‘Yes, Ellen told me about that,’ Harvey said. ‘It was called Torrent PLC, an office supplies business. It was a major company once, but it’s changed its focus, since the photocopier leasing that generated a lot of its income was upstaged by computers. That’s the area it’s in now, as I understand it. There was a Scotsman magazine piece on it lately. When Ellen read it she said that Oz had dealings with it, and with its present owner.’
‘Yes.’ I confirmed that. I recalled the story, although he’d never mentioned the name of the company. ‘Her name was Natalie Morgan. He told me about her. But those dealings were fairly confrontational, from what he said. As a successful businesswoman around the same age, she and Susie were seen by the media as rivals. It was true as far as Morgan was concerned: she hated Susie. That was the main reason why she tried to stage a buyout of the Gantry Group, with the support of the guy who was chairman at that time, and of a few other people who were less than clean. She nearly managed it, but Oz and Culshaw put paid to it. The old chairman fell on his sword after that and Susie’s chaired the company pretty much ever since, apart from a short period when Oz did the job.’
‘That’s more than Ellen knew,’ he remarked.
‘What’s Morgan doing now?’ I asked.
‘Same as most other people, from what I hear. Trying to see her business through some difficult marketplace conditions.’
‘I wasn’t really talking about business,’ I laughed. ‘I don’t suppose you do gossip, Harvey.’
‘I try to avoid it, but I recall Ellen mentioning something about her and Oz’s actor friend, Ewan Capperauld. That was some time ago, though.’
‘Yes, Oz did say she put it about … but never in his direction, he promised.’
I called Susie back straight away, and gave her a rundown on what Harvey had said … although I left out his worst-case scenario. She didn’t need to be thinking along those lines.
‘A non-executive chairman,’ she murmured. ‘In my darker moments, I’ve come to realise that I may have to step down soon. But … The Gantry Group might be a public company, Primavera, but I still think of it as the family firm, as it is in terms of majority control, and I don’t want to hand over to an outsider. At the moment, the board is me, Phil, Gerry Meek, the finance director, and a lady named Gillian Harvey. She’s the only non-exec just now. The company secretary’s Wylie Smith, from our law firm, but he’s not on the board. That’s his preference, not mine; apparently most solicitors don’t like to be directors of client companies. My dream was that one day, maybe another twenty years on, I’d step back and hand over to one of the kids, as my dad did with me. Now … twelve’s a bit young, eh.’
‘Just a bit,’ I conceded, grimly.
‘So I can only see one option, my dear,’ she continued, her voice firmer than it had been. ‘I want you to become non-executive chair of the Gantry Group.’
‘Me?’ I exclaimed, more loudly than was necessary. ‘I couldn’t chair a fucking whist drive.’
‘Nonsense,’ she retorted. ‘You’re a director of your brother-in-law’s wine company. And look at that job you had in the consulate; I know about some of the deals you did there. For FlyEuro, for example, and that Jack Weighley character … a journalist described him as a Scottish cult figure a couple of months back; I dropped a note saying he’d spelt it wrong.’
‘But I’m not family, Susie.’
‘You’re the nearest thing I’ve got to family, girl. You’re my stepson’s mother. And we both loved the same guy. You know he’s looking down on us, nodding approval at the idea.’
‘If he’s looking in any direction, it’s up,’ I countered. ‘That’s what Liam Matthews said.’
‘Liam Matthews? Oz’s wrestler pal? When did you see him?’
‘This morning. He’s here on holiday. I’m having dinner with him tonight.’
‘Is he still single?’
‘Yes, but forget it.’
Susie laughed. ‘Come on, woman. Do you like him?’
‘He seems like a nice guy,’ I conceded.
‘Not bad-looking either.’
‘True.’
‘Then do yourself a favour. There is absolutely no harm in getting yourself laid. The clock’s ticking, you …’ Her voice tailed away as she realised how ominous that was for her.
‘Please do it, Primavera,’ she whispered. ‘Take the chair, for me and for him, and for Tom as well. You’ll be looking after him.’
‘Can I think about it?’ I asked
‘No. It needs doing now. I’ve thought it through. We’ll make a formal announcement to the Stock Exchange on Monday that I’m stepping down from the chair on health grounds and that you’re succeeding me on a non-exec basis. Also, Audrey Kent will be appointed a director.’
‘Does she know?’
‘No, she’s not back yet.’
‘Do you have the authority to do this? Won’t the other three directors have to agree?’
‘I have the power as chairman, and as majority shareholder. Okay?’
I sighed. ‘Okay.’
‘Good. Now, the kids’ trust. I like what Harvey says. I want to do it quietly and quickly. Is there any chance of you going to Scotland next week?’
‘Once Janet and wee Jonathan are back with you, yes, I could.’
‘Fine,’ she declared. ‘In that case your first act as chair should be to set up a meeting in Glasgow, soon as you can, Tuesday if possible. While you’re there I want you to go to see my personal lawyer. You know him. Remember Greg McPhillips, Oz’s pal?’
‘Yes of course. Flash bastard, bit of a womaniser.’
‘Both of the above, but a great lawyer. I’m going to give you power of attorney to act for me in putting the trust together, and to appoint trustees. I’d like Greg to be one himself, and Mac Blackstone, if he’s prepared.’
‘For his grandchildren? Susie, if you didn’t ask him he’d never speak to you again.’
‘So you ask him for me. Then there’s my will. I want you to ask Greg to draw it up so that my surviving husband gets what he’d have if he had to go to court for it, but no shares in the business, if that can be avoided.’
‘I’ll do all that, but you’ll have to sign it.’
‘I know.’ I could hear her growing more tired by the minute. ‘Tell Greg he’ll need to bring it over to Monaco.’
‘Will do. I’m sure he’ll fancy the trip.’
‘He always does,’ she said. ‘But Primavera, tell him not to hang about. I need to get this done soon. Just in case, girl, just in case.’
I searched for a reassuring counter, but I couldn’t find one.
Eight
I promised Susie that I’d make sure Janet called her, and I did as soon as she came back from the beach. I took her up to my room, telling the boys that we were having some ‘girlie time’, placed the call on the landline, then went out on to the terrace while they spoke.
I stripped down to my pants, lay on my sunbed and closed my eyes, contemplating the day I was having. It was one of the most unexpected and most solemn of my life, and it was only a little more than halfway through. I thought over Susie’s advice, but decided against taking it. Yes, I liked Liam, but I’d made myself a solemn vow that for me, there had to be more than liking involved, and I wasn’t about to break it.
I’m not sure how long I lay there before I became aware of a fleeting shadow, a momentary change in the light as Janet passed between me and the sun and sat in the chair alongside.
I propped myself up on my elbows and looked at her. She met my gaze and I saw that her eyes were moist. ‘Did you have a good talk?’ I murmured.
She nodded. ‘Yes, she told me what’s wrong with her and about the treatment she’s had. And she said she was sorry for not telling me before, but she didn’t want to worry me. She said that it’s all finished now and that she’s going to be fine. She sounded good.’ Nonetheless the kid frowned. ‘She told me something else, Auntie Primavera. She and Duncan; they’re married. He’s in America with her and Audrey.’