by Latham, D
"Why did he tell you?" I still didn't want to confirm or deny anything. Lawyer training kicked in. She looked sheepish.
"He told me because when I discovered you'd walked out in the middle of the night, I wrongly made the assumption that it had been your fault, and I wasn't very complimentary. He also told me it was you that Mrs Smith had been spouting off about, which of course, I'd repeated at dinner."
"You weren't to know who that toxic old bat was talking about," I muttered.
"I know, it doesn't excuse my rudeness though, especially as you were so helpful getting it so beautifully done."
I shrugged. "I don't know what you expect me to say or do, Lady Golding. I'm sorry Oscar regrets what he did, but I did nothing wrong, and he needs to accept that I'm no longer in his life. He's far better suited to a less, how shall I put it, ordinary girl than me, and I'm sure he'll find a nice titled lady settle down with, and you'll all be pleased I'm out of the picture."
"You're far from ordinary Elle, you could have asked him for millions, yet you acted with total integrity. He realises what he's lost, and he's beside himself with regret."
"As I explained to Oscar, I'm a lawyer. My career is more important than a few million, which I can earn legitimately for myself. Blackmailing someone would get me struck off, and I fought way too hard to get here, to just throw it away for someone else's mistake. Now, perhaps if Oscar had been turned down a few more times in his life, he would have been better equipped to deal with this, but we all have disappointments to deal with at times. I didn't have much fun trudging through country lanes, lost, cold, and upset on Saturday night, but I got over it."
"How on earth did you get home?"
"I called my driver as soon as I realised there was no village nearby, and he used GPS to pinpoint my mobile phone, and come and rescue me." I didn't need to tell her about Ivan. "I'm a city girl, with no experience of the country. I had no idea how to get back to London. Oscar knew that, and still let me walk out alone. A gentlemen would never have behaved like that."
"You have no idea how appalled I am at his behaviour, Elle, all of it. I wish none of it had happened, but he's still my son, and I hate seeing him in so much pain."
"So did you come here to try and persuade me to go back to him?"
"I'm not sure. I wanted to apologise to you, and see if there was a possibility you could forgive him." She looked at me hopefully.
"I don't hate him, but I can't possibly be with him. I couldn't live with his predilection. I also found out that I couldn't live in your world, so there's nothing to forgive. My best advice is to go home, give him a cuddle, and let him be the man he wants to be, without the pressure to become what you think is right."
She stared at me, making me nervous that I'd said the wrong thing. "You really are the one that got away, no wonder he's so upset. He should have grabbed you with both hands, and never let you go while he had the chance. Now, if there's ever anything you need, please don't hesitate to come to me. I owe you a debt for your silence."
"It's not your debt, Lady Golding, but I can assure you that our secret will go to the grave with me. I have no desire to ruin Oscar, or even Darius for that matter. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of work I need to be getting on with, and an old bat to bully." I stood up, and shook her hand, before she left, escorted by Roger. A horrid thought struck me, I hoped Roger hadn't been eavesdropping on our conversation. Knowing Ivan's habit of bugging offices, I couldn't be 100% sure.
Chapter 17
Staying at the house was wonderful. Jo was extremely hospitable and efficient, providing wonderful meals, and laundering my clothes each day. The week seemed to be flying by, and we were making fantastic progress at the factory. My trainee legal staff had been working diligently and methodically, and we had made huge inroads in the ancient paper system. Even Marion had piped down, and was sulkily embracing the changes. The interim manager even commissioned a cleaning team to tackle the accumulation of dust and dirt in the offices, so it was a more pleasant environment to work in.
James text to tell me that he was enjoying California, the geeks he was in charge of we're alright, and not too greasy, and that he was delighted that I'd booked time off work, and would begin researching holidays. I missed him, and our flat, and was really looking forward to getting back on Friday, even though he wouldn't be there. Ivan's house was lovely, but I was a bit sick of all the security that watched my every movement, and felt the need for some privacy and quiet.
By midday on Friday, every member of staff had been seen, according to the foreman's lists. Strangely there were still files unclaimed, and ledger entries not accounted for. I quickly typed a list of names that hadn't been seen, and went in search of the foreman. He scanned the list, looking puzzled.
"Never heard of any of those people," he said, shaking his head.
"Not off sick, holiday, or paternity leave?" I probed.
"No. Nobody on long term sick at the moment, and certainly no pregnant men," he joked, "and we close for two week summer holiday, and two weeks at Christmas. I know every worker in this factory, and I don't know those names."
I nodded, "thanks for all your help," and went back to the office. I checked the ledgers again, getting the final pay figure for the previous month, then ran a simulation on the new system. It was over two hundred thousand pounds less. Puzzled, I looked in the company cheque books, and uncovered the scam. I called Ivan.
"I think I've uncovered an issue," I said without preamble.
"Go on," he replied.
"Right, well, the factory was paying a thousand and twenty staff each month by cheque, and on the statements, it doesn't say where the cheques went, just the numbers. We have inputted all the staff now, and we are just over a hundred short. I ran a simulation, and the wage bill will be two hundred grand less a month than before. I think there were just over a hundred ghost employees."
He whistled through his teeth, "well done Elle, that's some serious cash being sucked out each month, and nearly two and a half million a year. I suspected there may have been some, but not on that scale. I'm going to pay a visit this afternoon. Keep that personnel woman there until I get there please."
"We have her booked in for a disciplinary meeting at two. Will you make that, or should I delay it?"
"I'll be there. In the meantime, speak to Lewis about the contractual issues that this throws up with the previous owners, as there has been fraud."
He cut the call, leaving me standing with the phone in my hand. I really must speak to him about learning to say hi and bye.
I called Lewis, and told him what I'd found. He was shocked at the scale of the fraud, and pointed out that Ivan's bill to the firm would be repaid with just one month's savings on the payroll. He promised to scour the sale contract, and find an angle to sue for breach of contract due to payroll fraud.
I collected the paper files that related to the ghost workers, finally emptying the shelves and checked the contents of a few. Blank paper and unsigned photocopies had been stuffed in to make them look legit. I put them in a box, along with the pay ledgers, and instructed Roger to keep guard over them until Ivan arrived.
When the last of the filing had been completed, and the system checked for any missing paperwork (there wasn't any), I let all the trainees go home, thanking them for their hard work, and their attention to detail. With every employee file up to date, and linked into the clocking in system, my work was done.
Marion arrived back from lunch extremely late, just as the maintenance men were dismantling the rickety old shelves in her office. "Hey, what are they doing? Those shelves are useful storage," she complained.
"No useful storage needed now. The computer is the storage, and the shiny new filing cabinets. Now Marion, would you like to take the typewriter home so that you can continue to type out the church newsletter? Lady Golding did mention that you could only do it at work due to not possessing a typewriter at home." I smiled brightly at her look of utter horror.
/>
"You were the one who did it instead," she said.
"Yep. Corrected all your terrible spelling too, and for your information, I am indeed Mr Porenski's lawyer, well one of them, and no I'm not sleeping with him. I like to think I can make my way in the world using my brains, not my body. You might want to tell that to Lady Golding."
She went bright red, "I can't believe she told you."
"She didn't know you were talking about me, I was there as her son's girlfriend, and I had to listen to all your opinions of me over dinner. So I suggest you think before you gossip in future. Lady Golding is terribly embarrassed that she repeated it, not knowing I was sitting at her table."
Before she had a chance to answer, the manager came in to request her presence in the disciplinary meeting. He informed me that I would be required too. We followed him down the corridor to the old chairman's office, where Ivan was already seated. He stood as we entered the room, and indicated that Marion should be seated opposite him at the large desk. I sat beside her, and the manager beside Ivan. Marion glanced nervously at Ivan's security detail who were by the door.
Ivan spoke first, "good afternoon Mrs Smith, I'm Mr Porenski, your employer. We're you made aware of your right to be accompanied today by a colleague or trades union representative?"
"Oh yes, but I don't need one. This is all just a silly misunderstanding about a newsletter and a piece of paper."
Ivan looked quizzical. "Mrs Smith, who are John Knox, David Logan, Peter Merdy, and all the other names that you have been paying cheques to for years, that don't work here?" He handed her the list. I watched carefully as she went very pale. A sheen of sweat appeared on her top lip.
"I don't know," she said, "I just did the payroll."
"You wrote out the cheques," said Ivan, "the stubs are in your handwriting. Who were you making those cheques out to?"
"I don't know what cheques you're talking about," she said, playing dumb.
Ivan's fist crashed down on the desk, making us all jump. He stood and bellowed at her, "DON'T LIE TO ME, I WILL NOT BE LIED TO, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"He was absolutely terrifying, and I prayed I’d never be on the receiving end of his temper. Marion looked panicked, and began to shake.
Then the most awful, horrific thing happened, Marion wet herself. It ran down the chair legs and splashed loudly onto the floor. When Ivan realised what was happening, his eyes widened in shock. I actually had to move my chair out of the way to avoid a puddle of piss round my shoes. She sat in her wet skirt, covered in urine, in front of Ivan, and cried.
"It was Mr Morgan, the managing director, "she sobbed, struggling to get the words out, "he, he made me. Then when it was sold, said we should carry on, that he was getting what was rightfully his."
Ivan held his hand up for her to stop. "Mrs Smith, this is a police matter now. Your manager will call them, and give them the tape of this meeting, and they will investigate. You are dismissed from this company with immediate effect for theft, which is classed as a gross misconduct. There will be no pay in lieu of notice or severance pay, and we shall co operate with any police action brought against you. Do you understand?" She nodded weakly. "Good day to you. Elle, come with me please." Ivan rose and walked around the desk. We left Mrs Smith and the manager in there.
"Oh god, that was horrific," he said, striding down the corridor. "I can't believe that just happened. You didn't get it on your shoes did you?"
"I think I got out of the firing line just in time."
"Good, now I need to get back to London. Join me in my car." Please would be nice.
"Roger has my bags."
"I had them moved to my car. Lets go." His security held open the rear doors of a large, silver Bentley. We got in, and a bodyguard got in the front seat next to the driver. Once we'd moved off, Ivan pressed a button to lift the privacy screen. He opened the bar to pull out a bottle of Krug, deftly opening it in the confined space. He handed me a glass. "To a profitable partnership."
I clinked his glass, "cheers."
Krug on an empty stomach is not a great idea. After just one glass, I began to feel light headed. Ivan's close proximity and delicious scent began to affect me. I took a bottle of water from my handbag, and glugged it down. It was warm, and a bit stale, but did the job. My head cleared a little.
"How long are you going to deny your attraction to me?" Ivan asked, putting me on the spot.
"I don't deny that you're very attractive Ivan, but I'm not going to throw myself at you."
"I see, why's that?"
"One, I work for you, indirectly I know, but still. Two, I just got away from Oscar, and three, you only date models."
"Do I get the opportunity to answer those concerns?"
"Be my guest." This was getting exciting.
"One, you work for Pearson Hardwick, not me. I would employ you in a flash, but doubt that I could lure you away, or compete with the other big law firms for your employment. Two, you don't seem heartbroken over Oscar. I know you cried on Saturday night, but after that, you were fine, that tells me you weren't in love with him, and three, you are far prettier and more intriguing than any model I ever met. Does that answer you?"
"You scare me," I admitted. "Does that surprise you?"
He looked shocked. "How do I scare you? You saw me with the girls, how soft I am."
"I also just saw you make an old lady piss herself in fear. I watched you try and scam a client. Yes you're lovely with the dogs, but it doesn't take away from the fact that you're an alpha male. You even approach this like a business transaction. I place my objections, you counter, and a shag is pencilled into our schedules. It's not how I conduct my relationships."
"So tell me, what do I need to do?"
"Ivan, I'm not going to do that. If its meant to be, it'll happen. I'm not giving you a tick list. If your approach is a turn off for me, I don't expect you to change."
He grabbed my hand, and held it to his perfect lips, "you see, Elle, I think you and I would have the hottest, rawest sex together. I think I could make you come so hard that you forget your own name." Jesus Christ, that is definitely a voice made for phone sex. Everything south of my waist tightened. No hearts or flowers though, just a sexual plaything to a rich man. I snatched my hand away.
"I don't want what you're offering Ivan. Sorry."
"Oh Elle, you're a hard woman."
I stared out of the window silently for the rest of the drive while Ivan caught up on phone calls, jabbering in Russian in most of them. I asked the driver to stop at a garage, so I could pick up some necessities, and before I knew it, we were pulling up outside my flat.
"Thanks for the lift," I said, clambering out of the car. The driver opened the boot, and pulled out my case and bag.
"Elle, thank you for uncovering all that this week. It was a great job done," said Ivan. I grabbed my bags and went home.
The first thing I did was put a coffee on, the second was to phone Lewis. "Hi, I'm back. Any developments?"
"I spoke to Porenski and advised him how to proceed. It worked in his favour because with correct payroll costs, the company is more profitable than expected. We just filed a minor damages claim for mis-representation, but beyond that, he's better keeping quiet and enjoying the extra profit."
"Do you need me to come back to work? It's only four."
"No, but I think you should meet us in Lauren's bar at five. Drinks are on me."
"That sounds great. See you in a bit."
I unpacked my bag and hung all my laundered clothes up in my dressing room, before changing into jeans and flats and heading over to the bar. All my workmates were there, enjoying bottles of cold beer at the end of a hard week. I got a cheer when I walked in, and a cold bottle of bud pressed into my hand. I took a long draught. Lewis sidled up.
"Do you want the good news? Or the really good news?"
"Go on."
"You have a meeting with Ms Pearson on Monday to discuss your salary and status.You need to go over to head office. Y
our meetings at ten."
"Wow! Is that the good or really good news?"
"Just the good. Wait for this, due to Mr Porenski's patronage, and the fact that he’s been raving about us, well you really, we have gained five large blue chip clients this week alone, snatched from under the noses of our competitors. Worth millions a year each, with more firms expressing interest and sounding us out. How great is that? You make sure you get a decent pay rise."
I clinked bottles with Lewis. "By the way, how much should I ask for?" I whispered in his ear.
"Ask for 250k, settle on 200. Ask for a performance bonus of 100% of basic salary for every million you generate in revenue. I didn't just tell you that, capiche?" I winked at him and grinned. I truly had arrived.
End of Book One
Other books by D A Latham
The Beauty and the Blonde
Available on Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
D A Latham is a salon owner, mother of Persian cats, and devoted partner to the wonderful Allan.