All Chapters of Rick's Dilemma: Chapter 151 - Chapter 160

After that dinner, things between Betty and Rick really did improve. He finally understood some of what happened back in his youth, and no longer resented his parents. He knew all too well what his grandmother was like, as well as his greedy self serving uncles. So he quickly warmed to his mother for the first time in his life. He had never known what it was like to have a real mother, but now he felt that he had one. And she was overjoyed to have Rick back in her life. They had bonded so well so fast. The move to Beijing did seem to put a wrench in matters, but Rick and Debbie would be coming several times a year, so Betty could deal with that. Debbie was busy these days getting ready to expand the business once again. She called upon Old Wilson to help her find a new General Manager for the Fing City office, as well as one for the Tang office. It seemed like a never ending cycle of hiring and moving. Larry Watters became a frequent visitor to the office with blueprints and design

To keep the ruse going a little longer, Rick was telling his mother that they were looking for a house for when he and Debbie came to Beijing. When they arrived at the villa, Rick took out the keys and showed everyone inside. They toured the property inside and out. "Mother, what do you think of this place?" Rick had a very serious look on his face, but it was all he could do to hold in the smiles he felt. Betty was impressed with the place. "Oh, I think with a proper redecorating, it would be a very comfortable home. It has everything that one could ask for." With that, Rick stretched out his hand to her and said "Mother, Jonathan. Congratulations on your wedding. Please accept this home as your wedding gift from us to you both." As he placed the keys in her hand, his mother was flabbergasted. This was going to be her new home? She flung her arms around Rick's neck and with tears streaming down her face she squeaked out "Oh Rick! You and Debbie have really made my life

The opening of the branch office in Tang had been completed. Business was brisk from the start. The Beijing branch would open in a week. Jonathan and Betty had already moved into their new home, and everything was perfect. Rick and Debbie had little time these days to spend with their boys. Rick was a bit disturbed by this. As was Debbie. Rick said to Debbie after getting home late once again "We need to find a way to shorten our work days. This is unacceptable to me, not seeing our babies but a few minutes a day, and then more often that not, they are asleep. What can we do?" Debbie had been thinking about this as well. "Since Old Wilson is not back to work yet, we really need to move ahead and find him an assistant. Has no one been qualified that you have interveiwed so far?" Rick replied "No one yet. But Old Wilson has in mind a man who used to work with him in the past. I am to meet with him tomorrow. Old Wison and I will try to nail this down then." The meeti

After the encounter with Phillip Windham, Rick gave Old Wilson a call to report in. He told Old Wilson what had just happened and asked "Do you ever remember seeing or meeting this person? He claimed to be very close to my Dad." Old Wilson replied "Young Master, I have never even heard of such a person. Let me do some research on him." Rick agreed and hung up the call. Then he called his mother to ask her if she knew the man. "Mom, do you remember a man named Phillip Windham? He claims to have been a very good friend of Dad's. He just tried to shake me down for some money." Betty remembered Phillip well. "Rick, I know him very well. My advice to you is to stay as far away from him as possible. He and your father were fierce rivals all the way back in school. He was jealous of your Dad, and would always put him down whenever he could. To my knowledge, they had not had any contact for a number of years. Has he contacted you for some reason?" Rick was starting to see the

The auctioneer introduced the piece as a sculpture by the famous artist Sung Mao. It had been donated by an anonymous source. The opening bid was set at $1 million. Rick immediately raised his card. But he soon found out that several people in the room were also after the piece. He let the other bidders carry on until it seemed that they were approaching their limits. The bid had reached $12 million. Rick raised his card and said "$15 million. It was the largest jump in bid amount so far. The auctioneer was stunned at first, but he was a professional, so he kept his banter up to see if anyone was going to bid more. After a few minutes, no one else had bid "$15 million going once...going twice...Someone yelled out $20 million. The auctioneer almost lost his cool at this, but accepted the bid and looked over at Rick and said "Any advance on $20 million, Sir? Rick thought about it, remembered that all the proceeds were going to the ophanage, then rasied his card again and shouted $25