The Deal:
Author's Note: I've gone back in my story and decided to change much about Ginny's character after reading HBP. Enjoy, and I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.
- Apac
Revised and Rewritten
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking on your flight en route from Hong Kong to Cairo. We are currently cruising at around 2000 feet, with a slight descent. The local time in at the Cairo International airport is 7:48 pm, with a temperature going up around 21 degrees Celsius. The local high projected for today will go up to the mid 50's. We will be going into a bit of turbulence, so please buckle up all seat-belts and straighten all seats into their up and rightful positions. Thank you for choosing British Airways, and we look forward to serving you again.
The intercom beeped, after a slow wave of static overtook the line. The passengers felt the new waves of wind as the jet jutted against them and the whole inside rumbled. At this outburst through the pleasant silence, new sensations arose. Babies, fearful of the new experience began to wail as mothers and nanny's began to coo and whisper soothingly into their ears. Many passengers looked outside their windows, only to see the midnight blackness of the dark clouds enshrouding the plane into a whirlpool of endless nothing. A few specks of light blinked on the end, the jet wing tips, that provided the passengers with a solid image of a wing that believe it or not, relieved the passengers slightly. It perceived that indeed, they were in a plane, rather than a crowded cabin gliding through nothing, traveling in the wrong direction, and eventually coming out sixteen hundred miles off course and in the dangerous white mountain ranges of the European Alps.
Another wave of turbulence hit, shaking the jet. This time, people felt it in their seats.
Dudley wasn't one of the lucky ones who could hold their stomachs. He was hunched over a small silver toilet bin in the lavatory, unleashing the excess crap he had eaten at the airport into the poor depository of the jet. His squishy bottom facing upward, he felt squeezed and compact in the tiny lavatory.
Wiping his mouth uneasily and pressing the small 'flush' bar, the toilet erupted in a chorus of angry wind swooshing sounds that scared the living hell out of the poor man. He visibly tensed, like everyone who first had an experience with a toilet without water, before smacking himself and hitting the sink, looking at his pale appearance in the mirror.
He had to admit, his new training program within the gym was doing him wonders over the years, but his chubby look still stayed behind. Dark brown cropped hair fell down into his eyes. His piggish smile was gone, along with the look that he owned the world. He had entered life away from the shelter his parents raised him up in. The complete living hell some people gave him. Especially in London, passing pedestrians gave him curious looks at his overweight style.
He hated it, and started to wonder how his cousin was faring in this world.
Washing his hands, he managed to compose himself together before loosening his belt to relieve that little bit of stress on his stomach. Opening the lavatory, he made his way towards the front of the jet. The livings of being a BBC traveling core. They had first class to traveling, and everything they needed in the deal of receiving the especially gritty and 'hot' news interests in the world.
He sat down in his plush seating without comfort, wiggled around, and wondered why in the world he was going to Egypt. It's a bunch of dead people who've been wrapped up in toilet paper. He didn't know, in fact, as cameraman, he was told nothing. Amanda, his reporter was quietly asleep in the seat next to him, snuggled peacefully within the blankets and pillows offered by Dudley. She probably knew what was going on. She always did.
Sighing and disgruntled, Dudley rolled around forever in his seat, before finally managing to get into a somewhat comfortable position. The jet was struck again by turbulence, this time the plane really racked itself inside out. The cup of coffee in front of him nearly spilled. At that time, the passengers were getting worried. Dudley could sense the tension in the first class cabin.
There has been an emergency storm call, out of peculiar changes within the past few hours. Out of safety, we will be landing in Alexandria, where bus services will be given free of charge to Cairo. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
Bloody great. Dudley mused. His coffee had spilled, and he frantically tried to clean up the mess with his one measly napkin. Why bother...
There was a monitor in front of the plane that showed the current weather. Dudley stared at the screen, his eyes disbelieving. He looked, and looked again, and again.
Outside the storm worsened, layering fierce winds jutting into the sides of the plane.
No, it must be some mistake. He rubbed his sweaty forehead nervously, watching the doom upon the monitor continue. Something was happening, something that hadn't happened for a very lone time. Thousands of years. He looked around, seeing the curious looks on the passenger's faces. They don't understand. Dudley was flipping through an article one day in the BBC office, when he came upon an interesting article.
On it, was the printed historical writing.
Doomsday.
The dark Rolls-Royce Limo screeched as it turned a corner, its sleek dark paint reflecting the neon lights of the passing towering skyscrapers and their colorful ad signs. The car stopped by a red light, before masses of Chinese pedestrians waiting on the sides of the road began to cross. Some passed by the limo, curiosity striking them best. They looked in the window, only to find their reflection staring, right back at them.
Inside, Harry closed the small dark velvet curtains to the windows. The outside may have not able to see them, but they very well were able to see the people staring in.
"Relax Harry," A soft voice lightly laughed. Ginny sat on the other end of the limo, casting an amused look over at him. Looking outside, she parted her curtain. "God Hong Kong is beautiful, London was never this alive at night. And the people just seem so nice!" Her dark chocolate eyes sparkled from the light, like the innocent starry eyes a little girl had when first going to visit Santa, hugging her teddy bear close. Harry suddenly found it hard to breathe. Opening a storage box built into the side of the limo, he opened himself a bottle of spring water, chugging down the water and feeling the cool liquid hit the back of his dry throat.
Ginny had her eyes on him again, her look curious while managing to look cute at the same time, her dark chocolate brown eyes sparkling under the intimate limousine overhead lights.
"Thirsty." Harry lied, taking another sip to emphasize his point. He wished he didn't. Spring water had a little sweet taste in it, something Harry found himself disliking.
Silently, as if she sensed how Harry was feeling about water at the moment, she took out a crisp frozen glass and poured slowly a bottle of chilled red wine. Swishing the liquid smoothly in the glass, like a connoisseur, she admired the light scent of the liquid, before taking a small sip. Slowly, she closed her eyes, her tongue running over her lips.
Rosy red lips. Harry couldn't keep his eyes off them.
Smoothing sliding over to her end of the limo, Ginny took another sip before offering the crisp wine glass to Harry, her smile innocent, her large and sparkling eyes staring at him, waiting. Harry took the glass, taking a small slip, enjoying the taste in his mouth, his emerald eyes locked with her chocolate brown ones. An eternity passed between them.
"About Mr. Chang," She closed the velvet curtains, thankful for the privacy. Reaching next to her, she opened the large manila folder, grabbing the contents inside before giving half to Harry. He definitely knew what he was doing. It was all through body language, nothing spoken. How Harry looked dead sexy in that custom made tuxedo of his, how his appearance, those eyes, drove Ginny wild. She always knew the reason why he was chosen most eligible bachelor of the U.K, there was always a reason. How women were genuinely attracted to him, even if he did nothing at all. He was etched with mystery, power, and he certainly proved that he could handle himself very well.
A sharp stab of desire ran through her. Seeing Harry's hair disheveled, his handsome and boyish face grinning at her. That grin... His emerald depths staring at her, waiting for her to go on.
She wasn't built for this.
"Ginny." Harry's deep soothing voice broke deep into her thoughts as she quickly composed herself. This wasn't supposed to happen. She was beginning to fall for him again, after years of believing that maybe it hadn't meant for the two of them. Fate has its ways in make you believing. How he suddenly gently held your world in his hands, and how you seemed to depend on each other. For two fully independent people in the world to break down, see their defensive worlds shatter right in front of their eyes. Stop Ginny! Don't do this to yourself...
She looked down at the picture of the senior Mr. Chang. "Is this the man who has the tablet Harry?" She asked, acting as if nothing had happened in her mind. Again was the cool and composed agent, observing her new task with precision.
"Yes." Harry said, taking another sip of his wine. He loosened his tie, and Ginny tried hard not to stare at the button on his polo dress shirt, itching to unbutton them. "His family's probably the most influential to outside sources in their elaborate selling of antique items. I believe that if I can make a fair deal with him, we can enjoy the rest of the weekend having Christmas in the Eastern hemisphere." His smile was promising.
"Well," Ginny smirked, placing the documents back within the folder. "We're going to have to make up a pretty solid husband-wife show."
Harry didn't seem distracted about the sudden difficulty. What was he joking, he was sure they could pull the whole act off completely unfazed. "He has a wife, Gloria, and I'm sure she's expecting to have a little woman time with you, you know where you drink tea and cross your legs and laugh."
Ginny huffed, but seeing the twinkle in his eyes, her frustration at him broke down. "Oh, I'll be sure to never peek out bits of your more...embarrassing moments in life."
His eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't."
Her eyes glinted. "Wanna bet?"
He quickly ran a hand through his messy hair, disheveling and if possible, making him seem much more tempting to Ginny than ever. "And I call you my wife." He was the one huffing now.
After the statement, Ginny felt an odd tingling sensation within her chest, and she couldn't hide the grin that was quickly spreading on her lips. Wife. "Harry?"
"Hmmm?" He was completely in his atmosphere, legs crossed, dressed in a crisp tuxedo, and holding a glass of red wine in his right hand, taking a small slip every once in a while. Worry began to set in. It was like meeting someone's parents again. She felt anxious, and nervous, and the once strong willed and independent woman sat there, looking as lost as a child left on the doorstep of a distant family.
"Do I need to change?" She said frantically. "I mean, I might not be wife material and-" She was abruptly stopped by a warm tender hand resting on her shoulder.
"Relax, you'll do fine." His smooth voice calmed. "I like you just the way you are." She looked into those magical emerald eyes of his, and saw nothing but complete sincerity in them. Before she could say anything, and battling the humongous blush appearing, Harry saved her from her embarrassment. The limo stopped gently, and he gave Ginny's shoulder another comforting squeeze. "Come on my lovely Mrs. Rachel Palmer." He called her by her undercover name. They needed to get used to it before they entered the yacht. Slowly climbing out of the opened limo door held by the driver before making his way over to Ginny's side.
While he was making his way around the Rolls-Royce, her whole body trembled from an unexpected sense of glee. Her wall was rumbling slightly, and she felt like how she did back at Hogwarts again. How wonderful she felt at that moment, as she sighed. Harry's words were repeated over and over again in her mind.
The limo door opened, and a tender and strong hand was outstretched for her. She gratefully stepped out elegantly from the limo, her heels hitting the stony cement as she locked and held the gaze to those magical eyes. Harry kissed the back of her hand lightly.
"Let's do this."
In the harbor, three shadowed men raced out of their car and made their way to a lone small yacht bobbing up and down by the docks. Silently, they crept over the outer wall and made their way onto the main deck. Silenced pistols in hand, they quickly sped through the lower cabin, bursting doors open and slowly checking its surroundings.
"Sir." A gruff voice spoke, as a towering Hong Kong Triad officer swerved around, coming face to face with one of his supporting men. He was carrying a hostage. Pressing his silenced pistol into the hostage's neck, a small local with eyes wide with fear, he ordered for the key to the yacht.
The hostage's mouth had been taped, and the man holding him violently ripped it off. The officer again questioned him. "Tell, me, or you and your wife," He looked over at the young women held up by his other supporting member with interest. "Will receive slow and painful deaths." He pulled the trigger, and the young woman screamed, hot tears rolling down her face. She was a wreck, watching as her husband stood there, paralyzed with fear. It was on safety, but the trick had been done. He wanted to make this small man understand that he was not joking. Dark and unforgiving eyes looked down from behind tinted shades, and he was dressed in a dark suit.
Shutting down the safety lock, he aggressively kicked the man in the gut. Spitting out a small amount of blood, the rest oozing into the crevice of his mouth, the hostage fell to the floor, groaning and clutching his stomach. "Weak imbecile. I'll deal with you later." He looked over at the wife. "And you," He smirked. "I deserve a little bit of fun now and then."
The girl had some wit. When the Triad Officer reached her, the saliva she had stored in her mouth was unleashed at his face. With a stunning kick to the man holding her hostage, she was momentarily freed. Taking the chance that came, she ran for her life, up the stairs and out onto the main deck.
A resounding crack was heard in the air, before the woman, clutching her lower back, fell to the floor. Pistil smoking, he replaced the silencer onto it before making his way back down into the cabin. Could've had some real fun with her, the triad officer reasoned. "I'm terribly sorry." He smirked as he walked slowly back down into the cabin, brandishing his gun. "I'm afraid I've hurt your wife."
The man immediately stood up straight, his arms held by two men. His face was full of worry and concern. "Is she alright?!" He made his way towards the stairway. "I need to see her!"
The officer blocked his path, waggling his finger at him. "Give me your yacht key first, and you and your wife shall leave this boat unharmed." The man reached into his deep pockets and handed the key eagerly to the officer. He ran up the stairs.
"What shall we do with him?" One of his men asked.
Locke grinned. "The wife is dead." twirled the golden key in his fingers. "Kill the man too." With a flurry of dark cloaks, the two men rushed upstairs. The starting engine of the yacht drowned out the faint anguished sounds of death.
The white gates opened, as the Palmers made their way into the private dock. Harbored nearby, the one hundred and fifteen foot Nigel Burgess super yacht gleamed in the moonlight, its new white and navy blue paint reflecting the glow. Sixteen guards stood by, their hands gloved and eyes hidden behind dark glasses. Ginny breathed in and out slowly, trying to calm down the amount of jitters she was now feeling inside her.
Noticing the sudden movements of his undercover wife, Harry wrapped a reassuring arm around her slender shoulders, leaning his head so he could whisper into her ear as if to look intimate. "Don't worry, just act yourself." Without giving her a warning, he tenderly kissed her on the cheek. Ginny knew that they would have to share small showings of affection as husband and wife, but that did nothing to the sudden sensation in her body whenever the two made contact. She took one last long breath, gently took Harry's hand in hers, before walking fearlessly towards the yacht.
Behind them, the gates mechanically closed, blocking off their only exit. The couple walked towards the yacht, and was promptly stopped by a massive guard who grunted and gestured his head in the other direction. By the spot, he patted Harry's suit and gave him a body check to find out any weapons anywhere on him. Harry felt the hands slowly patting down his chest, his back, uncomfortable down to his thighs and lower legs before the guard, apparently satisfied, stood back up and moved his hands towards Ginny.
"Don't even think about it." She warned, shooting daggers at him. Surprised, the guard slowly backed up a little, before asking her to spin around slowly. She did as told, her red satin dress flowing and rustling around her lower legs, her long burgundy-red hair forming a light curtain to her face. Brushing a tendril of hair behind her ears, she glared at the guard. "Satisfied?"
An old amused voice interrupted them.
"Mr. Palmer, so we meet again." An aging man walked slowly towards the couple, his back still strong and his composure calm and deadly. Dark eyes running over the lovely girl accompanying his long time business acquaintance, and over her wedding band, he smiled. "My my Henry, I didn't know you were married."
Harry smiled, a genuine one towards Ginny. "Love tends to find you at the most unexpected moments."
Mr. Chang gave a throaty deep laugh, and Ginny saw a slight twinkle in his eye. Her senses told her that this man had been through a lot during his younger days, and his eyes shown complete understanding beyond his wise years. "My wife, Gloria." Gently grabbing the older man's upper arm, a smaller individual stepped into the spotlight of the dockyard, her eyes glancing over at the younger couple before a knowing smile crossed her soft face.
"Pleasure to finally meet you Mr. Palmer. Ricky's been telling me all about you and your notorious business empire in the west."
Harry bowed to her, knowing the Chinese custom to never shake hands with the wife as it was an insult to the husband.
"Come, we must board 'the Princess,' our chefs have prepared a very exquisite dinner for our company." As if on cue, the loud horns of the yacht burst, cutting the still dockyard atmosphere. The Changs made their way onto the yacht. As Harry and Ginny began to walk towards the passageway onto the yacht, Harry felt bold whispering into his undercover wife's ear.
"By the way, from your little twirl back there. I must tell you that I am very satisfied." He gave her a grin that could've looked as if he was amused, and Ginny melted there on the spot from those emerald green eyes, watching him as he made his way towards the overhead passage.
Sensing she hadn't moved from her original spot, he called back to her, a knowing smirk on his lips. "So, you going to board the yacht, or should I wonder if you're afraid of water, sweetheart?"
Ginny closed her opened mouth, shook her head out of her shock, before a determined look set into her chocolate brown eyes. She wanted Harry to know that it took two to tango. "Of course, honey." She made her way towards him, and knew his full attention was focused on her. She would have to do something the even the playing field. Smiling inwardly, she gave him a teasing smile full of promise before swiftly walking past him, flicking her hair behind her shoulders and leaving him, standing there. From her senses, she could still feel his glance, before laughing softly and glancing one last time at him over her shoulder as she disappeared within the lights of the magnificent yacht. A light flowery scent wafted in the nearby air.
"Sir...sir?" A nearby guard shook him to life, and Harry's eyes adjusted back to the silent and darkness of the dock before darting once again to where Ginny had boarded the yacht. Fuming, he strutted, strength behind each step towards the boarding passage. Arriving upon the main deck of the massive yacht, he made his way towards the inner cabins.
"Thought you never would be able to make it aboard." A lovely figure appeared from the lights, a teasing smile directed at Harry, who grunted indignantly. "I came out to check on you."
"You have some nerve Weasley." He whispered fiercely, glaring slightly towards her.
"Me? What did I do?" She asked innocently, but her sparkling eyes foretold that she knew. But secretly, it pleased Ginny to know how much of an effect she had on him. It pleased her, more than it should have. "Why are you whispering?"
About to whisper again, Harry realized what he was doing before stopping an standing back up straight, his figure towering over Ginny's 5'6 body. "I don't know." He answered truthfully. Composing himself, Harry shook his head. "Come on, they're waiting for us." Wrapping an arm tentatively and loosely around her slender waist, lavishing in the wonderfully soft silky dress she was wearing, he led the way into the brightly lit cabin.
Soft piano music was playing, the cabin in a concert hall-like design that allowed the sound to vibrate and reverberate around every inch of space, and it seemed that from every direction, the wonderful soft music flowed towards you, instead of just from one piano in the middle of the floor.
Sighing, Ginny snuggled in closer to him, marveling in the feeling of protection and warmth in Harry's strong arms. She looked up at him adoringly, fingering the wedding band that Harry gave her two nights ago before this whole fiasco started. Its' golden color gleamed in the lights.
The cabin had a magnificent view of the harbor, its panoramic floor-to-ceiling clear windows that magnified the towering skyscrapers, its neon color reflecting in the dark water. Soft and comfortable plush sofas sat around in a circle, all facing towards the center of the main cabin room. In the middle, a large stage circled, with a grand piano situated on the spinning podium. Numerous spotlights gleamed on the sleek black paint, and a finely dressed musician played soft romantic interludes to give the atmosphere its calm and inviting manner.
Mr. and Mrs. Chang sat in one of the couches, both holding a glass of wine and clearly enjoying the peaceful Chinese night.
"Please, sit." Offered Mr. Chang, as he kissed his wife on the cheek.
Mr. Chang stood up, opening his arms to the Palmers. His voice was full and booming. "Please, make yourself comfortable, I will be checking with the chefs." He laughed, before rubbing his stomach jokingly. Looking over at his wife with a goofy face plastered on, he made her giggle a little before strutting towards the kitchens.
Mrs. Chang covered her giggles with her right hand, before turning towards the Palmers. "Please excuse my husband, he can be a little silly at times." She took another sip of her wine, and watched with interest as the couple sat down, and made themselves comfortable. She smiled as the lovely Mrs. Palmer took off her tight shoe wear before resting her legs comfortably over her husband's knees.
Harry looked at Ginny sitting at the other end of the couch with surprise.
'Heels.' She mouthed silently at him. Laughing a little, he gently took her smooth legs into his hands and started to softly massage her small feet.
"Gloria dear." Ricky Chang's voice sounded from the direction of the kitchens, as Mrs. Chang turned her attention from the couple towards the direction of the yacht kitchens. "Can you join me for a moment? I need to see which of these fine seafood platters look more delicious." Unable to keep herself from laughing again, she covered her mouth before making her way towards her husband's silly voice.
"So." Harry asked, giving Ginny's feet one last rub before patting them softly. "What do you think about the Chang's?"
Ginny giggled, wiggling her toes playfully in Harry's lap, before staring at the slowly spinning piano, catching her reflection in the dark reflective paint. "They're nice, really nice, and Mr. Chang wasn't what I expected." The musician continued his long melodic tune, his eyes masterfully never looking at anything but the music on the piano.
"Mr. Chang can seem goofy, but he is a master negotiator in the business room."
"Are you going to be alright?" Ginny scooted slightly on the couch so her head rested comfortably on his shoulder. "Am I doing okay as your wife?" She whispered.
"Lovely." He whispered back. Harry looked down at Ginny, and how the lights seemed to allow her to glow. Her right eye was curtained by her soft hair but he realized that he was staring at her lips. He wanted to kiss her. This was the perfect time. Looking into her eyes, he could tell she had the feeling too. The deep desire awakening in their systems. They could both feel it. "Although we may be acting like a couple of love-sick teenagers. Do you think we're going over the top?"
Harry realized he hadn't been acting at all. The affections were genuine and sincere, but he didn't dare tell Ginny that.
"No, besides." She whispered curling her legs underneath her on the couch. "I'm quite enjoying this. The harbor is beautiful." She again snuggled into his side, admiring the view of the dark waters reflecting the rainbow of neon lights from the numerous sleek skyscrapers. Harry looked at her lips, noticing she had a habit of biting her lower lip. She noticed his stare, and for once in her life, Ginny felt shy, finding herself look down.
"Henry, Rachel." Mr. Chang had arrived, a pleased look on his face. "Dinner is served."
Ginny laughed inside. He was almost like Ron.
Arriving upon the uppermost deck of the yacht, a strong ocean breeze hit them. Mr. And Mrs. Chang seemed to already be comfortable with the cold breeze, but Ginny immediately tried to cover her bare arms, her body shivering due to the new sensation of cold air to her body. The soft but thin material to her dress wasn't helping. Harry kept his hand on her waist, whispering a useful warming charm to her satin dress. A small glow emitted, thankfully unnoticed by the hosts.
"Better?"
"Thanks." Ginny answered.
The deck was covered in polished red oak floorboards, with four hand railing on each side to properly sight see the harbor at any time. In the middle stood a large circular table accompanied by four chairs placed equally on each fourth of the circle. Harry pulled out Ginny's chair first, allowing her to sit down, before taking his own seat. They sat opposite each other, and as he sat down, he could feel Ginny's stare on him. She was scheming. Hermione's best female friend was scheming something in that mischievous female mind of hers. Harry almost gulped out loud.
The first course was served, slight small starter dishes of cold appetizers to pick with chopsticks. The table gradually began to murmur with conversation, the small talk mostly about how the day was and how good it felt to be in the fresh sea night-time breeze.
The second course was served after a moment, a large platter containing an Australian lobster, its tail shell cut off and the meat cut into tiny bite sized pieces. Ginny marveled at how easy it was to eat without the use forks or knives. Nothing to cut, and the accessibility of the chopstick was extremely easy. She noticed Harry's stare at astonishment on how skillful she was with the chopsticks. Feeling mischievous, she gave him a pointed teasing glance before carefully picking up the white lobster meat with her chopsticks and dipping it into the special seafood sauce, before placing it slowly into her mouth.
She made an effort to lick the tiny amount of excess sauce on her lips with her tongue, and she almost burst with a triumphant smile realizing the open mouthed shocked and craving facial features of Harry. She had once again turned him into stone...technically, thank Merlin. No need for anyone getting petrified here, although her eyes had that power on him. Like a geisha, one glance was all that was needed to stop a male from his work and turn his head.
She would have to thank Fleur later.
"Henry, are you alright?" Ricky Chang asked, noticing the wide open mouth and shocked expression on his business associates' face. Snapping out of his demur, he mentally hit himself. Harry's composure was rapidly packing its bags and leaving his system.
"Fine, just..." He racked his brain for a sensible excuse, and like the usual came up with none. "just staring at all of this wonderful food." He added in lamely. Upon seeing the amused expression on Ginny's face, he tried hard not to growl. The Changs had equal looks of wonder and astonishment on their faces, before Mrs. Chang broke the thick ice.
"Well, dig in, food is meant to be eaten unless..." She leaned towards Harry, glancing at Ginny who was currently dabbing her napkin on her mouth. "you weren't looking at the food, but at something else" Deciding to go easy on his stomach, she added in some softening phrase. "Maybe the distinct view of Kowloon?"
"Yes, I mean no! The food is excellent, and the view is definitely nice!" He added in, his eyes challenging that of his undercover wife's. The view. Feeling the blood rush up to his face, he dabbed at his mouth frantically with his napkin.
Good move, cowboy.
Ginny was just about to pick up another piece of lobster meat with her chopsticks, before she saw the head of the poor lobster. Her chopsticks instantly fell in a clatter to the table, and she almost squealed. "It's still alive?!"
Mr. Chang grinned to her. "This boy was just in my aquarium tank about ten minutes ago, made a special order to keep him unfrozen the whole trip up here from the Aussie's. It's what I call fresh." He wiggled his eyebrows.
"You alright dear?" Harry smirked from across the table.
Ginny was about to stick her tongue out at him, before making amends with herself. She smiled languishingly, picking up her drink and taking a few slow gulps, slyly looking at him above the rim of her wine glass.
It was a tradition, for businessmen in China to discuss their negotiations over full stomachs and over a well cooked lavish meal. But to Mr. Chang, he didn't want to bother the ladies at the table with their mysterious dealing techniques, so he arranged for a private meeting with Harry (aka Henry Palmer) in his private study aboard the yacht.
"Come now Rachel," Gloria Chang said gently to Ginny, rising from her seat and kissing her husband on the cheek. Ginny slowly placed her table napkin onto her empty plate before rising up like Gloria and making her way over to Harry. He seemed completely happy, enjoying a nice cup of dark coffee and chatting nonchalantly with Ricky Chang about their businesses. Slowly bending over, she kissed him tenderly on the cheek, lingering longer than the normal, her hot breath sending shivers down his spine.
Standing back up, she began to walk to where Mrs. Chang was waiting for her, before glancing one last time at the men sitting at the dinner table.
"Have fun boys." And with that, she walked away from the deck and making her way downstairs, her long burgundy-red hair dancing behind her.
Mr. Chang sent an amused glance at Harry, who was still staring at the staircase leading down onto the lower decks. "Your wife sure is something. Where did you two first meet?"
Harry had his hand on his cheek, rubbing his face slightly. "In the most peculiar place." His voice seemed distant.
"Where is it. Surely no place could be so peculiar as to how you two first met.?"
Harry's emerald green eyes sparkled, grinning at the muggle man in front of him. Running through a wall at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. "You wouldn't believe it if I told you."
Unknowing to the company of four, they were being watched closely by a nearby passing yacht, its three dangerous inhabitants observing their movements through newly military instigated infrared binoculars. Locke used his finger to toggle with a button on the right side of the machine, and the images zoomed in twenty times before quickly clearing its blurry context. It was like being there himself. Two beautiful women were currently entertaining themselves with tea and light conversations.
Locke smirked. "Check out Red." He gestured to his henchman at the pretty redhead sitting next to the infamous wife of Ricky Chang.
The three men promptly whistled as they zoomed in, getting a close shot to the exposed flesh of Ginny's right leg as it peeked through the slit in her red satin dress. Reluctantly, Locke moved his attention upstairs, where Ricky and one of his associates sat hunched down in deep conversation. They had well covered steel faces. "Something is going to happen." He said. "This is not like the usual business he attends to nowadays."
Remembering the old days in the 80's when Ricky was top dog in the underground Triad confrontations, everything went through him. He bribed officers of the law, was a successful entrepreneur in downtown, and owned one of the most prestigious and top rolling casinos in the city.
"Looks like ol' Rick's getting too fragile for the underground job. He's now getting himself fat with food and enjoying the company of foreign associates." One of the henchmen laughed.
"No." Locke retorted. He still respected the guy. "The fool you're talking about knows more about tactics and influence then all of our leaders combined. He might not have the physique to lead on pillages anymore, but his brain still spins gold. He quickly looked back at the two men. His blood pressure rose like the waves. One of the men, dressed in a black suit was talking closely with Chang. The Caucasian associate sitting across from the guy looked in Locke's direction.
They had seen him.
In the harbor of the current thirty something yachts floating around, Locke would bet his BMW that at least eight of them had their eye on his stolen yacht. He looked to the nearest one.
His fears lay true.
In the binoculars he could see three men on the nearest yacht stare back at him through their own high tech tools. They were getting closer. "Boss." One of the henchmen yelled out from the boat's stern.
"What?"
"I think you should see this."
Furiously taking off his binoculars, he looked around deck. Then, what lay before him made his legs run for the steering cabin. "Let's go, we gotta get out of her...now!"
Six boats were circling them, and they were getting closer, the automatics clung on the backs of Chang's bodyguards apparent even through the night. The black metal reflected the watercolors of the harbor.
Pulling the bar forward, he pushed the motor to full power. The engines groaned, before the water behind the boat started to gurgle and rise. Slowly, they set off towards land, followed by six yachts that were quickly closing in.
Meanwhile, Harry watched as the peculiar small yacht began to turn its direction. The small discreet whisperings held by Mr. Chang and his bodyguard alerted his senses. Immediately, training began to kick in. He half sat, half ready to launch himself in the chair and pull his undercover wife to safety.
"Terribly sorry Mr. Palmer." Chang apologized as his bodyguard left. Six yachts floating idly nearby could be seen making their way towards the lonely yacht. "It seems as if we have company." Standing up, Mr. Chang gestured downstairs. "Maybe we should take this inside. The tablet is in a vault, as I'm sure that you are quite interested in acquiring it."
Nodding, Harry stood up, glancing once more back at the fleeing yacht before following his host downstairs into his office.
It was time.
Ginny sat reclined on one of the outside deck couches currently placed conveniently around a small tea table. Every once in a while, a butler would walk out, napkin wrapped loosely around his right forearm, and carrying a new bottle of wine of an herbal drink.
Having a conversation with Mrs. Chang was very pleasant, as Ginny found it easy to open up to the woman. She seemed to know so much about her lifetime events, and she always spoke her mind. Opinions were traded, along with the some interesting secrets about their husbands. Well, Ginny wished he was her husband, but feeling mischievous inside, that didn't mean she didn't know anything embarrassing about Harry.
Oddly, a while ago, she felt like she was being watched by someone in which had no right to.
"Rachel dear." Gloria piped up from her reclined position upon her sofa situated on deck. "Henry seems like quite the match for you. You two are really a dream couple."
If only we were. Ginny sighed to herself, faking a smile to Mrs. Chang as she took another small sip of her herbal tea. The intense tangy taste made her face scrunch up. Her hostess laughed.
"We know what our diet instructors always say to us." She snapped her fingers lightly. "If it looks good, it probably isn't good for your body. Besides, I make sure that everything we eat is figure friendly to the female body. It's my sneaky way of managing my husband's gregarious humor which rivals his over-sized appetite."
Ginny looked down at the dark green liquid. "One of my brothers. He'll eat anything as long as it's good. I always wonder how he manages to stay so lanky. If it was up to me, I often think he should weight near the three hundreds."
"How many brothers do you have?"
"Six."
"Six?!"
Ginny laughed, looking down. "Yeah, I have a very large family. But I guess it's really helped me growing up. Plenty of protection." She scowled. "Even if I didn't want any of it."
"And how did you meet Henry?"
Ginny blushed, knowing how stupid she must've acted that day at the train station. Her ten year old little girl voice still rang in her ears, along with those of her brothers so long ago.
"You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station?"
"Who?"
"Harry Potter!"
Ginny's heartbeat rate began to rise. She had read all about him, and his miraculous night. "Oh, Mom, can I go on the train and see him, Mom, oh please..."
"I met him at a train station." Ginny said shyly, her attention back towards Mrs. Chang who was intently staring at her. "I must've made a fool out of myself, crying when that train left."
"Peculiar." Gloria said slowly, looking into Ginny's soft chocolate eyes. "How tracks are formed."
Ginny looked up. What was her hostess talking about?
"Two tracks, how they tend to separate, join together, and separate again through the countryside." She looked at Ginny. "When tracks split for a long time, you start to think that it's probably done for good." Her eyes closed. "And yet..." She took a sip at her herbal tea. "When you least expect it, the two tracks join together again...Fate."
"I'm sorry my dear." Gloria apologized, snapping out of her trance. "Don't listen to an old woman's babbling predictions."
Ginny remained silent, looking into Gloria's peculiar dark amber eyes as she rubbed her left arm slightly. Breaking the awkward silence, a sheer cacophony of shattering pieces flew through the ship. It came from downstairs. Gloria's eyes widened. Had someone entered the yacht? A stowaway?
Ginny stood up abruptly, heading towards the noise. She sensed that Harry was somehow involved with whatever had happened, and it didn't sound too good.
Ten minutes ago, Harry breathed in deeply, standing awkwardly in the depiction of a torture house. To the population that had no experience in the intense mind tricks and tactics of business negotiations in the meeting room, welcome to the sanctuary that will drive any sane man nuts. To Harry, the only move he could make was to wait for Mr. Chang to start them off.
He took his time doing it also, walking towards his large red oak polished desk and opening the top drawer, taking out a golden wrapped cuban. Clipping off one of its thick edges, he promptly lit the end and took a puff, the smoke coming out of his mouse and nostrils similar to that of a dragon's.
His moonlit gray eyes looked sharply at Harry.
"Cigar?" He offered. Harry could tell that the warm and comforting manner surrounding Ricky Chang was all but gone. In place, was the composure of a chess master. He could see intelligence within those eyes. Politely refused the offer, Harry took a few steps forward, sitting down in the lone leather chair on his side of the desk.
"Beautiful night isn't it? You hear that?" Silence. "The stage is set." Chang started, rubbing his hands.
"Let's get down to the main point of tonight. You and I both know what we want, but we first have to settle a price. In this case, you have what I want, and I have what you want. We can negotiate this like experienced business men, or we can pamper along like little two year old boys and look at the clouds all night. Your choice."
Chang looked at Harry, and he felt a strong aura surround the man. "Very well. The tablet." He folded his hands on the desk, and stared straight into his eyes. "Made by the tenth dynasty, in which Pharaoh Ramses the third ordered himself a message, promptly telling his priests that Osiris had given him a controversial message in a dream. I have done my best to uncover its hidden depths and secrets, but four lines of mysterious symbols did nothing to even giving me a clue of its description, baffling even my archaeologists and scientists in the lab."
"Is it hieroglyphics?" Harry asked, putting what he knew of the Egyptian past up front.
"No, or Dr. Frederick of Germany would've informed me. But to my wonder, it still baffles me to even wonder why you, a real estate entrepreneur of America would want his hands on a useless old tablet from ancient Egypt. If your interests are to donate it to any museums in which hope would by any chance they would solve it, then I would ask you to not waste your money here for I will do it myself."
"It is not in my interests to donate it to a museum, for I have my own personal uses of it. I have a very keen wanting of ancient artifacts to be put up for display in my beach side mansion."
"Very well. We shall discuss the price."
The two men sat wavering the monstrous price of the artifact, until an agreement was made. Promptly, the two shook hands.
"Henry." Calling Harry by his first name to lure him into a case of familiarity, used to seal the deal. "It has been an honor doing business with you, as always."
"The tablet?"
Chang pressed a button underneath his desk, and a tall stocky man wearing a dark suit came out from the side office door. He had white gloves on, and in his hands, wrapped in a velvet purple cloth, was what Harry guessed to be the tablet.
Carefully, the man gently placed the package onto the desk, in the middle between Harry and Ricky Chang, before slowly pushing aside the velvet cloth, revealing its prize inside.
"Feel free to look and touch it while I get the paperwork ready." Mr. Chang offered, although he eyed Harry with a mysterious stare. He pulled out a long typed up agreement from his desk and signed his signature onto the bottom, waiting for Henry Palmer to finish his inspection.
Harry picked up the tablet, and was seen to make subtle movements like tap the edges of the clay tablet or wave a hand over the bottom cautiously. Finished, he looked back up at Mr. Chang.
"This is a very fine piece." He said as he released his grip on the tablet and watched calmly as the priceless artifact crashed into the marble floor and shattered into uncountable pieces right before their eyes. Gasps were heard from the door that was once locked.
"Harry!" Ginny ran to her undercover husband's side and clutched his right arm. "What in heaven's name are you doing?!" She whispered furiously into his ear. Harry didn't flinch, his gaze now directed at Mr. Chang.
"Do not worry yourself Mrs. Palmer, your husband has an extremely keen eye." Ricky Chang said smoothly.
"I knew it all along." Harry's now very grave voice broke the buzzing atmosphere.
"Harry?" Ginny looked up at his face, pleading to know what happened.
"To have such an artifact located on a yacht, where it had a high chance to be stolen. How you would look nervously at the harbor every few minutes. And surely such a large negotiation would attract other members of the underground." He thought back to the yacht that was spying on them a few minutes ago. "You're too smart for that Ricky."
"When you came aboard, you did not bring any appraiser with you. I needed to know if you had the firm intent on receiving such an artifact of mystery. Even with its mysterious text, scientists and governments all over the world want to decipher its code, because if the rumors are true, unimaginable riches beyond your wildest dreams lay somewhere. And the treasure map..."
"Is what I'm looking for. Where is the tablet now?"
Mr. Chang coughed. "Walk steady my friend. We are now being under surveillance by sixteen different triad leagues. Three from the air by satellite, eight waiting for your return by the docks, four have managed and unsuccessfully tried to send their best member to stow away on this yacht. I found one more triad gang, that yacht by the harbor."
A long silence passed as Gloria walked calmly to her husband's side. "Your tablet is currently in an armored van heading towards my son's casino in downtown Kowloon."
Harry stared at the majestic neon colored skyscrapers across the harbor.
Mrs. Chang then pulled an envelope from her purse, and promptly handed it to Ginny. "Take this to the Pentium Dragon and hand it to Andy, my eldest son. There, he will transaction the deal and we shall leave to our business." She looked at Harry. "Again, you have impressed me Mr. Palmer." She smiled, giving Harry a sly look that made Harry worry that she she knew something he didn't. "Take care of Rachel."
"I shall have the captain take us to Kowloon. There, a limo shall await your arrival and promptly bring you to the Pentium Dragon."
"What about the payment I owe you Ricky?"
He shook his head. "None is needed. We both have an excess amount of money that could not be all spent in a century. What is the need to get any more?"
Harry grinned at his friend, wrapping an arm around his undercover wife as she snuggled into his side. "It has been an honor doing business with you."
"And may many more come. Hopefully you can keep up with my way of business." Mr. Chang's eyes twinkled mischievously.
Twenty minutes later, Harry and Ginny sat within the confines of their limousine, looking curiously outside at the passing markets with their sparkling lights and a mass of pedestrians.
"Having fun?" Harry asked, taking off his suit coat and wrapping it around her bare shoulders. Ginny sighed.
"The Chang's are quite an unusual couple."
Harry laughed. "I think we are too."
"Do you?"
"Mmmhmm..."
"Why do you say so, honey?" Her sultry stare momentarily caught Harry off guard.
"Well, I know how sometimes wives tell embarrassing stories of their spouses." He sent a pessimistic glance at Ginny, which made her giggle.
"Oh" She laughed, before adding in slyly. "Maybe...I might have slipped something..."
"Well you see, since I absolutely knew you were going to try to put yourself superiorly above me." He jokingly puffed out his chest, making Ginny laugh as she pulled on his tie to bring his body closer to hers. As they cuddled in the heat of the limo, Harry, feeling mischievous, decided to break the news. "I may have slipped out the time when you sent me that valentine in your first year."
Ginny's eyes grew wide and she jumped in her seat, almost leaping out of Harry's arms. "WHAT?" She roared, the blood quickly rushing to her face, imagining the look on Mr. Chang face as he heard the story from Harry. Was that the reason he gave her a smile during the meeting? That didn't matter anymore, as Harry was practically roaring with laughter, rolling around on his long leather limo seat.
"Eyes as green as a pickled toad." He mocked teasingly, barely able to breath.
"Fine." Ginny huffed, sliding her soft body length on top of his hard one. The new sensation of a lighter, smaller female on top of him immediately sobered Harry up. "You enjoy laughing don't you?" She remarked.
"Yep, I do."
"Well..." She maneuvered her body so she straddle his legs, holding him in place. "I shall grant you your wish."
"Wha – what are you doing?" His voice shown with a small degree of worry. Knowing Ginny...
He was not able to speak another word as Ginny firmly placed her two hands on either side of Harry's midsection and relentlessly began her tickle attack.
"No – stop!" Harry laughed, squirming under Ginny. "St – stop!" He laughed as she continued her slight torture on him, her soft laughter filling up the cabin of the limo, the outside world nonexistent to the two this moment.
They had no idea that they were being followed by a dark BMW, hidden from view.
Back on board the Princess, Mr. Chang stood on deck, hands clasped behind his back as he enjoyed the calm South China Sea breeze. His large armored convoy of bodyguards lingered nearby in their numerous yachts, lazily driving in an elliptical pattern around Chang's Princess. A butler walked up to him, and whispered something into his ear. The look on the his face explained it all. He clasped a wireless phone in his hand.
Ricky Chang picked up the phone, and held it to his ear. "This is Ricky."
"You have what I want." The cold voice answered back. Sighing, Chang motioned to one of his bodyguards to check up the area of the signal. It was probably someone who just wanted attention. He would be dealt with, imbeciles like them were not on Mr. Chang's good side.
"Tell me my friend, what do I have that you want? Money? Valuables?"
"Minutes ago, you entered a transaction with a certain foreign American businessman concerning a tablet."
Mr. Chang grinned coldly. "You are too late." He was about to hang up, before the voice cut back in, its strength doubled. But peculiarly, the mysterious voice showed no concern or desperation.
It chuckled cruelly into Chang's ear. "You don't understand the dangerous circumstance that you are in."
"Oh I think I do, I already sold it."
"Do you see your wife?"
Eyes widened, Chang spun in his position to look into the main cabin of his yacht. His beautiful wife was currently perched atop a cream colored sofa, legs curled beneath her, reading a novel. He sighed in relief. "You are one sick man."
"Oh, making assumptions already aren't we? Do you enjoy watching people die...Ricky."
"I've seen my due share, but justice prevails above all."
"My my, I'm talking to a philosophical old man. I am truly honored."
Chang was getting frustrated. The sleazy slimy voice on the phone was beginning to annoy him and the temptation to shoot the damned phone was currently a very imminent choice. "Get to the point."
"Fine." The voice continued lazily. "I have snipers in position to get a clear head shot of that pretty girl of yours."
"You lie, my guards are surrounding me."
"Let me demonstrate on a useless sacrifice." A slight splinter was heard, like a needle hitting wood. Then, a loud resounding thump was heard. Mr. Chang couldn't believe his eyes. His butler lay dead, blood oozing from the bullet hole between his eyes. Heartbeat quickening, he scanned the surrounding harbor.
"Where are you?"
"Ah, so I've finally gotten your attention. Look around you, at the dark harbor. Do you dare fight your own shadow?"
"Don't bring my wife into this, she has nothing to do with all of this."
"That isn't your choice is it? Besides, looking at your face gives me great pleasure. You are scared. Don't hide it behind your mask. You are along Ricky, and you know what I want, or there will be a tragic loss tonight."
"Then kill me instead." As much as Chang hated pleading, he was being forced into checkmate.
"Noble aren't we? Why do that, when I could let you live your life in despair for a few months before you do kill yourself. A self suicide, how will that look to your influence to the city of Hong Kong?"
A long silence passed.
"I am not a patient one." The voice warned. "Fine, say goodbye to your - "
"I'll dot it!" Ricky finally blurted out. "I'll do it...A message will be sent to my son, and you shall get what you want."
"And what you want, your wife's life, will stay with you. I enjoy doing business with you, maybe we can do this again."
"You – wish." Mr. Chang threw the phone into the water, the bodyguards on board having no indication on what was happening. A bodyguard walked towards Mr. Chang, holding a piece of paper grasped tightly in his grip.
"Everything alright sir?"
"Yes, thank you Woo. Did you track his location."
"No, but he left us a message." Handing the piece of paper to Chang, he read the scribbled words sent by code message.
In any case that you deceive me in our deal, I have a hostage most important to you. The Peking International Vaults head treasure hunter is in a location where I only know. In other words...I have your son.
Checkmate.
"Send a alert message to my eldest son at the Pentium Dragon pronto."
"Yes sir."
As the bodyguard hurried off deck, Mr. Chang walked slowly into the warmth of the cabin. Gloria, noticing her husband's troubled expression immediately moved aside to allow room for him, letting her head rest on his shoulder.
"What's wrong Ricky."
"Nothing." Chang lied, knowing he was being watched until his bargain of the deal was met. His mind worked, trying different illusions and elusive strategies to wiggle out of this mysterious individual's iron grasp. He had been dealt this before, but never had anybody succeeded in rooting out his family and putting two of the most important people in his life on near death circumstances.
The resounding question reverberated in his brain and troubled Chang deeply. Who was the owner of the voice, and why did he sound so familiar? He knew the triads would think better than to attack his family, for he fully declared himself an underground inactive and made amends with top triad leaders to ensure no hostile actions. They still kept an eye on him, but they wouldn't dare mess with a dormant volcano.
It was someone outside, someone with power, and contacts. Whoever it was, Mr. Chang had met his match.