This Was a Man (The Clifton Chronicles #7)(53)

‘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.’

‘My pleasure.’

‘I’m bound to ask,’ she continued, ‘as Mr Sorkin was willing to offer me three million for my shares, can I assume that Thomas Cook will match that price?’

She’d turned another page of the script Seb hadn’t read. Before he could respond, Ray Brook chuckled, and said, ‘You’ve got yourself a deal, young lady.’

‘Thank you,’ said Kelly, who turned to the bank’s lawyer and added, ‘I’ll leave you to draw up the paperwork, Mr Hardcastle, and do let me know the moment you receive the three million.’

‘I think that’s our cue to leave,’ said the chairman of Cook’s, unable to resist a grin. The three men left the boardroom, closing the door behind them.

Kelly sat down at the head of the table for a few moments before she picked up the phone in front of her and dialled a number she had called every evening for the past two weeks.

As soon as she heard the familiar voice on the other end of the line, she said, ‘It all went to plan, Virginia.’