I arrived on time at SFO to a bright, sunny afternoon. I headed for my elder sister's home in nearby San Mateo. Mike was out in the front yard doing some hedge trimming on their lovely home. The children were nowhere to be seen, but Jeannie appeared at the front door when she heard Mike greet me.
"Hey, Harry. Good to see you again. It's been ages," he said.
I liked Mike. He was upbeat and positive about life. He was also a great father, according to Jeannie. My sister jumped into my arms and gave me a big kiss and a hug.
After the usual small talk about the flight and where I'd been in the past month, I told them what I knew, which wasn't much. Neither Jeannie nor Charlie had been involved in the running of the business, so I wasn't surprised they didn't have any intimate details of what might be bothering Mr. Yee Fung. I assumed I'd have to wait until Monday to find out what all the fuss was about. I began to suspect, however, that it had to do with Mr. Yee Fung's ability to run the company, and that created a feeling of dread.
I phoned Charlie at her apartment in Berkeley to let her know I was in town. She was happy to hear from me and was curious what brought me here. I explained Jeannie's urgent phone call, and what I had learned from Mrs. Wong. Charlie didn't know any more than Jeannie did, but she was interested. That struck me as odd, since my younger sister usually displayed a negative attitude toward business and its role in the lives of what she referred to as the "common people." I would remind her often that our business funded her lifestyle and her various causes, and that she really shouldn't complain. It hadn't seemed to have any effect on her so far.
We arranged to get together for dinner on Sunday evening at Jeannie & Mike's home. Jeannie kept it simple. Mike barbequed some steaks while Jeannie and Charlie made salads and desserts. It was good to have us all together again. It had been so seldom in the past few years. The last time had been at the memorial service for our parents. Their bodies had never been recovered, so we had a stone and a plaque in their memory placed in the local cemetery.
Mrs. Wong had indicated that I should come into the office sometime after ten on Monday morning. That would allow Mr. Yee Fung to clear his desk and give us time to discuss whatever it was that was on his mind. I was anxious about this meeting. I had a feeling it was going to be a difficult session and I wasn't going to like what it was about. Call it a premonition or just me jumping to conclusions, but I was fairly sure of myself on this.
Mrs. Wong greeted me as she always did. She had been working in the office since I was nine years old; nearly twenty years. She was both my father's and Mr. Yee Fung's personal assistant and indispensable aide. She probably knew more about running Orient Pacific Imports than anyone.
"Hello, Harry. I am so pleased to see you," she said, her hands together in a small bow of deference. "You look well. Thank you for coming so quickly."
I bowed slightly in acknowledgement of this special lady. "You had only to ask, Mrs. Wong. I would never refuse a request from you or Mr. Yee Fung."
She smiled slightly, but I could detect the lines of worry on her face. "Mr. Yee Fung is in his office. I will tell him you are here." She walked to the familiar door and entered, closing it behind her. She returned in less than a minute, leaving the door open and standing beside it. "Mr. Yee Fung welcomes you, Harry. Please come in."
As I walked through the door, I wasn't sure what to expect, but the sight of my father's business partner and friend caused me to pause. In the few months since I had last seen him, he had aged noticeably. He slowly rose to greet me with careful movements and held out his hand. I shook it gingerly. He motioned for me to sit.
"Welcome, Harry. I am glad you were able to come so quickly. I wish this meeting were not necessary, but I'm afraid it couldn't wait. As you can see, I am not well. In fact, I do not have a great deal of time left. For that reason, I needed to talk to you and ask you to help me during this difficult period."
I nodded. "Of course, Mr. Yee Fung. Please do not hesitate to tell me how I can assist."
"I am probably going to tell you things that you already know, but please be patient with me. My reason will become clear to you."
He stopped and cautiously sat down in his large, leather chair. Every movement seemed to be an effort. He gathered himself and began.
"Your grandfather founded this company, but it was your father who turned it into the success it is today. He was visionary in some ways, but practical in others. He saw opportunities and took advantage of them, but only within some strict limitations. He would not overextend himself, financially. He would not sit on product for a long period of time. He wanted to move it quickly and profitably. His record of growth and success speaks for itself.
"He brought me into the company to manage the finances and to find opportunities with various Asian manufacturers. I would bring him my discoveries and he would evaluate them and decide if they were suitable. It was a very fruitful partnership, and the company thrived as a result.
"Your father rewarded me handsomely for my efforts. At first it was with salary, and then with a share in the business. As time went by, and we became more and more profitable, he continued to increase my share of the business until two years ago, when it rose to forty-nine percent. No man has demonstrated his generosity more than your father.
"He told me that it was as high as he was able to raise it. You see, he had hopes that you, or Jean, or even Charlotte, would come into the business when he wished to retire. He wanted it to stay in the family. Unfortunately, he died before his time, and you have chosen me to be your President. I was honored when you did that, Harry. You had faith in me, and I wanted you to be proud of the choice you made.
"Now, however, I am unable to complete my task. I have cancer. It is a reoccurrence of an earlier attack that the doctors and I thought we had beaten. That is not the case. It has invaded my body in several organs, and I have been told to get my affairs in order. I do not have much time left."
I sat, stunned at the quiet and deliberate way he had announced his fate. He had accepted a death sentence, and at least outwardly was calm.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Yee Fung. You are such a good friend and partner for my parents and this company. I don't know what will happen to it now. I'm no businessman, and I think you know that. It would break my family's heart if this business were to fail because it lacked a leader."
He nodded gravely. "I feel just as you do, Harry. That is why I have called you and asked you to come. We need to discuss the future of Orient Pacific Imports. We need to discuss it with all of the shareholders. That means you, your sisters, myself, and Wong Soo."
"Wong Soo? Mrs. Wong? I don't understand."
"Your father was a very traditional man, Harry. It was his decision that his shares would revert entirely to you on his retirement or death. It was your decision to split those shares equally with your sisters. When you did that, it freed me to do something I have long wished to do. I gave ten percent of the company to Wong Soo out of my shares. She has long deserved recognition for the contribution she has made to our success. I hope you agree."
"Yes ... of course. That was very generous of you."
"No more generous than your father," he smiled.
"So ... what are you suggesting?"
