Джеффри Арчер - This Was a Man

Seb had quickly discovered just how intelligent Kelly was, and once she had been released from the shackles of 1532 Taft Road, she had immediately grasped the significance of owning 51 per cent of her father’s company. By the day of the board meeting, she was more than ready to play her part in reclaiming her birthright.

Conrad Sorkin rose slowly from his place, and certainly didn’t appear intimidated. But then Seb suspected he’d been in far tighter spots than this in the past. He was staring directly at Kelly, as if daring her to open her mouth.

‘Mr Sorkin,’ she said, giving him a warm smile, ‘my name is Kelly Mellor, and I am the daughter of the late Desmond Kevin Mellor, who in his last will and testament left me all his worldly goods.’

‘Miss Mellor,’ said Sorkin, ‘I have to point out that I am still in possession of fifty-one per cent of the company’s shares, which I purchased quite legally from your father.’

‘Even if that were true, Mr Sorkin,’ said Kelly, not needing to be prompted by Seb, ‘if I repay you your ten thousand pounds before close of business today, those shares automatically revert to me.’

Hardcastle stepped forward, opened his briefcase and took out his client’s passport, Mellor’s will and a banker’s order for £10,000. He placed them on the table in front of Sorkin, who ignored them.

‘Before close of business today, if I may be allowed to repeat your words, Miss Mellor,’ said Sorkin. ‘And as the banks close their doors in twelve minutes’ time,’ he said, checking his watch, ‘I think you’ll find that your cheque cannot be cleared until Monday morning, by which time the contract will be null and void, and it is I who will own Mellor Travel, not you.’

‘If you take the trouble to look more closely,’ said Arnold, coming in on cue, ‘you will see that it’s not a cheque we’re presenting you with, Mr Sorkin, but a banker’s order, and therefore legal tender, which allows Miss Mellor, as her father’s heir, to claim back her rightful inheritance.’

One or two members of the board were looking distinctly uneasy.

Sorkin counter-punched immediately. ‘Clearly you are not aware, Mr Hardcastle, that I have already received the board’s approval to take over the company, as Mr Knowles will confirm.’

‘Is that correct?’ asked Seb, turning to face the chairman.

Knowles glanced nervously at Sorkin. ‘Yes, the vote has already been taken, and Sorkin International now controls Mellor Travel.’

‘Perhaps it’s time for you to leave, Mr Clifton,’ said Sorkin, ‘before you make an even bigger fool of yourself.’

Seb was about to protest, but he knew that if the board had voted in favour of Sorkin International taking over the company, he would have to abide by their decision, and although Kelly still held 51 per cent of the shares, once Sorkin had sold off the company’s assets, they would be worthless.

Arnold was placing his files back in his briefcase when a lone voice declared, ‘No vote was taken.’

Everyone turned to look at one of the directors who had not spoken until then. Sebastian recalled Mellor telling him when he’d visited him in prison that he still had one friend on the inside. ‘We were just about to take the vote when you arrived,’ said Andy Dobbs. ‘And I can assure you, Mr Clifton, I may have been the only one, but I would have thrown my support behind Thomas Cook.’

‘As would I,’ said another director.

Knowles looked desperately around the table for support, but it was clear that even his carefully selected placemen were deserting him.

‘Thank you, gentlemen,’ said Sebastian. ‘Perhaps the time has come for you to take your leave, Mr Sorkin. Or would you like me to put that to a vote?’

‘Piss off, you patronizing git,’ said Sorkin. ‘I’m not that easily threatened.’

‘I wasn’t threatening anyone,’ said Seb. ‘On the contrary. I was trying to be helpful. As you are no doubt aware, it’s June the twelfth, which means you’ve been resident in this country for the past twenty-nine days. So if you have not left these shores by midnight tonight, you will be subject to British taxation, which I’m pretty sure is something you would want to avoid.’

‘You don’t frighten me, Clifton. My lawyers will be more than able to deal with a pipsqueak like you.’

‘Perhaps. But it might be wise to warn them that I felt it was my duty to inform the tax authorities of your presence in Bristol, so don’t be surprised if the police board your yacht at one minute past midnight and seize it.’

‘They wouldn’t dare.’

‘I don’t think that’s a risk you’ll be willing to take, as I also understand Scotland Yard has opened an enquiry into the suspicious death of Desmond Mellor, while the French authorities, who recently recovered a body washed up off the coast of Nice, which they have reason to believe is that of Adrian Sloane, have issued a warrant for your arrest.’

‘They won’t be able to pin anything on me.’

‘Possibly not. But I have a feeling Mr Knowles may want to assist Interpol with their enquiries. That is, if he doesn’t wish to spend the rest of his life in the same cell as you.’

Knowles, visibly turning pale, slumped back in his chair.

‘I’d worry about your own life, if I were you, Clifton,’ said Sorkin.

‘That was a foolish threat to make in front of so many witnesses,’ said Seb, ‘especially as one of them is a QC, who you will observe is writing down your every word.’

Sorkin stared at Arnold Hardcastle, and fell silent.

‘Frankly, I think it’s time for you, like your hero Napoleon, to beat a hasty retreat.’

The two men continued to stare at each other, until Sorkin threw the contract on to the table, picked up the banker’s order and was about to leave the room when Kelly stepped forward once again and said, ‘Before you go, Mr Sorkin, can I ask how much you would be willing to offer for my fifty-one per cent of Mellor Travel?’

Everyone turned to face the new head of the company, and Sebastian couldn’t hide his surprise. This wasn’t part of their well-rehearsed script. She was staring directly at Sorkin, waiting for his reply.

‘I would be willing to pay three million pounds for your shares,’ said Sorkin calmly, aware that he could still make a handsome profit now that Knowles wouldn’t be getting his million.

Kelly appeared to consider his proposition before finally saying, ‘I’m grateful for the offer, Mr Sorkin, but on balance, I think I’d prefer to deal with Farthings Kaufman.’

Sebastian smiled at Kelly and breathed a sigh of relief.

‘And as you’ll have to be outside territorial waters before midnight, Mr Sorkin, I won’t detain you any longer.’

‘Bitch,’ said Sorkin as he passed her on the way out of the boardroom.

Kelly’s smile revealed that she was flattered by the insult.

Knowles waited until Sorkin had slammed the door behind him before saying, ‘We were just about to take a vote, Miss Mellor. So can I ask the company secretary to—’

‘That will no longer be necessary,’ said Kelly, picking up the agreement Sorkin had left on the table. ‘As I am now the majority shareholder, it is I who will decide the company’s future.’

Word perfect, thought Sebastian. Couldn’t have put it better myself.

‘My first decision as the new owner is to fire you, Mr Knowles, along with the rest of the board. I suggest you all leave immediately.’

Seb couldn’t resist a smile as Knowles and the rest of the board gathered up their papers and quietly left the room.

‘Well done,’ he said, when the last board member had departed.

‘Thank you, Mr Clifton,’ said Kelly. ‘And allow me to say how much I appreciate all you and your team at Farthings Kaufman have done to make this possible.’