Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 713.

Wuthering Dormice
(aka Bike)
Part 713
by Angharad
  
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Simon was late home, he’d been at a meeting in London all day. He looked shattered. I warmed up his meal, which he ate with a glass of wine. I joined him in the latter and with Tom’s help, finished the bottle.

“You look tired,” I said, stroking his face.

“Tired, I’m totally knackered. The sodding train was late, and the guys from the other bank were not impressed. The meeting started fifteen minutes before I could get there. Next time, I’ll stay over the night before.”

“Did the meeting go well?” I didn’t really want to know, I don’t understand finance and banking, sometimes I’m not sure Simon does either, but I’m interested in him and wanted to show it.

“It was damned hard work. Americans always treat us as if we’re third world, either that or they’re trying to stiff us.”

“From what I understand of the causes of the recession, it seems as if they did the latter and the former isn’t too far away.”

“Yeah, well they hadn’t got us, and they still haven’t.”

“Oh well that’s a relief.”

“Not quite.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been trying to set a deal with a US bank to joint finance a deal in China.”

“In China?”

“Yeah, China.”

“Oh, if it’s making stuff for the Olympics, you’re too late.”

“Ha ha, very funny, not. No it’s actually about developing a western type supermarket chain.”

“Ha so, Tesco.”

“Velly funny.” He wasn’t laughing.

“What are you doing with supermarkets? I thought you were into banking.”

“There is money to be made over there. They aspire to live like we do in the west.”

“What with obesity and unhappiness? Some aspiration.”

“Look, I’m telling you what I’m involved in, as you did ask.”

“I’m sorry, I’m just frightened for you.”

“Why? We set up deals like this all the time.”

“I didn’t know, I thought you bought and sold things?”

“I do, that’s what this is all about. It’s my idea, we get the Yanks on board, then when it’s up and running we either sell out to a Chinese company or we sell our share to the Americans for a profit.”

“Is it safe?”

“Safe? What sort of question is that?”

“I thought a reasonable one?”

“Investment is a risk, even lending to government is a risk. Doing something with the Chinese is a bigger risk than with the Americans, because we can go after them through the courts if they default, but usually they don’t.”

“Always a first time,” escaped my lips and I blushed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

“It’s true, they’re also worrying about us, although we’ve never let them down before either.”

“Is the recession happening in China?”

“Not like over here, they still have growth, enough to make it a worthwhile risk.”

“It’s a communist country, isn’t that a risk?”

“We’re starting in Hong Kong, then Shanghai, they seem to be more capitalist than we are. If they take off there, then it’s time to work towards expansion on paper and sell it off in practice.”

“If it takes off, is that the time to sell?”

“Yes, we’ll make a billion or so by then, so it’s worth it.”

“A billion?”

“Yes, a thousand million, although we’re talking dollars, so about two thirds of a billion in real money.”

“In how long?”

“Five years at best more likely ten.”

“That’s a minimal return of a hundred million a year.”

“Yep, good innit?”

“Just so they can get heart disease and diabetes?”

“Yep.”

“How can anyone be covetous of how we live in the west?”

“They want a nice house and a car. I mean the government is now encouraging them to have two children. They want their kids to go to university and earn loads, like we want our kids to do.”

“I want ours to be fulfilled and happy, Simon.”

“Yeah, well making loads a dosh makes you feel that way.”

“How come you’re asking the US not another European bank?”

“Tried that, they’re not interested, but this big US bank was. They have dealing with that huge supermarket chain over there, and we have fingers in pies over here, so it’s not entirely unknown territory.”

“What are they going to call it, Mollison’s or Sainsbellies?”

“Cathy, behave.”

“Velly solly,” I offered blushing and giggling. The wine was definitely having an affect.

“Up to bed I think, oh how’s the kid in hospital?”

“Doing okay, as far as I know.”

“Good, you couldn’t send some blue light to our American friends could you?”

“I thought you said the deal was done?”

“Not yet, we have to get their boards go ahead and then we have to sweet-talk the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Chinese commercial attaché. So a bit more to do yet.”

“A bit?”

“Yeah, it could take another year to set up.”

“Will you have to go to China?”

“Dunno, Dad might do it, why?”

“I wonder if they have dormice there?”

“If they do, they’ll probably be lightly sauted like cats and dogs.”

“Oh God, how horrible.”

“How’s the tour going?”

“Tour? What tour?”

“De France, what else?”

“Oh yeah, sorry. Contador is going to win it but Wiggo is doing okay, and Cavendish has five wins now. He’s also favourite for Sunday’s run into Paris, if it goes to a bunch sprint.”

“What about Armstrong? How’s Lancie boy doing?”

“He’s doing really well given his lay off and his age. He was second or third, but they have the Ventoux tomorrow.”

“Right, surely it’s only nutters who ride up bloody mountains for the hell of it?”

“No, they’re the ones who ride down them off road, sensible people stick to the roads. The downhillers, are like kamikaze cyclists. They have a big course up in Scotland.”

“You’re not thinking of trying it are you?”

“Well, it can’t be any more dangerous than setting up companies in China, can it?”

“Cathy, before I try to make sense of that, can we go to bed and make mad, passionate love all night?”

“You up to it?” I asked.

“No, but I’m trying to go to sleep feeling that at least one person said yes to something I wanted to do.”

“Yes,” I said and kissed him.

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