Fortune Is a Woman - Elizabeth Adler [6]
“Through the years it has been proven to me many times that women are more worthy than men. Therefore I decree that women shall always carry the fortunes of the Lai Tsin family. The Lai Tsin women will be as powerful as the great dowager empresses of the Chinese dynasties. But they will always be modest, they will never allow the Lai Tsins to lose face, and they will never bring disgrace to the family, either in business or in their personal lives. Those who do will be banished from the family without delay and shall never be reinstated. So, when she is eighteen, I decree that Lysandra Lai Tsin will become owner and taipan of the Lai Tsin Corporation. And until she attains eighteen years, Francesca Harrison shall control the corporation and have total power and final say in any major decision.”
“It’s not right to burden a girl with all that responsibility,” Annie exclaimed. “Lysandra’s still a child, we don’t even know if she will be clever enough, or strong enough—or if she’ll even want to run the Lai Tsin Corporation. Francie, it’ll just be the past all over again, she’ll be a woman in a man’s world. And you, of all people, know how hard that is.”
Francie closed her eyes, unwilling to remember. “Believe me, Annie, I didn’t want Lysandra to be the Lai Tsin heiress. You’ll see, as soon as the newspapers get hold of the story she’ll be branded the ‘Richest Little Girl in the World.’ They’ll make a freak out of her! I just wanted her to have a normal childhood, to get married, have children … be happy. This is what the Mandarin wanted. He planned her destiny. When she finishes her schooling she will leave San Francisco and go to Hong Kong. She will live with the comprador’s family and begin to learn about Lai Tsin and how the business is run. She will learn how to be taipan of one of the world’s major trading companies.”
Annie’s mouth tightened. “You can’t let her go to Hong Kong. And besides, when are you going to tell her the truth?”
Francie didn’t answer. She walked across to the window and pulled back the heavy silk curtain, staring out into the night. The lights of San Francisco twinkled below in the mist, but she didn’t see them; instead she saw the Mandarin’s face as he lay on his deathbed and asked her to repeat her promise to him.
“Annie,” she said slowly, “even you don’t know the whole truth.”
Annie stood up, smoothing her skirt over her ample hips. “Francie Harrison,” she said angrily, “we’ve been friends all these years and there’s not a secret in my life you don’t know. And now you tell me you’ve been keeping things from me. Not that it matters—except if it concerns Lysandra, then I have a right to know.”
The thin parchment crackled as Francie waved the Mandarin’s will under her nose. “You know everything there is to know about Lysandra. Here, read it for yourself—”
“You know I can’t read Chinese … and anyway, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then there’s nothing more to say. The Mandarin guided our lives and we know he was right. Now he will guide Lysandra’s and it is my duty to see that what he wished is done.”
Grabbing her coat, Annie settled the big fur collar around her throat. “I don’t want to quarrel with you, Francie Harrison, but I don’t approve of it and I never will. And I’ll make sure Lysandra knows where she can come when things go wrong—to her godmother, her aunt Annie, that’s where!”
She flounced to the door, then hesitated, her hand on the knob. “Oh, Francie.” She sighed remorsefully. “I came to comfort you and all I’m doing is upsetting you. What kind of woman am I?”
Francie smiled through her tears as they hugged each other. “You’re just the same woman you always are, Annie Aysgarth, and I wouldn’t want you any different.”
“Just remember that the past is over, Francie. It’s the future that counts.