Virginity Despoiled

by Charles Brett

  Enrique heard a familiar engine. Lili had found him, as he'd expected. Somehow he always ended up in one of four particular groves, the ones from which their best EVOO came. Ugh! He was using the term himself. That's what happened when you spent too much time with the ignorant.

  He shook his head. That wasn't fair. Inma and Ana knew a lot more than either he or Lili had expected, though it was but a veneer compared to what he and Lili had learnt over the past decade.

  He called out and waved, should she not hear him. The Cayenne crept forward. Lili killed its engine and jumped out.

  His spirits rose when he spied her peace offering in the form of a small basket. From past pleasures he expected it to contain fresh bread, tomato, plus at least two olive oils – one of their own with one from elsewhere – to provide a comparison and talking point.

  He would still have to dissect the weekend with her. But, for a breakfast like this, with coffee to follow, he couldn't complain. His stomach rumbled in expectation.

  "Lili, come sit under this tree. We can eat and talk afterwards, like I know you want to."

  He knew she knew, he knew, etc. At least her offering would let her ease him into a conversation Lili knew he would have preferred to avoid. Ana had stirred him. It was not a subject he could share with Lili. Had she noticed anything?

  Tuesday: Madrid

  Inma heard the outer office door open. Ana was on time, even early. So like Ana, ruthless in her punctuality, for which Inma was grateful, especially on a damp day like today. For Inma the weather was no problem. All she had to do was descend from her apartment to the first floor where she rented their small office. Ana lived further away, though it was walkable. It would be wet on a day like today.

  Sure enough a bedraggled Ana put her head around Inma's door. Each had their own office. There was also a larger meeting room and space for a secretary, should they ever need one. Her ordering in coffee and some sweet-smelling croissants, for a change, would tempt Ana for sure. Her cousin could eat and not show the effects. Ana reappeared.

  "Before we start assessing the weekend I want you to go to Tallinn the day after tomorrow."

  "Where?"

  "Estonia. South of Helsinki, through which I suggest you fly."

  "Why?" challenged Ana through a mouthful of croissant.

  "Talkative today? If I said 'because I told you so' I guess it wouldn't count for much?"

  Ana shook her head in confirmation.

  "Thought so. We have an enquiry I think we should follow up, a re-insurance opportunity. I can't go. I've that presentation to give here on Friday. It's about time you operated on your own. You know the basics."

  Ana wasn't sure whether to be flattered or flattened. Inma did most of the initial client contact work, with Ana performing the legal and administrative follow-up. Yet Ana had known the day must arrive when she would be on her own. What she hadn't expected was for it to be so far from Spain. Most of their business was local or came via London, Frankfurt or Paris with a smattering from Zurich. These were familiar places.

  "We can talk through what little I know once you've booked your flights and hotel. Because of the connection in Helsinki you won't arrive until late afternoon on Thursday. I'm sorry but it may mean flying back on Saturday, or Sunday, if you want to see Tallinn. It's an old Hansa trading city.

  "Okay. Let's change subjects and evaluate the weekend. What were your impressions?"

  Ana took her time, even though she'd prepared. She opened her tablet.

  "About the business opportunity I'm not sure. There are possibilities with Olivos Ramos y Tremblay, as it is a collection of businesses. I rather like the way that Lili and Enrique have organised each one into its own profit centre rather than running everything as one. On the other hand, while this makes evaluating the risks easier, they become harder to assess in aggregate, which is what I suspect you'd prefer.

  "That said, they impressed me with their olive tree growing and olive oil production. I liked the downstream operations more than I expected. The depth of knowledge Enrique conveys awes me, everything from references in the Classics to the latest in methodologies for olive growing and pressing, like that Super High Density experiment. All was laid out, organised and clear – once we could see it with our own eyes.

  "But I retain one uncertainty. Why aren't they making a fortune? A constant undertone suggested that money was short. A couple of examples. Why was Lili driving an old Cayenne? Why not something newer? I get why Enrique finds an ancient 4x4 pickup useful around the plantations, but his Golf was almost as ancient, and modest to boot. I had the distinct impression everything looked good but wasn't quite right underneath."

  Ana stiffened, as if reluctant, before continuing.

  "What did you think?"

  "We'll come to that. What about Lili and Enrique?"

  "As people? I liked them. Not so much to begin with, but from Saturday onward. By the way, your openness in response to Enrique's hostility when we arrived was masterful. I've never seen you do it so well."

  Inma bobbed her head in appreciation.

  "Lili I found the stranger of the two, and cold. No. Cold isn't right. Reserved. Without overt warmth. Clever, though. Very clever. Too clever? I can't judge. Maybe it's because she's Canadian. She is weirdly slender and almost flat-chested. Yet she dresses well, albeit without your curves to show off. But you should know more about her than me. You spent more time with her.

  "In contrast, Enrique was charming, or was doing his best to be. I think he was quite attracted to me but didn't wish to show it in front of Lili, which is understandable. But that raises different questions – about how they work and live together. It was more and more baffling as the weekend went on.

  "Did I learn a lot? I could learn 100 times more about each individual topic. If Enrique was a water hydrant I would be a desiccated vegetable garden, absorbing his output for the future. Overall? The business, or businesses, seemed shaky, the people competent and something wasn't right."

  "A good analysis. Very like my own. The difference is that Lili revealed more to me than Enrique told you. You're correct. The businesses hang by a thread. The olive oil world, for the reasons we discussed on the way down, has profoundly corrupt parts. In consequence, they, like many other specialist producers, are being screwed.

  "Lili told me how, over the past years, she's poured her savings into what we saw. As she put it, they're always on the verge of making big money, but never quite manage it. She confided she gives her future involvement about another six to twelve months. If there's no sustained improvement she'll be away, returning to banking. She's expecting an offer from an old boss."

  "That might explain some of the tension. What was your take on each of them?"

  "On Enrique? Much like yours. I recognise his type. Very Spanish. Proud, industrious and devoted to his inheritance, which, by the way, Lili rescued for him by obliging him to take difficult decisions as well as pushing him towards the olive business. His father wanted him to make wine."

  "And Lili?"

  "She intrigues. Your physical description of her was spot on. She has a mind like a razor. She's ambitious, almost greedy, but for what I couldn't decide. I'd normally have suggested money. But it's not that, not after what she's spent. Recognition? I think that's nearer the mark. I liked her, but not at first. That came gradually, over the weekend. By the end there was a connection. Strange."

  "Drawn to her?"

  Inma locked eyes with Ana. No hints there.

  "You have a point. She reminded me a little of Miriam, from my HolyPhone past whom you never met; she possessed the same exaggerated North American work ethic. These days I think Lili rues being responsible for what has happened to Olivos Ramos y Tremblay, which to some degree is why she can contemplate walking away and returning to banking, even if – or perhaps because – that leaves her savings invested in his possessions. Financially she has nothing more to offer."

  "Will we do business with them?"


  Tuesday: Úbeda

  Lili made herself comfortable under Enrique's favourite olive tree. This was the first place she'd sought him. The signs were the normal ones. When Enrique wanted to avoid talking he disappeared into his groves. She'd given him a couple of hours to compose himself before preparing breakfast, the one sure way to overcome his resistance.

  Lili decided to be upfront: "What did you make of the weekend and our visitors?"

  She herself was uncertain, in ways that weren't familiar. Would Enrique have insights or feel the same?

  Enrique deliberated, as if he hadn't known Lili would question him. He decided to play safe.

  "I was stunned when you introduced Inma as the Condesa. That was not the brown-tented Opus devotee at that wedding long ago. She was gorgeous. Each day she was immaculate. And what a figure! I don't think I've admired such sinuous-clothed perfection for years."

  "You fancy her?"

  "No, not really. She didn't give off, at least not to me, any sense of wanting to attract. She wanted to stun in the way a good painting or sculpture does. To be regarded, admired. But no more. On the other hand, I was impressed by what she knew of olive oil. While not convinced her insurance ideas will work, you were right. They are worth consideration, more than I expected. I also liked how both sacrificed their weekend and did it with enthusiasm. To me this felt genuine, rather than the polite pretences we are accustomed to. That's rare.

  "As for Ana, she was a different sort of surprise. When you described her as an 'assistant' I expected a secretary, more decorative than useful as too often is this country's way. Very decorative. I was comfortable with her. She drank up whatever I talked about."

  "You were enthralled. It always works with you."

  Lili smiled to take the edge off her comment.

  "I was. You're right. But it went deeper. Her questions were based on preparation. You know what I appreciated most? She accepted her ignorance and that she was among the dupes who regard Extra Virgin Olive Oil as a gold standard without trying to find out more.

  "She described how she and Inma had stopped at a service station on the way and ordered tostadas con aceite, not ours I hope. In her words they stared balefully at the oil's weedy appearance before rejecting it. In contrast, she enjoyed her introduction to olive oil-tasting. My one caution: I suspect Ana forgets little. However, I think she went back to Madrid a disciple for us, even a preacher. If that's all we get from the weekend it'll have been worth it."

  "Attracted?"

  "Stop it, Lili. Oh, well, yes, a part of me. How could one not be with such enthusiasm?"

  "And what legs! She's better shaped than me, if not so voluptuous as Inma."

  "You're right. How and why should a 'brown tent' conceal such a figure?"

  "With lots of specialist exercise from what she told me. In fact that was Inma's one disappointment. She'd been hoping to introduce Ana to more of her disciplines as well as working on herself. According to her it took years to reach her current shape and she's no intention of permitting age to win too soon."

  "How old do you think they are?"

  "For Inma, I'd guess late forties, with Ana being mid- to late thirties."

  "Are they an item? They go well together."

  Lili laughed. This was going far better than expected. Enrique was relaxed. If he had any interest it was in Ana.

  "Didn't you pick up that they're cousins? No, they're not an item."

  From the corner of her eye she watched and saw another tiny indication of relaxation on Enrique's face.

  "No, I didn't hear that. Guess I was rambling on and not listening." He stared without focus for a few moments. "What did you make of their business proposition?"

  "I don't think either of them mentions the cousin connection. Either you know and it does not matter; or it doesn't matter. It came out spontaneously. As for their business ideas, I think something's there. I like the idea that we might improve our insurance. I prefer to widen our cover, against a broader set of threats, not just drought as we do now. I'm intrigued by the possibility of being able to participate in a part of the re-insurance, if that gives us a payback. But that may just be the banker in me."

  "But we'd have to find the cash for the policy even if we received something back for the re-insurance. Do we have enough?"

  "From what Inma analysed, we already overpay for the modest cover we buy today. If we re-deploy what we spend today and expand our coverage, plus accept some re-insurance participation to bring in income, we should be almost cash-flow neutral. Of course the re-insurance comes with a risk but it is contained. We're paid by the insurer, which Inma calls the cedant, to underwrite a clear, delineated small slice of the re-insurance. That's what interested me. It's doubly in our interest not to make claims."

  Enrique continued to be doubtful about the re-insurance. He appreciated Lili's logic and liked how they might obtain improved basic insurance. But underwriting re-insurance risks was unfamiliar. Lili, however, was in her element. In such circumstances it was best to let her continue.

  "I guess so. I'm not 100 per cent convinced. But you know best about money matters. By the way, did you like Ana and Inma?"

  "Good question. Unlike you, I didn't get a good feel for Ana, though she seemed pleasant enough. Inma seemed much more stimulating. We spoke the same money language and I didn't have your brown tent hang-ups to crowd my judgement. I could enjoy working with her. As for socially?"

  Her voice tailed off. Enrique posed a question she'd not dared address. The truth was simple. She'd loved talking financial shop with Inma – olives, olive oil, finance, deals. She missed the cut and thrust of the financial world more than she'd realised.

  Enrique interrupted Lili's thoughts: "Will we hear from them again?"

  Thursday: Helsinki and Tallinn

  Ana disembarked from the flight to Helsinki. To her surprise she didn't have to pass additional security, like in Madrid, even though she was connecting to another Schengen area flight. What struck her, as she sought Gate 25D for the next flight, were the hordes of Japanese. Why would so many want be in Helsinki airport? What was worse, they stuck together to impede, making her way forward a polite assault course.

  She thought about it as she navigated the crowd. Flights from Japan would come using a Great Circle route which must pass close to Helsinki. She guessed Finnair had found a market niche by exploiting Helsinki as a jump-off point for places in Europe. She heard a tannoy call for passengers for the Finnair flight to Hamburg. All at once a gaggle of Japanese rose as one to head for the named gate, almost mowing her down as they pushed forward en masse.

  Finding 25D Ana took a seat. She didn't have to wait long for the thirty-five-minute hop-over the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn. Forty-five minutes later she was in her third airport of the day searching for the taxi sign. As she established her bearings she noticed a man holding her name on a placard with 'from Madrid/Helsinki' written beneath. Could that be for her? She crossed over.

  It was. Inma must have contacted the potential client and sent over her flight details. Less than twenty minutes later she checked-in to the Hotel Telegraaf and entered one of its better rooms. Booking.com had done her proud, even pointing out a special three-night, weekend deal, which worked out cheaper than two nights in her original hotel. She had reserved it and amended her return flights.

  Her next priority was to call her grandmother. She'd been unable to speak to her before leaving Madrid, except to leave a message about travelling on business. She must try again. Connecting her tablet to the hotel's Wi-Fi she started Skype. Her grandmother's iPad completed the connection.

  "Abuela? It's Ana. I'm in Tallinn. In Estonia. I won't be able to visit tomorrow."

  "I know where Tallinn is, niña. Why are you there? Why won't you be here with me tomorrow?"

  She sounded querulous, not uncommon when La Abuela's expectations were thwarted.

  "I'm so sorry, Abuela. Cousin Inma despatched me here at short notice. It may be the first t
ime for me to make a sale and justify her hiring me. I couldn't refuse."

  "That girl, if I can still call her one when she must be near fifty, is a waste of space. Too much work and far too much Opus Dei. I detest Opus, which is why I won't see her. I don't see why you ever agreed to work with her. Your Americans sounded much nicer."

  Ana reigned in her giggles. It wasn't funny. Her grandmother, delightful if physically frail in her nineties, was mentally as bright as a button. When told that Inma no longer had anything to do with Opus Dei she'd been unable to absorb this, which meant she continued to refuse to see Inma, admittedly abetted by Inma's own resentment and reluctance.

  The issue revolved around La Abuela's inability to cope with the 'new', fashionable, gay Inma. For twenty-five years La Abuela had condemned Inma for her membership of a secret, conservative, religious society that La Abuela, and her husband when he was alive, viscerally distrusted. Ana had contemplated insisting to La Abuela that Inma had changed but decided it wasn't worth it. Ana's family agreed. It was simpler to carry on the pretence that nothing had altered. Ana was sorry for Inma and for her grandmother. Both were the losers in this. It couldn't be helped.

  "I'm sorry, Abuela. I'll be back late Sunday afternoon. Shall I come and see you on the way from the airport?"

  "Please do. Don't let the plane be late. We have matters to discuss, you and I. And don't mention a thing to your parents."

  Ana and La Abuela wished each other fond farewells. Not say anything to her parents? The conversation she would imminently be having with her grandmother promised to be even more troubling than she already feared. She rechecked her tablet, something she did far too often. Nothing from Davide. Nothing new there. The room phone rang.

  "Ms Delarosa, I have a Mr Kirsipuu wishing to speak to you. May I connect you?"

  "Yes; thank you."

  Kirsipuu was the name of their potential client.