Take a Chance on Me (24 page)

‘Father, there you are!'

‘Talk of the devil.' The old man winked at Sadie. ‘Thank you, Sadie. You are a good listener.'

‘Anytime,' she said, and briefly placed her hand over his.

Peter rushed over to join them both and made a great show of signalling to the pretty waitresses. He put a bottle with a red label prominently on the table in front of his father, who picked it up and examined it, then put it back down again.

‘My usual, please, Huaka, my darling,' Peter said loudly, reading from her name tag.

‘I'm sorry, sir, and what might your usual be, please?' the girl replied.

‘The same as you ordered me yesterday. Don't you remember? Kalua pig with cabbage.'

‘Apologies, sir. I was not here yesterday. But I will bring it for you as soon as possible and I will remember in the future.'

‘Too right you will! Or I will be having a word with the new management,' Peter snapped.

The poor girl took his drinks order, refilled Bill and Sadie's water glasses, and left.

‘Excuse me, Sadie, may I have a word with my son,' said Bill. And he stood to one side but not so far away that Sadie could not hear what was going on. Sadie made a great play of sorting out the walnuts from her salad.

‘Peter, there's no need to be rude,' she heard Bill saying.

‘Father, you're too soft. That girl was mistaken – she definitely took my order yesterday.'

‘They are not our staff any longer, remember your place in our community. Her father or brother may work at our water plant – we do not want repercussions from your actions – not again.' Peter made to reply but Bill held up his hand to finish. ‘Not when we rely on their goodwill to do all the extra hours. Now come eat.'

They re-joined Sadie at the table where she had almost finished her meal. A small pile of walnuts lay on one side of the plate.

‘Apologies, Sadie. We were just talking … shop. I am sorry to interrupt your tête à tête but I had to see my father,' said Peter, sitting himself down and shuffling his chair a little too close to Sadie's. ‘I do hope you enjoyed your tour of our plant this morning?'

‘Illuminating,' replied Sadie. ‘It was just—'

‘Now I must steal my father away,' he interrupted. ‘I have something to show him and I'm sure you must have preparations to make for this afternoon's meeting.'

Cross at being so thoroughly dismissed but unable to do anything about it, Sadie said her goodbyes. He was right, there was a very important meeting to prepare for – and a certain person to track down. But no matter where she looked, or who she asked, Mac was nowhere to be found. So in the end Sadie gave up and, feeling just a little bit frustrated returned to her room and went through her own notes one more time to double check her new proposals – the ones she was planning to go over with Mac,
had he deigned to show his face
–
then went to freshen up. It was nearly time for the meeting.

Outside the boardroom the mood was tense. The mahogany doors were tightly shut – but they should have been opened twenty minutes ago. Mac was late, as usual, and Sadie – now in her best suit again, minus the killer heels – was pacing a little. The other members of Mac's team had arrived, and were talking in a low hum. She approached a small group of them.

‘Are you well, Miss Turner?' asked Graham, turning towards her, his garish green tie the first thing that caught her eye.

‘It's … Oh, just call me Sadie,' she said. ‘Yes, very well thanks. Any idea what's keeping us? It's twenty past three, isn't it?'

‘When? Now? Oh, yes it is. Three twenty two precisely. Yes, they are running a little late. No idea why I'm afraid, we just turn up with our due diligence and reports as requested, and just wait till we're called.'

‘Thanks.'

‘But maybe Alexis will know something more.'

That's all I need.

Sadie turned and was met with yet another cover girl creation. This time perfect hair and perfect teeth combined with pink lipstick and matching nail varnish and tailored pink shift dress. Sleeveless,
natch
. And if she wasn't mistaken, it looked like Alexis had been sunbathing a little.
Or surfing …
Sadie tried to blame the pang she felt in her stomach on nerves.

Sadie raised her chin to signal hello, and smiled.

‘Oh, hello, Miss Turner. Simon's emailed me over some new projections. I've taken the liberty of adding them to your PowerPoint. FrishCo have already been given them to study in advance of the meeting at Mac's request. Simon said to tell you the proposals your friend emailed at lunchtime for the university studies were spot on. Timing-wise, it dovetails neatly into our three-year plan. Simon's added the new costing to the forecast.'

‘Oh, but I would have happily added those—'

‘You weren't around. I did knock on your room, but I figured you'd need all the time available to get yourself ready. It's not a problem, honestly, that's what I'm here for. Here's your copy to bring you up to speed.'

‘You've been busy.'

‘Yes, a woman's work is never done. Ha-ha.' And she swept off across to the rest of the team.

Sadie smiled curiously. She still felt like she'd been stung, but at least Alexis was a bit more friendly. Maybe she'd given up scoring points and this was her attempt at some female bonding.

Soon after the big doors to the boardroom opened finally and the group were beckoned inside. Some of them stopped in surprise.

At the far end, Mac stood already in deep conversation with the Galloways – both father and son – and seemed to be even less relaxed than when she'd last seen him. He didn't look up. Alexis joined them, to Sadie's displeasure, and handed a blue file to Mac. Soon everyone was seated around the table and the crucial talks began.

Two hours later, Sadie had done her part, Mac had put up a splendid show of solidarity, he and the team providing an utterly convincing case as to why the contract could
only
work with MCA, including one vital ingredient – Sadie.

Sadie had sat through all of it swinging like a pendulum – one moment wanting to give him a piece of her mind for neglecting her, and the next, wanting to wrap her arms around him for being so imposing, so commanding, so impressive.

Giving her a big build-up, he'd then handed over to Sadie to present her brief summary of the latest business plan, including all the newly updated research proposals and, vitally, their impact on the likely future success of the marketing campaigns. Everyone leaned forward and you could hear a pin drop as they all sat hanging on her every word, as she listed the claims the company would be able to make just as soon as the studies were published. Claims that would indeed – if they came off – be not only groundbreaking, but should hit the headlines around the world. That's when the fun would start.

‘So the full trials should concur with the confidential pilot test results – they should show that blood plasma volume reverts to normal around sixteen times faster than it does compared to giving dehydrated athletes ordinary mineral or tap water. And as we all know, an optimally hydrated athlete is a winning athlete.'

A small murmur went round the room.

‘Then, every competitive sportsman in the world will be looking for a steady supply of Frish. And those tests can begin within three weeks of the contract being signed, according to my contacts in the UK sports science departments in all three major universities. They're clearing their decks as we speak.'

‘And MCA's “NewCo” will be there, fully funded, to push through those studies, and to make sure the world has its supply line,' added Mac. His voice was strong, controlled, but something in his eyes was amiss.

The meeting came to a close, but instead of massive handshaking and popping champagne, instead of much back-slapping and a joyful buzz, there was a dull stillness in the air, an odd lack of oxygen she could only liken to the calm before a rainstorm.

No hearty handshakes? Does that mean no deal? What on earth was going on?

‘Thank you, gentlemen, ladies,' Peter Galloway said, standing up in place of his father to bring the meeting to a close. Sadie looked over to Bill Galloway. His face was downcast, he had a faraway look in his eyes. What on earth had happened since lunch, merely two hours ago?

Peter then announced grandly and dramatically that the decision ‘whether to go ahead with MCA's proposal' would be made within the next twenty-four hours.

Whether
to go ahead? What the hell …?

‘So enjoy the facilities until then, and we'll reconvene this time tomorrow afternoon.' He didn't even look over at his father, not for confirmation, not a smile, nothing.

Something definitely had not gone according to plan.

She could see it in Mac's stance, the wooden way he was shaking hands. It had to be connected with the sudden appearance of Tremain on today of all days, and she narrowed her eyes recalling Mac's reluctance to talk about it. She watched as Mac turned away, talking quietly on his mobile. Then she picked her moment to go join him.

‘Mac, I—'

‘Sorry, Sadie, got to pop out. I'll come find you later.'

‘But, I—'

‘I'll tell you everything when I see you.'

‘Promise?'

‘I promise.' But she noted that he said it with his words, not with his eyes.

Sadie watched him disappearing towards reception and frowned. A voice at her side suddenly made her jump.

‘I would imagine he's off to consider how to raise the stakes, given how friendly Galloway seems to be with Tremain,' said Alexis.

‘I thought Bill Galloway hated Tremain.'

‘I mean Peter Galloway. He's been a busy little bee behind the scenes and no mistake. He's the one that's put a fly in the ointment somehow. Certainly unethical, letting Tremain turn up like that today.'

‘It was all Peter's doing then?'

‘You've probably already heard this from Mac, but yes. Flew in early this morning, the heli-pilot said.'

Of course, Alexis would just have to be the one to know all this.
Sadie's eyebrow flickered slightly.

‘From what I could tell, anyway,' Alexis continued, ‘Peter Galloway likes to feel in control. He was telling me this morning before the tour that he's always been in the shadow of his father. Hard to live up to. So bringing in Tremain is his perfect opportunity.'

‘But we were so close to signing.'

‘Honey, at this level of the game, nothing's a “done deal” till the deal is done. Ain't nothing signed till the ink's dry.'

Sadie's shoulders slumped. ‘Dammit.'

‘But you know,' the leggy, blonde, ‘small print-handler' continued, a glimmer of something mischievous in her eyes. ‘If only there was some way to convince Galloway junior. Why if I wasn't engaged, I'd give that man an offer he just couldn't refuse …' and she pointedly looked at Sadie, before sashaying away.

Sadie watched her go.

‘Oh, well, could be worse,' said Graham suddenly joining her, with Derek close behind. ‘If you ask me, it looks like they just want time to go through the new proposals in depth.'

‘Yes,' agreed Derek. ‘Could be the liquidity ratios, could be the …' He kept on talking but Sadie's mind had stopped listening, and was working overtime running through the facts – but nothing added up.

Bill Galloway should have been pleased – just the final due diligence and the first vital funds would be made available well within his thirty day deadline.
That was what he'd asked for, wasn't it?
But Bill's face too had been unreadable and instead of signing the heads of terms for the deal, as everyone expected, he'd disappeared right after the meeting, walking straight off, even ignoring Mac. Sadie didn't get a chance to say one word to him, let alone shmooze him.

Peter Galloway, the renegade son, however, was loving his moment in the spotlight, holding court and spouting off as if he'd already usurped his father. And he was now coming towards her across the room. Next to her, Graham and Derek were having a debate about equity splits and Peter gestured for Sadie to join him.

Looking around, Mac was nowhere to be seen, and Sadie found herself thinking the unthinkable.

Was there anything
she
could do?

It had to be worth a try.

If, somehow,
she
could get Peter Galloway back on their side, his father would maybe follow. It was now or never. She wouldn't do what Alexis was implying, but what could she do?

‘Peter, take a walk with me,' she said, holding up her arm and beaming at him.

‘Funny, I was about to ask you exactly the same thing.' They went out into the flower-filled gardens for an early evening stroll before dinner.

Mac returned just as Sadie's back was disappearing out the door.

‘Graham, Derek, where's Sadie going?'

‘Just gone outside to take some air with young mister Galloway, I believe, Mr Anderson.'

‘With Peter Galloway?'

‘Yes, sir.'

‘Take these notes, lads. You've got some urgent work to do.' Mac passed over a blue folder to Derek, who immediately brightened. ‘Simon will explain everything.'

‘Yes, sir. It's all systems g-go again then, is it, sir?'

‘Just read the notes and get cracking. There's no time to lose. Ask Simon about any further questions you have. He's jetting in urgently this evening.'

‘Yes, sir, of c-course, sir.'

‘Excuse me,' said a bellboy as the lads left. ‘The limo is ready and waiting for you at the front entrance.'

‘Thanks, please tell them to wait. Ms Turner and I will be there shortly.'

Mac followed Sadie outside along the flower-filled, fragrant garden paths and was very careful to stay in the shadows some way behind. He trailed her into an ornamental garden, before getting close enough to hear snippets of their conversation from an alcove behind a big bush. He stood there, frowning.
What the hell is she up to?

He was about to find out.

‘The thing is, Sadie, I am glad of what you tell me but your UK scientists
should
be impressed with their early results – it's no big news to me. Of course, if you actually provided me with full copies of their impressive preliminary tests, that would be even better.'

‘Sorry, Peter, it's not protocol.'

Their voices were very close together, and Mac strained to see through the branches of the bush. His fears were confirmed. Peter Galloway was arm in arm with Sadie, walking slowly round a little ornamental pond.
Too close for my liking,
he thought.
Maybe there's a whole other side to Ms Sadie Turner.

Sadie's shoulders were slumped and it looked to Mac as though she'd been hoping for a different outcome to whatever conversation they'd been having – he'd only caught the tail end.

‘Hmm, I understand. They are keen to do the research – as they should be. It will be an accolade for them.'

‘Yes, but they need to know they're dealing with a bona fide operation, not a bunch of mavericks who may undermine their chance at conducting proper research,' said Sadie.

‘And whom would you be referring to?'

‘Just from what you said about how it's currently being sold in the stores … by Tremain's people …'

‘If you're looking for a maverick, turn your eyes to Anderson's camp. You need to research your ally a little more thoroughly, Sadie. You might be surprised at what you find.'

‘Mac's been nothing but straight with me,' Sadie said, lifting her shoulders.

Mac smiled behind the bushes.

‘Are you quite sure about that?' Galloway asked, a sinister tone to his voice. ‘I've seen the way he looks at you. Just as he looks at all other women.'

Sadie blushed.

Damn the man.
Mac gritted his teeth. He watched as Galloway turned to face her and held her arms.

‘He's a playboy, Sadie. People like you are playground fodder for him. Don't be fooled, he's not in it for you. He's in it for the money, just like Tremain. At least Tremain is up front about it.'

‘Peter, I never thought I'd say this, but you may be right.'

Mac blinked, amazed at her response.
What was he hearing?

‘I am right.'

‘But that raises a very important point,' she went on. ‘And that point is who's the most likely to follow through? To do it right? This is business, after all. Don't underestimate Mac's determination – he's already recompensed the research teams for their early work – without even a contract. They're already happy to work with him.'

‘If the UK team don't do the studies, we will find others who will. Others who could be more easily … persuaded … to work
our
way, shall we say.'

‘Hang on, who said anything about—'

‘Don't worry your pretty little head on the matter, Sadie,' Galloway smarmed.

He probably shouldn't have said that,
thought Mac. Sadie's eyes had narrowed.

‘I
worry my pretty little head about it
, Peter, because your father asked me to. Because he had faith in me – that's what he told me. He said he “saw” me working with him, being involved in setting up the deal.'

‘Ahh, my father's visions. Yes, Sadie, I've listened to them all my life. Sadly, they are not as strong as they used to be – the local police stopped coming to him for help with their unsolved cases, some time ago. And he has been suffering lately – he gets tired. And you see, what with the latest developments, it might mean that the other … options … on the table, may now be preferable to ease cash flow.'

‘But your father was very clear he wanted to give me a chance first.'

‘Well, there are some offers that are too good to refuse,' Galloway continued. ‘As your precious Mac has probably told you – Tremain's offer may change everything.'

Sadie looked confused.

‘Ahh, he didn't tell you, did he?'

Goddam.

Sadie ignored Galloway and just crossed her arms, shaking free of his grip.

‘The commotion in the production plant this morning?'

‘Yes, indeed. That “commotion” may well bring my father – and our business – exactly what it needs, and all because of me. And if it does, my father will know that I am the one who has made this deal happen, not – with all due respect to you and your talents – one of his infamous “hunches”. He thought I couldn't do it, but he was wrong.' Galloway was ranting now, pacing a little in front of Sadie. ‘You brought Anderson, with all his due diligence, red tape and cronies. I brought Tremain himself, with proven sales, and a new offer that's hard to refuse.'

‘As is Mac's. Not many people would be able to fund the deal so fast.'

‘Well, not even Mac can do what Tremain has offered.'

‘Which is?'

‘Tremain has moved the goalposts. He is offering up-front royalties to FrishCo if my father agrees to do the deal with him, not Anderson. In cash. Now.'

Sadie frowned. ‘A bribe?'

‘A legitimate incentive, Sadie. Unusual, but not unethical. Royalties based on their future sales of Frish, that's all, but paid out way before they're due. It reinforces just how confident Tremain is of success. And it's very timely. With the pressure off cash flow, it allows my father to think things over. He has gone to lie down.'

‘Is he okay?'

‘It is time for his medicines and he just needs to rest. In fact, he needs to step out of the limelight for a while. A man of his age finds it exhausting.'

‘He seemed okay at lunch.'

‘Nevertheless, one day he will step down permanently. And I will, of course, be standing by.'

‘Of
course
you will,' Sadie snipped. ‘So, let me get this right, the race against time is off?'

‘Exactly.'

‘So no more thirty days?' Sadie looked incredulous.

‘No more thirty days. You didn't know? You didn't know that either?'

Sadie looked away. Mac shrunk back further into the bushes in case she spotted him straining to hear.

‘And may I ask what Bill himself has to say about all this? I'd like to hear it from him.'

‘You will, my dear Sadie, if this evening's meeting goes according to plan, you will.'

‘Who with? Tremain? He's meeting Bill tonight? After everything we did this afternoon?'

Now it was Galloway's turn to shrug. ‘I can't possibly reveal.'

Mac swallowed heavily. He looked at his watch.
No time to lose.

‘You may not know this,' Galloway continued, ‘being so new to the game, but the world of business is cutthroat. It takes a special kind of person to understand the rules.'

Sadie's eyes narrowed to a slit.

Oooops,
thought Mac.

‘Well, no one's quite as “special” as you, Peter, are they?
Do
tell me more.'

Oh oh.
Mac smiled, but Galloway continued, oblivious to Sadie's sarcasm.

‘Our product is a phenomenon. It will take the world by storm. Whatever the outcome of these initial negotiations.' His voice was rising, and he turned Sadie round by the arms to face him, placing his hands on her shoulders and getting a little too close for Mac's comfort.

‘Don't you see? Money men get a taste of this water and what it can do, they see the numbers, and they want part of it. They can smell the success, feel it in their bones. Tremain has
seen
it first-hand too. He's a money man through and through, and money men by their nature, will stop at nothing. Why do you think Anderson agreed to turn this around so fast?'

‘Mac's certainly got a one-track mind where business is concerned,' she said.

Mac shook his head a little in disbelief, his eyes wide open.
What was coming next?

‘And where you're concerned,' Galloway added.

‘Hardly.'

‘Anderson needs you much more than you need him or his money.' The young man's voice was filled with spite. ‘And after you hear what I have to say next, you might agree with me.'

Sadie cast her eyes downwards. ‘I'm not sure I want to hear.'

‘Listen to me. Your loyalty is commendable, but how long ago did you actually meet? He is a loner, and does his own thing. Do you know his full story?'

‘No, I—'

‘You are a family person. We are a family business and we need solid family people. Like you. That's partly what appealed to my father about you in the first place.'

‘You may be right, Peter, I haven't known Mac for long. But it's irrelevant. We're getting off the point. For Frish to work there's a strict protocol involved.'

‘I am sorry,' he replied, stiffening up. ‘I do not mean to be facetious, but we are reinventing the protocol. We are already spreading the word, and achieving great sales, are we not?'

Sadie visibly bristled. ‘But we discussed this at dinner, Peter. Frish needs to be handled carefully, very carefully.'

‘Very well, my dear. Let's say the studies will definitely happen – if they are indeed so crucial. But as for who does them? Well, it
could
be you. Imagine the kudos. Would you like that?'

‘I think you know my answer to that one.'

‘Ah yes – once the eager little scientist, always the eager little scientist.'

Mac watched for Sadie's cutting retort, but she was keeping her calm.

‘Why do you think your father gave me this chance?'

‘
A hunch. Intuition. Who knows.'

‘It's because of my credentials. I can cut years off the process. If you go with Tremain you may ruin everything. Everything.'

‘Leave behind this mask of righteous indignation, and listen to what I have to say. I have some news for you. After our long discussion today, I persuaded Mr Tremain that because of the results of your preliminary studies – which I told him were confidential and could not be shared yet – it appears they may be more valuable and more speedy than anyone imagined. That's what I told him.' Peter smiled – the irony wasn't lost on Sadie.

Sadie looked incredulous. ‘So why are you—'

‘I listened to you, Sadie the scientist. And I used it to my advantage. He is now taking your involvement seriously. Very seriously. All because of me.'

‘Well, I …' Sadie wasn't sure what to say. Galloway cut her off again. Mac was still behind the bush straining to hear and going redder and redder with anger.

‘And your studies and your scientists will now become an integral part of
his
offer to my father, to FrishCo. Sure, he also told my father this morning that unless he seriously considered this new offer, he was going to put an immediate stop to all current distribution and delay the payments due.'

‘He what?' she asked, suddenly understanding why everything had gone so very ‘not' according to plan today.

‘Tremain is a businessman. He drives a hard bargain, what can I say? One day when I run FrishCo I will take his lead and be just as ruthless. God knows those lazy workers deserve to be taken down a peg or two. And as for you?' He moved closer towards Sadie and she stood her ground.

Mac nearly burst trying not to miss a word.

‘Well,
Miss
Turner, we have an offer for you. And I would advise you to accept what I am about to give you. It will pay you – literally – to keep on the right side of Philip Tremain. And Peter Galloway.'

Mac thought his heart might stop as he waited to hear what was next.

‘And if I don't like his offer?'

‘Oh, a woman like you is sure to
like
it.'

Again, no reaction from Sadie.
What the …?
Mac's heart began to pound out of his chest.

‘You can indeed choose to accept Tremain's offer, or refuse it. If you refuse and Tremain gets the contract anyway, if your precious university contacts accept their offer too, then we will consider our options. Your currency will be worth much less then. For my father, you were essential. For me you are a “nice to have” – in more ways than one, Miss Turner.'

‘You make it sound as though I'm disposable. What happened to Bill's prediction?'

‘It seems Tremain's offer may help him “see” things slightly differently.'

Sadie looked dejected.

‘And I?' Galloway continued, nudging Sadie's chin back up with his finger. ‘I'm not so sure we couldn't just get a local laboratory to do some simple studies and have done with it. That way you and I could have a slightly … different … arrangement.'