Jeffrey Archer - Sons of Fortune

‘Do we have something to celebrate?’ asked Tom.

‘Other than you being able to find someone who is willing to accompany you to dinner, no, I can’t think of anything in particular, unless...’ Julia laughed. ‘Unless we include a call from my lawyers to say that the Bennett’s takeover has been clinched.’

‘When did you hear about that?’ asked Tom.

‘Late this afternoon; Jimmy called to say that they’ve signed all the documents. All that we have to do now is hand over the cheque.’

‘You didn’t mention this when you came in,’ said Su Ling.

‘The thought of Julia coming to dinner drove it out of my mind,’ said Nat, ‘but I did discuss the deal with Luke.’

‘And what was his considered opinion?’ asked Tom.

‘He thought that a dollar was far too much to pay for a bank.’

‘A dollar?’ echoed Julia.

‘Yes, Bennett’s have been declaring a loss for the past five years and, if you exclude the banking premises, their long-term debt is no longer covered by their assets, so Luke may prove to be right if I can’t turn it around in time.’

‘How old is Luke?’ asked Julia,

‘Two, but he already has a proper grasp of financial matters.’

Julia laughed. ‘So tell me more about the bank, Nat.’

‘It’s only the beginning,’ he explained as he poured the champagne, ‘I still have my eye on Morgan’s.’

‘And how much is that going to cost you?’ asked Su Ling.

‘Around three hundred million at today’s prices, but by the time I’m ready to make a bid, it could be over a billion.’

‘I can’t think in those sort of sums,’ said Julia, ‘it’s way out of my league.’

‘Now that’s not true, Julia,’ said Tom. ‘Don’t forget I’ve studied your company’s accounts, and unlike Bennett’s, you’ve made a profit for the past five years.’

‘Yes, but only just over a million,’ said Julia, giving him that smile again.

‘Excuse me,’ said Su Ling, ‘while I check on dinner.’

Nat smiled at his wife and then glanced at Tom’s guest. He already had the feeling that Julia just might make it to a second date. ‘What do you do, Julia?’ asked Nat.

‘What do you think I do?’ was thrown back with the same flirtatious smile.

‘I’d say you were a model, possibly an actress.’

‘Not bad. I used to be a model when I was younger, but for the past six years I’ve been involved in real estate.’

Su Ling reappeared. ‘If you’d like to come through, dinner is just about ready.’

‘Real estate,’ said Nat as he accompanied his guest into the dining room, ‘I would never have guessed.’

‘But it’s true,’ said Tom. ‘And Julia wants us to handle her account. There’s a site she’s looking at in Hartford, and she will be depositing five hundred thousand dollars with the bank, in case she needs to move quickly.’

‘Why did you select us?’ asked Nat, as his wife placed a bowl of lobster bisque in front of her.

‘Because my late husband dealt with Mr Russell over the Robinson Mall site. Although we were the underbidden on that occasion and failed to secure the deal, Mr Russell didn’t charge us,’ said Julia. ‘Not even a fee.’

‘That sounds like my father,’ said Tom.

‘So my late husband said that if we were ever to look at anything else in this area, we should only bank with Russell’s.’

‘Things have changed since then,’ said Nat, ‘Mr Russell has retired and

‘But his son is still there, as chairman.’

‘And he has me breathing down his neck to make sure people like you are charged when we give them a professional service. Though you’ll be interested to know that the mall has been a great success, showing an excellent return for its investors. So what brings you to Hartford?’

‘I read that there are plans to build a second mall on the other side of the city.’

‘That’s right. The council is putting the land up for sale with a development permit.’

‘What sort of figure are they looking for?’ asked Julia as she sipped her soup.

‘Around three million is the word on the street, but I think it’s likely to end up nearer three point three to three point five after the success of the Robinson’s site.’

‘Three point five is our upper limit,’ said Julia. ‘My company is by nature cautious, and in any case, there’s always another deal around the corner.’

‘Perhaps we could interest you in some of the other properties we represent,’ said Nat.

‘No, thank you,’ said Julia. ‘My firm specializes in malls, and one of the many things my husband taught me was never to stray away from your field of expertise.’

‘Wise man, your late husband.’

‘He was,’ said Julia. ‘But I think that’s enough business for one night, so once my money has been deposited, perhaps the bank would be willing to represent me at the auction? However I require complete discretion, I don’t want anyone else to know who you’re bidding for. Something else my husband taught me.’ She turned her attention to the hostess. ‘Can I help you with the next course?’

‘No, thank you,’ said Su Ling, ‘Nat’s hopeless, but is just about capable of carrying four plates into the kitchen, and when he remembers, pouring the occasional glass of wine.’

‘So how did you two meet?’ asked Nat while, prompted by Su Ling’s comment, he began to refill the glasses.

‘You wouldn’t believe it,’ said Tom, ‘but we met on a building site.’

‘I’m sure there has to be a more romantic explanation.’

‘When I was checking over the council land last Sunday, I came across Julia out jogging.’

‘I thought you were insistent about discretion,’ said Nat smiling.

‘Not many people seeing a woman jogging over a building site on a Sunday morning think she wants to buy it.’

‘In fact,’ said Tom, ‘it wasn’t until I’d taken her out for dinner at the Cascade that I discovered what Julia was really up to.’

‘Corporate real estate must be a tough world for a woman,’ said Nat.

‘Yes it is,’ said Julia, ‘but I didn’t choose it, it chose me. You see, when I left college in Minnesota, I did some modelling for a short time, before I met my husband. It was his idea that I should look at sites whenever I went out jogging, and then report back to him. Within a year I knew exactly what he was looking for and within two, I had a place on the board.’

‘So you now run the company.’

‘No,’ said Julia, ‘I leave that to my chairman and chief executive officer, but I remain the majority shareholder.’

‘So you decided to stay involved after your husband’s death?’

‘Yes, that was his idea, he knew he only had a couple of years to live, and as we didn’t have any children he decided to teach me everything about the business. I think even he was surprised by how willing a pupil I turned out to be.’

Nat began to clear away the plates.

‘Anyone for creme brûlée?’ asked Su Ling.

‘I couldn’t eat another mouthful; that lamb was so tender,’ said Julia. ‘But don’t let that stop you,’ she added patting Tom’s stomach.

Nat glanced across at Tom, and thought he’d never seen him looking so content. He suspected that Julia might even come to dinner a third time.

‘Is that really the time?’ asked Julia, looking down at her watch. ‘It’s been a wonderful evening, Su Ling, but please forgive me, I have a board meeting at ten tomorrow morning, so I ought to be leaving.’

‘Yes, of course,’ said Su Ling, rising from her place.

Tom leapt up from his chair and accompanied Julia out into the hall, before helping her on with her coat. He kissed Su Ling on the cheek, thanking her for a wonderful evening.