Assassin (The Billionaire Series) (22 page)

“That depends. What’s the timing for the next assassinations?”

“Two weeks. My men are preparing for them now.”

“OK, wait a week and start feeding the story. By the time the
assassinations hit, we’ll look as though we always privately doubted Mr
Kennedy’s guilt.”

“Excellent idea,” said Beaumont.

“So have your guys recovered from the mission?” asked the
President changing the subject.

“Yes, most of those with superficial wounds are fine now. It
was an expensive mission though. Over fifty men died and thirty are wounded and
that doesn’t take into account Smith. What a shame, he was a good man.”

“Hmm I can’t help thinking that that was a very opportune
death, you never liked the guy,” replied the President sceptically. “Just as
well your guy fixed the Kennedys’ plane or The Chairman may not have overlooked
the very high cost of the Guinean mission.”

Beaumont mumbled his agreement and began to leave the office.

“Oh I nearly forgot,” said Beaumont. “We should hear tomorrow
whether our offer to buy Alba has been accepted.”

The President perked up,

“What does your man think?”

“Not a problem.”

“Excellent, let me know as soon as you do.”

“Will do,” said Beaumont closing the door behind him.

Chapter 55

The helicopter arrived at 7.30 to take Tom to the Alba
Headquarters in Glasgow. It was his first trip to the office since his parents’
death. He was not looking forward to it. Kisho was with him as Papa would not
let him go anywhere on his own.

The chopper ride was over before they knew it. Tom was met on
the helipad on the roof of the Alba building, by his father’s PA. She was in
tears, just what Tom needed. She gave him a pack of papers and showed him
straight into the boardroom. The executives were all seated and passed on their
condolences as he walked towards the seat his father would normally have
occupied. Tom took the seat next to it.

The meeting began with a quick update of how business was
doing. In short, it wasn’t doing well. The business was suffering badly from
the reaction to Donald’s involvement in the assassinations.

They continued to run through the rest of the agenda.
Everything was fairly mundane, Tom could not help but think that the Execs had
broken him in gently. It was not until they reached the ‘AOB’ item (Any Other
Business) that things went sour. Alan announced that he had something to
discuss. Tom watched as the others whispered to Alan that this really wasn’t
the time.

“What is it Alan?” asked Tom as nonchalantly as he could. The
man irritated him but he was determined not to let it show.

“My colleagues,” he announced with a hint of disdain, “don’t
believe we should discuss this but I believe we should, in the interests of
Alba’s employees.”

“Interesting, Alan. Go on,” replied Tom, inwardly seething at
his CFO’s condescending tone.

“It’s quite simple really. If the current downturn in business
continues, we have a big problem. In fact, we will have a major crisis. Within
a month, our cash reserves, exacerbated by our recent cash purchase of Global
Media, will have dried up. Within two months, our credit lines will run out and
within three months, we will be staring bankruptcy in the face. If that
happens, we risk plunging three million people into unemployment.”

Jonathan, the Head of Legal, and Mark, the Chief Operating
Officer, tried to speak but Tom stopped them. He could see they were obviously
agitated by what had just been said.

“Oh my God! I didn’t realise it was that bad!” exclaimed Tom.
“What can we do?”

“We’ve received an offer, a very significant sum despite the
current downturn. Of course, it’s less than we would have anticipated a month ago
but in the current climate, I believe it’s an offer we should seriously
consider.”

“Who’s the offer from and how much?”

“It appears the buyer wishes to remain anonymous. The approach
has been made through a lawyer. As to how much, they’ve offered today’s market
value minus 10%.”

“OK, so just I understand this properly, you suggest we sell
to an anonymous bidder for today’s value minus 10%? What does that equate to,
compared to the company’s value a month ago?”

“Hmm that’s a very difficult comparison to make.”

“You used the comparison. Give me the number, what’s the
differential?” pushed Tom.

Alan paused, looked at his papers.

“About 40% less, the company has taken a massive hit.”

“OK, so, as Chief Financial Officer of Alba International, do
you believe we should accept the offer?” asked Tom putting Alan under the
spotlight.

Alan didn’t even think about what was being said before
answering.

“Yes, I believe it’s in the best interest of the company and
its employees.”

“OK,” Tom said evenly. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I think we
should have a vote. Those in favour of the bid, please raise your hands.”

Tom watched as each of the executives looked at each other
tentatively. Alan raised his hand high emphasising his point that the company
should be sold. Just as Tom was about to call the vote, other hands began to
move. The Marketing Director, The Director of Communications and the IT
Director, raised their hands.

“Anyone else or is that all?” asked Tom. Jonathan and Mark
cringed in their seats. They knew Tom very well, better than anybody else in
the room and they knew he was playing.

“OK, we have four for a sale. Are there any undecideds or
abstentions?”

Again, the group looked at each other as the question burned
at those yet to answer. With no hands being raised, Tom said, “OK it appears we
have 4 votes for the sale and 5 votes against,” he indicated to those who had
failed to vote on his two questions, each of the five nodded affirmatively.

“With only me left to decide and my casting vote on the tie I
suppose it’s down to me, do I want to sell or not?”

Tom pressed the intercom button.

“Can you come in please?”

Kisho stepped into the room, taking up position at Tom’s side.

“Can those of you who voted yes, please stand up,” he asked.
The four did so without question. Tom turned to Kisho.

“Kisho, could you please escort these people to the front door
of the building and remove their passes. They’re no longer welcome at Alba
International.”

Kisho immediately began to move towards the sacked executives.

“You can’t do this, you do not have the authority to sack me!”
shouted Alan. “I can’t be sacked by a kid! That’s ridiculous!”

“He just doesn’t get it, does he, Jonathan. For a clever man,
he is very stupid,” said Tom and turning to Alan, he shouted,

“I OWN THIS COMPANY.!!! I’ve been involved in it since the day
I was born. I know the financials better than you do. And by the way, I’ll be
reporting you for attempted fraud. Everything is on tape and I’m sure we’ll
link you to the anonymous bid.”

Alan flew at Tom who had played him like a chump. Getting him
to categorically state that the sale was in the company’s best interests would
probably cost Alan a few years in prison. Kisho, of course, was in the way and
having heard what Alan had just tried to do, used a little more force than
necessary to eject him from the room. As Alan had approached Tom, he was
swiftly propelled through the doors and into the foyer outside the boardroom.

Tom listened to the other three directors who had voted in
favour of selling Alba. They vehemently protested their innocence and said that
they had just reacted to the CFO’s advice and his very worrying update. Until
the meeting, they had had no idea about the possibility of bankruptcy. And they
certainly did not know that it was a plot to frighten Tom into selling.

“Gentlemen. You voted to sell Alba to an anonymous bidder for
40% less than she was worth a mere month ago. Whether you were involved in the
fraud or not, is irrelevant. Now get out of my sight, you disgust me.”

“But…” shrieked one of the directors trying to save their job.

“But nothing. Get out! Kisho please do the honours.” Kisho’s
assistance was not needed, the three men ran out of the room and stepped over
Alan who was still on the foyer floor.

As Kisho escorted the sacked executives out of the building,
Tom turned to the remainder of the group.

“Any other business?”

He was as surprised as the rest of the group when somebody
spoke.

“Just one thing,” said the Human Resources Director, “I take
it we need to fill these vacancies?”

Chapter 56

Alan couldn’t believe it. His charmed life had just fallen
apart. He was supposed to have become the CFO of the company buying Alba. With
a promised 5% stake in the business, he would have been rich beyond his wildest
dreams. Seven months ago, he was a chartered accountant who was doing time in
one of the big consulting firms. Out of the blue, he was head-hunted for the
position of CFO at Alba International, the job every accountant aspired to. As
Chief Financial Officer of the world’s largest company, his salary increased
ten-fold overnight and the bonuses were legendary.

However, his new offer extended even beyond that. In a few
months, with his 5% shareholding in an even larger business, he would have
instantly become a billionaire. Even when he got the CFO role at Alba, he could
think of nothing other than the day he would become a billionaire. He certainly
failed to take into consideration how the CFO role at Alba, which was not
vacant when he was approached, had suddenly and surprisingly become available.

As he left the building with his personal effects in a box, he
called his contact and explained what had happened. He was very sorry but the
son was in no mood to sell and probably never would. Alan ended the call and
sped home. He had to get his passport, he wasn’t going to hang around and wait
for the police to come for him. Spain sounded good, he would just disappear to
Spain. He wished now he had saved more money. He had been making a fortune but
with billions around the corner, he had been living well beyond his means. He
was broke, sacked and about to become a fugitive. All because of a damn kid.

Chapter 57

Tom spent the rest of the day in the office. Having sacked
four of the board before 9.00 a.m., it was going to be a hectic day. By
lunchtime, three of the positions were filled with their very capable deputies.
The one role which remained unfilled was the CFO role. The Human Resources
Director had explained to Tom that they had had difficulties recruiting for the
role previously. In fact, Donald himself had had to get involved and eventually
recruited Alan. Tom was surprised, Alan was the last person he would have
thought his father would have selected.

At 6.00 p.m., he called for his helicopter, it was time to go
home. He and Kisho arrived at the Estate twenty minutes later to a very warm
welcome. Lela had not been apart from Tom since the deaths and had not enjoyed
the day at all. She rushed out and gave him a huge hug.
 

Papa told Tom that Lela had been lost all day. After a brief
discussion, they agreed that the best thing would be to get back to school as
soon as possible. That would keep them both occupied. The school trip to Machu
Picchu would be a perfect return for them.

All Tom needed to do was recruit a CFO before they left. The
Board didn’t need him around and he would hold a couple of Executive update
meetings each week, dialling in by video conference. On top of which, he had
all the company systems on his computer. As he had said to Alan, he knew the
company better than most and had always taken a keen interest.

Tom made his way upstairs to his bedroom, thinking about what
needed to be done. Before he knew it, he had walked past his room and was
almost at the door to his father’s study. He looked at the door, he hadn’t even
looked inside since his father had died. He pushed the handle down to go in but
it was locked. Why would his dad have locked his study? His mind jumped back to
the night he had gone to get his father and Saki for dinner, the night before they
left for school. His father had locked the door then too.

Tom lifted his foot and kicked at the door handle with all his
weight behind it, the wooden frame gave way and the door swung open. Having
heard the smash, Kano and Kisho appeared instantly, having thought somebody had
broken in. Tom explained what he had done and that he just wanted to check his
father’s study and thanked them but he would do it himself.

Tom entered the study, it was just as he remembered it. A
large desk by the window, with PC and telephones. There was a huge open fire
and next to it his father’s battered reading chair. His mother had refused to
allow the chair any house-room so his father had sneaked it in one night when
she was at the Hospital, where she worked as a Paediatrician. It really was
horrible and thread-bare but Donald had insisted that it was the most fantastic
reading chair. Next to the ‘antique’ was a huge and very comfortable sofa. Tom
had spent many hours sitting there with his father over the years. He moved back
to the desk, he knew it would not be easy, the room held so many happy
memories.

When Tom sat at the desk, he noticed a lack of papers. The
desk was very tidy, his father’s desk had not been tidy in the fourteen years
he had known him. He looked around and checked in the drawers, nothing. Tom
gave up and began to boot up the PC. As he listened to its familiar whirring,
he thought back again to the night his father and Saki had locked themselves
in. Tom had distinctly heard papers being shuffled and then he had heard a thud
and a clunk. He looked around knowing that something was missing. Where was the
safe he had heard?