Twisted Love and Money (29 page)

Michael smiled
at his thoughts as they dwelled on young soft bare breasted women
on the beaches. Yes indeed, he would cut a dash. But first he had
to ring Crawford and confirm the deal was on.

First thing
tomorrow he’d make the arrangements. He’d get Crawford to come to
Dublin for a meeting. Better still, he would persuade Crawford to
come down to the house for a weekend meeting. Thrash it out, get it
done, and take the ball while it was still hopping, that’s what
he’d do.

“Let’s go to
bed dear,” he said gently as he saw his wife had finished her
gin.

Chapter
thirty-three

The inner lawns
of Merrion Square were set out with freshly laid circular
flowerbeds. It was morning and the park had just opened. Around the
outer railings artists could be heard setting up their paintings
and having good-natured discussions. Each artist had a designated
spot numbered and licensed by the City Council where they could
setup and sell their work to the Sunday strollers who would visit
the area.

Jeremy and
Dorothy almost had the entire park to themselves. Everything was
moist with early morning dew and the green of the grass was strong
in the bright morning light.

Across the far
side of the grass they could see a young woman with her man and
pushing two small children in a double buggy.

“Do you like
children?” Jeremy asked.

Dorothy smiled,
looked at the children in the distant buggy and then quizzically at
Jeremy.

“Do you love
me?” he added nervously.

“In time you
will understand how I love you Jeremy,’ Dorothy replied and gave
him a hug, her arm about his shoulders.

Jeremy put his
arm around her waist in response and then took her hand as they
continued to stroll along. “Do you think we’d be good with
children?” he asked.

Dorothy
laughed.

“No worse than
anyone else,” she offered. “Why Jeremy, how many do you want?”

Jeremy moved
closer to her.

“How many would
you want Dorothy?”
“One or two.”

“Boys or
girls?”

“One of each,
God willing.”
“God willing?”

“You know what
I mean.”

“I’d want to be
married in a church,” Jeremy said as they paused to look at one of
the new flowerbeds.

They walked a
little further.

“With David as
your best man?” Dorothy mocked.

“Please
Dorothy.”

“I really am
the ‘other woman’, really Jeremy, you will have to tell him. We
can’t go on talking like this.”

“Timing is
everything.”

“Everything?”

Jeremy stopped
and looked sternly at Dorothy. He met her eyes, wavered and met her
eyes again. “Please understand Dorothy. Things are extremely busy
at the moment.”

“Me too,”
Dorothy raised her hands, fingers tensed as if in a mock scream.
“O’Byrne’s are on the critical path with the AF takeover. Dad has
invited Crawford over for next weekend so they can come to ‘Heads
of Agreement.”

“Agreement in
principle?”

“Yes, you know,
price per share, timing subject to ‘due diligence audit,’ press
statements and all that sort of thing. Everything has moved up a
gear.”

“That makes two
of us,” Jeremy said agreeably.

“What
Jeremy?”
“Next week is also critical for us. Next week all hell breaks
loose.”

“You tell David
about us?”

“Don’t be
facetious Dorothy. You know what I mean. In fact, I can’t dare rock
the boat presently…”
“The Boat? Presently?” Dorothy interjected.

“Next week it
all comes together. David and I must have a united front. It all
leads into Friday when we open ‘David and Jeremy’s’ lead Irish
store in Grafton street. There will be the ‘full Monty,’ press
corps, Government minister, you name it, everyone who is anyone in
Irish Fashion will be there.”

“And
David?”

“Yes, me and my
partner David will be at the centre, putting out a united charm
offensive to the great and the good.”

“Sounds like
lots of organising?”
“Yes Dorothy, but don’t worry we have a great team. My architect is
top class and we have engaged a Press Agency to put the show
together.”
“What are they called?”
“Elaine Publicity, the managing partner is a woman called Elaine;
she seems to know her business. Have you heard of her?”
“No, but I’ll keep the name in mind, we’ll need good Public
Relations when the AF takeover hits the presses.”

“After which
you walk away?” Jeremy checked.

“Maybe.”

“Maybe Dorothy?
Dorothy I need you to commit.”

“Jeremy, I need
you to commit,” Dorothy replied, trying to make it sound light.

They walked on;
they were almost at the exit. Dorothy wondered should she suggest
another turn of the park.

“When the post
launch party is finished on Friday,” Jeremy promised and Dorothy
led him away from the gate to the path back around by the statue of
Oscar Wilde at the corner of the park. “Then we can move on,” he
added.

“And when does
David arrive?” she asked.

“I told you
about our horse, ‘Trapper.”

“Yes?”

“Trapper is
going at Leopardstown races on the Friday afternoon.”

“And David?”
Dorothy persisted, wondering was Jeremy trying to sidetrack
her.

‘David arrives
early Friday morning to be in place for the shop opening. The
ceremonies run to lunchtime. Then we go to the races. That evening
we have the launch party, and hopefully celebrate also if Trapper
wins his race. You should put a few Euro on Trapper, I believe he
is in with a great chance.”

“Where is the
launch party?”
“Shelbourne Hotel, they are doing a special for us.”

“One of the
best, it sounds hectic,” Dorothy conceded.

“Get used to it
sweetheart,” Jeremy joked, with his imitation Humphrey Bogart
accent.

“I still want
you to come to my parents place for the weekend,” Dorothy
insisted.

“You sure
Dorothy, it seems like the O’Byrne family have enough on their
plate already?”

“You and
David,” Dorothy insisted.

“Both of
us?”
“Jeremy!” Dorothy said. “I’ll cut one of those branches and take it
to your backside!”

“Please
Dorothy, not in public. When you are famous it is necessary to be
very careful. Those Celebrity magazines, they are everywhere.
Nothing must upset our launch. Take me home if you must
chastise.”
“Jeremy, I’m not serious, just frustrated. Are you and David coming
or not?”
“O.K. I’ll tell David.”
“I have to settle with you Jeremy, after next weekend you will be
away again to another business deal somewhere else and heaven knows
when I’ll see you again.”
“Commit Dorothy, come on the team and then we will be together
always.”

“Don’t let me
down, I couldn’t bear it,” Dorothy said and it was clear to Jeremy
that she meant it.

“Tell you what
Dorothy,” he offered. “You bring your family to our party in the
Shelbourne. I’d prefer if our meeting were informal as it were. And
David will meet your family. I’ll get Elaine to issue invites,
everyone is invited…”

“Are you going
to chicken out?” Dorothy asked.

“Then we’ll
come down to your parents house on the Saturday when the store is
launched and the dust has settled.”
“And you’ll talk to David?”
“I’ll have to. You’ll have to support me Dorothy. I’m so scared.
I’m determined to move things along, don’t worry, but I’m scared
half to death.”

Dorothy kissed
Jeremy and he responded passively. Dorothy felt a mounting passion
and pushed him against the statue of Oscar Wilde.

“Dorothy!” he
said, and as she held him tight he kissed her.

“Dorothy please
come on Friday night. I’ll need your support. David won’t be able
to make a scene and it will prepare him for the weekend.”

“I’ll talk to
Dad. He’s bound to point out that we have critical meetings of our
own.”
“Remember what I said to you Dorothy.”
“What Jeremy?”
“Let it go Dorothy. Come fly with me.”
“Oh Jeremy.”
“Dorothy kissed him again.

“I love it when
you take over,” Jeremy said breathlessly.

“I may take you
home soon,” Dorothy replied.

“But you’ll
come to my party?”

“
I’ll be there Jeremy, because you need me to be
there.”

“Then we’ll be
there, in your parents house for the weekend, I promise.”

“Thank you
Jeremy. It won’t be too bad. Dad is throwing a party. My Mom throws
great parties. You and David will love it. At some point you can
talk to my dad.”
“You want me to ask his permission?”
“Of course not Jeremy. You remember how rude he was when he met
you?”
“The time Ann-Marie ran away?” Jeremy smiled.

“Well I want
you to let him show you how nice he can be.”
“And your brother Peter?”
“Yes and my Mom. You have to meet them all.”

‘”
What am I letting myself in for?”

“You need to
decided when you will talk to David.”
“O.K.”

“O.K. Now we
drop it Jeremy. I want you to take me for a walk around the square
and we can look at the paintings, then I want you to take me for a
nice cup of coffee.”

“And back to
your place Dorothy?”

“Just do as I
say Jeremy. I’ll tell you when I am ready to take you back to my
place.”

“Tabasco?’
Jeremy asked.

“Just be
patient Jeremy.”
“Yes dear.”

Chapter
thirty-four

“I have limited
time here today,” Michael O’Byrne explained.

Peter, Dorothy
and John all nodded.

“Today I have
omitted Dermot and James from our Board meeting as they have no
part to play in the negotiations with AF.”

“When dad?”
Peter asked eagerly.

“I made contact
with Crawford’s Office today. I spoke to Christine his secretary,
and I have everything in place. Time is short and we must be
ready.”

‘What about
O’Donoghue's?” John asked.

“We will use
O’Donoghue to muddy the water and leverage the bid. We will
position him as a white night to shake Crawford and the AF
team.”

“Team?” Dorothy
asked.

“Team, of
course team. Crawford is no one man band. He has his back room
people. However only Crawford and his lead negotiator will be
present to meet us.”
“Us?” John asked.

“Not you John,
you are our back room, you and your finance people.”
“Yes sir,” John agreed.

“John, I know
we have had words but I want you to put all that out of your mind.
What I want is for you to do a good job on the financials.”
“I’m pretty advanced, you know I have to meet Kenny from the
banks.”
“By next weekend the banks won’t matter,” Michael interjected.
“They can deal with AF.”
“We need to keep the bank people on board,” Dorothy insisted. “We
need a smooth transition.”
“Agreed, keep the banks happy by all means, but by next Friday I
want chapter and verse.”
“What sort of chapter and verse?” Peter asked puzzled.

“Profit
scenario’s with and without AF business, growth parameters and cash
flow projections. I want a full financial brief available,” Michael
insisted as John nodded in acceptance.

“And Dorothy,
you know the figures, you grew up with them. When John has put a
shape on them I want you to take over and be ready for any
questions that might arise at the meeting.”

“Sure dad,”
Dorothy agreed.
“I can be on standby,” John offered.

“Good man John,
just as I would expect, professional to the end. But none the less,
for a smooth negotiation I want Dorothy up to speed.”
“Understood dad,” Dorothy agreed.

‘John, AF will
decide your fate in the new organisation. Once I sell they will be
in charge. They’ll probably want their own financial team but I
wish you luck. Do a good job for me this week and you can be sure
you will at least have a good reference.”

“Peter and
Dorothy, I want to meet further to set out a negotiating
strategy.”

“Sure dad,”
Peter agreed.

“I agree,”
Dorothy added. “We need to establish how we play our cards and how
we use the fact that we have two bidders.”
“O’Donoghue is not at the races,” Peter was dismissive.

“Go easy Peter,
Dorothy has a point. We need to leverage up the offer from
Crawford.”

“O.K. Dad,”
Peter agreed. “But there are no flies on Crawford. We have to
handle it carefully.”
“Exactly my point. We let John off now. John get on your bike and
put the sums together.”
John stood and made his exit, carrying his papers in a bundle.

“Dad, the
social side,” Dorothy continued. “We need to set the scene.”
“What do you mean?” Peter asked.

“Mom always
does a great party,” Michael said and as he spoke he wondered if he
might be expecting too much.

“Jeremy is
opening a Shop in Grafton Street…” Dorothy continued.

“What’s that to
do with O’Byrne’s?” Peter interjected.

“Relax Peter,”
Dorothy replied spiritedly.

“Relax the two
of you,” Michael said sounding worried. “I don’t need my team at
each other’s throat.”

“Dad, I want
the family to come to a party that Jeremy is throwing. I want you
to charm him and help him forget you were rude when you first met
him.”
“I was concerned about Ann-Marie at the time.”

“A party?”
Peter chipped in cheerfully.

“We have a lot
to do,” Michael objected.

“We do an hour
at the party. It is an informal basis for you and Mom to meet my
intended.”
“Your intended!” Peter and Michael spoke in unison and in
amazement.

“Maybe,”
Dorothy corrected with a blush.

“Please come,”
she added.
“If you put it that way. Maybe we’ll cater our party for the
weekend to take a load of your Mom’s shoulders,” Michael suggested
doubtfully.