to be with you too."

She virtually dove at me, smothering me with kisses and hugging me with a bear-like grip.

"Oh, Harry. You are special. I feel so good about you. About us!"

"Yeah ... I know what you mean, babe. Oh ... and there's more good news. We don't have to get up early to get the train. How does ten o'clock sound?"

"Wonderful. Lots of playtime for us," she smirked.

"I was thinking that very same thing."



Chocolate and Gold Ch. 03



My plan worked perfectly. We left Monaco just before eleven the next morning with Vannie almost fifty thousand dollars richer, thanks to a generous casino roulette wheel. Naturally, she repaid my investment in her good fortune. I had made a few side bets, but nothing had come up the way Vannie's good fortune did. I was probably down a couple of hundred.

We stayed at the very nice Principe De Savoia in Milan. In fact, all the hotels her company's travel agent had booked for her were excellent. We talked a lot along the drive. I wanted to know as much as I could about her and her background. I also wanted her to know more about me. If we were going to be a couple, I didn't want too many surprises for either of us. 

I learned she was working on straight salary with a modest bonus system in place. She wasn't paid that much, barely fifty thousand a year. However, she had a generous expense and clothing allowance, as well as a job that didn't demand long hours. Her roulette winnings were destined to help her mother pay off their mortgage. They were living together in a townhouse after her father's death, and Vannie was the only breadwinner.

At first, she was insistent that we split the winnings, but I finally wore her down and convinced her that she was the winner and I was happy to break even. I think secretly, she was delighted that she could surprise her mother with her windfall and make a significant contribution to the household.

I also counseled her to declare her winnings when she re-entered the U.S. I wasn't sure what the tax-man would want, but I was sure he would want something. She looked depressed momentarily when I mention that, but she recovered soon enough. Even half the amount would help them a great deal. I suspected she would get to keep close to three-quarters.

Our longest drive was Sunday, from Milan to Rome. We had decided to leave a day early to give ourselves some extra time in Rome. Neither of us had ever been there before and we wanted to discover it together.

It was an almost 600 kilometer drive. Six hours, all of it motorway and most of it tolled. Driving in Italy wasn't cheap. My Laguna kept pace with the 120 km speed limit without effort, but I was constantly being passed by cars running 30 or 40 kph faster. I had set the cruise on 130 kph, but there were times when I thought I was dawdling by the way I was being passed. Italians like to drive fast.

We stayed at the Residenza Cellini, and again the travel agent's choice was excellent. Not a large hotel, but very nice with an outstanding staff and wonderful antique furnishings. The concierge helped us book a guided tour for Monday morning and recommended a restaurant three blocks from the hotel. 

We were situated right in the middle of the city, and after checking with the concierge once more we found Vannie's meeting on Tuesday was located within walking distance.

We were tired from the long drive, and after a very fine meal at the recommended restaurant, we decided to call it a night and head back to the hotel. Our lovemaking was short but sweet, and both of us slept well that night. 

We had a day and a half to explore Rome and we made full use of it. Our guided tour took us to all the well known spots. The hotel had arranged a walking guide, and we found a number of museums and famous locations within a short distance of our home base. On Tuesday Vannie's meeting was in the late morning, and she continued her successful streak at making important sales. We spent the afternoon and early evening wandering the streets, eating when we were hungry and generally enjoying each other's company.

The short drive to Naples was accomplished before noon on Wednesday and again, we had almost a full day to be tourists. On a whim, we took a speedboat to the Isle of Capri to visit the Blue Grotto. We had become bona fide tourists. Vannie's final meeting was at ten on Thursday and the rest of the day, and the trip for that matter, was ours. 

We were becoming very comfortable with each other. The excitement of the first two days had become the caring and sharing of the next week. The more we were together, the more I thought we might have a future. Perhaps the gloss of the adventure might dull at some point, but I felt we had much more in common than I would have guessed. I was beginning to think that the only probable obstacles might be our families' attitudes, and our life goals.

The drive back to Rome from Naples was quiet. Both of us knew this would be our last night together for a week and it felt like a year's separation. We were booked in a hotel nearer the airport this time. Vannie's flight was early Friday morning, and after a light meal in the dining room we retired to the room.

We were both pretty quiet that evening. We made wonderful love, as it always was with Vannie. There was something on her mind and I wanted to get it out of her.

"What are you thinking, Vannie. You're awfully quiet tonight," I asked softly.

She rolled towards me. At first she just stared at me with a somewhat worried look.

"Are you really going to come to Naples, Harry?"

"Yes. Of course. Why would you think otherwise?"

"I don't know. This past week has been ... out of this world. None of it seems possible or ... real. It's like some fairy tale. It just doesn't happen in real life. I guess I'm worried that it's all a dream and soon I'm going to wake up and there won't be a Harry Zheng."

"Wow. I don't know what to tell you. I'm real, Vannie. What happened this past ten days was very, very real. There are some strange things happening, I admit, but what we have ... together ... is very real."

She smiled and touched me gently on my cheek. "I'm glad, Harry. I couldn't handle it if it was just a dream. I've fallen for you, Harry. Too late to stop now. I'm yours ... if you want me." 

She looked so vulnerable and uncertain. I pulled her to me and held her closely.

"You're going to have to put up with me for a while, lady. First, I have to meet your mother, even if it's to find out what she thinks about my dream. Then, we have to start planning what we are going to do with the rest of our lives. See ... I've fallen for you too. Too late to be cautious. Too late to take it slow."

I could feel the tears and hear the sniffles as she let her feelings loose. We lay like that for a few minutes until she had calmed down and regained her emotional balance.

"Is this what it's like to fall in love, Harry?" she asked quietly.

"I guess so. I'm not sure. I can't think straight," I confessed.

"That's good. Neither can I."

I saw her off early Friday morning in a tearful but hopeful goodbye. I would be in Naples, somehow, someway, no later than a week from today and we could pick up the pieces there. At the airport, I watched her walk into the tunnel before I turned and slowly headed for my car.

I had a long trip ahead of me. I was planning on making it to Florence today. Then Florence to Turin and Turin to Lyon. Five hours today, five hours tomorrow and four or five hours on Sunday. Monday to Paris, and with any luck, back in the U.S.A. on Tuesday, way ahead of schedule.

I would have to take my chances on accommodations along the way until I could get on the internet and make some reservations. Perhaps tonight in Florence, I thought. I arrived in mid-afternoon after pushing hard without any more than a gas, pee, and sandwich break at an Agip rest stop. 

A quick look through the city and I found a Westin hotel that I was fairly confident would have what I needed. I was right. There was a travel agent on the premises and I made an appointment with her to discuss my needs. By ten o'clock the next morning, I had hotel reservations in Turin, Lyon, Paris and London. Why London? I couldn't get a decent flight out of Paris to the southern U.S. within three days, so I opted for her suggestion. 

I booked space on the TGV fast rail from Lyon to Paris, then the Eurostar to London. From Heathrow, British Airways to Miami. I would be there Thursday, with a day in London to look around. Still one day ahead of schedule, I thanked the agent and started back to my room. 

There was an internet station in the lobby, and I decided to see if there was any urgent e-mail for me. Nothing but a few jokes from my older sister, and a couple of links to some politically active group from Charlie. Some things never change. Then, I remembered the slip of paper that Vannie had given me. It had her address and phone number, but it also had an e-mail address.

I logged on, paid the exorbitant charge for a few minutes, and sent Vannie an e-mail.

Hi Babe! I'm in Florence and about to leave for Turin. I've made all my reservations to get back to the good old U.S.A. and I'm going to see you Friday. I can't wait. Hope your flight home was smooth and that you are catching up on your sleep. You're going to need it! Ha! Ha! See you soon, Love, Harry

I had a smile on my face as I loaded my bag into the car and began the next leg to Turin.

I was able to keep pretty much to the schedule until I got to London. Somehow, my plane reservation got screwed up and I was scheduled out of Heathrow Friday morning to arrive in Miami Friday afternoon. That was cutting it close, but still, it could be done. It was two hours from Miami to Naples if I hustled along Alligator Alley. I was scheduled to land at two-twenty. Then customs. Then the rental car. I should be OK. I hoped so.

As I relaxed and thought about it, I wondered why it was so important that I didn't disappoint Vannie. I was treating this return like a life-or-death situation. How hard would it be to explain that the plane was delayed or some other perfectly reasonable excuse for being late? The truth was a bit frightening. It was life or death to me. Not in the literal sense. Just that I didn't want Vannie thinking that I couldn't live up to my promises, no matter what!

I found an internet café not far from my hotel in London and logged on to see if Vannie had returned my e-mail. She had.

Hi Harry: I miss you so much. I can't wait until Friday. I'm going to love you to death. Momma wants to meet you too. I've told her everything about you. Well, maybe not everything (Ha Ha). When do you think you will be here? Momma wants to make supper for you. Something special she said. I hope you get this in time. I'm wet just thinking about you. Hurry home, but be safe. Love, Vannie

I couldn't believe how excited I was to get her message. I was almost hyperventilating. I hit the reply button.

Hi Vannie: My plane lands between 2 and 3 Friday afternoon. I should be at your place before 6. Don't worry, I will hurry. You can count on it. Love you too, Harry

I was only hours away from my flight to Miami. I had my rental car reserved with GPS to navigate right to Vannie's doorstep. Everything was ready. All I had to do was calm down. I wandered around the lobby for a while, looking for something to do. Finally, I realized I needed to get to Heathrow tomorrow morning. Once again, the concierge was my friend.

I explained when my flight was scheduled and he recommended a cab service and offered to make the booking. I tipped him five pounds for the service and noted the time he would be here. Happily, it wasn't some outrageous hour of the morning. Seven-thirty was at least reasonable. 

I had a fitful night, falling in and out of sleep, anticipating all the problems that might arise between now and my flight arriving in Miami. Even then, would they be out of rental cars? Would the road be closed for an accident? It was all juvenile imagination, of course, but I had elevated my arrival on Vannie's doorstep to nothing short of an order from the president. 

When my alarm when off at six, I was already up, had shaved, showered and packed my bag. I went down to the lobby and decided to have a proper breakfast for a change. I picked up a copy of the London Telegraph and wondered how I would kill an hour and a half between now and when my cab arrived.

The concierge assured me that the cab driver would come looking for me in the lobby and I need not stand on the sidewalk waiting for him. I sincerely hoped he was right. I shouldn't have worried. The concierge is always right! Promptly at seven twenty-five, a casually dressed man walked into the lobby bearing a hand-written card marked "Zeng." Close enough. I was on my way.

I don't think I drew a normal breath until I felt the clunk of the landing gear doors closing as we climbed west out of Heathrow, bound non-stop for Miami. I loved my stay in France and Italy, but it was mostly because I spent almost all of my two weeks with Savannah Wilson, the woman I intended to spend the rest of my life with. I hoped.

I had booked business class to give my big body a bit more room. It was extravagant, but then, it wasn't something I had to worry about any more. I was wealthy now, and I could afford the best. That was going to take some getting used to. 

My parents never flaunted their wealth, even though they were very well off. Our home was a little better than average, but nothing special. My sisters and I went to high school and we were just kids that hung out with other kids. Again, nothing special. We were taught to respect our elders, and that work was something that we should get used to. There would be no free ride.

I was pretty sure my sisters and I never really knew my parents were rich until we were out of school and a little more savvy about the ways of business. When I think about it now, I'm glad. I knew enough rich kids in college that I recognized the kind of attitudes they could hold. Not all of them were very generous or politically correct. Perhaps being a minority, I was more attuned to the subtleties of racism. For the most part, I tried to ignore them.

As I thought about Vannie, I wondered what kind of children we would produce. Hell ... come to think of it ... did Vannie even want children? Did she even want to get married? I was really getting away ahead of myself with this relationship. It wasn't two weeks old and I was already planning our family. Calm down, boy. You have work to do yet.

London to Miami was a nine-and-a-half hour flight, almost identical to the London-Seattle route. I looked up the movies and immediately knew I wasn't interested. I hadn't brought my MP3 player with me, so I couldn't numb myself with music. I was alone in my seat with no passenger beside me. I hadn't given myself enough time to find a book or a magazine, only the London paper, and I already knew there was little of interest in it for me. It was going to be a long day.

For the first time that I can recall, I slept on the plane. Sometime after lunch was served, I dropped off. I'm not sure if it was my sleepless night in London or the glass of wine I had, but nonetheless, I was out. When I awoke, we were somewhere out over the Atlantic in clear, blue skies. My little television monitor said we were at 38,853 feet and traveling at 522 mph. 

I looked at my watch, still on London time, and tried to calculate how much longer the flight would be. I needed to make a five hour adjustment, and when I did, I saw that it was almost noon, Miami time. Just a couple more hours and we would be descending into Florida. I could feel the nervousness return. I was uptight. I needed something to calm my nerves. I rang the attendant button.

"Yes sir, may I help you," the young flight attendant asked politely.

"May I have another glass of wine, please?"

"Yes ... of course sir. You missed your meal, but you were sleeping and I didn't want to disturb you," she explained.

"Thank you. I'm glad you didn't. I really need the sleep."

"Would you like a sandwich plate or a cheese plate with your wine?"

"Cheese plate would be great. Thank you."

She was back in a couple of minutes with the cheese plate and shortly after with a glass of California Cabernet. I was hungry. I think the young attendant was keeping an eye on me because before I knew it another cheese plate appeared. I smiled and thanked her. I got a lovely smile in return. My world was coming up aces no matter which way I turned.

I accepted a second glass of wine, mindful that I had a couple of hours driving still ahead of me. However, the sleep had been a great restorative, and I guessed that I had been out for over five hours. 

Customs was painless and I was in and out in a matter of a few minutes. The rental agency had the car ready and after I did a walk-around, I was satisfied that it was in good shape and reasonably clean. I programmed the GPS with Vannie's address and let the machine do the talking. 

It was just after three when I left the airport rental lot and I had guessed two plus hours to Naples. With any luck, I should be on her doorstep by five-thirty ... six at the latest. I followed the spoken instructions on the GPS and within a few minutes, I was on the road headed for Alligator Alley and Naples.

The amazing little machine led me directly to Vannie's door without a hiccup. I climbed out of the car and stretched. Ten hours on the plane and now almost three in the car and I was stiff. I was about to release the trunk when I heard a loud squeal and I was assaulted by a wild woman running out of the door in front of my car. 

"Harry! Harry! You're here!" She was smothering me with kisses as she held me tightly to her luscious body. Vannie was attached to me like a Remora on a shark.

"Why didn't you call?" she asked, not waiting for my answer. "I'm so glad you're here. Come in, get your bag, come in."

I was chuckling at her enthusiasm. I was the laughter of relief. Any idea that she might have changed her mind about us vanished in that tumultuous greeting. As I walked up the pathway with her, a woman appeared in the doorway. I made the assumption that it was Vannie's mother. 

"Hello, Mrs. Wilson. I'm Harry Zheng."

"Hello, Harry. You can call me Mariah. I've been looking forward to meeting you," she said with a genuine smile and an extended hand.

She put me at ease immediately. We followed her into the townhouse and she led the way down the hall.

"I'm afraid this is just a two bedroom unit, Harry. So you'll have to either sleep with Vannie ... or ... sleep with me," she said with a sly grin.

I got the immediate impression that Mariah Wilson had the same sense of humor her daughter was blessed with. I thought it only fair to respond.

"Uhhhmmm ... can I let you know later when I decide?" I attempted to deliver this line with a straight face.

Thwack! Vannie had clouted me on the arm. That was a decision maker, I thought.

"I guess I'll stay in Vannie's room ... if that's OK with you," I said tentatively, trying to observe the niceties of politeness.

"I suppose so," she said with a disgusted look. "I was hoping you'd have a sense of adventure, Harry," the woman said without cracking a smile.

"It would certainly be an adventure," I agreed, looking carefully over to a frowning Vannie.

She couldn't hold the pose. She began to laugh. "I think you and Momma are going to get along just fine." I had to agree. Vannie disappeared into the hallway, carrying my small bag.

Mariah Wilson was of undetermined middle age. She was one of those women who didn't reveal her years in any distinct way. She wasn't quite as tall as her daughter, but it was obvious where the origin of Vannie's voluptuous figure was enshrined. Like Vannie, she was a very beautiful woman, regardless of her age.

"I'm forty-three, if that's what you're wondering," she said in a not so subtle way.

I must have gone red-faced. It wasn't often my thoughts were that transparent. Remember, we're supposed to be inscrutable.

"You were very young when you had Savannah," I finally managed, hoping I could save some face.

"Yes ... that was my good luck. I found Davey when I was eighteen and we were married as soon as I knew I was pregnant. It could have turned out very badly, I suppose. But it didn't. He was a fine man and I miss him terribly. No one knew he had a hole in his heart. One day he was here ... and the next he was gone."




Chocolate and Gold Ch. 03



"I'm sorry. Vannie told me how close you were. She talks about how she wants the man she marries to give her the kind of happiness you had. I guess that's the best anyone can hope for."

"Yes ... I suppose so. I'm starting to feel like I want to get back into some kind of life again. I can't go on mourning for the rest of my life. I'm still young, and by the look in your eyes a few moments ago, I can still attract a man," she grinned.

"Yes. You can be confident of that. I'm surprised you haven't been swarmed with suitors."

"Oh, I've had my chances ... but ... the timing wasn't right. I wasn't in the mood for a man companion. But ... things are changing. Maybe you and Vannie made me think about what I might be missing. I wonder if I can talk Vannie into sharing you," she said with another sly look.

I didn't have any comeback for that. I decided to smile politely and say nothing. I was saved when Vannie walked back into the kitchen, a quizzical look on her face.

"Sharing what?"

I was about to say something to cover up when I was over-ridden by Mariah.

"Oh, I was just mentioning to Harry that I am getting back into the mood to have a man in my bed. I thought you might want to share him." 

"Mother!" 

I got the impression Vannie was not in agreement. In the meantime, I could feel the heat in my face and was trying to look anywhere but at the two women.

"Just a thought, girl. Just a thought," Mariah smiled. There was the hint of the devil in that smile. I was beginning to think she might just be serious.

I was pretty well beat by the time ten o'clock rolled around. The ladies had served a fine meal, and that -- combined with the time difference -- pretty much put me under. I excused myself and headed for the bedroom. Vannie and Mariah were deep in conversation and Vannie said she'd be along in a while.

I don't remember much after brushing my teeth and stripping down to my boxers. I crawled into bed and was out before my head hit the pillow. A couple of times during the night, I woke to find a naked woman tucked into my chest or spooning into my back. It was a very comforting feeling and put me back to sleep almost immediately. 

When I began to awake from a lovely dream, I took an inventory. Me, a naked woman behind me that was likely Vannie, sunrise, 5:18 on the clock radio, and a warm hand wrapped softly around my morning erection. It wasn't hard to tell where the dream came from. My bed partner was using my woodie as a handle to hold while she slept. She wasn't squeezing me and I could hear her regular breathing.

I was sure it was Vannie because of her scent. I'm not sure what Mariah's scent was, but I had Vannie's committed to memory. A very pleasant memory. I closed my eyes, attempting to go back to sleep, but it was impossible. There were too many very active sensations rushing through my body. 

I tried my best to blot out the erotic messages that Vannie's grip was sending, but to no avail. I decided to let it stay where it was and let the stimulation of her presence flow over me. It wasn't difficult. In fact it was very pleasant. Maybe a little too pleasant. There might be a danger in my ultimate reaction to this stimulus. 

I carefully moved my hand down to wrap it around her wrist, hoping to remove it from its present grip. She didn't stir and didn't let go. I needed a better method that wouldn't wake her. Perhaps if I tickled her lightly ... but where? I had my back to her and there were only so many places I could reach. Her breasts were mashed into my back, so that was out. I couldn't reach her head, so that was out. There was really only one place that might make her stir.

I slipped my arm carefully between us and allowed my fingers to find her slit. Using my index finger, I gently began to stroke her lips, touching them very lightly. I kept it up for at least a minute before I got a response. She was beginning to show signs of becoming wet and I heard her breathing change its pattern. I was messing with her dream now, and I could feel her body beginning to stir.

"Ohhhh." 

The soft, sexy groan was further proof that I was affecting her and I continued, feeling the wetness spread and become more prevalent. Then she squeezed me. Hard! I wasn't expecting that and I let an "oomph" escape as she did. 

"Mornin', lover," she rasped.

"Morning," I replied quietly, moving my finger into her. 

"Oh, baby ... that feels good." Her voice was muffled into my back, but her hips were now moving in time with my probing finger. 

"I didn't get to welcome you home last night, baby. I'm very horny for my big man. I've been dreaming about you all week ... waiting for you," she mumbled.

"Me too. If your mother hadn't been here, I think I would have taken you in the front hallway yesterday." 

"Don't let Momma stop you. You can have me anytime you want me."

She began to tug on me, getting me to roll onto my back. As I did, her leg moved over me and she slid on top of me. Seconds later, she was pushing herself onto my now rigid erection. She was ready for me and we wasted no time in finding our place within each other. 

I'm not a small man, but then Vannie is not a small woman. I was fully engorged in her, pushing my hips upward to begin our perfect dance. Vannie's head came up as she looked at me, a smile and I thought, perhaps a look of love. She was still sleepy-eyed, but fully aware of what was happening with us. 

"Oh, baby, that's sooooo good," she crooned.

I warned, "It's going to be a short ride, girl."

"That's okay, there'll be another train along soon after." 

With that I let go, shooting my week-long load into her in stabbing thrusts. Vannie went rigid at that, the now familiar convulsions following before collapsing on my chest. 

"Glad you could join me," I kidded.

"It felt so good ... it was worth waiting for."

"Sorry to wake you up so early, but I think I'm on mid-Atlantic time."

"I'm on horny-for-Harry time," she giggled. "You can wake me up anytime."

"Roll over, babe. I want to taste you. I'm hungry for you."

Vannie quickly rolled onto her back, and bringing her knees up, spread herself open to me. I moved over her, slipping down until my face was directly in front of her perfectly smooth mons. I had one objective ... to pleasure my woman.

I spent some time bringing Vannie along, leaving her just short of an orgasm, almost teasing her into a frustrated state before allowing her to finish. She never complained, but I don't think she was far from it. Only the satisfaction she took from my efforts kept her happy. 

I must have surprised her when I stopped suddenly, then moved up over her, pushing directly into her in one continuous motion. She gasped in surprise, but within seconds was demanding my stroking into her more forcefully. We were rocking the bed with our near-violent joining. It was just the way we both wanted it ... a powerful beginning to the day. 

We came down from our mutual high, breathing heavily and lying side-by-side. Neither of us had anything to say. It wasn't necessary. Actions always speak louder than words.

Mariah must have heard us this morning. She had a wicked grin on her face when Vannie and I arrived in the kitchen. Vannie was the first to react.

"Did we wake you this morning, Mama?"

"Of course you did. I couldn't get back to sleep wonderin' when you two would calm down. I had a half a mind to come in there and see what all the commotion was about."

Vannie had the giggles at that point, while I was looking anywhere by at the two of them.

"I know you think I'm past all that, but I'm not all that old, young lady. I remember what it was like to be with your daddy. He might not have been as big a man as Harry, but he was plenty of man for me. You can't know how much I've missed him." 

I had turned to listen to her and now saw tears forming in her eyes as she finished. I don't exactly know why, but I moved to her and took her in my arms. I felt very moved by her admission, and I understood the feelings of loss she was expressing. There wasn't anything to say, so I just held her gently. I felt Vannie join us a moment later.

"It's all right girl. I know you love this man. He's a fine young man, too. I guess I'm just jealous. I got to find myself a man of my own," she said with tone of conviction. 

"What about that nice Mr. Bonner from the church?" Vannie asked.

"You mean Mr. Brower? We're just friends. I'm afraid he wouldn't measure up to my expectations," Mariah sighed.

"Oh ... and just what are those expectations?" Vannie taunted.

"Now don't you go bein' cheeky, young lady. I'm not so old and feeble I won't put you over my knee."

I couldn't help myself, I snorted a laugh. Vannie took a quick look at me and barely suppressed her giggle. The thought of Mariah manhandling all six feet of Vannie was more than laughable.

"Maybe I could just loan you Harry," Vannie volunteered.

"Hey! Wait a minute. Don't I get a say?" I was only partly serious.

"What's the matter, Harry? Don't you think you can satisfy Mama?"

"Child! Don't you go saying those things to strangers!"

"Oh ... Harry's no stranger, Mama. No stranger at all."

"That's enough, young lady. I don't want to hear any more. Behave yourself or you'll sleep on the couch tonight."

I was enjoying the banter and I think Mariah was as well. She had a saucy temperament that she didn't hide. I wondered just how seriously she would take a move by me. I would never know. I wasn't about to upset a very nice situation with Vannie. Mama would just have to find her own partner.

Saturday and Sunday were spent exploring Naples and Marco Island with Vannie as my guide. The people we saw were an interesting mix of well-to-do with working class. The working class seemed to be out-numbered and out-priced. I'm sure many of them must have lived elsewhere and commuted to work. 

I still hadn't settled on any particular plan for the future. I was certain I wanted to stay near Vannie, but other than that, I wasn't sure how I wanted to spend the day while she was at work. Just sitting around didn't seem to be very appealing. Perhaps I could go fishing in the gulf, or swimming? I didn't play golf or tennis. The closest baseball game was in Tampa Bay, a three hour drive. I could see myself going up there for a weekend, but not just for a game.

It brought up the question about what I was going to do with the rest of my life. Vannie and I had talked about it, but neither of us had formulated a solid idea of what we wanted to do. We just knew we wanted something meaningful. All we had to do was to define what that was.

When Vannie went to work on Monday morning, it didn't take long before Mariah was buttonholing me for a talk. I had expected it, but perhaps not the kind of talk it turned out to be.

"Young man, we need to talk." One thing about Mariah, she didn't beat around the bush.

I nodded my agreement. We were sitting at the kitchen table having coffee. 

"That girl of mine is head-over-heels in love with you. I've never seen her like this. Oh ... she's had her share of boyfriends, but none of them got her attention like you did."

"I feel the same way about her, Mariah. I've never felt this way about any woman before."

"When I thought about Savannah having a mixed race relationship, the first thing I thought about was with a white boy. I sure never thought she'd take up with a giant Chinese guy."

I had to suppress a laugh, but considering she brought the subject up, I decided to treat it seriously. "Is my race a problem?"

"No ... I suppose not. It's just unusual, that's all. What kind of children will you have?"

This time I did laugh. "Well ... I guess the boys will look like Tiger Woods, and the girls ... will look like ... Tiger's sister."

Mariah burst out laughing. "I don't think he has a sister."

"Too bad, he doesn't know what he's missing. I've got two, and I wouldn't trade them for anything." It was at that point that I decided I'd better explain.

"Mariah, you have an exceptionally beautiful daughter, which is no surprise. I can see she gets her looks from her mother. My sister married an Asian man and has two beautiful children. Both my sisters are very pretty, and I'm told I'm not ugly, so I guess you just have to have faith that if Vannie and I do get married, and do have children, that the girls will be beautiful and the boys will be handsome."

She smiled and seemed to relax. "That makes sense, I suppose. You can take it from me that you are handsome. It's just that you are so big. I guess that makes sense though. Vannie is no little girl. She's two or three inches taller than her older brother. I don't know where it comes from. Her daddy was no bigger than me."

"Ah, well, I'm in the same situation. I'm the giant economy sized Zheng. I'm six inches taller than the tallest in my family, and that was my father. Both my sisters are average size. Go figure."

"Are you that serious about my daughter?"

"I wish I could tell you that I was absolutely sure. I know Vannie thinks she is in love with me. She asked me about love at first sight the first day we were together. I thought she was rushing things and I said so. It didn't slow her down at all. 

"She's so incredibly beautiful that it's hard not to fall in love with her. On top of that ... and this is the strange part ... I had been having dreams about a woman that looked just like her long before I met her. So ... I wish I could tell you for sure, but I know I want to be with her. I guess that's the best answer I can give you right now."

"Vannie told me about that. Tell me what you saw and when you saw it."

I could see that Mariah was genuinely curious about my dream, so I told her everything from start to finish. She never interrupted once, and never showed any sign of skepticism throughout my entire narrative. She was absorbing every word.

She was silent for a few moments when I finished. I could see Mariah was deep in thought and I didn't want to interrupt her. At last, she stood, walked around the table, and stood behind me. She placed her hands on my shoulders and squeezed them gently.

"Harry ... you have the gift. There aren't many of you, but you are one. You have the gift."

I didn't move, but I was curious. "What is the gift?"

"Every now and then, God puts people on this earth who can make magical things happen. Good things. It isn't about winning money gambling ... it's about touching people close to you and helping them. That episode in the casino wasn't about winning. You didn't think twice about giving that money to Vannie because you knew it would help. You might not have known it at the time ... but you wanted to help."

"But ... that was the only time I've ever had something like that happen. I can't think of any other time that something that strange or unexpected happened."

"Perhaps not. Sometimes, another person is the medium. Maybe these things only happen when you are with Vannie."

I was shaking my head. "Doesn't it make sense that Vannie might be the person with the magic?"

"No. I'd know by now if it was her. She's your lightening rod. Maybe that's why she's so sure you're the man for her. She can feel what you give to her. She may not realize it, but I think it's very possible."

"I suppose there's no science book that I can look this up in, is there?"

Mariah laughed again. "No, Harry. No books like that. You just have to accept that you've got the gift. It's a wonderful thing, Harry. It will make your life better. It will make you better. You'll have your trials beforehand, but ... I'm sure you'll come through those and be a happy man."

"But ... only if I'm with Savannah?"

"That I don't know. That ... you'll have to discover for yourself. I have this funny feeling that you will be tested. I don't know how or why. It's just a feeling."

It was a strange conversation and one I didn't completely accept. Mariah seemed so certain, but I was a scientist by training. It went against everything I had been taught. Yet, what had happened in the casino, along with Vannie's incredible streak of sales success, tended to make me pause. How much of it was luck, and how much was something else? It was a puzzle I would have to give more thought to.

I spent the rest of the week exploring the local neighborhood around Naples. I visited the Ford and Edison heritage homes in Fort Myers, and took a nature tour by air boat near Everglades City. I learned a lot about southwest Florida in the next five days. Mariah accompanied me on occasion, and we enjoyed finding interesting places that she hadn't known about. It was a very pleasant week.

As always, Vannie would be home not long after five and would take up much of my time from then until we retired. It was a delightful obligation. We would talk about where I had been that day and what she had done at work. I think she envied how her mother and I were getting around during the day. On the other hand, she had my undivided attention in the evenings.

I'd been so absorbed in my time with Vannie and my day trips that I had completely forgotten to let my sisters and grandparents know that I was back in the country. I hadn't even checked my e-mail in several days. My cell phone didn't work in Europe, so I didn't even try to use it there. It was tucked safely away in my suitcase. 

When I finally got around to logging on, I saw several e-mails from my older sister, Jeannie. She seldom sent me e-mails, so I opened them immediately. There were four of them, and they all had the same message. Contact her immediately! Important! I checked the dates and they were from last Friday through yesterday, Thursday. 

I went immediately to my suitcase and groped around until I found my cell phone. I turned it on and saw the message sign. There was one from my sister. The content was similar to the e-mails. Call her! I did.

"Jeannie, it's me, Harry."

"Where are you, Harry? I've been trying to find you for a week." She sounded desperate.

"I'm back in the U.S. I'm in Florida. What's up?"

"It's Mr. Yee Fung. He needs to see you. It's urgent, he said."

Mr. Yee Fung was my late father's partner, and the man now running the business on our behalf. He was not a man to panic, and I had to assume this was important. It was early Friday afternoon in San Francisco, so I still had time to reach him at the office. I signed off with my sister, promising to call her back and let her know what was going on.

I immediately speed-dialed the office number and was rewarded with a familiar voice after the first ring.

"Mrs. Wong, it's Harry Zheng calling. I understand Mr. Yee Fung wants to talk to me."

"Oh, Harry. I'm so glad you called. Mr. Yee Fung isn't here right now. He's at his doctor's office. He said he wouldn't be back until Monday."

"What's going on, Mrs. Wong? Is he all right?"

"I shouldn't say anything, Harry, but ... he's sick. I think it's pretty serious and I know he wants to talk to you about what happens next. Can you come home soon?"

"Yes, of course. I'm in Florida, but I'm sure I can get a flight to San Francisco this weekend. I should be there first thing Monday."

"Oh ... that's a relief. I'm so worried, Harry. You're the only one who will know what to do."

I didn't understand that last comment right away. I would take the advice of Yee Fung Hong when it came to the business. I knew I could count on him. But if he was ill ... well, it would depend upon how serious it was. I promised Mrs. Wong I would be there Monday and hung up, wondering just what my meeting with Mr. Yee Fung would bring.

I looked at my watch and realized Vannie would be home soon. I needed to make arrangements to fly out of Miami on Sunday, if possible. I got on the internet and looked for a business class or first class non-stop ticket. I found one and booked it. It left at ten-thirty in the morning and arrived at a quarter-to-two, San Francisco time. If I left early Sunday from Naples, I could at least have Saturday with Vannie. I was sure she would be upset with my unexpected departure.




Chocolate and Gold Ch. 03



I immediately told Mariah what I was up to, and that I would be leaving early Sunday morning. I also told her I didn't know when I would be returning. She nodded her understanding, saying nothing. My mind was more occupied with how to tell Vannie that I was leaving and not sure when I would return. I had barely had time to absorb the quick change in plans when I remembered I needed to call Jeannie. 

"Jeannie, it's me. I called the office and Mrs. Wong told me that Mr. Yee Fung is sick. I'm catching a flight Sunday morning and I'll be in San Francisco early that afternoon. Can I stay at your place for one or two nights?"

"Of course, Harry. It would be great to see you again, and I know the kids will be delighted to have Uncle Harry visit."

"Jeannie, I don't know what's going on, and I don't know how long I'm going to be staying. I'll find a hotel suite if it's going to be more than a couple of days."

"Oh, Harry, don't worry about it. You're never a nuisance. I don't see my favorite brother often enough anyway," she laughed.

"I'm your only brother, girl. I just want to make sure I don't wear out my welcome. Does Charlie know what's going on?"

"I talked to her a couple of days ago when I was looking for you. She knew Mr. Yee Fung wanted to see you, but that's about it."

"Well, since all three of us make up the majority ownership, I'll make sure she knows what's going on when I know more. In the meantime, I'll see you Sunday. It will be great to see you and Mike and my little nephew and niece. Thanks for taking the trouble to find me."

I hung up and noticed Vannie standing nearby. I hadn't heard her come in. She had a worried look.

"What's going on, Harry?"

"I'm sorry, girl. I have to go to San Francisco right away ... this weekend. Something has gone wrong with Mr. Yee Fung and I need to meet with him. I don't know how long I will be gone, but you know I'll be back as soon as I can."

I had earlier explained who Yee Fung Hong was, and how important he was to the company. She nodded her understanding, but she didn't look very happy. "Call me, Harry. I need to hear your voice."

"Yeah. Every day, babe."

I was up and out of the townhouse before six on Sunday morning. Vannie got up to see me off, but she was pretty down about my leaving and not knowing when I'd be back. I promised her once again that I would call every day, and I intended to keep my promise.



Chocolate and Gold Ch. 04



I arrived on time at SFO to a bright, sunny afternoon. I headed for my elder sister's home in nearby San Mateo. Mike was out in the front yard doing some hedge trimming on their lovely home. The children were nowhere to be seen, but Jeannie appeared at the front door when she heard Mike greet me.

"Hey, Harry. Good to see you again. It's been ages," he said. 

I liked Mike. He was upbeat and positive about life. He was also a great father, according to Jeannie. My sister jumped into my arms and gave me a big kiss and a hug. 

After the usual small talk about the flight and where I'd been in the past month, I told them what I knew, which wasn't much. Neither Jeannie nor Charlie had been involved in the running of the business, so I wasn't surprised they didn't have any intimate details of what might be bothering Mr. Yee Fung. I assumed I'd have to wait until Monday to find out what all the fuss was about. I began to suspect, however, that it had to do with Mr. Yee Fung's ability to run the company, and that created a feeling of dread.

I phoned Charlie at her apartment in Berkeley to let her know I was in town. She was happy to hear from me and was curious what brought me here. I explained Jeannie's urgent phone call, and what I had learned from Mrs. Wong. Charlie didn't know any more than Jeannie did, but she was interested. That struck me as odd, since my younger sister usually displayed a negative attitude toward business and its role in the lives of what she referred to as the "common people." I would remind her often that our business funded her lifestyle and her various causes, and that she really shouldn't complain. It hadn't seemed to have any effect on her so far.

We arranged to get together for dinner on Sunday evening at Jeannie & Mike's home. Jeannie kept it simple. Mike barbequed some steaks while Jeannie and Charlie made salads and desserts. It was good to have us all together again. It had been so seldom in the past few years. The last time had been at the memorial service for our parents. Their bodies had never been recovered, so we had a stone and a plaque in their memory placed in the local cemetery. 

Mrs. Wong had indicated that I should come into the office sometime after ten on Monday morning. That would allow Mr. Yee Fung to clear his desk and give us time to discuss whatever it was that was on his mind. I was anxious about this meeting. I had a feeling it was going to be a difficult session and I wasn't going to like what it was about. Call it a premonition or just me jumping to conclusions, but I was fairly sure of myself on this.

Mrs. Wong greeted me as she always did. She had been working in the office since I was nine years old; nearly twenty years. She was both my father's and Mr. Yee Fung's personal assistant and indispensable aide. She probably knew more about running Orient Pacific Imports than anyone.

"Hello, Harry. I am so pleased to see you," she said, her hands together in a small bow of deference. "You look well. Thank you for coming so quickly."

I bowed slightly in acknowledgement of this special lady. "You had only to ask, Mrs. Wong. I would never refuse a request from you or Mr. Yee Fung."

She smiled slightly, but I could detect the lines of worry on her face. "Mr. Yee Fung is in his office. I will tell him you are here." She walked to the familiar door and entered, closing it behind her. She returned in less than a minute, leaving the door open and standing beside it. "Mr. Yee Fung welcomes you, Harry. Please come in."

As I walked through the door, I wasn't sure what to expect, but the sight of my father's business partner and friend caused me to pause. In the few months since I had last seen him, he had aged noticeably. He slowly rose to greet me with careful movements and held out his hand. I shook it gingerly. He motioned for me to sit.

"Welcome, Harry. I am glad you were able to come so quickly. I wish this meeting were not necessary, but I'm afraid it couldn't wait. As you can see, I am not well. In fact, I do not have a great deal of time left. For that reason, I needed to talk to you and ask you to help me during this difficult period."

I nodded. "Of course, Mr. Yee Fung. Please do not hesitate to tell me how I can assist."

"I am probably going to tell you things that you already know, but please be patient with me. My reason will become clear to you."

He stopped and cautiously sat down in his large, leather chair. Every movement seemed to be an effort. He gathered himself and began.

"Your grandfather founded this company, but it was your father who turned it into the success it is today. He was visionary in some ways, but practical in others. He saw opportunities and took advantage of them, but only within some strict limitations. He would not overextend himself, financially. He would not sit on product for a long period of time. He wanted to move it quickly and profitably. His record of growth and success speaks for itself.

"He brought me into the company to manage the finances and to find opportunities with various Asian manufacturers. I would bring him my discoveries and he would evaluate them and decide if they were suitable. It was a very fruitful partnership, and the company thrived as a result.

"Your father rewarded me handsomely for my efforts. At first it was with salary, and then with a share in the business. As time went by, and we became more and more profitable, he continued to increase my share of the business until two years ago, when it rose to forty-nine percent. No man has demonstrated his generosity more than your father.

"He told me that it was as high as he was able to raise it. You see, he had hopes that you, or Jean, or even Charlotte, would come into the business when he wished to retire. He wanted it to stay in the family. Unfortunately, he died before his time, and you have chosen me to be your President. I was honored when you did that, Harry. You had faith in me, and I wanted you to be proud of the choice you made.

"Now, however, I am unable to complete my task. I have cancer. It is a reoccurrence of an earlier attack that the doctors and I thought we had beaten. That is not the case. It has invaded my body in several organs, and I have been told to get my affairs in order. I do not have much time left."

I sat, stunned at the quiet and deliberate way he had announced his fate. He had accepted a death sentence, and at least outwardly was calm.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Yee Fung. You are such a good friend and partner for my parents and this company. I don't know what will happen to it now. I'm no businessman, and I think you know that. It would break my family's heart if this business were to fail because it lacked a leader."

He nodded gravely. "I feel just as you do, Harry. That is why I have called you and asked you to come. We need to discuss the future of Orient Pacific Imports. We need to discuss it with all of the shareholders. That means you, your sisters, myself, and Wong Soo."

"Wong Soo? Mrs. Wong? I don't understand."

"Your father was a very traditional man, Harry. It was his decision that his shares would revert entirely to you on his retirement or death. It was your decision to split those shares equally with your sisters. When you did that, it freed me to do something I have long wished to do. I gave ten percent of the company to Wong Soo out of my shares. She has long deserved recognition for the contribution she has made to our success. I hope you agree."

"Yes ... of course. That was very generous of you."

"No more generous than your father," he smiled.

"So ... what are you suggesting?"

"As Chairman, I suggest you call an extraordinary meeting of the board, and we can discuss the future of the company. I hope that with all our minds directed toward coming up with a solution, we will find a path to follow."

"I think we had better do that now, sir. I'm here and so is everyone else involved. At least we can get a start on finding a solution."

"Agreed. Would you ask Mrs. Wong to come in, please."

I went to the door and did as he had requested. She came in immediately. I suspected she had some idea of what was happening and what might be required.

Mr. Yee Fung instructed, "Mrs. Wong, would you please arrange for a special meeting of the board of directors to be held later this week. I expect it will take most of the day and it will require food and refreshments. We will also require copies of our most recent financial statements, as well as our current product orders. We would expect you to attend, of course, as you are a shareholder. If you need assistance, please take it upon yourself to obtain it."

She nodded wordlessly, smiled at me, turned, and left.

"Mrs. Wong will make the arrangements and notify everyone of the time. I think she will surprise you with her contribution to the discussion, Harry."

I smiled. "Good. You realize, considering my father and grandfather's reluctance to have women in positions of power, that you and I are now outnumbered two to one."

He nodded with a smile. "Time marches on, Harry. I think it will be an interesting meeting, but a fruitful one as well. I am an optimist by nature, and I am optimistic that we will find a solution to this problem. Also, on my death, the shares I hold will revert to your family. I have no heirs, and I can only try to repay the kindness of your father."

I was humbled by the straightforward honesty of this man. I understood how my father could trust this business to him without any hesitation. We sat for some time discussing what the business had been doing and how it had changed, even since the death of my father. 

Mr. Yee Fung had been gradually shifting the emphasis from clothing and toys to more specialized items. He had also developed contacts in the Orient that would manufacture to specification. He could see having American developed products manufactured in a number of Asian countries. This was particularly true for electronics and some specialized toys. 

As he talked, I began to realize that the business my grandfather had founded so many years ago had evolved into something much more focused and sophisticated. It wasn't the business I thought I was inheriting, and that gave me pause to think. Perhaps there was a way.

I left shortly before lunch, stopping to talk briefly with Mrs. Wong. I congratulated her on joining the board and told her it was long overdue. She smiled her gratitude and I think she knew I was sincere. She promised to arrange the meeting for Friday which would give us the most time for preparation. I asked her if she and I could meet to discuss the business in general and she immediately agreed. I would normally have asked this of Mr. Yee Fung, but I could see that even our brief meeting this morning had worn him out. We would have to be mindful of this for our board meeting.

We agreed to meet tomorrow afternoon at three pm. Mr. Yee Fung had been going home at two thirty lately, so he wouldn't be upset or bothered by my presence. I didn't think he'd object to my meeting with Mrs. Wong, but I didn't want him to concern himself with anything at present.

I drove back to Jeannie's home, lost in thought. Subject to what Mrs. Wong could tell me tomorrow, the Friday meeting was going to be a serious affair and I was going to have to give both Jeannie and Charlie a "heads up." I wanted their contribution. Good ideas can come from any direction, I'd found. Neither the girls nor I had much of a foundation in the business, but it was ours and I was sure they didn't want to see it fail.

When I got back to the house, I briefed Jeannie on my meeting and I could see the look of concern on her face. She immediately suggested I contact Charlie and let her know the content of the meeting. Jeannie said she sounded very interested in the process and was anxious to hear what was going on. I called her and left a message on her answering machine.

It was too early to call Vannie, but I was going to make sure she knew what was going on as well. If it came to pass that we married, she would have a stake in this too. Perhaps I was getting ahead of myself, but I was trying to look at all the possibilities. It also gave me another idea.

"Jeannie, do you think Mike could take a day off Friday to attend the meeting?"

"I guess so. What are you thinking, Harry?"

"I'm thinking he's your husband and therefore has a vital interest in what becomes of Orient Pacific. On top of that, he's a real good thinker in my opinion. We can use all the brains we can get for this problem."

Jeannie broke into a huge smile and gave me a big hug. "You're a pretty smart guy for a little brother."

Charlie called back just before three and I filled her in on my talk with Mr. Yee Fung. Again, she was very interested and asked a number of probing questions, most of which I couldn't answer. It wasn't the response I expected from her, but I was grateful for her interest.

"Charlie, I'm meeting with Mrs. Wong tomorrow afternoon at three. I've asked her to give me an update on the company. You know, what they've been doing and what changes have happened in the past little while. Would you like to be there as well?"

"Damn right. Thanks, Harry. That will help me get up to speed for the board meeting."

"You seem to be taking this all pretty seriously, little sister. What's brought about the change?"

"Oh, I don't know. Just a feeling that maybe there's an opportunity with this company to do something important. I'll tell you more about it after we've talked to Mrs. Wong tomorrow."

"I can't wait to hear. You've got me really curious now. What happened to the radical graduate student?"

"Relax, Harry. I haven't changed that much. Maybe I've just switched strategies."

"Hah! So instead of a blunt instrument, you've decided on becoming a subversive, huh?"

"Get off my case, brother. You're in for some surprises, so just you wait."

"Hey ... you are too. Wait 'till you meet my girlfriend. I met her on the French Riviera. I'll e-mail you a picture of her."

"You have a girlfriend? It's about time! When am I going to meet her?"

"Don't know. She lives and works in Florida. I think she's the one, Charlie. She really is special."

"Wow ... big brother has a serious squeeze. She's hot too, I'll bet."

"Scorching!"

"Get her out here, man. She needs to be inspected."

I laughed. I couldn't guess what Vannie would think of Charlie and Jeannie, two polar opposites. I was almost imagining their first meeting. Yikes!

We continued with our conversation, but Charlie kept coming back to the meeting with Mrs. Wong tomorrow and the board meeting Friday. There had been some kind of serious change in her attitude, and I wanted to find out what had caused it.

I phoned Mrs. Wong and asked her if it would be all right if Charlotte accompanied me tomorrow and Mike attended on Friday. She instantly agreed. I didn't know what she knew or remembered about my younger sister, but there wasn't any hesitation in her voice, so I wasn't worried. I told Jeannie what I was planning tomorrow, and she suggested I tape the conversation so she and Mike could hear it later. She had an appointment at their children's school and couldn't come with me.

I also asked Jeannie about Charlie's apparent change in attitude toward our business, but she wasn't really aware of it, possibly because neither chose not to talk about it when they were together. That made sense. They would inevitably end up in an argumentative stalemate. They might be sisters, but they were as different as night and day.

I called Vannie that afternoon and told her what I had learned. She was worried that I would be staying in San Francisco much longer and I assured her that I wouldn't make any decisions about my stay until I had talked to her. I'm not sure that settled her down, but at least she didn't dwell on it further. 

As we talked, I was once again reminded of her feelings for me. There didn't seem to be any doubt in her mind that we were meant for each other. After I had hung up, I thought about it and recognized that while I wasn't certain yet, I couldn't think of any reason that would discourage me. However, I had so much on my mind with the family business that I couldn't concentrate on Vannie and what our future might be. 

When I arrived at the company parking lot the next afternoon, Charlie was already there.

"Hi ... have you been waiting long?" I asked.

"A few minutes. I'm anxious to get this meeting under way. I brought my notepad to help me remember as much as I could and to note any questions."

"Don't worry about it. I've got a small recorder and I'll capture everything. We can go over it after we leave. Your sister wants to know all about the meeting as well."

"Let's go then," Charlie said impatiently as she strode toward the entrance.

Mrs. Wong was expecting us and led us into the board room. I hadn't been in the room for a couple of years nor had Charlie for longer than that. I was surprised at the photos and display cabinets. The product mix displayed was nothing like it used to be. I took some time to examine what was there and then turned to Mrs. Wong.

"This is very different than I remember it. There have been many changes. Please tell us about them."

We sat at the big table and the older woman began.

"You can see there has been much change in our product groups since you were last here. Some of them were the decision of your father, but many have come recently with Mr. Yee Fung and myself. Our strategy has been to improve the value of our sales, and with it, the profitability. Many Asian countries now sell t-shirts, underwear, toys, and party favors. That was how this business started.

"Now, we have several higher value lines. Ski wear, hiking and specialty sports shoes and boots, as well as golf wear. All these lines are high quality and high value. Our toys have been replaced with custom manufactured scale models in die cast and investment cast metal. Wooden ship models for expert modelers are now available. Model railroad engines, cars and track, in HO, O and G gauge. The quality of these is excellent and has been very well received by the hobby community.

"We are looking at opportunities in the electronics industry. We will not attempt to complete with the large manufacturers of televisions, entertainment equipment and computers. Those markets are already overcrowded and margins are narrow. We are looking for the unusual and worthwhile. We have also found a good supplier of small compressors and other tools. They are larger than hobby tools, but more compact than commercial equipment. It fits nicely into the home user market."

She paused and I just shook my head, but it was Charlie who spoke up. 

"Mrs. Wong, where on earth did you learn all this? You sound like an economics professor discussing marketing strategies."

"Your father taught us well, Miss Charlotte. The markets we are trying to serve were already there, but the buyers had been relying on traditional suppliers for their products. We have been able to find places and product needs that they do not serve, and with the help of our suppliers, we are filling that need."

"Incredible!" Charlie bellowed. "A perfect execution of a segmented market strategy."

I turned and looked at my sister. "I didn't know you knew about this stuff, sis."

"What do you think I've been doing in school all these years? Give me some credit for paying attention," she smirked.

I was shaking my head. Not just at Charlie, but at the carefully crafted strategy that my father, Mr. Yee Fung, and Mrs. Wong had developed and executed. Even my unsophisticated knowledge of marketing told me this was a clever way to grow and sustain the business. I was nothing short of amazed. More importantly, I was interested. That was something new for me.




Chocolate and Gold Ch. 04



Charlie was visibly excited. "Mrs. Wong, can you tell us about what else you have planned?"

"Of course, but I would ask that you wait until Friday. I have a presentation that will show you our current product lines and potential new lines. Naturally, we will need the board's approval to proceed."

Charlie nodded, albeit reluctantly. I think she was looking for instant gratification of her curiosity. I'd never seen her so excited, even with some of her crazy causes. Mrs. Wong then went on to explain the contacts Mr. Yee Fung had made in Asia. These were not agents, but manufacturers, and we were an important outlet in North America for several of them. 

In addition, the company was on the lookout for new opportunities. Products that were in the prototype or development stage that we might take to our manufacturers. First to market would mean first to profit. Charlie was literally bouncing in her seat. I had to admit, it was fascinating and far more interesting that I had envisioned. The optimism Mr. Yee Fung had expressed wasn't looking so misplaced right now.

We thanked Mrs. Wong and walked out after confirming the Friday morning meeting to begin at ten. As we pushed through the front doors, Charlie literally exploded.

"That was fucking fantastic! That woman is amazing! This company is amazing! Harry, we've got to get our shit together and make this work. It's too good not to be a winner."

"Calm down, Charlie," I laughed. "Anyone would think you give a damn. Besides, this business already is a winner."

"I know, I know. I'm supposed to be the anti-business demon, but this place has marvelous potential. That's what I wanted to talk about on Friday. I have a friend who's invented something fucking incredible. It's a high efficiency solar energy panel. He's applied for a patent. It could revolutionize power supply, especially in third world countries. It could be worth billions!"

I'd never seen her this revved up. From hard-line protester to entrepreneur in one step was a shock to the system. On the other hand, I could also see where some of the energy could come from to make the company go. 

"Okay, Charlie. Let's put it on the agenda under new business. If you can put something tangible together for the board, that is."

"Already done! You've got to see this, Harry."

I was chuckling as we went to our cars and began to work our way through rush hour traffic homeward. Charlie would battle the Bay Bridge to Berkeley, and I would creep my way down Highway 101 to San Mateo. I had almost forgotten what Bay area traffic was like, not that Seattle was any better.

As I drove south, I couldn't help but think of how energizing our meeting with Mrs. Wong had been. Not just for Charlie, but for me as well. I was much more interested than I thought I would be. By the time I had reached Mike and Jeannie's home, it was after five-thirty and knowing Mike wouldn't be home for another half hour, I called Vannie on her cell phone before talking to my sister and brother. She picked up on the second ring.

"Hey girl, how are you?"

"Lonely, Harry. I miss you so much. When are you coming home?"

"I've got a meeting with the board on Friday and I'll know better after that, Vannie. I'm sorry, but this is important family business, and I can't avoid it or put it off."

"I know, I know. It's just that I've only just found you, and already you're gone again. Do you miss me too?"

"Of course I do. I won't let us be apart for one second longer than I have to. Believe me on that."

"I do. How did your meeting with that lady go?"

"Great. Mrs. Wong is very knowledgeable and a big part of the business. I have a feeling she's going to be very important to our finding a solution for the future. And my sister, Charlie. Vannie, you wouldn't believe it. She's all charged up about the business. It's like she's a different person. She's even got some ideas for new products. That's the last thing I expected."

"I thought she was all caught up in her political lefty stuff?"

"She was. Maybe she still is, but she sure fooled me today. Friday's meeting is going to be very interesting."

We talked some more until I heard Mike come in. Vannie and I had a few last words of affection, and signed off. I walked to the kitchen and greeted Mike and the kids. He looked fresh, but perhaps that was because he took the Caltrain from downtown and walked the half mile to his house.

"So, what did you learn at the meeting?" Mike began as we enjoyed a pre-meal glass of wine.

I pulled out the recorder and handed it to him. "There it is, word for word. The only thing missing is Charlie's comments afterwards. I'll leave it to you to guess her opinion when you've heard the recording.

Mike stuck an ear bud in one ear and set the little device to play. I was watching for his reaction and I could see his surprise and occasionally his grin as something struck him funny. We took time out for our meal and avoided conversation until the children were off in their rooms doing their homework.

We gathered around the kitchen table after the dishes were looked after and Mike replayed the soundtrack, this time using the unit's speaker. Jeannie was just as fascinated with Mrs. Wong's comments and Charlie's reaction as we were. I filled in some details as we went along, but generally let the recording tell the story.

"Well," I asked as the segment ended, "What do you make of that?"

"Fascinating," Mike said. "Friday is going to be a very interesting day."

I nodded my agreement.

"Are you sure that was Charlie?" Jeannie asked with a strange look. "I can't believe that was her. Is she on drugs? I thought she would trash this whole thing and stomp off. I'm amazed at what I heard."

I laughed aloud. "That was her all right. You should have heard her in the parking lot. She couldn't stop talking about it. She apparently has this contact who is developing a patentable device for low-cost high-output solar energy production. She promised to bring the details on Friday. She was literally a foot off the ground when we parted."

Mike was sitting back and saying little, but was obviously deep in thought. "This company of ours may just be the vehicle for big things, you know. Hell, it's already paid for this house and most of the kids' college education. Maybe I'll get to retire early and play golf every day after all." 

That got him an elbow in the ribs from Jeannie, and the end of that train of thought. All of us agreed we were really looking forward to the meeting on Friday. On Wednesday and Thursday, I took some time to do a little sightseeing, take in a baseball game, catch up on my e-mails, and of course, talk to Vannie. She had picked up on my buoyant mood, but it didn't seem to be contagious. 

I didn't want to say any more about our future until after the Friday meeting. That would give me a clearer idea of what to expect in the coming weeks and months. I was rolling some ideas around in my head including bringing her out here, perhaps for a visit, or possibly to stay. That brought up the question of making our relationship permanent. Two very large issues to be dealt with. Which one was the more pressing? The business, I thought.



Chocolate and Gold Ch. 05



Chapter 5: A Whole New Ballgame

Almost everyone arrived early for the Friday morning board meeting. We all appeared to be anxious to get on with deciding what needed to be done with Orient Pacific Imports when Mr. Yee Fung was no longer able to carry on. No one appeared more ready or prepared than Charlie. She had brought a package the approximate dimensions of a medium sized framed painting.

Mr. Yee Fung was the last to arrive, moving carefully into the board room and choosing a seat to the right of the near end. He motioned for me to sit at the end to his left. Everyone else found seats around the table. I called the meeting to order.

"I'm no expert at Robert's Rules of Order, so I'm just going to wing it. I call this extraordinary meeting of the board to order. Mrs. Wong, would you be so kind as to take the minutes."

She nodded affirmatively, having planned to do so all along.

"For the record, the following members of the board of Orient Pacific Imports are in attendance:

Harry Zheng, Chairman. Charlotte Zheng, Jean Zheng Lowe, Yee Fung Hong, President, and Wong Soo. Also in attendance is Michael Lowe, invited guest."

Mrs. Wong passed out the minutes of the last board meeting and I asked for any errors or omissions. There were none. With a sigh, I leaned back in the comfortable leather chair and began.

"As you all know, Mr. Yee Fung has advised us that his health will not permit him to carry on as President for much longer. Our objective today, with the board's assistance, is to find a management structure that will assure the continuance and growth of our company."

I had rehearsed my opening comments carefully before the meeting. I had two objectives to begin with. First, was to thank Mr. Yee Fung for his contribution over many years, and second was to segue into suggestions on how we might restructure the management. I also had to be mindful that our President's health might not permit him to endure the entire meeting, so earlier Mrs. Wong and I had agreed to monitor him and watch for signs he was weakening.

I then spent a few minutes covering the growth of the company and the important and valuable role that Mr. Yee Fung had provided. I was particularly appreciative for the time immediately after my parents' death, when he stepped in and moved the company forward. The others around the table were equally grateful, and said so. I noted with pleasure the new direction the company had embarked upon. I believed it was a clever and well thought out strategy that we should continue. Again, I had the full support of the board.

"Now for the tricky part," I smiled. "Mr. Yee Fung, if you are uncomfortable with the next discussion, please don't hesitate to excuse yourself. Otherwise, you are welcome to participate. I want to suggest we create an interim management team before we settle on a permanent one. My reason for this is that with the exception of you and Mrs. Wong, none of the remaining board members has any experience in the company's operation. We are ill equipped to run this company without that experience."

I'd thought long and hard about what to do. I had the germ of an idea, but it would be weeks, if not months before I could satisfy myself that it would work. It would also depend on how the other board members felt about the direction the company was heading. It was a far cry from the low value imports it began with. 

Mr. Yee Fung nodded in my direction, but didn't move to leave. I decided to continue.

"I would like to suggest we nominate Wong Soo to the position of Vice President, Operations. I think this is the most logical move. She will need support personnel, of course, and I would like to open the meeting to suggestions."

Charlie didn't waste a second. "I second the nomination. It's the only sensible move."

"All in favor?" I asked.

The vote was unanimous, including Mr. Yee Fung. 

"That was easy," I chuckled. "Congratulations, Mrs. Wong."

She wore a bemused look, but she said nothing other than, "Thank you."

"I also have a suggestion that may surprise you. I was wondering how the board would feel if we invited my grandfather, Zheng Ming, to sit on the board. We could use both his experience and his wisdom."

Mr. Yee Fung was nodding with a smile. The idea obviously appealed to him, but he said nothing.

It was Charlie once again that spoke up. "I think that's a hell of an idea, Harry."

I decided to flesh out the concept a little further. "With today's communications, we could keep Grandfather Zheng current so that he wouldn't have to travel from Scottsdale unless he wanted to. I haven't seen him lately, but perhaps you can tell us how up-to-date he is with the direction of the business, Mr. Yee Fung."

"I have been talking to him at least once a month, and I can tell you he is well informed. I think your suggestion would be welcomed by him. Perhaps even more so by your grandmother." He had a sly smile when he said that.

There was laughter around the table. Again, it sounded like an avenue worth pursuing. 

I turned to Mrs. Wong. "Madam Vice President, do you have the personnel to continue operating the way we must to assure continuing success?"

"I am confident that with the addition of one bilingual clerical person we have the people we need to maintain the current operations of Orient Pacific. If we are to continue to grow, we will want to revisit our staff needs."

I was satisfied, and so, apparently, was everyone else. I looked over at Mr. Yee Fung, and I could see that he was tiring. I opted to take a break at this point. The next part was going to be more difficult.

One of the staff girls brought in tea, coffee, and soft drinks, while a young man brought in a tray of bakery items. I picked up a black coffee and a sticky bun and wandered to the end of the room. Within seconds, Charlie was at my side.

"Jesus, Harry. You've really been giving this a lot of thought, haven't you?"

"Yeah. I guess it's almost the only thing I have been thinking about."

"What about that girlfriend of yours?"

"She's in this too. Whatever I decide is going to affect her as well. That's going to be very difficult to solve, I think."

"You're thinking about staying here and being involved with the company, aren't you?"

It wasn't an accusation from her, it was a realization.

"Yeah, I guess I am. This isn't anything like I thought it was ... the business I mean. I like what I see and I like the people. I don't think I'm the right guy for CEO, but I could get interested in product development or marketing strategy."

Charlie was grinning from ear to ear. "You're hooked, Harry. Just like me."

"I kind of got the impression you'd seen the possibilities, girl. I'm interested in that product you talked about Tuesday. The solar cell thing."

"Just be patient, big brother. We'll get to that." Charlie had that bright look in her eyes that betrayed just how excited she was about the project she was promoting.

Mr. Yee Fung had retired to his office for a rest and Mrs. Wong and I resumed the meeting. She had prepared a PowerPoint presentation on the growth and financial stability of the business. I'm not an accountant, but she pointed out the excellent cash flow and bottom line over the past three years. Tight fiscal management by Mr. Yee Fung was responsible, and we needed to discuss the person who would replace him.

I wasn't surprised that Mrs. Wong had a suggested candidate. He was Controller at a local automobile dealership in Daly City, as well as a distant cousin of Mrs. Wong. She offered to have him come in to discuss the position with us and I agreed, provided Mr. Yee Fung could be present. It would be his expertise that we were trying to replace, and I valued his opinion. Again, Mrs. Wong concurred.

The rest of the morning was taken up with smaller management details, and we broke for lunch just before one. A caterer brought in the sandwiches and refreshments. As usual, there was far more than we could eat. I spent some time with Mike Lowe, apologizing for boring him with the details. On the other hand, I wanted both him and Jeannie to know just what was going on at Orient Pacific. He had an equal stake in it, in my opinion. Mike assured me he wasn't bored and looked forward to the afternoon session.

When we reconvened, Mrs. Wong continued with her PowerPoint presentation, showing the newest products, many of which lined the walls of the board room. She went over some of the decision-making that led to choosing these products so that we could understand how they came about. We caught a glimpse of her sense of humor when she showed us a rogues gallery of failed products as well. Not every item turned to gold.

Finally, she gave us a peek at some new product ideas that hadn't yet arrived, or as in some cases, the decision to add them hadn't yet been made. I could see a further shift to more complex and sophisticated products. They brought higher reward, but also higher risk. What was interesting was that a number of them were pre-sold to customers who had encouraged the company to find the products and have them produced on the customer's behalf. I liked that idea. It syndicated the risk.

There was something about the presentation that struck me as odd. "Mrs. Wong, why did you prepare this presentation? Surely it wasn't just for this meeting. It must have taken many hours to get it ready."

"You are quite correct, Harry. It was prepared at Mr. Yee Fung's request in the event that we would need outside funding for some of our more ... complicated ventures. We thought we might need to find bank financing ... or ... perhaps even government financing outside the United States."

I nodded my understanding. "A good idea. Some of those products you showed are quite exotic. It's wise to be prepared in advance. We will need to go over each of the proposals to decide which to act upon, and which to shelve." I looked around at the table and saw no dissent. Mike, however, was stirring in his seat and I suspected he wanted to say something.

"Mike ... anything you'd like to comment on. This is your company too."

He looked a bit startled, but then settled down. "I saw two or three products which I think would be natural winners. The portable GPS unit that would cost less than $50 strikes me as one. Also, the radio controlled vintage sports car replicas could be a great addition for the serious collector. I liked the robot too, but I was trying to figure out what you could program it to do that would be useful."

Charlie spoke up then. "Mike, I agree, but remember, lots of cell phones now come with GPS as an option. It gives them a multipurpose function, so cost isn't a big issue. I don't think we want to be in competition with Nokia or Blackberry."

"You're right, Charlie. But the GPS I was thinking of would function where cell phones don't. Back country skiers, hikers, geocachers, small boat operators ... that sort of customer."

I interrupted at that point. "We don't have to make those decisions at this meeting. I suggest we each take a copy of Mrs. Wong's presentation with us and we can review our findings at the next meeting. We'll need a way to vet each product, so it will probably mean forming a committee."

A collective groan when up from several at the table. I suppressed a chuckle. This definitely wasn't your ordinary corporate board of directors.

"Charlie, you've let me know you have a project you'd like to present. I know you've pretty excited about it. Why don't you see if you can get us excited too?" 

Her face lit up as she pulled the package up and placed it before her on the table. "This is amazing," she began. She stopped unwrapping it and sat down again. "I have a friend, Ben Metzler, who is a genius ... I mean ... a real genius. He's an ex-graduate student from Cal Poly, and he's been working on alternative energy sources. I think he's got something really special here." She stood again and unwrapped the package.

"These two items are power cells. Solar power cells. They absorb ultra violet light and convert it to electrical energy. I know that's not unique, but how much power they produce is."

She had finished unwrapping and held up two metal-framed translucent panels, both of which looked similar, but not the same. She passed one in each direction around the table.

"You'll notice that one contains an inverter to convert DC to 120vAC, while the other produces conventional 12vDC. Neither of them weighs very much, just over a pound in fact. Both of these panels will produce the same amount of electrical power that conventional solar panels several times their size would generate."

I saw the look of surprise on Mike's face which must have been mirrored on mine as well. "Wow. Are you sure? That's an amazing gain in efficiency. How long will they last?"

Charlie smiled and continued. "Yes, we're sure, and ... they last indefinitely as far as we can tell. However, the process is so complex and unique, I'm in no position to describe it. Just think though, it will be a much more efficient source of electrical power and it will be both cheap and relatively simple to transport."

"Amazing," Mike said, shaking his head. I could see the wheels going around in the engineer's mind.

"The applications are unlimited," Charlie went on. "Can you imagine the ability to produce power in the most remote villages of impoverished countries? The really incredible part of this is the cost of production. After the start-up costs for producing the material and manufacturing the panel, we expect to have a unit selling price near thirty dollars!"

"What? How's that possible?" Mike exclaimed.

"I'll have to leave it to Ben to explain it to you. It has to do with something called light trapping. It's way beyond anything I understand," she smiled.

I was about to interrupt when Jeannie beat me to it. "Charlie, can you demonstrate this cell ... you know ... how it works?"

"I thought you'd never ask," she grinned with a clear expression of triumph. 

She began to place items on the table in front of her. First her laptop, then an electric razor. With Mrs. Wong's help, she turned on the video display, and dimmed the lights. The projection showed the panels mounted in a small outdoor frame, and a series of electrical items were plugged into a small outlet, one at a time. There was a medium size refrigerator marked as a 15 cu. ft. SunFrost, a 32" LCD television, and a satellite dish receiver. The dish was marked as 12 volt, DC.

The various items were turned on and run for a period of time, then turned off, replaced with another item. Near the end of the video, two items were being run at the same time from two 12" X 24" panels. 

"How much more can it handle?" I asked. 

Charlie shrugged. "I don't know. It's still being developed, but the trials all look like we can sustain 100 watts.

"Do they ever wear out?" Jeannie asked.

"Not yet. We haven't been able to detect any decrease in efficiency in the original trial models. The material seems to be very stable and not subject to heat or cold as far as we can tell. Some of those tests are going on now," Charlie explained.

"At thirty dollars a pop, this could revolutionize the whole alternate power industry," Mike suggested. He was clearly in awe of the development.

"So, tell me about Ben Metzler, Charlie," I asked. "How did he let you make this presentation without being present? What about patents? This all seems a bit odd to me."

I don't remember the last time I saw my sister blush, but she did then, and it wasn't some faint coloring, it was a full fledged red-in-the-face blush.

"Uhm ... Ben has applied for several patents on the concept and design," she said tentatively. "I met him at one of my Planet for People rallies. He told me about the concept. I got interested, so he and I ... got together ... sort of."

Now, it wasn't like Charlie to waffle this way, so I decided to see just how uncomfortable I could make her. "So ... Ben is your boyfriend, then?"

She nodded, visibly disquieted with the question.

"And he let you bring this amazing invention to us without any protection ... I mean ... no guarantees of security?"

"Uhm ... not exactly." Now she was really looking awkward, and I caught her looking at Mrs. Wong, almost with a plea for help. She got what she was hoping for.

"Perhaps I can help you, Harry," the older woman spoke up. "Mr. Metzler brought his invention to us to see if we would be interested in developing and marketing it. Mr. Yee Fung and I thought it was a worthwhile project, but required secrecy until the patents could be established. In the meantime, we signed a confidentiality agreement with Mr. Metzler. This project may require a large amount of capital to establish it. Mr. Yee Fung said it should be brought to the full board for approval. We would undoubtedly need to borrow or arrange financing for it."

"I see. So Charlie got involved because she was Mr. Metzler's girlfriend, is that it?"

Mrs. Wong looked at Charlie and nodded almost imperceptibly. 

"I was the one who talked Ben into bringing here and talking to Mr. Yee Fung. Ben had a real narrow idea of how the invention could be used. He couldn't see the big picture. He wanted to get NASA interested. I guess I brow-beat him into looking at it for a much more humanitarian use."

"And how did you know to bring it here?" I was having trouble putting all the pieces of this puzzle together and Charlie wasn't making it easy. I had to drag it out of her bit by bit.

"I saw some engineering models on the desk one day when I came in to get a tax receipt for my dividends. I started asking questions and got turned over to Mrs. Wong, and then Mr. Yee Fung. I was just as amazed as you were Harry when I saw how different the company was from what I thought it was."

"So that little act on Tuesday was just that ... an act?"

"Not entirely. I saw a lot more Tuesday, and I was really sure this was the company to make this invention into something important. I'm sorry, Harry. I wasn't trying to deceive you ... or anyone. I really believe in Ben, and I really want to make his invention a reality. I hope you guys aren't mad at me."

It was Jeannie who spoke up next. "Harry, I don't see any harm done. The confidentiality agreement didn't cost anything. We haven't spent any money yet. It looks like a great project to me, but Mike's the one who's whispering in my ear telling me to go for it," she grinned.

"Mike?"

"Jeannie's right, Harry. So far, it's a proposal. It will be up to the board to decide to proceed ... or not. Ben's an inventor, not a product developer, but on the face of it, I'd say it has enormous potential."

"Well, Charlie. I guess you're off the hook," I smiled. Actually, I was proud of my little sister. She had used some of her boundless energy on something really positive and worthwhile instead of another protest march.

"I knew you'd like it. Now how do we make it a reality?" she asked, looking around the room.

The rest of the meeting was taken up with the logistics of making decisions on the products that were already pending. They required little or no capital, so they wouldn't interfere with the solar panel concept. As far as that discussion went, there was nothing to do but wait for the patents to be granted. In the meantime, I was tasked to look for financing opportunities. For that, I would need Mr. Yee Fung's assistance. By the look of it, that couldn't wait long.

When I drove back to San Mateo late that afternoon, I had one big problem that now couldn't be ignored. What was I going to do about Vannie? I had allowed myself the luxury of focusing completely on the business this week, but now I had some important thinking to do. I knew now that I was not going back to Florida to live. That meant that if I was really serious about her, I had to convince her to come here and live in the Bay Area. I didn't have a clue what to say to her, or how to say it.




Chocolate and Gold Ch. 05



Jeannie, Mike and I talked about the meeting over a glass of wine before dinner. Mike was enthusiastic with what he saw, while Jeannie was satisfied that if Mike thought it was okay, then it was okay. She was a housewife and mother, first and foremost. What I hoped she would be able to help me with was how to approach the subject with Vannie.

"Just tell her what you saw and how you think it's important. It's pretty obvious that everyone else thinks so," she advised.

"I suppose. I'd like to find a way to get her to be enthusiastic about it ... enough to come and see, at least."

"Hell, Harry, invite her out. Send her an airline ticket. Send one for her mother, too. Put them up in a nice suite. You can afford it. If she's that important to you, she'll get the message."

"Yeah. I think that's what I'll do. Convince her to come here and then I can show her what's going on, and she can meet the family, too. Yeah. That might work."

It didn't go as well as I hoped. Vannie knew almost immediately that I was going to stay in San Francisco, at least for the foreseeable future. It took a fair amount of convincing to get her to come and see what the business was all about, as well as to see the city. I didn't think Naples could hold a candle to the Bay Area, but that was just my opinion.

"All right, Harry. I'll come out. Mama will stay here, though. She said she wanted me to make up my mind without her being around to influence her. Do you want me to book a flight?"

"I can do that for you, Vannie. Just let me know when you can get away for a few days. I want to show you around the city and let you see what a great place this is."

"I'm sure it's lovely, Harry. But moving out there is a big thing. I'd be quitting my job, and I'm sure I'd have to bring Mama with me. I couldn't leave her here all by herself. I want to be with you, Harry. It's just a big move for me. I hope you understand."

"Yes, of course I do. I know I'm asking a lot, Vannie, but ... I love you and I think you love me. This could be the career that could be meaningful for me ... for both of us. When I show you what we're working on, you'll be surprised. I think there's a place for you here, Vannie."

"All right, Harry. I'll call you Monday night and let you know when I can get away."

We talked for a few more minutes, and then hung up. I wasn't feeling very confident at that moment, but perhaps when Vannie got here and we were together again, she might be more enthusiastic.

On Monday, I went into the office to meet with Mr. Yee Fung. He was late arriving, and looked very tired that morning. I wondered how much time he had left, and I deliberately kept my meeting with him brief. We arranged an interview with the financial candidate, after which I asked him for suggestions on financial partners. He suggested that our new controller should participate in those discussions since he would be the one living with the decision. We set the interview for Tuesday morning, and I asked Mrs. Wong to make the arrangements.

We met with Winston Chen at ten am the following morning. He was approximately forty years old and I was impressed with him immediately. Mrs. Wong had obviously filled him in on the operation of Orient Pacific Imports, and he was eager to be a part of it. He seemed particularly well versed about how outside financing could be obtained on an as-needed basis. The company already had a very good balance sheet, and strong cash flow, so outside money would be on an individual basis. He considered that an ideal situation.

When Winston left, I could see that Mr. Yee Fung was tired, and I asked him only one question.

"Do you think Mr. Chen would be a good choice for this very important job?"

He smiled and nodded. "Yes. The automobile dealer business is very accustomed to complex financing. He has the experience to find the sources, plus, Mrs. Wong vouches for his trustworthiness. I think he will be a very valuable asset."

That was good enough for me. I would contact the other board members and make sure I had their support to hire him. Problem solved.

Mr. Yee Fung left the office at lunch time, and I went out to a local deli for a sandwich and a soft drink. When I returned, I asked Mrs. Wong for some time to discuss the day-to-day running of the office and how I could fit in without disrupting things. She thought that was a humorous question.

"Harry, you are the boss. You may not realize it yet, but you are the boss. You proved that Friday with the way you conducted the meeting. Everyone in the room understood that. Mr. Yee Fung told me that you reminded him of your father. His meetings were run in the same manner: very efficient."

I hadn't expected Mrs. Wong to be so plain-spoken. "There's a big difference between running a meeting and running a company, Mrs. Wong. I'm going to need a lot of help to understand the workings. I don't want to make a mistake. I'm really relying on you and Winston, to give me guidance."

She smiled and nodded. "When will you be seeing your grandfather?"

"I've asked my girlfriend to come out. We've become very close, and I want her to see what I've gotten myself into. I'm hoping she'll stay. When I know her plans, I can arrange to go to Arizona and visit my grandparents. I haven't seen them since the funeral."

"Your grandfather will be honored to become involved in the business once more. I think he needs something like this. He sees what has become of his little company, and he will be excited with the direction it is taking. Your grandmother will be pleased as well."

"I'm going to need all the help I can get. I have a feeling the solar cell is going to be a very big drain on our people, and I'm going to have to watch out for that."

When I phoned Vannie that night, she sounded a little brighter. She had been able to get two days off later this week and another two at the beginning of next week. That meant she would arrive Thursday afternoon and not have to leave until the following Tuesday morning. At least we would have some time together.

I immediately booked a suite at one of the downtown hotels. I wanted the privacy and the convenience of being in the city, close to the major tourist attractions. 

When she arrived on Thursday, I was a nervous wreck. I had convinced myself that this was my one and possibly only chance to talk Vannie into staying and marrying me. To my thinking, there wasn't another alternative. If she stayed, she would become my wife. I wasn't able to come to terms with what I would do if she decided not to stay. 

As she strode up the ramp from the gate, she looked wonderful, and better yet, happy. She saw me and her face lit up as she rushed to me.

"Oh ... Harry. I've missed you so," she cried, pulling me toward her and covering my face with kisses. 

I had my arms wrapped around her and was almost lifting her off the ground in my excitement. 

"Not as much as I've missed you, girl."

We didn't have much more to say. We stood there holding each other and waiting for the luggage to arrive. I asked her about her flight and she thanked me for the first class ticket and the extra comfort it provided. I told her a little about the hotel and where we would be staying. Apparently, she had been doing a little internet research on my city and already had some ideas of what she would like to see. It turned out that most of them were places I had on my list as well.

When we entered the hotel room, she was impressed. It was a suite, with a living room, two private bedrooms and two bathrooms. It was a corner room and the view from the fifteenth floor covered from the Bay Bridge to the Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge. I pointed out Alcatraz, Chinatown, and a number of other sites as we gazed out over the city. I was glad the weather was sunny and allowed my town to show itself off.

It took us a while to calm down and get comfortable with each other. It seemed like we were nervous and tentative, wondering what came next. I know what I wanted, but I was almost afraid to initiate the first move. It was like being a teenager on his first date all over again. I was standing behind her as we gazed out the window, my hands on her shoulders. She was tense, I could feel it in her body.

"What's the matter, baby?" I finally asked.

She turned to me and buried her head into my neck. "I'm scared, Harry. I'm scared about how I feel and what's going to happen. I want you and I want to be with you ... but ... I can tell ... it isn't going to be easy."

"Vannie ... I love you. I want to marry you. I want to be with you always. I don't have any doubts. It's just that I have responsibilities I didn't expect to have a couple of weeks ago. Family responsibilities. I know I can handle them with you by my side."

"Harry, we've only known each other for a few weeks, barely a month. I know I'm in love with you ... but ... I've got family responsibilities too. I have to help Mama. Right now, I'm all she's got. My brother is in Dallas, and if I was here, she'd have no one."

"Vannie, we can bring her out here to live. She can live with us, or we can get her a place of her own. She'll love it here. This is a great city, but if she likes country living, you can find that up north, or on the other side of the bay."

"Let's not talk about this right now, Harry. I don't want it to spoil our time together. I want to make love with you. I've missed you so much. I need you, baby."

This wasn't the vibrant, exciting Savannah Wilson that I'd first met. This was a somber, quieter woman. I had an uncomfortable feeling developing inside. This wasn't going the way I hoped it would. I had barely four days to change that mood.

We made love, and that seemed to restore some of Vannie's spirit. She never for a moment left me in any doubt how she felt about me. We ordered room service and lounged around the living area, sitting closely, sharing our food and wine. By the end of the evening, I felt she was regaining some of her liveliness, and it showed itself when we returned to bed.

When we awoke the next morning, we made love again, just as we had in France and Italy. There wasn't any hesitation on her part, and her spirits seemed to have been restored to what I thought was normal. She was bouncy and playful. We shared the giant shower in the bathroom and the playfulness continued there. Perhaps yesterday was just a reflection of fatigue from jet lag.

We spent our four days together, seeing the sights of the city and the surrounding area. I took her to Napa and Sonoma for a day. She liked the winery tours and the various gift shops. She bought a number of things for herself and her mother. She found a nice, red Zinfandel that she liked, and I bought her a case of it to be shipped to her home in Naples.

We had an afternoon barbeque at Jeannie and Mike's, and Charlie was there as well. I thought Charlie and Vannie got along particularly well. They spent quite a bit of time talking and sharing experiences. I was happy to see that and a bit surprised too. I wanted my girl to feel welcome in our family and I think we must have succeeded. I was sorry to hear Ben Metzler couldn't make it. I was anxious to meet him.

We went to Monterey and Carmel for a day as well. By the time we were finished touring around the area, she had seen quite a lot, and I got the impression it was enough. When Tuesday rolled around, she was packed and ready to go, but we hadn't yet addressed our future. Both of us had been putting it off, but now time had run out.

"Vannie, you know I want you to come here and be with me. What will it take for you to do that?"

"Harry, I still have to think of my mother. I can't leave her alone, and I don't know if she would be willing to move out here. I'll talk to her about it when I get back. I can't promise anything, but I'll do my best. I do want to be with you, and I know you can't leave here now with your new responsibilities. We'll just have to see if we can find a way to work it out."

I didn't want to argue with her, mostly because I knew she was right. We both had family obligations, and they weren't going to go away immediately. I felt frustrated, knowing this was the inevitable result, but now more determined to find an alternative. Mariah was a strong, vibrant, alive woman, just like her daughter. She wasn't some helpless invalid that needed constant care. One way or another, I wanted Vannie to understand that.

"I'll call you regularly, Vannie. I want to be able to hear your voice. I don't ever want to lose you. Somehow, someway, we'll be together. It's only a matter of time."

She was in tears, as I had expected, and I was close myself. I had never felt this way about any woman before, and I doubted that I ever would again. You don't easily forget someone who invades your dreams well before you meet them. She was not only an exceptional beauty, but an exceptional woman. I wasn't about to give up, but only Mariah could help me now.



Chocolate and Gold Ch. 06



I suppose it's a cliché, but I threw myself into work at Orient Pacific to help take my mind off Vannie. More accurately, I immersed myself in learning as much about the running of the business as I could. Mrs. Wong was an invaluable resource, but I really couldn't take all her time away from the day-to-day requirements of the company. I worked with the staff wherever possible, and then found some resource materials on my own. I was interested in the contracts we signed and how they were structured. It would give me a guide as to how we might handle new business.

I had taken a number of rudimentary business courses in college, but they were very general and not really suited to the particular needs of this company. When Winston Chen came on board, I would be able to work with him to understand the financials. We would both be in a learning mode. In the meantime, I was on my own. Mr. Yee Fung's health continued to deteriorate. I suspected he was not long for this world. 

I asked Charlie to arrange a meeting with Ben Metzler. We hadn't met yet, and since there was a lot riding on his solar panel, I thought it was important. My sister was happy to oblige, and we agreed to get together on a Tuesday, the week after Vannie had returned home. It was a ten am meeting, and if it was convenient, we would have lunch at a nice restaurant near our office.

I also had begun to look for an apartment. Our office was on the edge of Chinatown, and there were a number of condos within a few blocks. I contacted a real estate agency, and they began a search. While I didn't faint when they showed me the price range of my rough specifications, it was far more than I had expected. Over eight hundred dollars a square foot was the minimum, it appeared. 

When Tuesday rolled around, I went into the office early. I wanted to be prepared for my meeting with Ben. Plus, I had an appointment to see a potential condominium with my real estate agent early that afternoon. When Charlie and Ben arrived, I was in for a surprise. I suppose I had succumbed to all the old chestnuts about inventors and geniuses. I envisioned a somewhat disheveled man of medium build, unkempt hair, and abstract clothes, complete with pocket protector and horn-rim glasses. 

When Charlie ushered Ben into my office, I wasn't sure just what to think. In front of me was a handsome, fairly tall, blonde-haired guy in a navy blazer, tan slacks, and a dark blue oxford shirt. There was no pocket protector in sight, and he didn't wear glasses. I glanced at Charlie and didn't miss the smirk on her face. She knew what I had been thinking, and she was enjoying my confusion.

The introductions were brief and we sat around the coffee table in an informal fashion.

"Ben, I'm sure Charlie has already told you how fascinated we are by your invention. It's an incredible advance in the field of power generation. What made you bring it to us?"

"Charlie can be very persuasive," he grinned. "She said she felt this company could find both manufacturing facilities and capital sources, both of which are essential to launch the project."

"Well, that's the intention all right. Is this ... product past the development or prototype stage?"

"Yes and no. It will never be past the development stage, I hope. The idea is to start here and continue to improve. On the other hand, what you saw with the demonstration Charlie gave was a working prototype. It has a fixed specification and fixed performance parameters."

"That's great. So, with the issuance of a Patent Pending authorization, we could go into production without too much worry about someone scooping us?"

"Yeah ... although I guess I'm a bit paranoid about how many people know about this. So far, there's no sign that anyone's picked up on what I'm doing."

I was surprised. "I didn't even think about security until just recently. We don't have any paperwork or samples, do we?" 

"No. Nothing. Everything is locked away in my lab safe. I'm the only person that knows the formula to make it work, and even if someone got a module, they wouldn't be able to accurately analyze it. Like so many things, the real secret is in its simplicity. That's also the reason I'm confident that we can keep the cost down and make it universally affordable."

"Well, I can tell you, you have our undivided attention. Charlie's demonstration was enough to get that, and if the unit is as durable as she suggested, it can't help but be a winner."

Charlie hadn't said a word to this point, listening carefully to my questions and Ben's answers. All the while, they were sitting close to each other on the sofa, her arm entwined through his. Her eyes told the story. She worshipped this guy, and he was the reason for her change in direction. Our brief conversation had given me a feeling of confidence in Ben Metzler, along with a sense that this was a nice guy who wouldn't hurt my sister.

We talked some more about the timing of our project, and then set a date for another meeting in two weeks. At that point, Ben expected he would have the Patent Pending confirmation, and Winston Chen would have been on the job for a week. We could then begin to talk about finance and finding a manufacturer.

Ben and Charlie begged off lunch. They had their own plan and I suspected it didn't have anything to do with solar power. I picked up the phone and called my real estate agent to see if we could move up the viewing of the condo. Timmy "Top Value" Sung agreed, and I told him I would meet him at the tower at one pm. I was anxious to find something convenient and comfortable that would allow me to give back Jeannie and Mike their privacy. I was thinking I had overstayed my welcome, despite their protestations.

I had a sandwich and an ice tea at the deli just down the street from the office, then walked the three blocks to the building that housed the condominium. I arrived before my agent and looked around. The base of the building housed a nice looking restaurant, a barber shop, a convenience store, and a women's clothing boutique. I looked at the board in the lobby and noticed the first three floors were offices: lawyers, an optometrist, another import company, and some miscellaneous businesses. The upper nine floors were condos, with a penthouse at the top.

Timmy Sung met me in the lobby exactly at one and we proceeded up to the eleventh floor. There were only four units on each floor, two on each side of the elevator and stairwell. That meant only one adjoining wall for each unit. He opened the front door and led me inside. The unit was empty with no furniture. It didn't look like anyone had been here for some time.

"How many square feet, Timmy?"

"Uhm ... ten-forty."

"It's large enough," I said idly as I walked through the various rooms. Two bedrooms, a large living room, two full bathrooms, one of them an ensuite, decent size kitchen, small laundry and storage room, big windows looking north and east. It had all the necessities. The stainless steel appliances looked new. The walls were plain white, and it didn't look like anyone had ever painted them.

"Did anyone actually live here?" I asked.

"I'm not sure. It was purchased by someone in Hong Kong several years ago before the Chinese government took over. It may have been an investment, but just looking at it, I think you might be right. I don't see any sign that it's been occupied."

"Who owns it now?"

He looked at his sheet. "A numbered company. No other details."

"I gather you've done all the necessary paperwork to make sure it's a legitimate sale?"

"Yes. Nothing gets listed, much less sold, without that," he assured me.

"How long has it been on the market?"

"Almost a year. There haven't been any offers that I can see. At least, no formal ones."

"What's the market in this area like?" I asked.

"To tell the truth, slow. It's better west of here and south. Even with the low interest rates, I'm working hard to stay even with last year, and that was not a good year."

"Okay. Tell you what, Timmy, let's make an offer. It's listed just under a million if I remember rightly. Why don't we offer eight hundred thousand and see what happens. The worst they can say is no, but that still leaves us a chance to go back."

Timmy was nodding and had a little grin as we talked. I think he liked my strategy.

I liked the unit. It was big enough and bright enough and hadn't been used. It had central heating and air conditioning, along with secure underground parking, a storage locker, and two elevators. The floors were terra cotta tile and Brazilian rosewood. The fit and finish of the unit looked good, and I was sure a bit of paint and some wall hangings would make this place into a decent home for me. I could walk to work regardless of the weather, and all the shops and services I needed were also nearby. 

I wasn't in the mood to go from place to place looking for an abode, so I was rather hoping I could cut a deal with the owner of the condo and be done with it. A trip to the furniture store and some advice from Jeannie on what else I needed would pretty well make my new residence complete. I would take a chance that Jeannie's choices would please Vannie. I walked back to the office and settled into my office to continue my studies of Orient Pacific Imports.

I was at the office bright and early the following Monday. It was Winston Chen's first day and I wanted to welcome him and make him feel comfortable. I also wanted him to know just how much I was going to lean on him for financial guidance. It was an area in which I was sure I would never become an expert.

I let him know that he had a week to get oriented, and then the fun would begin. I told him about the meeting with Ben Metzler and what we would need to do when the patent application was acknowledged. He didn't seem to be fazed by it. He let it slip that the pace of activity at Orient Pacific was a good deal slower with far fewer transactions than at the car dealership where he had worked. He said he felt it would give him much more time to concentrate on bigger matters, and in his opinion, that was good. 

I was pleased with the way our new controller was going about his job. Like Ben, I took an instant liking to Winston. He had a sense of humor, sharp mind, and was all business when appropriate. I got the feeling from him that he was very happy to be here, and I was confident that we would work well together.

All the while, I had been phoning Vannie irregularly. Once or twice a week I would call just to say hello and ask her how she was. The conversations were not long, but it allowed me to keep in touch with her. I was afraid if I didn't call, she wouldn't call me, and I didn't want to lose contact with her. She sounded okay, but nothing had changed. She was traveling now and then to various cities to introduce a new product line. Her sales success had continued, but not quite to the extent she had in Europe.

If I had one objective when I talked to her, it was to let her know that I loved her, I hadn't forgotten her, and I hadn't given up on us. She accepted all that, but still couldn't offer me any encouragement toward our being together permanently. She begged me to be patient, but then couldn't tell me what I could expect, or when I could expect it. I think we were both frustrated, but I can be a stubborn cuss when I want to be, and with Vannie, I wasn't going to let go until she told me it was over.

In the meantime, my offer was finally responded to by the listing agent and was rejected with no counter offer. I instructed Timmy to offer $850,000, and he said he would look after it. I wanted the unit, but at as low a price as I could negotiate.

I learned something about my younger sister that I should have known all along. She was a terrier when she got hold of something she wanted. First, it was Ben. He never had a chance, but then, as I learned later, he didn't even try to put up a fight. They were made for each other, and the fact that he was Jewish and she was Chinese didn't bother either of them in the slightest. 

Charlie was relentless when she had an objective. I think the local and Washington, D.C., patent offices were nearly ready to hire a hit man to deal with her. She nagged them mercilessly about getting the Patent Pending approval, and I think in the end, she accomplished that through sheer persistence and their burning desire to get this woman off their backs. I would never have thought that one woman could affect any kind of positive reaction with the entrenched Washington bureaucracy, but Charlie proved me wrong. The approval was formally granted on Friday, and we were all set for our meeting the following Tuesday.

We had everyone in the board room that day. Mike had taken another day off, and brought Jeannie with him from San Mateo. Charlie was with Ben of course, while Mrs. Wong, Winston, and I made up the balance. Mr. Yee Fung was unable to attend, and Mrs. Wong let me know it was getting close to the end. I made a promise to myself to go visit him again before that happened. It was the least I could do for the man who had so masterfully steered this company after the death of my father.

I like people who come prepared for a meeting. It cuts down on the time spent going over issues that most of us were familiar with. I knew Mrs. Wong would be prepared. She always was. She had the names of several potential manufacturers ready, and some background information on each of them. What surprised me was Winston Chen. He had already searched out capital sources, and had tentatively lined up two lenders for the project without even specifying the product. That brought a smile to everyone at the table.

With the patents now protected, we could discuss the manufacturing needs. That's when things got tricky.

"Ben, what is required for a manufacturer to make your panels?" I asked to begin.

"Well, in the way of equipment, we will need a production line to assemble the components. There are several stages to that process. First, we have to create a template to build up the panels. Then we need to coat the clear acrylic base panel with amorphous silicone before we lay down a flexible light-trapping material on the backside. Then it's protected with a liquid polymer coating. When the coating is cured, we have a finished panel. Got that?"

I didn't see anyone nod in affirmation. 

"Okay," Ben continued. "I didn't expect you would. And I'm not really telling you all there is to the process. Enough to say we will need a hundred lineal feet of space for the production line, plus some special equipment to produce and cure the polymer. The flexible light trapping material will be made off-site to begin with due to its unique construction. At some point, it will also have to be brought in-house to make the project meet the financial objectives.

"My principal concern is security. The formula for the light trapping is something I acquired from a guy who gave up on a related project. He wrote it off as a failure and sold me the concept for the price of a meal. I'm sure he didn't know how close he was to making it work. If we can make a go of this, I'll make sure he gets to share in the proceeds. He's earned that much. So that, with the understanding that I'm really taking two known concepts and mashing them together into a kind of sandwich, is the guts of this panel. Obviously, we need to keep a tight lid on the information."

Ben stopped and looked around to see if there were any questions. I think most of us were too lost to come up with a question that would relate to the construction, but Mrs. Wong had one very pertinent question.

"How much capital will we need to make this product?"

"I don't know. I'll need to work with your people to find out. I can say that it won't be anything outrageous. Mostly, it will be finding a suitable building, modifying the facilities to make a safe work environment, installing the necessary coating and curing equipment, and all the other essential parts of a manufacturing plant. If I was going to guess, I would say that we would need somewhere in the vicinity of five million dollars to start up. I don't want to guess at what it would cost to move the flexible light trapping project in with it."

"Having said that, we are going to have to find a chemical company that will make the polymers to my specifications, and keep the project information secure. I can't think of any small resin producers that would be suitable, so that means we'll end up dealing with corporations that specialize, like Dupont or possibly Dow. I'm reluctant to go offshore with this because of the security issue. I think our best bet is with a domestic North American supplier."

"Do you foresee any problem getting one of them interested?"

"Possibly. Resin manufacture is a large scale business. They usually operate on railcar volume, and they would want a significant order to warrant production. We aren't in any position to offer that ... yet. On top of that, they are going to want top dollar for the end product. It's going to require some skillful negotiations to get what both parties want. Our only bargaining chip is the finished product. If they can see what we can see, we have a chance."

This was an obstacle I hadn't anticipated. Without the base resin, the gel couldn't be formulated. But that did bring up a question.

"Ben, how have you been producing the polymer for your prototypes?"

"By hand ... trial and error. I discovered the properties for the panel by accident when I was working on a completely different project. I've been using a commercially available resin and modifying it to get it to perform the way I wanted it to. The problem with that is that it's a good deal more costly. I can't prove it yet, but a fully developed resin should reduce the bulk of the coating and make the unit even more compact. I won't know that for sure until it happens, though."

It was quiet around the table for a few moments as we digested the information. It was Mike that spoke up first.

"Harry, it's universal in product development that initial costs are higher than the ultimate target. There are the write-offs for development, testing, start-up production, and smaller volumes. It usually takes some months for the product to obtain significant sales and then, predictably, the costs begin to drop and the profitability rises. This solar panel of Ben's is so incredibly unique, I can see being able to market it initially for a good deal more than your target price. When critical mass is developed, the costs come down and, at the discretion of the company, so does the price. In this case, it's unlikely that you'll have any competitors for a while, so the ball will be in our court."

I thought about that, and I could hear murmurings of agreement around the table.

"What do you think, Ben?"

"He thinks it's fine!" Charlie jumped in, poking her boyfriend in the arm.

Ben shrugged. "What she said," he grinned. That brought a laugh from the group.

"Okay ... here's what I suggest," I began. "Ben and Charlie will team up to source resin companies that might be interested. Ben, my suggestion is to let Charlie do the talking and you do the explaining." That brought another round of laughter from the table.

"Winston, you and I will interview your financial sources and see just how much money we can raise for this product. Ben, we will need anyone we talk with to sign confidentiality agreements."

"May I make a suggestion," Mike spoke up. "Why don't we set up a series of demonstrations here at the office for both the potential lenders and raw material suppliers. Assuming they sign the confidentiality agreement, we can show the product and gauge their interest."

I saw a number of heads nodding agreement and turned to Mike. "Good idea. If Charlie and Ben set up the resin companies through Mrs. Wong, and Winston sets up the lender candidates the same way, we won't have any conflicts. Agreed?" Again, it was unanimous.




Chocolate and Gold Ch. 06



When the meeting adjourned, I asked Mike and Jeannie to stay behind. I have been giving some thought to what the needs of the company would be and it was time to voice my idea.

"Mike, is it possible for you to get a leave-of-absence from your company?"

"I don't know, Harry. I haven't heard of anyone requesting one."

"Harry, what are you thinking?" Jeannie asked.

"I have a feeling that while the cell is somewhat developed, it isn't a finished product. The outer casing isn't designed, so there's nothing to mount and protect the panel. I saw another smile appear on Mike's face.

"You've been reading my mind. I can think of a couple of ways to make the panel more useful in construction. We should standardize the dimensions so that it will fit in conventional construction without special framing. I'm sure there's more than that, too."

I nodded and said, "I've been talking to Winston about what we're going to need to get this product launched. Without trying to steal Ben's thunder ... or his idea, we want to make sure it's as market-ready as possible. We could team up with Ben to develop the size and features, and it would still be his product."

"Yeah ... I can see that. Ben's a really bright guy, but I think he's totally focused on the performance of the cell, rather that the commercial application. That's where we could help."

I nodded, "Exactly. So, if we get the funding and support for this project, would you be interested in taking over the supplemental engineering for a year? Naturally, you would be paid for your time." I looked at Jeannie as I asked this question. I was sure Mike would need her support before any commitment would be made. My sister saved Mike the trouble.

Jeannie spoke first, "I think that would be wonderful, if Mike could get a leave. I'm sure Ben ... and Charlie would be grateful."

Mike smiled and shrugged. "I'll talk to my boss tomorrow morning. We're busy right now, but I'm just one of a dozen engineers that can be replaced fairly easily. On top of that, if this deal goes the way I think it could, I wouldn't mind being involved with Orient Pacific on further development ... and other projects."

I looked at Jeannie and she was smiling, which I knew was her way of supporting what Mike wanted to do. It would make our company truly a family business. I didn't have any idea what the development cost for the solar panel would be, so we were only guessing just how much money we would need to borrow. I voiced my concern.

Again, Mike came to the rescue. "I think I can help you there, once we've found a resin source and I've had a good look at the current construction. I've got some experience and some sources that could give us ball park estimates for starters. At least we'd have an idea of the scale of the project."

"Great. This is working out better than I had hoped. Thanks for kicking in, Mike."

"Harry, I'm amazed. You act like this is all routine for you. I think my little brother is a natural leader," Jeannie grinned.

"Well, I guess I've got you fooled," I laughed. "Honestly, Jeannie, I'm just winging it, trying to do the right thing to keep the company moving along. The real test is yet to come. Making big decisions on the solar cell and other new products will require a lot of thought. That's what I worry about more than anything. We have a chance to make this little family business into something very big and very important. But ... we also have the risk that it might all come crashing down on our heads."

"Somehow or other, I don't think that's going to happen," my sister said confidently.

I had the strangest conversation with Vannie a couple of weeks later. Even though I had been talking to her irregularly, we really didn't have a lot new to talk about. I was keeping her up to date on Ben's project, while she would tell me about her latest product launch. Apparently her company had developed a new fragrance that was aimed directly at the drug store market. Mid-priced, but with her company's name as the manufacturer, it would help give it a cachet the other brands would lack. It sounded like she was going to be busy traveling for the next months introducing the new line.

I asked about Mariah and got a strange response.

"She's great. She's been going out to the social center a couple of times a week. I think she has a boyfriend, but she won't admit it yet. My strategy counselor helped me set it up."

"Strategy counselor? What the heck is that?"

She laughed. "Someone who is smarter than me. Nothing for you to worry about, Harry. Just a little plan she and I have hatched to see what we can do about Mama finding a man."

"Oh ... and who is this she?"

"Never mind. You'll find out in time. It's all part of the big picture," she giggled. She was clearly enjoying her mystery. It was good to hear her in such a good mood. It gave me some hope that we would be together sooner or later. I just didn't know when.

The weeks passed and I was concerned that we might be losing our advantage with the slow development of our plan. Ben and Charlie had narrowed the choice of resin manufactures down to two, Dupont being the most likely, with the little-known AmChemTech as the next best. Both had signed secrecy agreements, so we were secure with our information. 

Winston had pretty much decided on Connie-Life as the best choice of lender. The Constitutional Life Insurance Corporation had all kinds of capital to invest, and were anxious to find some new opportunities to strengthen their portfolio. They too signed the secrecy agreement, as did Bank of the West, our potential backup financier. It gave us four solid choices to work with. While we didn't want more than one resin supplier to begin with, we didn't have any problem with syndicating the borrowing among two lenders. 

There was little point in bringing in the lenders until we had secured a resin supplier, so their presentations took precedence. Charlie had taken my offhanded comments about being the spokesperson seriously and was keen to be the presenter, while Ben and Mike could back her up technically. Once again, I saw the enormous energy that Charlie put into this opportunity, and I felt sure it was contagious. 

Our first resin supplier was Dupont, and they were suitably impressed. They had a team of six people, all men, to review the project and ask questions. On two occasions they asked to be excused to meet in private, but I felt it was easier for our four people to adjourn to my office and they could let us know when they were ready to proceed.

At the end of the discussion, they voiced their interest in the project, but would have to get formal approval from their senior management, if not their board on what they perceived to be a major development. I could see that dragging on for months, but kept my mouth shut until we had talked to their competitor. Dupont were a highly specialized producer, having exited the commodity end of the market almost twenty years earlier. This was just the type of development that would fit their objectives, I thought.

AmChemTech were next. They were an unusual collection of small, uncompetitive commodity resin companies that had been acquired and were gradually being remodeled as specialty units. Each plant had a specific product group, and all of their products were designed to be value-added and specialized. It was modeled after Dupont, in a way, but much more flexible and entrepreneurial. 

Their response was crafted right in our board room. They wanted in, and they were prepared to back it up with resources and their own development team. It wasn't hard to make the decision. A brief discussion between one of the AmChemTech technical reps and Ben confirmed that they had what was needed to make the project go. Ben was delighted, especially after the dour response from Dupont. Charlie was literally bouncing in her chair.

I left them to chat among themselves and went back to my office. I was on a high, too. It was the first big step toward remaking Orient Pacific into something very special. I wasn't there long when Mike appeared at my door, and I motioned for him to come in.

"That was exciting," he said, shaking his head. "Can you see the difference between Dupont and these guys? They bought into the concept and started to think of ways to make it work, rather than look for ways to get permission. We'll have that alumina nanoparticle resin before Dupont can make a decision."

I smiled at Mike enthusiasm. "I think you're probably right. I know Ben is satisfied with what he's seen so far, but if it doesn't work out ... if they can't pull it off, then ... we've still got Dupont as back-up if they approve the project. I think that's what's called 'deep cover.'

Mike nodded. "Yeah. You're right. Let's not cut them off just yet. You never know with these development deals." He paused for a moment, then continued, "What are we going to do about the frame and the module size? We haven't addressed that yet."

"Over to you, Mike," I grinned. "You're the engineer. What do you need for resources?"

He looked at me for a moment, and then shrugged. "Well, to be honest, I need to do some homework, then I can tell you. I'd better get started on that." Mike had received permission for a leave of absence from his firm, starting at the beginning of the next month. In the back of my mind, I was hoping that it would be a permanent leave, if all went according to plan. 

And so, the full process was under way. I was sitting in the outer office, having a tea and chatting with a couple of the staff when Mrs. Wong came out of her office. She motioned to me and I followed her back into her office, closing the door behind me.

"Mr. Yee Fung is very poor today, Harry. I talked to the nurse, and she said he was only barely conscious. I fear it won't be long now."

I breathed a deep sigh. I was glad I had made the effort to see him twice in the past two weeks. Each time he was weaker and less able to communicate. On my most recent visit last week, he was aware it was me, but little more. He didn't seem to be in much pain, and I assumed the nurse had made sure he was medicated to make him as comfortable as possible. He was determined to die in his own home, and not in some nameless hospital bed.

Mrs. Wong looked at me with a fixed stare. "Harry, you are the proper and natural leader of Orient Pacific. I have watched you carefully since you have returned, and I am confident that you will lead the company in the right direction. I have told you before, and I will repeat it again. You are so much like your late father. You give people an opportunity to succeed. They want to succeed both for themselves and to please you. That is a gift. You should prize that gift."

"You're the second person that's told me I have a gift," I mused. "Vannie's mother said I had a gift ... but I think she was talking about something different."

Mrs. Wong was smiling faintly as she nodded. We sat there for a few minutes, sipping our tea, talking about how close the family had become since I returned. It gave her pleasure to see the change in Charlie, and she was pleased that Mike wanted to be part of the group as well. Like me, she felt he could be an important contributor. 

I was about to get up and leave when Mrs. Wong unexpectedly stood, her face a mask, and her eyes wide. "He has passed. Yee Fung Hong has left us," she said solemnly. "I felt him go." After a moment, she sat again and reached for the telephone, pressing in the familiar numbers. Her conversation was hushed and brief. The nurse confirmed her belief. Mr. Yee Fung was dead.

I walked out of the office and announced his passing to the staff in a quiet voice. There was genuine sadness among them. He was well liked and would be greatly missed. Now, only Mrs. Wong and my grandfather remained from the origins of the company. We were truly on our own. 

My grandfather and grandmother never really knew Mr. Yee Fung. He had come into the business shortly after grandfather had retired and handed the reins to my father. They were acquainted, of course, but when my grandfather left, he really did leave all the day-to-day running of the business to my father. He had trained him well and he expected my father to succeed. It was a demonstration of faith and confidence that was not lost on my father. It gave him the courage to push the company in new directions, and with Mr. Yee Fung's help, prosper as they had never imagined.

And now, it was my turn, the third generation of Zhengs, and for the first time, all of the family would be involved. I felt an enormous responsibility to make sure I protected what Mr. Yee Fung, my father, and grandfather had created. There was a great opportunity in front of us, but it wouldn't be easy, and it wasn't guaranteed. I wondered if I was up to the challenge. What the hell, I was a marine biologist, not a businessman. Now I was thrust into this role, and I was being told it was my leadership the others were looking to.

As August approached, I was finding myself completely immersed in the running of the business. My crash course in finance with Winston was reduced to a weekly review that help keep me current and remind me of the important issues I should be paying attention to. 

Ben and Charlie were reporting good progress with AmChemTech in developing the resin. Their first trial batch was scheduled for mid-August when a reactor would be available to run the special resin. Thousands of pounds would be created before compounding with the nanoparticle additive in preparation for the trial, but how much of it would be suitable for the trial was uncertain. It was a risk that our supplier acknowledged and entered into on their own. Both Ben and I felt we had found a good partner.

Dupont had finally responded, indicating they were interested, but unable to undertake any testing for at least three months due to other commitments. In addition, they wanted to discuss cost sharing before undertaking any trials. We were non-committal in our response. Again, we wanted to keep them as a safety supplier. It looked now as if it wouldn't be necessary, but we still hadn't proven AmChemTech's capability. No need to cut ties just yet.

Mike had developed several ideas on the outer casing of the panel. To begin with, he wanted to use anodized aluminum for maximum performance. His long-term goal was to replace metal with a non-conducting engineering extrusion, imbedded with an aluminum tape, or perhaps an aluminum coating; a much less costly alternative. For now, he had based all his design concepts and sizing on structural aluminum.

We had run out of room at the office, and Mike needed a place to work. There was an empty office one floor below us, so Winston and Mrs. Wong approached the owners about a short-term lease. We haggled a bit and ended up with a year. That made sense since Mike would be with us for at least a year, we thought. 

Mike located a powerful computer, and loaded a familiar CAD program. We purchased a used plotter printer for his drawings. Mike was a fully qualified designer, and was soon rendering his proposed engineering drawings in three-dimension for our review. He had some great ideas for the outer casing, and his investigations had given him a pretty good idea of the range of sizes of the cell. We would begin with two sizes, each depending on the application.

I was getting antsy as the trial date approached. Ben and Charlie had virtually been living in Houston, the site of the AmChemTech plant. We had begun to spend money, and Winston and I had set up a separate accounting system for what would be known as "The Metzler Cell." It was an arbitrary decision to call Ben's invention after him, but it recognized he was the inventor/owner of the cell. The new company would be called OP Power, Inc., for the manufacture and distribution of the product.  

I thought about flying down to Houston on the day of the trial, but I was told there would be nothing to see at that point other than some resin pellets. It would be the extrusion and conversion of those pellets that would tell the tale, and that would be done in Ben's laboratory in Emeryville. I would have to force myself to be patient until that happened.

I had been talking to Vannie more regularly, voicing my anxiousness about this first important step. She had been very supportive and remained upbeat about us, despite the fact that we hadn't been together since June. She was still traveling to introduce the new fragrances, and was hoping to get the introduction process over with soon. She had been doing "fairly well" by her account, but more than once said she wished I had been with her to improve her sales results. She was still convinced I was her lucky charm.

I had Jeannie helping me decorate my apartment on the weekends. All the walls and trim had been done by hired painters, although my sister chose all the colors. Now it was a matter of the finishing touches, and she seemed to know exactly what would look good. I turned the project over to her and she was delighted to take charge. I was going to have a very nice place to live when she was done, and I was pretty sure Vannie would agree.

The weather had been typical summer San Francisco, mostly sunny, with a bit of fog in the late afternoon. Statistically, August and September are the two sunniest months of the year, and this year was no exception. I was getting my exercise by walking the hills in my neighborhood, as well as day trips up the coast, or occasionally over the hills to Half Moon Bay.

I'd just gotten back to my condo one Sunday afternoon when there was a knock on my door. I opened it, doing a double-take I'm sure. There stood Vannie ... my Vannie. I was unable to say anything other than "Hi."

Vannie didn't bother responding. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me one of her soul-searing kisses. She finally unlocked my lips and leaned back with a beautiful big smile.

"Hi, stranger. How's my guy?"

"Amazed! You have caught me completely by surprise."

"I thought I would." She was enjoying my discombobulation.

"What are you doing here? Why didn't you call and let me know you were coming?"

"Oh, I just thought I might catch you with your new girlfriend," she snickered as she walked by me, inspecting the apartment as she went.

"You know better than that, Vannie." I wasn't trying to hide my irritation at the suggestion.

"Don't get all upset, Harry. I know you've been faithful. You don't have to explain anything to me. I was just having a bit of fun with you." She didn't sound apologetic. "By the way, I really like this apartment."

"You still haven't told me what you are doing in San Francisco. I assume it's work related?"

"Yes. We're just finishing up our introduction of the new fragrance. Tomorrow here, Wednesday in Los Angeles, and finishing up in Seattle on Friday. Then I get to relax for a few days. I thought you might be happy to have me as a diversion from your big project."

"Yeah ... absolutely. So, can you stay tonight?"

"Yup, tonight, tomorrow, and then I'm flying back from Seattle on Friday afternoon and you can have me for five days. How about that?" 

"Fantastic!" It was too. It was exactly what I needed right now; a big dose of Vannie.



Chocolate and Gold Ch. 07



It's not possible to forget what making love to Savannah Wilson was like. She was one erotic woman, visually and physically. I can't imagine some guy dating her and not being totally in lust with her. How they could ever let her go was a mystery to me. But then, knowing Vannie as I now do, it probably wasn't their decision. She had a mind of her own, and it wasn't easy to get her to change it.

We had been making non-stop love almost from the moment she entered the apartment. We weren't saying an awful lot, other than the usual words that lovers share in their passion. Vannie loved oral sex, particularly when it was my turn to give. Her orgasms continued to amaze, still frightening me a bit with her reaction. I hadn't gotten used to them, but they didn't bother her. There were times when I wondered if she even knew they were happening. 

So I asked her. "You have the most amazing orgasms. The first time I thought you were having a fit. Have they always been like this?"

She chuckled softly before answering. "No. I didn't know what a real orgasm was until I was with a man. I used to get myself off, but it wasn't like that. You know ... wild. I scared the shit out of my first lover when I had one. He thought I was epileptic and wouldn't date me again. He never knew how good it felt to me. Then ... after that ... I discovered that not all guys could make it happen. Some of them were crude, and so fast that I didn't even get a chance to have one."

"I have to admit, girl, you scared the hell out of me the first time."

"I know, but ... you got over it. Besides, that first one you gave me still ranks as numero uno in my book," she smiled. 

"I won't ever forget it either. Now that I know it's how you respond, I keep trying to make it happen again."

"See ... Harry ... that's the thing that makes me love you. You're trying to make it better for me ... not for you. That's what separates you from the rest of the guys. That's what makes you special. That ... and the 'gift.'"

"The only gift I think about is the one that brought us together that morning in Ste. Maxime. Which brings up my ongoing question; when are we going to be able to be together for good?"

"Be patient, Harry. I'm working on it. My strategy counselor and I are almost there. We'll make it happen. Trust me."

"Just who is this strategy counselor?" 

"I shouldn't tell you ... but ... it's Charlie."

"What! What's Charlie got to do with it?"

"She came up with a plan and we've been working on it together."

"What plan?"

"Well ... promise you won't say anything ... but she suggested I go and see that nice Mr. Brower. You know, the one that Mama didn't think was very exciting or interesting. Charlie figured that if Mama had someone to look after her that it would free me up to be with you. I wouldn't have to worry about her."

"Just what made you think you could get those two together? If I remember her comments, she didn't think he was worth her time."

"Well, Mama likes him well enough, and he's been courting her for months now and hasn't given up. So we decided that if we could help him along, maybe we could change Mama's mind."

"You're devious!" I smirked.

"I am when I have to be. You didn't think I had given up on us, did you?"

"I didn't know, but I sure hadn't given up on you," I assured her.

"I know. You kept telling me that. Anyway ... Charlie and I figured we had to move things along."

"So ... what did you do?"

"Mr. Jesse Brower got a visit from me ... a private one. I asked him if he was as serious about Mama as it appeared, and he said 'Hell Yes!' So, I had to help him along. I told him what Mama said about him, and asked him what he could do to change her opinion. He was surprised, of course. He'd been so careful to be polite and cautious around her that he wasn't being himself.

"I asked him, what he would do if he didn't worry about what she might think, and he said he didn't know, but he would probably ask her what she liked to do most. Well, that's when I told him that when my daddy was still alive, they used to go out to a roadhouse on route 84 and just dance the night away. Hell, you'd have thought I'd just told him he'd won first prize at a head smacking contest, cuz that's just what he did. Turns out he loves to dance ... honky tonk was his favorite, and that's what set the wheels in motion."

By that time, I was just shaking my head. Those two women had cooked up this plan to find a way to have Vannie and me be together without her having to worry about her Mama. Damn, that felt good. My little sister was turning out to be something special. Something I didn't recognize until just lately. 

On top of that, I was the one who was going to get the reward for all their efforts. I was going to have my girl with me permanently. That called for some extra loving for this woman that was dead set on being with me. I made love to every part of her glorious body. We had the weekend together, and I don't think we left the bedroom more than a couple of times a day, and that was just for food or to use the bathroom.

I was mentally cataloguing Vannie's orgasms. They weren't all the same, but they were similar in the fact that she would stiffen, and then shake as she was overtaken with the happening. They varied only in intensity, but my god, what intensity!

"You know, your Mama and I had a talk about us, don't you?"

"No ... what did she say?"

"She wanted to know if I was serious about you. Of course, I told her I was ... I just wasn't sure if I was in love with you yet. After all, it was only a couple of weeks after we had met. I was thinking I was, but I wasn't sure. I told your mother I wanted to find out. She was more worried about what our babies would look like," I laughed.

Vannie was shaking her head. "Isn't that just like her? She was already planning the wedding. I know you made a big impression on her. She talked about how nice and smart you were. Funny, though, she never said anything about babies."

"Do you think she was worried about a mixed marriage?"

"Nope. I could tell after you left, she was trying to get me to follow you. She said she'd be fine on her own, but I knew she wouldn't be. She didn't want to move, so I had to figure out a way to make it happen. That's where Charlie came into the picture. When I first met her, I knew we were going to be good friends. It just happened. So when she figured out I was in love with you, she set about trying to help me make everyone happy. She put herself in charge of strategy."

"So ... how's it going with Mr. Brower and Mariah?"

She grinned and raised her eyebrows quickly. "Great. They've been going out regularly and now he's 'Jesse' and not Mr. Brower. When I asked her about old Mr. Plain Vanilla, she got quite upset and said he wasn't like that at all. She's having a lot of fun, Harry. I think our plan is going to work and I'm going to be able to be with you wherever you are. Would you like that?"

"You know I would. I want you with me forever, Vannie. I want us to have children together, and live happily every after."

"Just like the fairy tales, huh?"

"Yeah ... just like them."

"That's what I want too. It's just a matter of time and this fairy tale will come true," she said as she slid her amazing body over mine, reached back, and guided me into her one more time.

When Vannie left for Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, it was with mixed emotions. She would be returning on Friday, but today I needed the rest. We had worn each other out making love. I knew she must be sore, but she didn't once complain, and I didn't dare let her down. I suppose we were catching up on lost opportunities and maybe things would cool down a bit as we spent more time together. I thought I was the desperate one, but Vannie was certainly showing signs of it as well.

Ben and Charlie came back from Houston and we had a meeting to talk about the trial. It was decided that it would be run next week over two days; Tuesday and Wednesday. Ben would extrude enough material to form ten or more examples from each formulation that he planned to use. In the end, we would have at least a hundred cells to test, each segregated into their category. We wouldn't just be measuring performance, but varying the layers of the light-trapping fabric as well. That was a crucial part of the trial.

It was obvious that Ben was excited, but completely focused on the results of the first resin trial. AmChemTech had been more than co-operative and had expanded the parameters of their trial to give Ben the greatest amount of variability in specification. With their technicians help, they were able to accurately segregate each batch and measure its consistency. This saved Ben many hours in the lab, and allowed him to plot the performance of each trial batch.

I could see Charlie was feeling a bit left out right now with Ben so engrossed in his project. It was time for me to talk to her. I wanted to tell her how proud I was of her, and also find out a little more about her relationship with Ben and Vannie.

"Hey, Charlie, while Ben's wrapped up in his work, can you spare me a few moments?"

She looked up at me, a bit surprised perhaps, but quickly nodded and followed me into my office.

"I just wanted to tell you how proud and happy I am for you. Ben's a great guy, and you've been a revelation since I came back to town. Why don't you tell me about how it all happened? I'd love to know."

I couldn't remember seeing Charlie smile shyly any time in the recent past, but she did this time. She was an attractive woman and the smile highlighted that.

"I think I told you I met him at a Planet for People rally, and we got into an argument about plastics. I thought they were a plague and Ben argued that they were an important step toward our sustainable future. He was pretty cute looking, so I decided to listen to him. After I while, I could understand what he was saying. I didn't agree with everything then, but when we started to compare notes on the environmental footprint of various products, I could see what he was getting at. 

"For me, it's all about how we use it. If we're just going to make solar panels and sell them at Wal-Mart, I probably won't be too interested. If we can get some of the big international organizations interested, we can do a lot of good in a lot of places. That's what I want to see us do."

"What kind of organizations are you talking about?" I asked.

"Habitat for Humanity, the U.N. agency that looks after the refugee camps, Doctors without Borders ... those types of concerns. Ben says we could supply enough power for a full operating theatre and it wouldn't take up much more space than a suitcase. Wouldn't that be something?"

Charlie's enthusiasm was running full blast again, and I was right there with her.

"I can see you're going to be a perfect spokesperson for this project, girl. You have the energy and the belief in what you want to do. You can't help but succeed."

Once again, Charlie was speechless, a rare event in my experience. "So tell me more about Ben."

"I don't know what more to say. He's a graduate chemist, specializing in polymer research. He didn't want to work with any of the big companies that recruited him, so he applied for a grant to study and develop plastics that would conduct electricity. It's a new field and he was very interested in it. Then, accidentally, he came across the properties of this gel, and combined with the light trapping fabric, he could see what it might lead to. 

"When I got to know him better ... well ... we sort of hit it off ... personally. We started dating; then ... well, you know ... I talked him into moving in with me. I wanted him close by so that no other girl could grab him," she giggled.

"Good move. He's a keeper, Sis. He sure doesn't look like a scientist, though."

"That's because I've been looking after his clothes and making sure he doesn't look like a dork. I think he's really cute, and so do my friends. I hope this success doesn't turn his head."

"I doubt you'll let that happen. Somehow, I think he's found someone to show him which way to go, and he's happy to have you."

Charlie smiled once more. I looked at my younger sister carefully and began to realize she was past being a carefree student. She was a young woman now, with responsibilities and an ambition for her future. She was the smaller of my two sisters at five-foot-three, but she was a classic Asian beauty. Slim, but not skinny, hair glossy black and cut short, she had lovely posture, walking head-up wherever she went. She had been a cheerleader in high school as well as an A student. My parents would accept nothing less from any of us.

It was always a mystery to me where Charlie's activism came from. It blossomed in college ... no surprise, since Cal Berkeley was famous for it. Perhaps it was predictable that she would get involved. Her role as a provocateur was tolerated in the family because she never embarrassed any one of us, and she lived up to the academic standings that my parents expected of her. Looking back on it now, she probably had a lot more fun than Jeannie or I did. I was the stick-in-the-mud guy who wouldn't dare raise any dust back then. Jeannie was also a serious student, but with a simple plan beyond graduation. She always expected to meet Mr. Right and start a family. Enter Mike Lowe.

We had all gone to different schools. Jeannie to the University of San Francisco, me to U W in Seattle, and Charlie to U C Berkeley. My parents had attended Charlie's graduation just before their ill-fated trip. I was glad they saw all three of us finish school, and at least the grandchildren that Mike and Jeannie produced. It was small consolation for us, but it was something. 

"So you and Vannie plotted this whole scheme to get her mother married off, did you?"

"Yeah ... guilty as charged. I could see she was in love with you and you with her. It was a matter of speeding up the process. When Vannie told me about this guy who'd been pretty persistent in getting close to her mom, I kind of figured we could give him a kick-start with a little advice. If that didn't work, we'd just have to find someone else."

"Well, from what Vannie told me, it looks like your plot is working. I'll owe you big if it does."

"My pleasure, big brother. Besides, I might need your help with Ben."

"Oh ... what kind of help?"

"I'm not sure about his parents. They live in Washington ... D.C. that is. He's some kind of big wig in the Justice Department. I don't know what they'd think about him marrying an Asian woman."

"Have you talked to Ben about this?"

"No. It's too soon. I'm just getting him used to the idea of us being a permanent couple."

"So ... what do you think I can do to help?"

"Talk to Ben. Find out how he feels ... you know ... subtle like."

"Yeah ... that's me all right ... subtle Harry," I laughed.

"Seriously, Harry. When the opportunity comes up ... please?"

I never could say no to little sister. I nodded reluctantly. She replied with a smile and a kiss on the cheek. I felt good about our conversation.

Vannie returned on Friday as planned and I picked her up at the airport. She was surprised and pleased that I was there waiting for her, and I got a big kiss and a prolonged hug as a reward. 

"How was your trip?"

"Fabulous! You did it again, Harry," she gushed enthusiastically. "I hit every target possible, and a couple I didn't think I had a hope for. Your magic did it again."

"I told you, girl, it isn't my magic, it's your skill. Not to mention your sexy appearance. Who could possibly say no to you?"

"Aw ... that's sweet ... even if it is B.S. Mama's right ... you have the 'gift.' You just have to be around me and you pass it along."

"Well ... you believe what you want to, girl. I'm just happy you're happy ... and here."

"Yeah. Me too. Five whole days with my lover. I won't be able to walk when it's over."

"Well then, you won't be able to escape, will you?"

"Maybe I won't try."

"What's that mean?"

"Maybe I'll just stay here with you ... forever," she said in sultry tone.

"Don't tease me like that, Vannie. You know that's what I'm living for."

"Well ... I had a talk with Mama last night. Guess what? She's engaged to Jesse Brower." The look on her face was one of glee and victory.

"Oh ... and that means ... that means ... we can ..."

"Yeah ... we can. How do you like that, Mr. Harry Zheng?"

"I like it just fine. No ... better than fine. It's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"Yeah ... that's what I wanted to hear. I'm all yours, big boy. I've already written my letter of resignation and stapled it to all the orders I wrote this week. I can't wait to see the look on my boss's face when I drop that on her desk next week."

"Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, you don't need to work, but I thought you wanted to do something meaningful?"

"I do. Charlie has something all planned for me. With you around, I can't fail, lover."

"Charlie? Just what are you two cooking up this time?"

"Charlie wants me to work with her in market development. We are going to be the dynamic duo when it comes to making sure the Metzler Cell gets a proper launch. You wait and see."

"Oh ... so you two have figured it all out, have you?"

"Well ... actually ... Charlie has. I just know I want to be involved and help any way I can. That's okay with you, isn't it?"

I stared at her for a moment, running over just what she had told me. "Yeah, that's okay. After all, you're going to be a part of all this when we get married. You might as well get your feet wet with my sister. She's going to be the driving force, whether we like it or not," I chortled.

Vannie tightened her arms around me again and kissed me as only she could kiss me. I knew then that I had made the right decision. Everyone in the boat!

I didn't think we could fit all the people who wanted to attend Ben's trial in his lab on Tuesday morning. I think we all realized just what a big event this was, and just how important it would be to the future of Orient Pacific. In the end, with a little bit of pleading and coaxing, we ended up with Ben, Mike, Charlie, myself, plus two technicians from AmChemTech. We couldn't fit any more in if we tried.

As it was, the techs and Ben were constantly working around the machinery as well as Mike, Charlie, and me. When I realized there wasn't much to see at this point, I made the decision to head back to the office, and I let Ben and Mike know I was leaving. Ben barely acknowledged me, but it wasn't a slight. When he concentrated on something, it got his full attention. Mike took the hint and joined me, while Charlie, of course, stayed behind.

I kept my fingers crossed that the trials would be successful and the project could proceed, but not knowing the outcome would occupy my mind unless I found something else. That something else was Vannie. I reached the office just before noon and took my girl out to lunch. It was another warm, sunny, late August day and we sat outside a little café, just talking about the future ... our future. There was one now, and it was tangible and near.

Vannie would be flying back to Florida tomorrow morning to settle her affairs and organize her move to San Francisco. She had written her letter of resignation, attached it to her expense account and her order sheets, putting the whole fat pile in a large manila envelope. She left most of her clothes in my ... our ... apartment. No point in hauling them across the country, then turning around and bringing them back. 

As we sat in the sun at the sidewalk café, I thought about what had happened in just four short months. I'd literally and figuratively met the woman of my dreams. I had been almost shanghaied into taking over the running of the family business. I ... we ... were involved in a monumental project that could have enormous implications, both financially and socially. And through it all, it had reunited my family. Every member, present and future, would be involved. It was a very satisfying feeling.




Chocolate and Gold Ch. 07



"What are you thinking about?" Vannie asked with a smile.

"Everything. Just all the amazing things that have happened since that day last May in Ste. Maxime."

"Yeah. It's really something, isn't it? I've been thinking about it too. Some of it's strange ... maybe a little bit scary, but ...still, I wouldn't change any of it."

I looked at my beautiful lady, and suddenly realized there was something I hadn't done. "Vannie ... would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" There! I'd said it and I'd meant it.

She smiled immediately. "Yes. I thought you knew that already?"

"I'd never asked you properly. I almost took you for granted. Don't let me do that again."

I pulled out my cell phone and called the office, telling the receptionist that I'd be a little late getting back to the office this afternoon. I pocketed the phone and reached for Vannie.

"Come on, we've got some shopping to do," as I helped her rise.

We caught the cable car to the downtown and entered a large jewelry store on Market Street near the Renaissance Hotel. It took well over an hour to find just the right ring that we were both happy with, but when we did, Vannie was crying and laughing at the same time. There was nothing frivolous about this woman I was engaged to. That she was happy was my prime objective.

I didn't get a report back from Ben or Charlie that afternoon. They were still at the lab at eight o'clock that evening when I called. They had just finished coating the last of the test cells, meaning the performance testing wouldn't start until tomorrow. Charlie said Ben and the technical guys were satisfied so far, but tomorrow would tell the tale. I probably wouldn't have had much sleep that night if it wasn't for Vannie and the fact that we were going to be separated for a few days again. 

I don't think Vannie knew how long it would take for her to clean up her obligations to the company and make sure her mother was set as well. I told her not to rush, but I didn't mean it. I was being selfish. I wanted her back with me as soon as she could get away. I think she knew that, but family is family, and responsibilities came first. She would not just abandon either her mother or her company. I, of all people, should understand that, she intoned.

We made love that night, knowing that once again we would be apart, but there was no sadness in it. I knew she would be coming back, and it lifted my spirits to think that this time it would be forever. It made our joining that much more special and comforting. When we parted at the terminal, there were no tears, just smiles of happiness and promises that she wouldn't be away one moment longer than necessary.

As I drove back to the city, I realized that today was important for another reason. We would have the results of at least some of the trial panels, and that energized me immediately. When I arrived at the office, Charlie had already phoned in, almost incoherent in her excitement. The first tests were positive. It looked like we had a product! I immediately left to drive to Emeryville and see for myself.

When I arrived, the lab was quiet and I could only see one of the AmChemTech technicians near the back by the extruder. No one else was in sight. 

"Where is everyone?" I asked him as I approached. 

He smiled and pointed over his shoulder at the little office/lunchroom at the back. I opened the door and stopped, gazing at the sight. Ben and Charlie were curled up on the floor, their backs propped up again the wall, wrapped in each other's arms, sound asleep. The second tech was asleep, sitting in a chair with his head in his arms on the table. It only took a moment to realize that they had pulled an "all-nighter."

I stepped out of the room and closed the door quietly, returning to the only other awake person in the building. "Didn't anyone go home last night?"

"Nope. Once we got started we couldn't wait to start the performance tests. We got so charged up with the preliminary results that none of us were going to be able to sleep anyway. You've got a winner on your hands, Mr. Zheng," he said with a smile.

"So have you," I replied. He nodded and I could see, despite the fatigue in his eyes, he was a happy guy. 

"They don't often go this well right out of the gate, but so far ... all the parameters are coming up to expectations. We'll know more when the gel sets later today. We've got some isolated in a UV chamber. They should be cured tonight at the latest."

"Have you called your company and let them know?"

"No ... didn't think that was my place. I'm sure Ben will want to do that. I know he was heaping praise on our executives for making this happen. I'm just happy to be a part of it. I think this could be something people will read about in the history books ... that is ... if we still have books," he laughed.

"Aren't you going to get some sleep as well?"

"I'm the guard. Make sure no one who isn't authorized gets in here. Since you had a key card, and I knew who you were, I didn't worry. But, just the same, I think you should consider getting some security for this place."

"Good idea. Tell you what. You go get some rest. I'll take over guard duty, and while I'm at it, I'll arrange for a security company to look after the building."

"Thanks. I am about ready to drop. I'm sure the others will be awake before noon. That floor can't be too comfortable."

I pulled out my cell and called the office, asking Mrs. Wong to arrange for outside security as soon as possible. When Charlie told her that it appeared the trials were successful, she was already thinking about the problem, and my phone call just confirmed it. She was confident we would have people there this evening.

I found the finished product on a large bench along the side of the building. Each set of samples had been labeled with an incomprehensible code. I noticed some charts on a clipboard and saw that each batch would be tested in a consistent manner and the results recorded. The laptop that sat alongside the sample cells had a spreadsheet with the same information. Everything looked completely organized and professional. To an outsider like myself, it gave me a sense of confidence. Everyone knew their job, and was properly prepared to carry it out. 

I wandered outside the building to get some fresh air. Emeryville was near the bay, and the little industrial park where Ben's lab was located was in company with several other businesses. A coffee operation was one of them, and I could smell the roasted beans from our location. I wondered if they had any fresh brewed, but I couldn't leave the building unattended to find out. One of the other buildings housed a wine merchant. Not a bad combination, I thought. Coffee in the morning, wine in the afternoon.

I walked back into the lab and saw Charlie slowly emerging from the lunch room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She saw me and smiled a tired smile, but moved toward me.

"Hi, brother. I guess you've heard by now ... we're a winner," she said groggily, giving me a hug.

"Yeah, congratulations! We'll have to get Ben to call Houston and let them know. They deserve a lot of credit too."

"Absolutely, but we better wait until he's a little more with it," she said, turning back to the doorway into the lunchroom. "He's not wide awake yet. We were here all night and the guys worked non-stop."

"I know. Have you had anything to eat lately?"

"No ... nothing. I'm starving."

"Let me look after that. I'll get some fresh coffee too. I think I know where to find that first," I said. 

I turned and walked out the exit and made a beeline for the coffee roaster in the next building. I walked in the warehouse door and found several employees loading sacks of coffee beans into a hopper. 

"Morning, guys. I've got four people next door who've just pulled an all-nighter and we need some fresh strong coffee. Is there anyway you can help. We'd be glad to pay for it."

A big, well built man looked me over as I handed him my business card. He glanced at it briefly. "No problem. We've got several test batches already brewed. We can give you one of those as long as you bring the container back. What type do you prefer?"

"Uhm ... not sure. Dark I guess."

"That'll wake them up," he grinned as he handed me what must have been a half gallon insulated jug with a pour spout. "That's French Dark with a bit of Vanilla. That should do you," he said with a grin.

"Thanks. I won't forget this. Now I've got to get some decent take-out food for them. I don't think they've eaten since yesterday morning. Any suggestions?"

"Sure, there's a deli around the back of the wine guy's place. They do lunches for most of the people around here. It's good food, too."

"Thanks again. That's a big help. I'll get this container back to you pronto."

I took the coffee to the lunchroom and let everyone know it came from next door and was just freshly brewed. They were happy to see it and I headed for the deli next. I ordered enough sandwiches, salad, and juice to last for the rest of the day and carried them back to lab. Again, I was greeted enthusiastically. I let them know that if they were going to be working here regularly, they could order their food in advance and the deli would deliver. That met with their approval as well.

We sat around the lunchroom table as they dug into the food ravenously. It was my first chance to quiz Ben on just what they had accomplished.

"Harry, the initial performance of the new panel is as good or better than my trial-and-error units. When they are fully cured, I'll be able to tell more, but so far there's every indication we've hit the jackpot on the base formulation. What we're going to test this afternoon is the new, thinner cell, and a couple of special configurations that may give us some improved properties. We were all pretty high about two o'clock this morning," he laughed. "We were tired, but wired, as my friend Tom over there said." He got a nod from one of the tech reps.

"That's great news, guys. Now, don't forget to call Houston and thank them for their support and let them share some of the excitement too."

"Right after I eat," Ben grinned. 

"Good. Mrs. Wong is arranging for some security to be here later today. I think we'd better start guarding this project a lot more carefully now that it's about to be commercial."

I decided to go back to the office and see what was happening. I knew Ben would give me a full update as soon as the tests were complete. I was feeling more and more confident that we had an amazing product on our hands. Now, the big question would have to be answered: what do we do with it? That would require a meeting of the board.

It was Friday morning by the time Ben, along with the two technical reps Tom and Dieter, were finished with the initial trials. With their permission, we arranged a luncheon meeting in the board room. It would be a working lunch, with the results of the trials discussed. I also wanted to get some sense of where Ben wanted to take this project in the beginning. I had to keep reminding myself that this was his invention, not ours. We were the facilitators and to some extent, contributors. But, when all was said and done, it was Ben's baby.



Chocolate and Gold Ch. 08



I've lost track of time over the last four months. So much has happened so quickly that none of us had time to stop and smell the coffee, or the roses, or anything else. I'll try to put it in chronological order if I can.

First, the results of the trials were much better than anticipated. The fully formulated resin was much more efficient, so we were able to get more power than the initial prototypes. In addition, the thin panel product was fully functional as a power source, while not quite as powerful at the standard unit. No surprise there, according to Ben. We immediately submitted patent applications for the thin concept.

We had two commercially ready "sandwich" structures. We just need to fit the cells to the frames that Mike had designed. It would mean new templates, but that was not a major obstacle. The supplier provided a thousand frames two weeks after the trials were run. At the same time, AmChemTech had provided us with an extrusion specification for a non-metallic frame. We approached a local engineering extrusion firm, and contracted with them to create a die and several thousand feet of frame material using a resin from a different AmChemTech division. A local fabrication firm agreed to frame the first trial units at our site, under the watchful eyes of our people. Neither they nor the extrusion firm knew what the end product was.

We now had twenty-four-hour security at both the office and the lab. There was no sign of anyone attempting to gain entrance, but we couldn't take any chances on losing control of this development. Ben had switched his data to a more substantial safe in our office, and the laptops used in the design and development work were encrypted and secured from theft. Backups were run daily and also kept in the company safe. The lab itself had no windows, and was a conventional concrete tilt-up building, secured by rugged steel doors. There was no sign on the building, only a number.

The trial meeting was a bit chaotic, with enthusiasm for the results overriding the need to chart a path forward. Up to this point, we had spent very little money, thanks in large part to our benefactor, AmChemTech. It seemed appropriate to call them in to show them what we had created with their help, as well as ask their advice on how to present this product. That was passed after some noted reservations about the length of our exclusivity with the resin was satisfied by the safeguards of the patents. 

Ben contacted the Houston office and invited the senior management to a meeting at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in September. They were also asked to invite their president to the meeting as a formal thank-you for their support as well as an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of the cell. They jumped at the offer, and within a day we had the president's confirmation that he would attend.

Where we were hung up was what to do about marketing the product. It was Charlie who came up with the suggestion that produced a consensus of agreement. She suggested we "leak" the information about an amazing new solar cell on the Internet. Possibly through one of the popular sites like YouTube. Once the "bait" was trolled, it was bound to generate interest, and then we could begin to publish press releases about the Metzler Cell. Then, we could distribute a "beta version," just as if it were a software product. We would insist on feedback from the beta users, telling us what they didn't like as well as what they saw as the end uses.

We shot some good quality video demonstrating the cell and loaded it onto YouTube under a fictitious name and cut it loose. It took about an hour before the hits started coming. Charlie was giggling about all this of course. Three days later, we made another video showing some of the additional features of the cell and launched that. In the meantime, the site had registered hundreds of thousands of hits. The word was getting out, but no one knew what the product was called.

Finally, ten days after the first YouTube posting, we launched the third video with Charlie as a "talking head" and showing the cell, finally revealing that it was called the Metzler Cell after its inventor. Based on the number hits on all three of the videos, we had huge level of interest. It was time to go to market. The question was, with whom? On top of that, we had no production facilities ready to take advantage of the interest. The scramble was on. 

Winston proved his value again when, with the help of a friend in the commercial real estate business, found an empty warehouse just off I-580 in Richmond, near the bridge. We drove there with Ben, Charlie, and myself to inspect the premises. It wasn't my favorite part of the East Bay, but the building looked secure, was reasonably clean, and available immediately. With Ben's approval, we signed a lease for two years, with a right-to-purchase option. We now had one hundred thousand square feet for production and distribution. None of us had any idea if it would be too much or too little.

It was going to be up to Ben, Mike and our friends at AmChemTech to equip the new building. Once again our supplier stepped up to the plate. They gave us some recommendations on extrusion equipment, storage silos, bulk railcar and truck unloading equipment, and other useful tips. In consultation with them, we planned to put in our own frame extrusion equipment as soon as our volumes warranted it. We made room for that in section A of the building, the extrusion room. It was to be segregated from the rest of the operation, as heat and ventilation would be an issue.

Section B was the fabrication area. We would be doing our own frame assembly and building of the "sandwich" on the templates. Equipment would be required for that. Finally, Section C would be packaging, storage, and distribution. There were six loading bays leading out onto a wide parking lot, so we had no problem with outgoing shipments. The rail siding would barely hold two 100 ton hopper cars, but for now, that would be adequate. There was room to expand if necessary.

If all went well, we could be in production in late January. We would continue to manufacture samples using our trial material. These would be the beta material prior to a full product launch next year. It was important to have the cell panels evaluated in the field by actual users. Better now than when we were in full scale production. If there were any faults or weaknesses, we needed to identify them as soon as possible. We couldn't predict how the end users would apply our product, so we had to expect the unexpected.

The reception for the AmChemTech staff was an entertaining affair. We made sure everyone had a room at the hotel to avoid any problems with alcohol. It turned out to be a good decision. The guys from Houston were a really loose bunch, and were a lot of fun to party with. We made sure everyone brought their wives or "significant others" to the soiree. The president, Tyler Hanneman, was pretty cool himself. Fairly young, maybe in his late forties, he was definitely a modern businessman. What he wasn't was a stuffed shirt. It was a hell of a party, and we made sure he and every one of his people knew just how much we appreciated their help. 

Ben finally showed us that he had a less serious side. He partied pretty well, with Charlie's help of course. But he was sober enough to have a long discussion with Mr. Hanneman about his future projects. I got the feeling that Ben and Tyler were going to be pretty close in the future. Mr. President couldn't help but be impressed with the young polymer chemist.

Vannie was right there with me, enjoying every minute. She and Mrs. Wong seemed to be getting along very well, but then, I didn't know anyone who didn't get along with my fiancée. Oh yeah, that's right. I forgot to mention the hoo-rah when Vannie showed off her engagement ring. In fact, that's what got the party really rolling. Charlie called down to the front desk and ordered a half dozen bottles of champagne. My lady was the center of attention for the first hour with lots of conversation revolving around when the big day would be.

We posted our next YouTube video, announcing the beta testing plan. Potential users were to apply for a trial cell, with the signed promise that they would return our request for data within sixty days. We were knocked off our chairs when we got over one hundred and fifty thousand requests within the first three days. There was only one option, a lottery. One thousand samples would be shipped by courier to the respondent chosen from all the requests that had arrived in that first seventy-two hours. Naturally, we screened the lottery "winners" for duplicate addresses and names. In addition, we held back fifty samples to be sent to selected people we thought would be interested in either using or marketing our product.

We hired several students from the university to log the lottery picks and the selected fifty designated recipients. They were made aware of the product, but their work was done in Mike's office downtown. They didn't know where our plant was, and we intended to keep it that way. All correspondence was to be done via e-mail to our new address, given only to the lottery workers and selected recipients. It was as secure as we thought was practical. Maybe a bit overboard, but we would soon learn that we had no idea what a fuss our product was going to cause.

I guess you've noticed that I continue to call this "our" solar cell. Ben wouldn't hear of not sharing the credit with Orient Pacific, or AmChemTech. In his view, we were all a part of the success, and we should all be able to call it "our" project. I gave up trying to argue with him. It was another sign of what kind of guy Ben Metzler is. I was just happy that the cell was going to be called the Metzler Cell. He deserved the recognition, even if he didn't want it.

By now, the press had picked up on the rumours of a mysterious new super-solar cell. They did their damndest to find us, but it took almost two months before American Science Journal tracked us down. It didn't matter how they did it, they found us. Before we agreed to speak to them, we wanted another confidentiality agreement in exchange for an exclusive interview. The problem we ran into was internal. Who would give the interview?

Ben was reluctant, but understood that this was a legitimate science magazine and they would want some technical information. On the other hand, they were going to want to know how we planned to use this product, and where. After several hours of debate, we came up with a committee; Ben, Mike, Charlie, and me. We were going to have to be careful about just how much information we revealed. I was the strongest link in that chain since, for all practical purposes, I didn't know anything. I would leave it to Ben to decide what was or wasn't appropriate information to share. 

We sat down with two of their people in October. I was surprised that they were scheduling this interview for their January, or possibly even the February issue. It was to be integrated into a series of articles they called "Earth Shaking Ideas." I thought that was completely appropriate. In order to authenticate the cell, we brought both models to the board room and demonstrated them. It was clear they were both impressed and intrigued. I played only a small part in the interview. Charlie waxed poetic about the humanitarian applications, while Ben and Mike dealt with the technical issues. With AmChemTech's permission, we named them as the principal co-contributor.

We finished with a tour of our facilities, having obtained a written pledge that they would not reveal where it was. I was reasonably confident that they would honor the agreement. This wasn't some tabloid newspaper, it was the respected science journal in the United States. I also reminded them that this wasn't the end of development, and that there would be other products we might choose to share with them. I could see the look in their eyes as that carrot was dangled in front of them. 

We rented a couple of portable offices that we put right inside our new building. One was for the plant management, while the other was for Mike and the design equipment. We brought in a plumber and expanded the washrooms from one to four. The lunchroom was also enlarged to suit the larger employee numbers in the future. All along the way we were guessing at how many people would ultimately be employed in the building. As we discovered quite quickly, we constantly underestimated our needs and were in perpetual scramble mode trying to keep up with demand. 

The fifty selected targets of our beta models began to respond almost immediately. The retail sector was first, as expected. The big box stores, along with the traditional electronic and scientific equipment outlets were anxious to have the product for sale, and were already inquiring about volume discounts and exclusive rights, including private label naming. I could see Charlie sitting in front of a big box buyer and telling them that they would get what they were entitled to at the regular price, and that there would be no private label. It was a Metzler Cell, and that was the end of the discussion. I think she was almost relishing the opportunity to tell one or more of them where to go.

The other responses were just as enthusiastic, but had some specific ideas for the product's use. The outdoor retailers saw it as a multi-faceted safety and convenience item. Heat, light, locator beacon, and other practical applications were mentioned. One major supplier of marine equipment wanted to know if the cell would float. Why they hadn't just dunked it in water to find out we weren't sure, but we advised them it wouldn't, but that immersion wouldn't harm any of the components, at least in the short term.

By November, Vannie had returned from Naples and was happily ensconced in our apartment. Her mother and Jessie had set a date for their wedding, and of course we were invited. They were to be married in Fort Myers next March, near where they would make their home. The townhouse had been put up for sale, and Mariah had moved all her possessions to Jesse's house. I gathered from Vannie that his home wasn't far from qualifying as a mansion. Above all, Vannie's concerns about her mother's happiness and welfare were past. When she returned, she was content and focused only on us.

We had decided to get married in May of the following year. It would be civil ceremony, since neither of us pretended to be religious. The reception would be somewhere in the city, not yet chosen, but the honeymoon, if I got my way, would be on the French Riviera. I still had vivid memories of that afternoon on the beach in Ste. Tropez. When I broached the idea to Vannie, she jumped at it, and at me. She thought it was a brilliant idea, especially if we included Monte Carlo on the itinerary. I knew exactly what she was thinking, but I had to admit, it sounded like fun.

Why did we wait so long? The Metzler Cell, of course. The official launch of commercial product would be in the first quarter of next year, and I expected all hell to break loose for a while. I wanted to make sure we were all settled down as far as planning and operating before I escaped for a couple of weeks. I knew Mrs. Wong, along with Winston, could hold the fort if we had the processes in place. That was my responsibility. 

Charlie's birthday was in early December, and she got a surprise birthday present from Ben; a diamond engagement ring. He proposed formally to her and she accepted. There was never any doubt, and truthfully, Charlie was expecting it at some time in the near future. Just the same, she was a very happy young lady, as were all of us in the family.

Ben, as was his custom, did nothing without preparation and planning. He had already taken Charlie to meet his parents and obtain their permission. It may have been a formality, but it was an important one. While Ben's parents weren't conservative Jews, they observed the important occasions and protocols. Ben was mindful that his mother would be the most likely to be upset or concerned about a mixed marriage, but happily, she embraced Charlie and welcomed her. They thought that would be their biggest obstacle, and it was overcome gracefully. His father was too proud of his son's accomplishments to deny him anything.

The last significant potential player in the game was our beloved federal government. At first, we ignored them. We simply didn't have time to fool with the various layers of bureaucracy that would inevitably descend upon us. But, like most organizations with too much time on their hands, they didn't give up. Finally, we granted them an interview in mid December. It went pretty much as we expected.

The came, they saw, they hemmed, they hawed, they went away, they came back, they offered to take the project off our hands. Like that was going to happen. They weren't very happy when we sent them packing. In fact, I got the distinct impression there was an implied threat that if we didn't cooperate with the mighty Fed, we would find ourselves in a lot of grief. I thought it was time to talk to our company lawyer again. Everyone agreed.

Mr. Myron Schulman was as meek and mild-mannered a man as you would ever want to meet. He looked after all our legal affairs, most of them domestic and commercial situations. However, I had it on good authority (Mrs. Wong) that when cornered or upset, Mr. Schulman became a pit bull of extraordinary tenacity. Since Ben, Mike, and I had all been present at the meeting with the Feds, I thought it wise to have all of us at our meeting with Myron. When I gave him the outline of our concerns, he dropped everything and came to the office.

"Guys, this sounds like fun. Why don't you see if you can give me word-for-word what these clowns said," Myron began, a sly smile pasted on his face.

"I can do better than that," Ben offered. He pulled out his miniature recorder from his pocket and pressed play. The entire meeting had been recorded, and Myron listened intently, particularly to the final ten minutes.

I should have remembered that Ben was a well prepared man. He didn't go into any meeting without some kind of plan. How he knew to record this one was just another example of his foresight. 

When the recording ended, Myron clapped his hands together and laughed out loud. "My god, boys, this is going to be fun. With your permission I'm going to make a couple of copies of this recording for safekeeping. Then, I'm going to visit the local F.B.I. office and let them hear it. After that, I think farther up the Justice Department food-chain would probably be interested. Yes sir! This is going to be fun."

"Uhm, perhaps I can help with the Justice Department," Ben spoke up. Myron looked at him curiously.

"My father is with the department, and has the kind of connections that would give us an opinion without too much fuss being raised. I'd be happy to pass it along to him before we get anyone else involved if you think that would help."

"Damn right it would," Myron exclaimed. 

"I think it would be a good idea if you were there with me, Myron. I know Dad trusts me, but you represent Orient Pacific, and their interests are at stake too."

"Thank you, Ben. I appreciate that ... and I agree. Set it up for whenever it's convenient and I'll be there."

Problem solved? It seemed like it. Myron sounded so positive, and with Ben's father's connection, I expected this problem would go away. The question was, would we hear more in the future?

AmChemTech's connections helped us expedite the equipment for the new plant, aided of course by the sizeable down payment and the fact that the machinery market had been at a very low ebb. The extrusion equipment would be ready by mid-December, and all the ancillary equipment would be on the site even sooner. Installation crews would begin even before the New Year, and our resin supplier would assist with their technical people in the installations that involved their products. We just couldn't ask for a more cooperative supplier.




Chocolate and Gold Ch. 08



Oh yes, Dupont called us back and told us they were ready to enter into negotiations regarding the development of the cell. We politely advised them that we had already obtained a supplier with a suitable resin, and wouldn't require their assistance. We thanked them very much for their interest. Apparently, no one at Dupont looked at YouTube, or if they did, they didn't put two and two together.

It took three weeks to resolve the federal government problem, all of it done "beneath the radar." Ben's father had quietly advised his superiors of the implied threats, and was assured that it would be political dynamite if they were brought to light. Mr. Metzler indicated that there were other copies of the conversation, and thought it would be "unfortunate" if they fell into the wrong hands. The problem disappeared along with the two guys who visited us that afternoon. 

However, Mr. Metzler Sr. let it be known that if the federal government saw a strategic use for this product, their decision would be paramount and we would be involved with them whether we liked it or not.

Work progressed at a rapid rate in the new plant. Mike had taken nominal charge of supervising the general interior construction. He had the time and the experience, so it was a natural fit for him. What would take up more of our time in December and early January would be hiring people to work in the manufacturing, assembly, and distribution areas. Our best solution was to hire a professional firm to interview, background check, and recommend potential employees. In the end, we would be responsible for hiring.

We had over five hundred applications when the advertisement appeared in the local papers. Thank goodness we didn't have to look after all the interviewing and checking ourselves. We were pretty specific with the personnel company on what we were looking for. To begin with, we needed almost one hundred employees, but with the likelihood of many more in the months to come.

We were spending money seriously now, and not a dime had come in at this point. It was time to produce some revenue. The easiest way was to award some development permits, with a fee attached of course. The first to step up to the plate were the recreation manufacturers. Almost every major manufacturer of outdoor, RV, marine, and survival equipment purchased a permit with the agreed fees. We were pretty sure that not everyone who had bought a license would commit to the cell, but at this stage, they couldn't afford not to at least look at the concept. 

Late in the year, Charlie was given the task of contacting the major non-governmental organizations. We wanted them to know we were thinking of them, and that we would support those that had a genuine use for the cell. It would be up to the various NGO's to tell us how they proposed to use the units. Charlie grabbed at the opportunity with both hands. 

When I sat down with the board just before Christmas, I offered the concern that we had outsold our capabilities, and we needed to address that immediately. I think the other members were a bit surprised by my statement, but Mrs. Wong and Winston both agreed that our orders were rapidly outstripping our production capabilities. We were growing too fast, and that was putting a strain on both our manufacturing and financial situation. We were buying our raw materials in advance of orders. We had orders for over eight million units in the first quarter, but only the production capability of a little over five million. Either we needed more capacity, or we needed to slow down our sales. Someone was going to be disappointed. It was Vannie who solved the problem.

As far as my lady was concerned, this was a marketing problem, and that was her area of expertise. She sat down with our new production planner, Louisa Andreotti, and looked at where the orders were coming from. They segmented every one by category and decided which should have priority. Within a week, they had a plan to present to the board. 

I knew Vannie wasn't just a pretty face, but I never realized she was a clever strategist when it came to dealing with customers. She was our unofficial marketing manager, and she was proving her worth. It would be she that went to the customers who we had to delay and explain it to them. Her strategy, however, allowed her to assure them that no competitor of theirs would be supplied before them. They would all still be on a level playing field.

It also meant we had to step up our plans to expand the plant. Again, we would be spending money in advance of sales, but it was essential that we didn't let key customers down this early in the game. We had a great product, that was a given. But customers were fickle, and we had to make sure we didn't turn them off.

So that was what our first four months of Metzler Power Inc. was like. I don't think any of us really had a day off, and yet, I never once heard a complaint. Only Mrs. Wong kept normal hours and the day-to-day of Orient Pacific Imports ticking along nicely. The rest of us were moving at warp speed, as someone characterized it. 

Ben is already working on the next generation of the Metzler Cell. He has two objectives that he has revealed. One is to find a way to make the sandwich smaller. He has already discussed this with the manufacturer of the light-trapping fabric, and he hired the inventor of the fabric to join our group. His other ambition is to raise the output of the cell to above 100 watts. My only concern is that Ben is off and running miles ahead of all of us. Only Charlie seems to have a handle on him, but then, that's the good news. She's the control gate for Ben.

When the American Science article breaks next month, I expect there will be a lot of other new interest in our product. Winston and I will be spending almost all of the first quarter of next year on the financial side of the company. Rapid growth brings about its own problems, and many companies fail because they can't cope with too much success. We have a plan, plus an informed lender, but just the same, we have to make the results prove the project is financially sustainable. 

Oh, by the way. That target price for the original cell concept? It's within reach, but not just yet. We have a lot of debt to pay down, but we've proven that we can make that thirty dollar target. For now, the only person permitted to market product at that price will be Charlie, and only to selected not-for-profit organizations. Charlie is good with that, and is quietly celebrating her special status. She's found her cause, and it's a good one. 

So there you are. Harry Zheng is alive and well and pretending to be the President of Orient Pacific Imports. I'm surrounded by relatives, friends, and new employees. It's all come by accident, or at least that's what if feels like. Who'd have thought a marine biologist would be caught up in high finance and big business management. I sure never did. 

As far as my life in the future? Well, I'm marrying the girl of my dreams. I mean ... the girl of my dreams! When Vannie and I are on our honeymoon, we're going back to that "clothing optional" beach and she's going to recreate that incredible moment when she and I ... well ... you know. And I'll bet we make another visit to the Casino in Monte Carlo. You never know your luck.

END

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Many thanks to ErikThread and DaveT for their editing skills. Special thanks to Dave for his technical advice and references. I think they made the story better. Just the same, it is a fantasy (so far).