CHAPTER TEN

The next day, Yu Yan rehearsed her questions in front of the dressing room mirror. She didn't know why she was chosen to anchor this interview, but it was important for the network, so she had no other choice. Being one of the most experienced and skilled newscasters in CCTV 1, Yu Yan was chosen for the job of interviewing the CEO of Druixgenix Technologies.

The man is an enigma to her. His record shows that he is an MIT graduate in Computer science, Princeton graduate of Artificial intelligence and Yale graduate of quantum computing. Yet they say he's a humble and reserved man, who takes pleasure mostly in his work. But she wasn't told if he was young or old. But Yu Yan believed that such discipline and success can only come from someone who is older and more experienced.

But when Druixgenix CEO, Richard Yeon walked into the studio, Yu Yan's jaw dropped like a bag of cement. He wasn't what she expected to see at all. The man was not only young, but good looking too. As he approached the dressing room, his symmetrical face and body reverberated an aura of elegance and sophistication. Some of the girls in the studio waved at him in order to get his attention, but he just smiled at them and went into the dressing room.

Twenty minutes later, Richard was seated in front of the cameras, facing Yu Yan Xing. "Alright Yu Yan. We go live in five four, three, two, one."

"Good morning Shanghai and welcome to another session of the Morning Digest. I am Yu Yan Xing, and I will be your host this morning.

As you well know that technology has changed the way the world operates. Mankind has come so far with technological advancements in various fields and works of life. This has improved our standard of living by margins some believed were impossible.

Recently the world has advanced in the field of artificial intelligence, to the extent that some aspects of our lives now depend on it. This particular field has changed how we perceive or interact with computers.

And one Chinese company is on the front lines of this field, and has recently made a shocking breakthrough that would help eliminate the global energy problem and gradually repair our ecosystem to what it once was. And the name of the company is Druixgenix Technologies. I have here in the studio with me, the CEO of Druixgenix Technologies, Mr Richard Yeon. Welcome to the show Mr Yeon"

Richard straightened his suit. "Thank you Miss Yu Yan. It's good to be here." Yu Yan smiled. "Okay. Before we get to the main questions of the day, the viewers out there would like to know more about you. Tell us about yourself." Richard cleared his throat.

"Well, as you know, my name is Richard Yeon. I am the CEO of Druixgenix Technologies and also it's chairman. I hold a master's degree in quantum computing and a PhD in artificial intelligence. I have written numerous papers and journals in the field of artificial intelligence and how it can help us make the world a better place." That wasn't the answer Yu Yan expected, but she decided to stick to the script for the moment.

"That's great. How can this technology you've recently created support the Chinese economy and the world in general?" "As the need for Chinese commodities increase globally, our industries would need sufficient energy to maintain their output. And with most countries gearing towards the reduction, if not elimination of fossil fuel usage, a tremendous opportunity presents itself for China to become the global supplier of this technology. This would not only create more employment for citizens, but will also increase China's GDP by over 0.6%." Yu Yan was impressed. Here is the kind of man she desires, and not some CEO wannabe who walks in his grandfather's shadow.

"Hmm, I am psyched to see the potential of your technology. And I know that I speak for billions of Chinese people worldwide when I say that we can't wait to see it hit the market." "Thank you." Yu Yan had a dashing smile on her face like someone bought her a puppy.

"So what can you tell us about your personal life. Any wife and kids?" Yu Yan's editor looked at her like she dropped a fabergé egg. Her next question was supposed to be about his conviction and release from prison. And how a convicted criminal managed to become the CEO of a fortune 500 company. But she skipped that part.

Richard chuckled. "Well, no wife and kids at the moment. I am single." His answer delighted Yu Yan and she smiled. 'Such a handsome and accomplished man is single? Wow! I am so going to take my shot'. She thought. "Are you hoping to get hitched anytime soon?"

Richard shrugged. "Don't know about that yet. For now I am married to my work. Maybe until I meet someone special." He answered politely. 'You are looking at her, you dumb head'. Yu Yan hid her frustration behind a sip of water. "Your parents would be so proud of what you have accomplished."

Richard gave her a curious look. "I guess so. Wherever they are. But I am sure my sister is." "How lovely. Where is she now?" "At her husband's house I suppose." Yu Yan felt her prospects were higher in her newly found quest. If she gets his sister to like her, that would increase her chances. "Excellent. So where do you see Druixgenix Technologies in ten years?"

"Originally, we already have a twenty year plan laid out by the company with regards the technology. So in ten years, we would have powered half of the globe, both in major cities that require more energy and in rural areas. We also have plans to fuse the technology with nanotechnology to improve our agricultural output that would be enough for domestic consumption and export."

Yu Yan was sprung. 'What a man! Such poise and confidence is rarely seen in men these days. Just a bunch of man children with the opportunity to seat in boardrooms and call themselves bosses.' She thought. Looking at her producer, she knew it was time to wrap up the show with one last question.

"What professional advice would you give to young Chinese people who want to be entrepreneurs in the future?" Richard took in deep breaths and exhaled. "Well, I would tell them that the greatest asset they have is themselves. Their sharp minds and will is all the weapon they will need. But most importantly, they have to believe in themselves. Because that is when they can bring their excellent brains to bear."

Yu Yan was blushing. 'He's perfect'. She said to herself. "Wow! I believe you have inspired a lot of Chinese youths this morning. Myself included." Richard guffawed at the remark and Yu Yan joined in as well. As they both laughed together, Yu Yan felt like they have known each other for a long time.

In the living room of their mansion, Maurice put down the remote control of the television utterly dumbfounded and discombobulated. He had no idea that Anna's brother was out of prison, and the thought pricked him like a sharp knife. Though both of them haven't met, he has always considered Richard Yeon a powerful adversary. His discovery of the shady deals between his uncle and Maurice's grandfather threatened their survival and growth. So he suggested the strategy to remove Richard from their path.

He had contacted an old school buddy who is an investment banker to help him with the set up. He flew in the guy from New York, with a group of forensic accountants and auditors. With an advance of hundred thousand dollars, the group set to work.

First order of business was to set up a company that would transact business with Omnibus Energy and Automobile Manufacturing. They named the company Harold and Beckford Electronics, which would be based in New York. This company is a fully incorporated limited liability company with audited accounts, tax clearance, corporate office, customers, and staff.

Then they created proposals, memorandums of understanding, quotations, invoices, paychecks, bank transfer records, and cargo manifests, which they back dated five years. They employed the services of a hacker who somehow created back dated emails between both companies for five years, all with Richard's name written on them as the sender.

"Where is your wife?" A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. Maurice turned to face his grandfather who just walked in. Haoyu Cheung spends most of his time in his private villa inside the compound and barley comes into the mansion. Maurice bowed down.

"I am not sure. She should be upstairs or somewhere around the house." Haoyu Cheung raised his eyebrows. "You are not sure?" There was a chill in his voice that made Maurice uncomfortable. So he just bowed again, and rushed upstairs to find his wife.

Eventhough he hasn't set his sights on her for over a month, he believes she would be somewhere around the house curled up and lonely like a snake. Maurice didn't think he would ever be interested in her welfare ever again, till tonight. It was as if an asteroid hit the house. Only that it spared the building and the furniture and hit him alone.

It was after a thirty minutes search of the six bedrooms upstairs that he felt the full impact of the asteroid. Though he had consolation in the fact that Anna's things were still in the house, but it wasn't enough. Maurice tried to come up with a convincing story about her disappearance, but he couldn't. He felt his heart sink into his stomach when he heard footsteps. His grandfather was coming upstairs.

Maurice quickly pretended looking for her over again, as if Anna was a piece of object stuck under the bed. "Well?" His grandfather's voice startled him. Maurice knew that whatever words that would come out of his mouth would have to be apt. "She's not here lord daddy. But her things are still here. Maybe she just went out on a stroll."

Haoyu Cheung squinted. "For someone who is married, you seem to know very little about your wife's whereabouts. When last did you see her?" He asked in his hoarse voice. Maurice swallowed hard. He knew his grandfather well enough not to lie. "It's over one month now. I last saw her the day you hosted the CEO of Savage Industries, Li Zhang."

"And since then, you never bothered to know where she is? You never wondered why your wife no longer sleeps by your side?" As he asked the questions, his voice tone increased. And this scared Maurice. "We haven't been sleeping together for some time lord daddy. She sleeps in the guest room down the hall." Haoyu Cheung nodded. "Intresting. And you didn't think that letting your wife sleep in the guest room is foolish?" "But lord daddy I…" Haoyu Cheung interrupted Maurice with a hot slap on his face.

"You petulant child! Do you have any idea what you have done?" Maurice couldn't answer. His face and eyes were red from the slap. It's actually the first time his grandfather has ever laid a finger on him. Maurice was dumbfounded with shock.

"As you well know, the foolproof strategy you promised me in return for making you CEO and giving you Anna to marry didn't work. Richard Yeon is out of prison, and is somehow the chairman and CEO of one of the biggest tech companies in the world. Which means that he now has the resources to come after us, should he find out how he was framed and by whom."

Maurice remained quiet. He didn't want to say anything that will escalate the situation and get slapped again. He couldn't fathom how Richard Yeon got out of a prison no one gets out of. And to make it worse, his wife, who could be their leverage is no where to be found.

"If you know what's good for you, you better start looking for her immediately. And I will suggest that you treat her better when you find her. Get everyone who is on the payroll on this. I want her found before the end of tomorrow. Do I make myself clear?" Maurice almost pissed in his pants as he bowed.

"Yes lord daddy. I will get to it immediately." He quietly left his grandfather's presence, clueless about how to find his missing wife.