Irritated by this harsh assessment of his heart, Henry went through the last few months of longing as he scrolled through their text messages. He knew there was potential in this relationship. He only had to prove himself as a competent husband and he knew that he could bring Nadia around. She was his shining star in the sky and he wanted to keep her. “She’s more than what you think she is, Nadius. I’ve adored her for years. I know it’s more than physical attraction. I think I could really be quite happy with her if I had the chance. We’ve both been pursued by people interested in money and fame that we just understand each other on a whole different level.”

“I’m not saying it’s not possible dear boy,” Nadius said in a softer tone, “But you cannot pursue her in a normal due course. If she even after all these years hasn’t responded to your attentions, then maybe you should look elsewhere. If she’s say your soulmate, the only one for you, then you cannot have both your company and your lady. Mr. Liu will be interested in this property as soon as you put it up for sale so I would look for less expensive accommodations, if this is your desire.”

He knew it was fruitless to pursue Nadia in the little time he had left. “No, I am not going to give any more ground to the Board. I do have an alternative plan.”

“Are you considering the society girls? Maybe Victoria Liu, I think you both would get along splendid. She would make a wonderful wife.” Nadius smiled, “But I’m sure I say that because she reminds me of your beautiful mother when she was that age.”

“And have the slimeball for a father? No sir, I would never. I’m thinking of accepting Mrs. Harriot Whitehouse. She is almost eighty with four kids of her own who are my age. It satisfies all the tenants of father’s will and I can happily keep her company into old age. Then I’m home free to marry any one of my choosing. Maybe Nadia will take pity on a widower and scoop me up.”

Nadius made a disgusted face. “Why would you marry a grandmother and hope for her health? You know all of her relatives will sue you and take all of the company assets. A sick, twisted way to lose your fortune if you ask me. The Whitehouses are even less financially savvy than Liu.”

Henry considered this, “That is true, so the only real way I could pull this off is if the woman were actually in the process of dying. I can’t have her simply be an old aged one.”

Nadius nodded, before finally shaking his head. “Spare me the details of schemes, if you want to do this right, then call me over. I can’t stand that Conrad would have his own son do this over his partner. I know a lot of folks get married for tax reasons or because of accidents, but that’s never been my intention for you. I want you to have a strong woman as an asset by your side that will truly challenge you and keep you as my wife is.”

“That’s not a realistic goal, Uncle Nadius.”

“Does it have to be a celebrity? Why not someone simple? You could pick anyone from our circle and I’m sure you could be happy for some time?”

“But it’s her, Uncle. Women aren’t all the same. They are complicated and difficult to understand. In my twenty seven years of being, I’ve never felt the things that I’ve felt for Nadia. I can’t think of anyone else I would want more by my side. Would you have married anyone other than Aunt Sheng Mei?”

“Not after I saw her across the room for the first time.” Nadius drew his hands together like he was considered whether or not to bring up a topic. “My dear boy, are you ashamed of your parents public custody battle over you?”

Henry crossed his arms and looked away, “We will not speak on this subject.” Backtracking once he realized how rude his tone had, he calmed himself before speaking again. “I have few memories of the woman who birthed me. I doubt she would have any sway over whom I see as my life’s work. I will never repeat their mistakes as I am not them.”

Nadius raised his eyebrows as he put his hands together. He could push it, but knew Henry wouldn’t let him come back into his inner circle again easily if he did so. Therefore, he decided to let it go. He pulled out a tablet from his briefcase and pulled up the mail app. “I just got an email from Sheng Mei that her flight landed in JFK airport. She’s doing some work with the United Nations on ending child poverty so I’m hoping she’ll be in the city for some time.”

“Did she say anything about the tsunami victims she interviewed while in Shanghai?” Henry said with interest. He and his uncle had looked over the lists of survivors in the weeks prior hoping that no one they knew would be on it. A lot of their family friends had vacation homes near the waterfront where there had been damages.

Nadius read the email quickly, pausing to read aloud the lines about the affected that Henry knew personally, “Oh my goodness your old caretaker, Go Jo Deul, has been sent to the Cedar Sinai Institute close by in New Haven. He’s having some problems breathing so they transferred him here via a helicopter, but he’s doing fine now.”

“Wow, what a strange coincidence that they would send the old man here. Remember when I was drowning while scuba diving with father and he dove into save me.”

“I remember the horror I felt when I saw you all white and shriveled up. I was so grateful to have such an accomplished diver with us that day. You were such a rambunctious little boy in those days we didn’t know what to do with you. Him and the other guys who were in that boat with us.” Nadius squinted at the email. “Oh Ellie Wong is at the same hospital too, but I don’t think you two have ever met. Her father had the villa over from where we were staying. I don’t think her and her little brother knew how to swim. Ellie is actually an accomplished pro racer who totalled herself in an accident. She was in a coma for a few months before waking up and realizing her body was slowly shutting down. She doesn’t have long to live anymore.”