CHAPTER 6
DEARBORN, MICHIGAN
Stephen and NuYing spent their first night together in their home. It was about 4 am when Stephen got out of bed. NuYing was still sleeping as she was still recovering from jet lag. However, for Stephen sleeping in was a luxury.
Stephen begins his 2-hour routine consisting of a morning jog, a fifteen-minute cold shower, a shower & getting dressed, watching the stock market and the world news on an OLED monitor that covers the inside of the living room wall. The device allowed seven videos to be watched consecutively.
Around 7 am, NuYing walked into the living room wearing Stephen lounging robes.
"Zǎochén," NuYing replied, which was a morning greeting."
"Good morning, NuYing!"
"How long have you been up," NuYung inquired.
"Since 4 am?'
"4 am, Zhēn de ma? Why are you up so early?"
"To get the day started."
"I normally wake up around 6:00 am."
"Anyway, are you hungry?"
"Shì de!"
"Okay, I'll make a quick breakfast."
"No, I'll make it. What do you want to eat."
"Can you make bacon, eggs, and toast?"
"No, but I can try!"
"Don't worry about it. I ordered something for you."
'What about you?"
"There is a food truck near my building. I'll pick up something on my way to work."
"You're going to work."
"Yes, the board wants to be debriefed about getting the contract in China. They are going to be pissed."
"Well, let me get ready!"
"You are not coming today."
"I thought you were supposed to be training me?"
"I will! First, it would be best to explain our plan to the board members."
"What time will you be home?"
"Hopefully, around 7pm; who knows. You really can't set a fixed schedule for a CEO."
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Just relax for the day. Tomorrow I'll get you up to speed.
"Okay!"
Suddenly the doorbell rings. Stephen walks to the living room door. Stephen opens the door and sees an African woman in her mid 60's. She wears a two-piece black and white power dress that comes to her knees, black stocking, and jewelry. She has long black flowing hair, and her makeup coordinates with the shade of her dark caramel skin. Her name is Cherine Mohammad.
"Mom, what are you doing here?"
"Is that the way you talk to your mother," Mrs. Mohammad replies as she walks into the house without being invited."
"I am sorry good morning, mom! Now, are you going to tell me why you are here?"
"Well, you just got back into town, and I came to see my son!"
A GPS tracking put Mohammad's mother in his arms when he was born. Since his family was wealthy, he and his relatives were a target for kidnapping and ransom. Cherine was kidnapped at the age of 20. Her family was ordered to pay 7 million dollars in cryptocurrency which they complied with. Cherine has a Bio signs tracking app on her phone, which globally monitors his position.
When Ms. Mohammad walked in and saw NuYing in her bathrobe, she turned her nose up.
Oh, I see you are with one of your escorts. Get rid of her," Mrs. Mohammad stated.
"Mom, she is not…."
"I swear you need to settle down like I have been trying to do."
"Mom…"
"I have been telling you that you need to marry Cheryl. She has a good head on her shoulders. I don't understand why you broke up with your childhood girlfriend."
"Because she cheated on me on my come up. She left me for a college senior."
"Well, she tried to come back, and she got away childfree."
"Mom, Cheryl is not trustworthy."
"So, she is wealthy like us. Money marries money, dear. I am going to call her over!"
Mrs. Mohammed walks to NuYing and grabs her arm, showing her the door.
"Child, gather your things; time for you to go!"
NuYing looks at Stephen with a worried look.
"MOM! STOP!"
"What is it, boy!"
Stephen walks toward Ms. Jackson and NuYing. He grabs NuYing's hand.
"She is not going anywhere. This is NuYing; she is my wife!"
"What did you say?" Ms. Jackson asked
"I said she is my wife!"
"When did this happen?"
"I met her in China. We were interested in each other, and we decided to get married.
"How long have you known each other?"
"Almost a week now."
Suddenly Mrs. Jackson gives Stephen a slap across the cheek.
"Of all the single black women who would not mind marrying you, not to mention I tried to get you married; you choose a yellow bitch!"
"Mom, stop it."
"We will talk about this!"
Mrs. Mohammed darts out of the house.
NuYing grabbed Stephen's face to examine any injuries.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I am fine."
"Why did she hit you!"
"She is just upset that she did not get her way!"
"What do you mean?"
"I'll explain later. Listen, I have to get to the office. Dinner later?"
Yes, do you want me to cook!"
"You can. Text me the ingredients you need, and I'll have them delivered."
******
Later in the morning, Stephen debriefs the board on his experience in China. The board member was in an uproar. StarClass Automotive has petitioned the Chinese government to purchase land near Kunming City for a business license.
Just like the Chinese, greedy son of bitches. For decades they have been trying to buy land all over America. As soon as we try to get a piece of their pie, they are fucking selfish. Maybe we should lobby Congress to renegotiate the trade agreement. We have more power over the politicians anyway.
"That will take years since the next election is two years away. We need to act now."
``What do you mean?"
"I mean, we turn China policies and business law against them in our favor. For years Chinese men have been marrying African women just to get citizenship. I say we do the same."
"That sounds absurd."
"It's not absurd. Marriage of the State has been going on for thousands of years. It's time we start using old fashioned ways to enhance our future."
"You are suggesting that we marry a Chinese woman. That's insane. Say that we do find a Chinese woman, who from our company would marry one."
'I have married a Chinese woman."
'What!"
The board goes into a ranting frenzy until the gabble is smacked to regain control. Once the men settled.
"Stephen, are you insane?"
"No, I am quite sane. Just listen. My wife has an interest in having a career. Under a prenuptial, a personal and business agreement, I married her. I agree to train her on how to run a StarClass Company. Within 6 months, she'll be ready to run a StarClass branch. The perk, NuYing still has Chinese citizenship. She would be able to put in a government petition to open an assembly branch in China. She will run an international assembly in that region."
"That plan sounds insane, but you may have a point. Maybe we should think about this."
"I say we hold off on the votes until we interview your wife. Even if we agree, there are concerns of breach of company security."
"So, we will make her sign a nondisclosure agreement and place her under surveillance."
"You know what this means, Stephen? You will no longer have a private life."
'Fine!"
"Well, I motioned that we interview this woman…."
"Her name is NuYing!"
"I don't give a damn what's her name. I motioned that we interview NuYing first thing tomorrow morning.
*****
After the meeting, Stephen went to the bathroom to piss in the urinal. Daniel Brown, the CFO When Stephen was done, he washed his hands. Dan and to a place next to the empty sink. Dan pulled out a brush and started styling his salt and pepper hair. He had a clean-shaven face that exposed the dark mole on his beige color skin. This was his habit when he wanted to strike up a conversation in the bathroom.
"Stephen, tell me that you are kidding about marrying a Chinese woman for financial gain. Don't you think that is a bit extreme?
"Come on, Dan, I thought you would like this plan since you always like to increase profit tremendously."
"Don't get me wrong. I like it when you think outside the box. I just never thought you would get married. I never saw this coming," Dan chuckled.
"I never thought about getting married, but this is business."
"Are you sure?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, come on, you're rich, young, and you can have any woman you want. Hell, you probably bang out half the thirsty women in the city," Dan chuckles.
"Yeah, but NuYing is a means to an end."
"Word of advice. Watch your ass."
"If you are talking about NuYing selling us out…."
"I am not talking about that…well, I am, but I meant with the board. You know, for years, they have wanted to vote you out."
"That'll never happen. I am secure as long as I own 71 percent of the share."
"Remember what I always tell you, my friend. Never underestimate a hungry wolf. They attempt to eat an elephant if they are hungry enough."
"Yeah, I understand.