A Very Corporate Affair book 3 (The Corporate series) (25 page)

Chapter 15

Next morning, I did a workout, and got showered and dressed, ready to join Ivan in the car over to Canary Wharf. He dropped me off outside my new flat, and waited as I went into the foyer. I walked into my flat, and immediately felt the hum of excitement again. I switched on the kettle, before depositing my jewellery and cash in my new safe, and sliding back the panel. At a few minutes past nine, John called up to say that my bed and other items had arrived, and he would send then straight up. A couple of burly delivery men carried my new bed into the master bedroom, unwrapped the cellophane, and slid it into position, while two more were busy fixing my new, huge telly onto the wall where I'd shown them I wanted it. They efficiently channelled the cable into the wall, before re plastering it, and explaining that I'd need a little white paint to cover the area once it was dry. They tuned it all in, and showed me how to tune it into my wifi, once it was installed. I thanked them profusely, and tipped them a tenner each as they left, hoping it was enough.

I spent an hour with the interior designer that Ivan had recommended, choosing sofas, curtains, blinds and cushions from various swatches that she brought with her. She had some great ideas, which I loved, and she was busy measuring up, when I caught an item on the news.

*
Recruitment tycoon found dead in tragic sex game accident*

I turned up the sound, and watched as a reporter described the scene in a flat in Canary wharf where Paul Lassiter was discovered after what was thought to be a game of auto-erotic asphyxiation went terribly wrong. I picked up the phone to call Ivan, but he called me before I had a chance to press speed dial. "Have you heard the news about Lassiter?" I asked.

"Yes, how do you know?"

"New telly. Shocking news isn't it?"

"You did think there was something off about him. Gut instincts are rarely wrong. I gather he was alone. No mention of foul play, well, apart from his own that is."

"I just feel sorry for the poor man," I said, "he clearly had a few issues going on. I found him to be ok though, as a client anyway."

"He was a good recruiter. I wonder what'll happen to his company now? Did he put a contingency in place?"

"Only in so far as everything goes to his sister, who I gather is a nurse. I don't know if we wrote his will, but I can check. The man's barely cold yet though. I'd leave it a few days."

"Hmm, I wouldn't mind buying it. With the way it's structured, it would fit beautifully, and save us a fortune with staffing. Find out as much as you can please?"

"Sure."
I am on holiday you know.

I cut the call, and phoned Lewis. "Hey Elle, how's Spain?"

"I'm back in London. Long story. Heard about Lassiter?"

"Yes, terrible business. All very sad."

"Can you check our internal systems, see if we hold his will? I'm not at home, so I can't look."

I heard Lewis tapping at his keyboard. "Yes, updated in July this year. Must have done it when you set up the new companies for him. Want me to look at it?"

"Please."

"It looks like he's left everything to his sister, Julie Lassiter, of 64 Cherry Gardens, Bermondsey."

"Ok, when whoever is dealing with it pulls her in, can you let me know please?"

"Sure, will do....you're meant to be on holiday you know."

"Yes I know. See you Monday."

I called Ivan, and told him the news. "Where did you base the company?"

"The Cayman Islands, why?"

"What's the inheritance tax rate there?"

"Zero, same as their corporation tax rate. It's why I based Paul's, and your umbrella companies there."

"I see. Did he transfer his personal assets there?"

"Not that I know of. I only dealt with his companies. I know nothing about his personal assets. Ivan, as I said before, let the poor man get cold before you start trying to buy his company."

"Hmm, well, we'll see what happens."

I cut the call, and went back to dealing with the designer, and getting my sofas, and other furniture ordered.

That night, we discussed Paul's company over dinner. "She may well want rid of it quickly, if she doesn't know how to run it," said Ivan.

"True, but that's her decision to make, plus there may be other interested parties."

"Like who? How many people have the wherewithal to buy a company that size?" he reasoned.

"Alfred Marks? Executive Search? There's a few."

"That have got a hundred mill sitting around? No chance."

"It's worth way more than that," I reminded him.

"Not without Paul, it's not. It's worth what someone will pay. I'd guess she'd be happy with a hundred mill, with no tax to pay on it. I might be wrong, but I doubt it."

"We'll see."

The next day, I went back to James' to do some laundry, and begin packing my things up. I was interrupted by my phone ringing from an unknown number.

"Elle Reynolds speaking."

"Hello, we haven't met, my name's Julie Lassiter. I understand you were my brother's lawyer?"

"Yes, that's correct. I'm really sorry to hear about what happened."

"Yeah well, he was a bit of a screw up. I really need your help. I gather I'm meant to start running his company, and I don't have a clue what to do. Are you free today to see me?"

"I can meet you in my office shortly." I gave her the details, and cut the call. I phoned Ivan on my way over, and let him know.

She looked heartbroken, her eyes had dark circles from crying, and she looked terribly pale. I pressed record on my iPhone.

"I know Paul was well off, and his company's worth a bit, but I don't have a clue about business, and I'm terrified to even go in there," she began to cry. I handed her a tissue, and watched as she blew her nose. I remembered feeling the same sense of terror at the idea of inheriting Retinski.

"Would you like me to introduce you to someone who would like to buy it?" I asked softly.

"Is there someone that would do that?" She gasped.

"Yes, but as your lawyer, I have to counsel you against making snap decisions."

"Oh that decision wouldn't change. As quick as possible please."

"Ok, have you thought about what it's worth, how much you'd want for it?"

"It must be worth at least a few million," she said, naively, "although doesn't the government take 40%?"

"Not in this case, as I transferred all the companies into an umbrella company based in the Cayman Islands."

"I don't have a clue what that means," she said.

"It means no inheritance tax."

"So I'd get the full amount?"

"Yes."

"What do you think I should ask for it?" She put me on the spot.

"It's worth what someone will pay. Now, I can put it out to several companies, and give a deadline for offers of say, a month or so, if you like, or I can put you in touch with someone who has already expressed an interest, and would like a quick sale."

"The faster the better. As long as I get a couple of million, I'll be happy."
Oh little girl, you need looking after.

"Ok, I'll take you to the interested party, but I'll be getting a colleague to negotiate on your behalf. Is that ok? Only I have a conflict of interest as he's also a client of mine."

"That's great."

I called Ivan to let him know I'd be bringing Julie up to see him, and Lewis would be negotiating on her behalf. He caught on that something was amiss, but said nothing. Lewis and I took her up to Retinski, noticing how intimidated she looked at the fancy offices.

Galina showed us through to the meeting room, and I left Lewis alone with her to discuss strategy. I went to find Ivan.

"Babe, I couldn't shark her, I'd get struck off. You do understand don't you?"

"Of course. Your integrity works both ways, I know that. What's Lewis' opening bid gonna be?"

"The girl wants a few million, please don't rip her off. She's totally clueless. I hope Lewis doesn't go along with her wishes, and only asks for a bit of pocket money. Please open with a decent amount."

"Of course. If we can get this agreed, how fast can you do a sale contract?"

"Close of play today?"

"Ok." He stood up, and let me sit at his desk to begin the contract. I opened a word page, and began to type. Half an hour later, they all returned. Julie looked dazed. "We need champagne," Ivan said to Galina, who scurried off to sort it out. "The sale price is£95 million, and we would like to complete the sale as fast as possible please," said Ivan.
Ok babe, I'll let you off the five mill that you just couldn't resist squeezing. The rest is at least fair.

"Well done Julie, Lewis," I said. "I'm preparing the documentation now. I'm sure it won't take long, as I set up the companies for him, and know all the details." I typed for a solid hour, printing off pages for Lewis to check and proof as I went. When the last page was done, I printed out a few copies of the entire document, and checked that everything was correct. It had been a hell of a task, and I was exhausted.

Julie and Ivan both signed all the copies, shook hands, and the deal was done. I escorted her back downstairs, and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much. I've been suicidal with worry about dealing with it all. I'm just relieved it’s all over, and I can grieve Paul in peace."

"I'm sorry about him, I liked him a lot. He was an extremely perceptive and clever man."

I exited the lift at my office, and went to pick up my bag. Lewis followed me in. "You were only just on the right side of ethical there, Elle. If you hadn't declared a conflict of interest, you would have been out on your ear. As it was, your boyfriend got a bargain." His anger was barely suppressed.

"And Pearson Hardwick kept a client. What would you have preferred? A messy administration? Selling to Alfred Marks for the same money, and the work going to Odey and Corbett, their lawyers? She got way beyond what she wanted for it, and the result she wanted. I also happen to know, through my 'conflict of interest' that Ivan wasn't going to pay more than a hundred mill for it, so the price was extremely fair to her."

"That company was worth more than that, and you know it."

"I gave her the choice of putting it up for sale with a deadline for offers, or a quick sale today. It was her choice to do it today, not mine, and if you want the truth, I could have kept quiet, and let Ivan have it for five mill. I didn't, because I do actually have ethics, and she was a clueless little girl, who needed protecting from a certain Russian shark." My voice had risen, there was no way I was letting Lewis get away with accusing me of sharking her.

"Really?" Lewis looked a bit sheepish.

"Yeah really." I played him the recording of my meeting with her. He listened in silence, while I stood with my arms crossed. "Now if it's all the same to you, I'll get back to my holiday."

"Of course, and I apologise for accusing you."

Ivan was late home from work that night, having a vast amount to deal with regarding his latest acquisition. It gave me time to do some packing, and sort out my holiday laundry. Roger picked me up at nine, and took me over to Ivan's place as he was about to get home.

The girls greeted me enthusiastically, and danced around my feet as I looked in the warming drawer to see what we'd been given for dinner. He arrived home five minutes later, looking exhausted. "Hi baby. Sit yourself down, and I'll sort dinner," I teased, pulling on a pair of oven gloves.

"So you're not angry with me?" He asked, looking wary.

"No, should I be?"

"I squeezed her for five mill. I thought you'd hit the roof."

"Don't be daft. You had to get a little bit of sharking in, otherwise you wouldn't have been happy. She only wanted a few mill for it, so she got a good result. Thankfully, I recorded my conversation with her, otherwise I'd be unemployed by now. Lewis really tore into me about you getting a bargain. He did apologise afterwards though." Ivan listened to the recording while we ate.

"Well played baby, got you right off the hook. I looked at Paul's accounts, and I'm happy I got a bloody good deal. She's happy to be out of it, and rich, and you're happy that you won't get struck off. A good day all round." He clinked my glass in a toast.

"It was meant to be my holiday," I muttered.

"I know darling, but I'm taking tomorrow off for you, so it was better to get everything done today. I may get phone calls tomorrow, but at least I won't have to go in."

"What's the plan?"

"Your mum's ashes first, Galina sorted the appointment, then on to Windsor. Boxes and vans have been organised already. How does that sound?"

"That sounds fine. I'd like to keep Friday free though, as I'd like to start moving those boxes of clothes into the flat."

"Of course. I'll let Nico know, and he can arrange a van and some assistance for you."

"Thanks."

We were both tired and tense that night, so made love slowly, and quietly, savouring the variety. Afterwards, the girls snuggled in, and we all dozed off in a group hug.

The next morning dawned a bright and beautiful, sunny day. I did a run on Ivan's machine, before taking a long, hot shower, and dressing in a muted pair of long shorts and a pale grey top. We headed over to Eltham after breakfast, which my stomach threatened to expel the closer we got. We pulled into the car park, and went into the reception. We were told to choose a place, let them know,  and someone would come out with the ashes to help us inter them. I had ordered a little plaque with her name on, to mark the spot, so that there'd be a permanent reminder of her. I picked it up, and read her name, marvelling at how little was actually left to remind the world that she'd once existed.

We walked around in silence, Ivan holding my hand. Even his guards kept a respectful distance. I found a sunny spot in the rose garden, beneath a pretty, pink rose bush. Judging by the number of little plaques dotted around, it was quite a popular spot.
She'd like that,
I reasoned, she'd always been quite sociable. Ivan went off to get the man who sorted the ashes, and let him know we were ready.