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Emma continued to answer questions for another hour, and it pained Alex to have to admit, although he would never have mentioned it in front of Don Pedro, that she was unquestionably on top of her brief.
After she closed the meeting with the words, “See you all on August twenty-fourth at the AGM,” Alex quickly left the boardroom and made his way out of the building. Emma watched from the top-floor window as he drove out of the compound, only reminding her that she could never afford to lower her guard.
Alex parked outside the Lord Nelson and walked across to the phone box, four pennies ready. “The ship will be named by the Queen Mother on September twenty-first, and the maiden voyage to New York is still planned for October twenty-ninth.”
“I’ll see you in my office at ten tomorrow morning,” was all Don Pedro said before the line went dead.
Alex would like to have told him, just once, “Sorry, old boy, can’t make it. I’ve got a far more important appointment at that time,” but he knew he would be standing outside 44 Eaton Square at one minute to ten the following morning.
* * *
24 Arcadia Mansions
Bridge Street
Bristol
Dear Mrs. Clifton,
It is with considerable regret that I have to tender my resignation as a non-executive director of the board of Barrington’s Shipping. At the time when my fellow directors voted to go ahead with the building of the Buckingham, you were firmly opposed to the idea, and indeed voted against it. I can now see, admittedly with hindsight, that your judgment was sound. As you pointed out at the time, to risk such a large percentage of the company’s reserves on a single venture could well turn out to be a decision we will all live to regret.
Since, after several setbacks, Ross Buchanan felt he had to resign—rightly so in my opinion—and you took his place, I must admit you have battled manfully to ensure that the company remains solvent. However, when you informed the board last week that unless the take-up for cabin sales was at 86 percent for the next ten years, there would be no chance of us returning our original investment, I realized that the project was doomed, and, I fear, the company along with it.
Naturally I hope to be proved wrong, as it would sadden me to see such a fine old company as Barrington’s collapse, and even, heaven forbid, face bankruptcy. But as I believe that is a strong possibility, my first responsibility must be to the shareholders, and I have therefore been left with no choice but to resign.
Yours sincerely,
Alex Fisher (Major Rtd.)
“And you expect me to send this letter to Mrs. Clifton on August the twenty-first, just three days before the company’s AGM?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I expect you to do,” said Martinez.
“But if I were to do that, the share price would collapse. It might even bring the company down.”
“You’re catching on fast, major.”
“But you have over two million pounds invested in Barrington’s. You’d stand to lose a fortune.”
“Not if I sell all my shares a few days before you release that letter to the press.” Alex was speechless. “Ah,” said Martinez, “the penny has dropped. Now I can see that at a personal level, major, this isn’t good news, as not only will you lose your only source of income, but, at your age, you might not find it so easy to get another job.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” said Alex. “After sending this,” he added, waving the letter in front of Don Pedro, “no company would ever consider asking me to join their board, and I couldn’t blame them.”
“So I felt it was only fair,” continued Don Pedro, ignoring his outburst, “that you should be properly compensated for your loyalty, especially after you went through such an expensive divorce. With that in mind, major, I intend to pay you five thousand pounds in cash that neither your wife nor the taxman need ever know about.”
“That’s most generous,” said Alex.
“I agree. However, it’s dependent on you handing that letter to the chairman on the Friday before the AGM, as I’m advised that the Saturday and Sunday papers will be keen to follow up the story. You must also be available to be interviewed on the Friday so you can express your anxiety about the future of Barrington’s, so that when Mrs. Clifton opens the AGM on Monday morning, there will be only one question on every journalist’s lips.”
“How long can the company hope to survive?” said Alex. “But given the circumstances, Don Pedro, I wonder if you’d be prepared to let me have a couple of thousand in advance, and pay the balance after I’ve sent the letter and dealt with the press interviews?”
“Not a chance, major. You still owe me a thousand for your wife’s vote.”
* * *
“You do realize, Mr. Martinez, the damage this will do to Barrington Shipping?”
“I don’t pay you to offer me advice, Mr. Ledbury, just to carry out my instructions. If you can’t manage to do that, I’ll have to find someone who can.”
