Goose bumps ran down her arms.
China was especially influential in the murky world of small-arms sales—such as AK-47s and grenades—as they were easier to buy, sell, and use and were considered far more destructive, because of their ubiquity, than heavy weapons. Small arms played a powerful role in fueling bloody rebellions and encouraging civil unrest in Africa. Could Ares be working to supply arms to the Kanzi government in exchange for control over the oil rights?
She’d need to investigate further, collating the details in her mind. She glanced at her watch. “We’d better go; it’s time for the negotiations to start.”
Chapter Fifty
Thea finished her shower with a blast of cold water to revitalize herself, dressing in a navy suit, a crisp ivory blouse, and black pumps she’d purchased in town. She slipped her extra insulin into her jacket pocket. The two extra-large coffees she’d ordered with breakfast should give her the kick in the pants she’d need.
She’d conferred with Ahmed, Nikos, and six Paris Industries corporate lawyers in a private meeting earlier in the morning. Though Ahmed had agreed to have Nikos join them at the table, she was going to represent the family, handling the opening remarks on behalf of Paris Industries.
After her speech, she’d hand over the details to the experts. Ahmed had had a speechwriter send over a statement for her, and they’d reviewed the fine points. She was no oil executive, but she certainly had a lot of experience keeping calm in dicey situations. Kidnap negotiations required intense discipline and often unfolded over endless days. She wasn’t worried about even a high-stakes business deal.
Thea entered the conference room where the summit would take place. Cathedral windows let in the piercing morning sunlight, the deep burgundy drapes pulled wide open. Two tables sat near the front, and ten chairs perched on a small stage, ready for the Kanzi dignitaries. The venue held the same opulent grace and elegance as the rest of the hotel. She greeted Ahmed Khali and the team of lawyers. The COO’s demeanor was intense, his eyes studying the proposal like the nose of a pig hunting for the finest truffles. This was his big moment, his chance to shine.
The empty chair beside him should have been Peter Kennedy’s.
They still had no idea who’d poisoned the CFO, but the local authorities were interviewing everyone who’d been at the hotel. With tourism the main source of income in Zimbabwe, having a foreigner murdered on its soil was very bad for business. Gabrielle had promised to communicate with the State Department regarding the details surrounding Peter’s death. Quantum International would also do everything they could to discover who’d poisoned him. Just not now.
Today she’d stand in for her family. Papa might not be here in person, but he was certainly with her in spirit.
Even at this early hour, the region’s heat nearly overwhelmed the air-conditioning. Thea slipped off her jacket and hung it on the back of her chair. The gallery brimmed with international press covering the negotiations, executives from other oil companies, and countless others—including Gabrielle and Max. Prime Minister Kimweri had insisted on making the opening remarks accessible to the public because he wanted to demonstrate that Kanzi had zero tolerance for corruption, unlike some of its neighboring countries.
A hand rested on her shoulder. She turned. Nikos.
“Sleep well, sis?”
“All things considered, not bad. You?” She surveyed her brother’s crisp white shirt, black suit, and gleaming oxfords. Tall and fit, he looked the part of a confident, polished businessman, an image utterly incongruent with the lice-ridden, terrified boy she’d just read about in his journal notes.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how today unfolds.” He sat down in the chair beside her. “As I told you yesterday, I’ve dealt with the Quan family before. They are masters of guanxi, spending a lot of time with the locals, building relationships. We don’t know what they’ve promised the prime minister behind closed doors. But Papa has a long-standing relationship with Kimweri, so he should have that angle covered.”
Guanxi—the Chinese cultural approach to business, which prioritized bonding with fellow citizens, rating the welfare of the group higher than that of the individual. After handling several kidnappings in Beijing, she understood how the intricate culture focused on hierarchy and trading favors.