A very Corporate Affair Book 1 (The Corporate Series) (12 page)

                 "Already have, plus the entry in the land registry."

                 "Thanks."

                 We didn't find anything else, but those two issues had made the company vastly overvalued. My phone rang. "The other party are meeting here at my offices, can you come up please?" Ivan said without preamble.

                 "On our way." I replied. Replacing the receiver, I turned to Lewis, "he has them coming over. We need to attend the meeting."

                 "This should be interesting," said Lewis, gathering up our papers. I had printed off the land registry and companies house reports, so we grabbed those, and made our way up to the fiftieth floor.

                 Ivan's office was a vast, modern space, full of sleek grey and taupe sofas, and dark wood. From the abstract art on the walls to the tasteful orchid displays, the place screamed restrained wealth. The receptionist was warm and friendly, showing us through to the conference room, and bringing us each a coffee. I organised our papers, and we waited. Ivan arrived first, flanked by the same two security guards from breakfast. They stood at the back of the room while he sat down next to Lewis.

                 "Given the information you have uncovered, I will be renegotiating the terms and price. If they refuse, I will be pulling out of the deal. The contract of sale may have to be rewritten quickly, as we all want this deal concluded today. Is that clear?"

                 "Yes. Not a problem," said Lewis, "we'll get it done."

                 The other directors arrived looking a bit cocky before Ivan dropped his first bombshell about the loan accounts. The finance director shifted uncomfortably in his chair before declaring the issue an 'oversight'.

                 "I see," said Ivan, "so tell me about Carridon property ltd, or was that an oversight too?"

                  The mood in the room plunged to sub zero. The two directors involved looked panicked, glancing nervously over at the two burly security men stationed near the door.

                "It's not how it looks," said one of the directors, shooting a look over to one of the other men, "the price doesn't reflect the value of the freehold of that factory."

                 "So tell me sir," Ivan was sarcastic, "with a 750 thousand loan account, and no freehold, what exactly does the sale price buy me? An ailing company with a cash flow problem? About to be made worse by a rent increase on an ending lease? Come on gentlemen, what do you take me for?" They all squirmed in their seats, with the feeling of panic in the room almost palpable. Not only were they trying to take Ivan's money, they had attempted to bamboozle him too. Not a wise move on their parts.

                 Ivan took complete command of the room, the previously cocky men subdued and submissive. He  declared his terms, and got them. He ended up paying the same price, but gaining the whole company and the freehold. I wished that I had been able to just watch him in a mesmerised admiration, but I had to concentrate on making copious notes to get the contract rewritten quickly.

                We swept out of the room, flanked by security, and into Ivan's office to get the contract done ready for signing. Lewis and I sat at Ivan's computer, and I typed quickly, while we went through my notes. Lewis proofed as I typed. I glanced up to notice Ivan listening in an earpiece. He caught my eye, and grinned.

                 "Just hearing what they have to say now they are alone in the room," he said, before resuming his eavesdropping.

                We got the contract done in record time, and printed off the copies required. Ivan's secretary delivered them to the conference room to allow the directors to read them in 'privacy' before we returned. Lewis and I sat and had a coffee while we waited, Ivan stood listening to the earpiece. After half an hour, Ivan's secretary indicated that they were ready for us, so we returned to the conference room. The board were sombre as they each signed the agreement, followed by Ivan. I couldn't help but notice that they all used expensive pens, while Ivan used an ordinary biro.

                 "Gentlemen, we are concluded here," said Ivan, "and as of now, your services are no longer required at the company. My security teams will accompany you back to the offices to remove your personal effects and change the locks. As per the contract of sale, there will be severance pay equal to statutory redundancy under the TUPE regulations. Good day gentlemen."

                 There was a stunned silence in the room. None of them could believe that Ivan would just fire the entire board that quickly. They had probably hoped that the duplicitous ones would be fired, and the rest would keep their cushy jobs. Ivan nodded to us, and we followed him out of the room and back to his office.

                 "Did they think you would only get rid of the ones who lied? Sacrifice three to save the other's jobs?" I asked, curious. Ivan grinned.

                 "Got it in one. They were all arguing amongst themselves in there, blaming the finance guy, and the two in the limited company. They all knew about it though, they had all been complicit."

                He pulled out his mobile, and spoke quickly in Russian to someone, before cutting the call and turning to Lewis and I. "Ready for a drink? The two of you just saved me approximately what I'm going to be paying your company this year. I think you deserve champagne." He pressed his intercom, and jabbered something in Russian. A few moments later a flunky appeared with a trolley holding an ice bucket, a bottle of Krug, and three glasses. We toasted our success, and I took a long sip of the delicious drink.

                 "I like having you on my side, Elle," said Ivan, "I think this will be a profitable partnership."

                 "I hope so too," I said, glowing slightly with his praise. I drained my glass, and noting the time was nearly seven in the evening, said goodbye and left Lewis finishing his champagne.

                 James dished up a casserole as soon as I got home, and pushed a large glass of wine across the island to me. I sat on the bar stool and watched him, as he ladled out a delicious smelling beef stew onto large plates, followed by a heap of mashed potato he had stashed in the warming drawer. My mouth watered.

                 "You had a good day?" I asked.

                 "Yeah, just cleaned the flat really. Done a bit of the schematics for next week, got my clothes ready for packing, that kind of thing, you?"

I told him about my day, omitting my lunchtime assignation. I regaled him with an impression of Ivan terrifying a board of directors, doing my best impression of his heavy Russian accent.

                "Serves them right for trying to pull a fast one," James said, "oh by the way, Oscar was looking for you, he knocked on the door earlier. Said he'd been trying to call you all afternoon." James pulled a face, and I was glad I hadn't told him about my knickerless escapade at lunch.

                "I've had my mobile off. Anyway, I don't really want to speak to him. Apparently I'm only going as his 'friend' this weekend." I did air quotes with my fingers around the word friend. James scowled slightly.

                "There really is something wrong with that man, he should be falling at your feet, not behaving as though he's ashamed of you. I don't blame you for not wanting to go. Staying at a castle is not exciting enough to compensate for being treated like that."

                "Castle? How do you know he has a castle?"

                "Google. His country seat is Conniscliffe castle. Don't you google people Elle?" James pulled open his laptop, and quickly typed one handed while he forked casserole into his mouth with the other hand.
Impressive James!

                "There you go," he said, turning the laptop to face me. It showed a picture of a beautiful castle, surrounded by formal gardens. I clicked onto the blurb, and read it had been built in 1265, had taken forty years to build, and had been in Oscar's family for three hundred years. It wasn't open to the public, was stuffed full of priceless art, and had two hundred rooms. Suddenly, I wanted to see it.

                 I pulled my mobile out of my handbag and saw straightaway that I had ten missed calls from Oscar. I opened the text from him.

  
*sorry I upset you. Please don't ignore me. Call me Oxxx*

                I placed my phone on the counter, and went back to my dinner. James was staring at me.

                "Did something happen with him today?"

                "We had lunch." I wasn't going to share more than that, so I changed the subject. "What's on the agenda tonight?"

                 "Well, it's shit on the telly. Fancy a film? I have maltesers."

                 I laughed, "you really know how to tempt a girl." James waggled his eyebrows, and grinned. I cleared up and made coffee while James scrolled through the film menu, calling out suggestions. We settled on 'Avatar', which neither of us had seen. I flopped onto the sofa, and stuffed a pillow under my head, while James shared the chocolate between two bowls, plonking mine down in front of me.

                Shortly after the film began, my mobile rang. Seeing it was Oscar, I ignored it, and switched my phone off, praying he wouldn't come up and knock on the door.

                James' presence must have put him off, as he didn't bother me for the rest of the evening. I must have fallen asleep, as the next thing I was aware of was James picking me up, and carrying me gently to my room. I was barely aware as he laid me down on my bed, removed my high heels, and covered me with the duvet before softly kissing my forehead, and tiptoeing out.

                  I awoke the next morning with my skirt round my waist and my blouse twisted and digging into my armpit. Realising I was still fully dressed, I quickly stripped off, and changed into my gym gear. I headed into the kitchen to make tea. James was already there, looking bleary.

                 "You were out cold last night. I hope you didn't mind me putting you to bed," he said.

                 "Thank you. I would still be on the sofa otherwise. It must have been the wine, champagne and tension knocked me out." We sipped our tea in companionable silence. "I'll try and get home earlier tonight so we can have a proper evening before you leave."

                "Great. I'll do a roast," he replied. I quickly sorted my gym bag, and headed off to the gym.

                 I was right at the end of my workout when Oscar walked in. I'd never seen him there early before, as he had made it plain he wasn't an early riser. He strolled over to the treadmill I was on and stood right in front of me. I slowed it to a stop, and took a swig of water.

                "Hi Oscar, what can I do for you?" I asked in a sarcastically sweet voice.

                "Didn't that flatmate of yours give you my message last night?" He asked with his usual scowl.

                 "Oh yes, James told me you dropped by. I fell asleep after dinner, hope you understand, but I was exhausted last night." I smiled.

                 "I see. So you're not ignoring me then?"

                 "No. Why would I do that?"

                 Oscar leaned towards me, and whispered in my ear, "because I'm an ass, and because I fucked you, then in the same hour basically told you that you were just a friend. Terribly bad manners I know, I just hope you can forgive me." His warm breath caressed my ear, sending a little shiver down my spine. I looked into his eyes, trying to read his emotions. He looked contrite, and a little sad.

                "Of course, really don't worry about it. In actual fact it answered my question as to whether or not you expected exclusivity." I stopped to let the statement sink in, and smiled brightly as he scowled some more.

                "Has Ivan asked you out?" He snapped. I did my best to look affronted.

                "No, I'm his lawyer, not his girlfriend. It's strictly business with Ivan. I'm surprised you think anything different."

                "Hmm. Who then?"

                "That's none of your business Oscar. I don't ask who you're seeing."

                "For gods sake Elle, I'm not seeing anyone else. I seem to spend half my time chasing around after you."

                 "Do you normally chase after your friends?" I asked before I sauntered over to the changing room.  I heard him curse as I walked into the safety of the ladies showers.
Elle 1, Oscar 0

                
I made it into my office by 7.45, and immediately checked my emails to find one from Ivan requesting an early meeting at eight in the same place we had breakfast the day before. I let Lewis know, before hot footing it down in the lift. I got there about a minute before Ivan, who immediately ordered coffees. As soon as we had chosen our breakfasts, Ivan got to the point of the meeting. He had placed an interim manager in the engineering company, so needed a contracts for him drawn up, plus all the TUPE rules for the employees had to be followed, so their old contracts needed checking, rewriting for the new company, and new HR systems introduced.

                "I don't want my legal team bogged down with it, there are over a thousand employees. It's basic employment contracts that interns can draw up, and I need it done fast."

                "Ok. Let me talk to the managing partner and find out how many trainees I can have, so I'll sort that first thing. Does your team have standard employment contracts they use? I'll need a copy. Same for the interim. I'll need access to the HR records for the staff." I made copious notes as I talked.

                "I have some bad news," said Ivan, making me stop and look up.

                "Oh?"

                "The current system is paper based only. It's a complete mess. Some records are incomplete, some are inaccurate, and I suspect some have been faked."

                 "You're joking, right? A thousand staff, and a manual system?"