Free Red Phoenix by Kylie Chan Page A

black is too hot, a nice light blue would be much better. And not a Mercedes, that’s too much of a target. A cheap little Japanese hatchback would have been much better.’
    ‘You want a small, blue, cheap car?’
    ‘That would be perfect, yes. If it’s small enough, Leo won’t fit in it to drive it. And if it’s not black and luxurious, you wouldn’t be caught dead in it. I’d have it all to myself.’
    He grinned broadly. ‘You’re quite correct.’ He eyed me sideways with delight. ‘You are very evil sometimes, Emma.’
    I bowed slightly. ‘Thank you, Dark Lord.’ I gestured towards the car. ‘So can you swap this monstrosity for something more suitable?’
    ‘If you really want me to, I will. But Leo will be sharing it with you. Both of you will go to the Academy to teach, and to the school to watch Simone. Will you really force him to squeeze into such a tiny car?’
    I sighed. ‘Okay. I’ll put up with this monster if I have to. But please don’t make me drive the other one; it’s enormous.’
    ‘Very well, my Lady, I thank you.’ He handed me the keys, very careful not to touch me. ‘Go up and find your Australian driver’s licence, and take it out for a run. Once you’ve had a drive in it, you may find you like it.’
    ‘I can drive with that licence?’
    ‘Yes. You just need to sign a statutory declaration toapply for your Hong Kong licence. Gold can organise that.’
    ‘Do you own the Mercedes dealership or something? Why only Mercedes?’
    ‘One: it’s the most common luxury car in Hong Kong and therefore less of a target, despite what you said. Two: I may not own the dealership, but I am very good friends with the Tai Pan of the company that does.’
    ‘Okay, whatever you say. Want to come with me?’
    His face went expressionless.
    ‘Oh my God, you are such a typical male sometimes. Bad driver, and worse passenger.’
    ‘I have been driving automobiles for nearly seventy years,’ he said stiffly. ‘During the 1930s the Tiger and I took European form and raced each other on the Grand Prix circuit. He kept winning because it was easier for him to stay white. I had to concentrate to keep the shape, and it ruined my performance. We only stopped because the competition became too professional. I am not a bad driver.’
    I turned away. ‘Leo has a completely different opinion on that.’ I wondered what he looked like as a European. Probably not nearly as attractive.
    ‘Leo thinks that everybody else in the world is a bad driver,’ he called as I walked to the car. ‘He will never let you drive him anywhere.’
    Simone jumped up and down with excitement as we waited at the arrivals hall for Charlie. She fell over and I helped her up.
    ‘Try to stay on your feet, Simone.’
    ‘There she is!’ Simone squealed, and raced to Charlie who stopped, crouched and threw her arms out to catch her.
    Charlie rose with Simone held tightly in her arms and smiled over the top of the little girl’s head. Shehadn’t changed at all; her cheerful soft face was still rosy, round and smiling. Her greying light-brown hair had come out of its bun but she didn’t seem to care. She rocked Simone in her arms. ‘I missed you, Princess.’
    Charlie lowered Simone and pushed her trolley as I led her towards the car park. ‘I love this new airport.’ She bent to speak conspiratorially to Simone. ‘Have you been on the little train inside yet?’
    Simone shook her head, eyes wide. ‘We’re not allowed in there. We have to take the silly small plane.’
    Charlie laughed. ‘I missed you, darling.’ She patted my shoulder. ‘I missed you too, Emma.’
    ‘Let me take your trolley.’
    ‘No, Leo can do that.’ She looked around. ‘That’s not like Leo to leave you alone, Emma. Where is he?’ ‘Leo’s teaching at the Academy.’ ‘What Academy?’
    ‘Oh, dear Lord, John hasn’t told you anything, has he?’
    ‘John?’ She continued without waiting for an answer. ‘All Mr Chen said was to