Secrets

Quan Wu wore a blue Armani suit that brought out the colours of his eyes and when he smiled the room lit up. He liked to walk empty- handed as he approached the table where the President sat. He looked just like his photograph, intelligent a bald head withsilver straight hair at his temples. His eyes were trusting and gave the impression of innocence, slim lips and a straight nose. Quan wondered why they said he was young, but politics changed people quite quickly.

Across from the President sat the rogue and immediately Quan knew Rex Morgan was a hustler. Quan smiled, but the smile dried up quickly as a man stepped forward holding up his palm signaling Quan to stop.

"That won't be necessary Curtly, our friend is a diplomat," Rex said.

Quan squared his shoulders and held out his hand towards the President.

However, Rex intercepted and shook his hand. Quan looked in his eyes and instantly he knew. Rex's eyes were dark and cold. A shiver ran down Quan's spine. Rex was a man like himself.

"Welcome to St. Barts, Mr Wu," Rex said flashing a dry smile.

On the contrary the President Small's hand was warm and his smile inviting.

"Gentlemen, it's my pleasure," Quan replied.

Quan sat down at the table and leaned in. The sports bar was desolate and it seems as if the three men and the bodyguard were the only living thing on the premises.

"I know we are all busy men so I will get straight to the point." Quan spoke in a hushed but confident tone. "I know you are having a great difficulty sourcing financing for your re-election Mr President."

Quan could hear a pin drop.

I have a company domiciled in tax free haven but has a head office in St. Barts. The company could be registered on the Junior stock exchange in a matter of weeks. As a new incentive program to attract direct foreign Investment. The Government could offer a new incentive that would facilitate new companies the benefit of paying no import duties or income tax for 5 years. This would reduce the burden on the new companies allowing us to plowback our profits into hiring young people thereby boosting the Economy of St. Barts.

"Hmm," the President mused.

"What's in it for us?" Rex asked.

"We could import high end motor vehicles, maintain them on behalf of the government of St Barts. These vehicles are for the executive, opposition, judiciary and high echelons of the civil service. The vehicles are brought in duty free, leased back to the government, maintained by the company at twice the normal rates. Depreciated at 20% per year so that at year 4 we sell the vehicles to the police force as used vehicles at 50% of the original purchase price but declare only the 20% book value. The Company would source the foreign exchange to undertake the purchases and the dividends made payable in cash to the accounts established in Switzerland or any other haven of your choice." 

Quan watched as the lips of both men drop open

"Mr President, it's a win win, your young people would get jobs, the police force would get the much-needed vehicles and you will have a nice war chest. If that does not get you thinking. Mr Morgan is in charge of all infrastructure on the Island, we could partner with you to upgrade the roads, water supply and the associated infrastructure. We would allow you to identify selected local contractors who would execute the work on the ground. In exchange for our investment, St Barts has prime beaches that we would acquire in lieu of interest charges. The cash received could be rinsed through the Construction companies as invoices for work done and he would receive a wire transfer of clean cash and we would take ten cents on the dollar," Quan further said his voice boomed.

"How the hell did you have the nerve Rex to set up a meeting with this charlatan? I thought we were having a meeting with an envoy of the people of China, but instead I feel so dirty and disgusting," Small replied.

His chair scraped the ground.

He wasn't so small after all, Quan thought.

"Rex, I want this gangster deported back to Jantique tonight," Small raged.

Quan, was dumbfounded for a minute or two, the recordings had given him another impression of Small.

"Fudge," Quan quipped to himself.

Quan got up and walked away, wondering if he had been played.

He had left the small notepad on the table and immediately it started to bear fruit.

Small was frustrated and was not afraid to express himself to Rex.

Small sighed heavily.

"Rex when you have a tiny country like ours, it is difficult to find people that share the same aspirations and dreams that I have. I want St Barts to become a major supplier of trained nurses and teachers to the developed countries. We don't have the hospitals and schools to employ the population, but they will send back remittance and be exposed to technology overseas. I don't want people in my cabinet that ate looking for a hustle to make themselves rich," Small said.

"Yes Chief," Rex replied.

Small went quiet for a while, as if he was mulling over a lot in his mind.

"What has happened to the report on the offshore drilling? Rex it has been six months since you went to London to negotiate and I haven't heard a thing," Small demanded.

"Bwoy chief," Rex replied.

"Rex, I am not at a political party event, there is a time and place for everything. When I am trying to build this country, I am the President. So please address me properly. I need bright minds and people with integrity around me Rex," Small said in a tone as if he was scolding a child.

Quan smiled. He was glad he had left the book with the listening device. 

I wouldn't take that tone from anyone If I were in Rex's place. I hate people with Alpha personalities. It is impossible to read them. Quan thought.

"Now I know who the hustler in St Barts and I is think I have a new ally." Quan Wu whispered to himself as he admired the beautiful scenery. St Barts was a beautiful island. It was paradise.

"I need an emissary that the President will trust immediately with the gift of words that can stroke his ego. Someone that can market anything and sell ice to an eskimo. Right away he thought of someone white. Information is vital in this game," Quan whispered.

Sienta Alexander would be the perfect candidate. Her father had flown drugs for the Syndicate for many years on the Air Jantique. Sienta had become a guru in the hotel business in Jantique. She was a key adviser to the Government in Jantique, but few people knew how the Alexanders rose to financial prominence in Jantique, but she owed Quan a favour.