by K. J. Rabane
During the following week when we were shopping in the city, I placed the carrier bags in the back of the car and instead of driving towards the motorway, turned in the direction of Mayfair.
“Why are we going this way?” Leo asked, looking up from a magazine.
“I thought we could look at that apartment you fancied. You never know it might be on the market again.”
“I doubt it somehow,” she commented, continuing to read an article about older women and toy boys in her magazine. She hardly noticed when I slowed the car down to a halt and drove into the underground car park.
“Abe? Where are we going?”
“You’ll soon see,” I said, closing the car door and steering her towards a stainless steel lift against which stood a row of buttons each with a nameplate alongside them. Without commenting further, I pressed the top button and the lift took us to the penthouse apartment. Then removing the key from my pocket, I let us into the hallway.
The place was fully and expensively furnished which had bumped up the price still further, which to me was an added attraction. I didn’t have the time to start looking at furniture or the inclination to employ an interior designer. I’d hoped Leo would like it as it was and I was not disappointed by her reaction. She was enthralled, delighted and happy beyond anything I could have imagined. Reaching up she brought my head forward and kissed me repeatedly until I begged for release, in order to breathe. “You’re the best husband in the world. We will make love in every room. I cannot wait to move in.”
I hesitated, wondering if she thought we were moving out of River House.
“You do know we are keeping River House? I thought this might be useful when we are in town.”
If she had thought otherwise, she managed to hide it. Turning to look out of the French doors at the roof garden she said, “Yes of course, where else would Tinker have such splendid walks? We’ll have plenty of time to spend in both our properties.” She laughed and spun around like a ballerina in a music box. “I never thought I’d be wealthy enough to say that.”
She was like a little girl, innocence and enthusiasm seeping out of every pore.
The Mayfair apartment became a magical retreat for us. I was aware it should have been the other way around but also mindful of the fact that River House had been the home I’d shared with Evelyn and that the house she shared with Lucas was but a stone’s throw away. The apartment was ours and no ghosts lingered within its walls.
The summer months passed in a flash and winter followed damp and dark. We spent more and more time in London and Mrs Bates spent more and more time in River House, her excuse being it was better for Tinker as he hated the kennels. It was an arrangement, which was mutually beneficial to us both.
We celebrated our second wedding anniversary by dining at The Ivy, surrounded by minor celebrities and a few of our friends. Josie and Henry were not invited. I still walked over to see them on the odd occasion, whilst we were staying in River House but Leo always seemed to have some task or other that prevented her from joining me. I never encouraged her to visit them and they never asked about her.
The years passed with no sign of a family. Neither of us attempted to find out if there was a reason for our childless state and I suspect that in reality neither of us was too bothered. Our joy in each other’s company was enough.
Softcell still managed to compete quite comfortably on the open market. Orion had been a blockbuster but other companies were expanding their horizons and I knew I would have to come up with something revolutionary if we were not to stagnate. I’d neglected my work in favour of my marriage. We were financially secure but Softcell was an important factor in my life and I couldn’t bear to see it going downhill. There was no reason why I shouldn’t work at both, I decided, and with this in mind, I planned to spend the summer months in River House during which time I would focus on a successor to Orion.
Every morning I sat at my computer formulating and re-formulating data, until I came up with a format I knew was leading me into uncharted territory. Adapting the protocols and concepts, which had formed the basis of both Andromeda and Orion to achieve the highest standard of consumer continuity and comprehension, I worked with an intensity and pleasure that had been lacking in recent years. Finally, I was able to transform the new package, whilst lifting it to a higher level.
Technology had advanced considerably since Andromeda and I was thrilled with the prospect of unfolding a new series of programmes using the new techniques. However, Leonora, eager to prevent me from over working, insisted I set aside some time each day to either walk the river path with her and Tinker or relax in the garden. When she was satisfied my period of exercise was acceptable, she was content to let me lock myself away in my study during the evening without comment.
One afternoon when we returned from our walk, she followed me into my study. “How are things progressing? I sense you are excited. Something new has happened?”
“I see I can’t hide anything from you, my love.” I said, relishing the prospect of showing off. “Sit down and I’ll explain it to you.”
Evelyn had been right when she’d described Leonora as being intelligent and quick-witted. I was astonished at how quickly she understood the basics of the new software. So much so that the following afternoon I agreed to show her the intricacies of the programme, which would be responsible for elevating it above the packages already available, to the product I knew would revolutionise personal computer use for the foreseeable future. With the right marketing, we would make our competitors look like novices.
Leonora sat at my side and watched as I backed up data and transferred it to a miniature portable storage device, which I then placed in the top pocket of my shirt. Then I made compact disc copies from my hard drive and stored them in the wall safe.
“I’m intrigued why you keep that in your pocket,” Leo said
“Until this is on the open market this stays with me at all times. There is no way I’m letting it out of my sight. The back-up copies are secure.” I inclined my head in the direction of the safe and no one knows this even exists, except the people I trust.” I kissed her forehead, adding, “Why don’t I let you name this one.
“No, I couldn’t” she smiled.
“Why ever not?”
She thought for a moment then smiled.
“Gemini,” she said.
And Gemini it became. How could I know that at its inception I was destined to share the fate of Castor and Pollux and that the angel of death would circle River House once more.
Chapter 23
Eager to run over the details of Gemini with Chip Thornley and Alan Henderson, and carrying my PSD in my breast pocket where I could feel it against the beating of my heart, I left River House. I don’t remember the drive to the office, all I could feel was excitement at the prospect of sharing Gemini with Alan and Chip.
As I’d anticipated, their elation matched my own, Alan’s enthusiasm at the prospect showing in his voice, “This is the breakthrough we need and as far as I’m concerned it couldn’t come at a better time.” He walked towards the window. “Have you thought much about security? If details of this one get out we’re set to lose big time.”
I removed the storage device from the USB port and replaced in my breast pocket. “When we’re ready to go into production, I’ll bring a back-up copy to the office and store it in the safe. With the security measures we have in place, I don’t see I can do much more to protect it. At the moment nothing will be stored on our office computers. I will of course discuss refinements with you and Chip but only when the three of us are present and only when this little beauty is in place.” I tapped my pocket. “If you two can think of anything I’ve missed, get in touch immediately, other than that I’ll start putting it together in a workable format.”
Chip listened in silence but I could see beads of sweat glistening on his forehead.
“Chip? Anything to add?”
“Nothing, Boss. I’m still trying to picture what
this will mean.”
I smiled, and thought ‘the innocence of youth’ although, he’d soon find out exactly what Gemini would mean. But as it turned out, none of us could have contemplated the outcome awaiting us.
I saw little of Leonora during the following weeks. She understood I needed peace and quiet in which to work and spent her time gardening or shopping in town. When evening came, she insisted we eat together and, over our meal, I caught up with her news. It was a welcome distraction after hours spent refining protocols and concentrating on data analysis.
One night at dinner, she said, “I met Josie in town today.”
I looked up.
“I think she would have liked to pretend she hadn’t seen me but she had no choice but to speak.”
I waited to hear the rest without commenting.
“She asked how you were and when I said you were fine, although working too hard, she said a most peculiar thing.”
“Oh? What exactly?”
“She said, the last time you and she met you looked in perfect health and she and Henry would be very concerned if that condition were to deteriorate. Her manner was most peculiar; it was almost as if she were making some sort of threat.” She looked up at my as she toyed with her meal. “I wasn’t sure how to answer so I muttered something about having to rush and left. I’ve always known Josie doesn’t like me but I really don’t understand why. When Evelyn was alive I thought perhaps she was jealous of our relationship but why now?”
She looked so despondent I took her hand in mine and kissed it. “Some women are jealous of beauty, my darling.”
She smiled up at me then. “I wish,” she said.
That was when I realised my lovely wife had no idea how beautiful she really was and her inability to understand why Josie should dislike her somehow made that vulnerability urgently appealing. Gemini would have to wait until morning; I had a more pressing engagement.
The official launch was set for November. During the first week of September, I carried the disc copy of Gemini to my office, feeling some trepidation at the prospect of releasing my baby into the care of others. Although I knew Alan and Chip were exemplary caretakers, the feeling persisted as I took the lift up to the fifth floor.
They’d organised the equipment ready for my arrival. The expectant hum of black sightless screens devoid of savers, with cursors flickering, greeted me as I opened the door. Alan was pacing the floor, his usual habit when nervously awaiting an event and Chip sat at a desk in front of the only active computer screen. He was completing a game of Solitaire.
“Right,” I said, not wishing to prolong their agony further. “Let’s get down to business.
We worked through lunch whilst drinking copious amounts of coffee. Alan formulated the marketing structure, which was merely a formality, as we were certain Gemini would sell itself, once the launch was over. I knew Maxwell Hutton would be interested and anticipated he might be its highest bidder, although Macrosoft, a relatively new company, had substantial backing and could possibly be a contender.
Our commitments to Megacells had been fulfilled, therefore we were at liberty to hold out for the highest offer but loyalty had always played a big part in my life and I wasn’t about to see Maxwell Hutton lose Gemini if it was at all possible.
Chip worked on refining the protocols that would make the package idiot proof, which meant that however young and immature the user, there would be neither a possibility of compromising its basic structure nor that of other software components already in place.
We ordered take-away food from the Italian restaurant on the corner and at midnight we put Gemini to bed and opened the bottle of champagne waiting in my desk drawer for an opportunity such as this.
I spent the night in our Mayfair apartment. I’d been too engrossed with work to ring Leo earlier and realised it was now too late. My brain was still working overtime and I knew sleep was not about to make an appearance.
In the kitchen, I opened the fridge forgetting it was unlikely to be stocked, as it was a while since we’d used the place. An unopened carton of orange juice, still within its use by date, looked back at me forlornly. I was in a mood to celebrate and missed talking to Leo so I opened a more modest bottle of champagne than the one we’d drunk earlier and, with the addition of the orange juice, drank myself into a pleasant stupor.
When I awoke, the sun was slicing through the half closed blinds and cutting across my eyelids with the intensity of a laser beam. My head was pounding like a jackhammer and my neck ached. I’d fallen asleep on the couch. Screwing my eyes into slits, I peered at my watch. It was nearly noon and my mobile was ringing.
Chapter 24
She sounded as if she was worried but trying hard not to show it. “I thought you might have decided to stay in town. Did everything go well?”
The pounding in my head was turning into a dull ache behind my temples. “I’m sorry I didn’t ring, darling. We worked until midnight and yes, everything went well. There are a few loose ends to tie up today but I should be home this evening. Don’t bother to make a meal; we’ll dine at Georgio’s. I love you.”
“I love you too, Abe but then you know that already,” she said.
Later, after showering and taking two painkillers, I felt ready to face the world. Alan and Chip both looked the worse for wear as I joined them at the coffee machine.
“How long?” I asked.
“About a month, three weeks at a push, if we offer an incentive. What d’you think?” Alan asked.
“Double time if completion is within three weeks.”
“That should do it. Gemini’s launch date should coincide with Bonfire night then. Appropriate in view of the fireworks it will set off in the boardrooms of more than a few of our competitors.”
I nodded. “Right, I can leave it in your capable hands.
I left my office at half past four after making certain the usual security measures were in place. Alan was the only one who had access to the safe and although during the initial formulisation processes my trusted workforce would see parts of the software, the key to the final product was on the hard disc in the safe and would not be removed until the day before the launch.
During the drive to River House, I felt the now familiar longing to see Leo. Every minute we were separated felt like a lifetime. I could smell her hair in the clear air filtering through the vents and feel her skin in the sunlight burning through my windscreen. She was waiting in the front porch as I drew up. The late afternoon sun was turning her hair to silver, the cream dress she was wearing clinging to her figure like a second skin. Once more, I marvelled at her ethereal beauty and again thanked fate for giving her to me.
At the end of October, I received a frantic telephone call from Alan asking me to come into the office. Luckily, we were spending some time in our Mayfair apartment, as Leo wanted to do some shopping for winter clothes, so it was simply a matter of a short drive to my office.
I parked the Mercedes in the Chief Managing Director’s space and took the lift from the basement to my office on the top floor. Alan was pacing the floor in the corridor outside my door, his mobile glued to his ear. I could see beads of sweat glistening on his forehead as he stared incredulously out of the window.
“What’s up?” I asked, when he had finished speaking.
“Inside,” he said, following behind me. He closed the door and leaned against it. “I don’t know how to tell you this, Boss.” He walked over to my desk and bent forward. “It’s Gemini, it’s been copied. It’s on the open market now. Megacells have bought it so have Microbites.”
I sank into my chair. “I don’t understand. How?”
“That’s the six million dollar question. It’s not just a programme that has some similarities to ours. It’s exactly the same. It’s been copied and sold to Magnum International for distribution.”
Gradually my brain began to work as realisation sunk in. I shrugged. “Our legal department will deal with it, Alan. Remember there’
s such a thing as copyright and ours was registered as soon as I’d completed.”
“I’m afraid it’s not as simple as that. We’re the ones likely to fall foul of the copyright laws if we try to argue that Gemini is our product. I’ve made preliminary investigations before contacting you but they’re insisting Gemini is their product as copyright was taken out just one week before our own.”
“I don’t see how. Surely, that can’t be true. We would have come up against it with the name alone, when we registered copyright ourselves.”
“That’s just it. They re-named the software.”
“I see and what did they decide to call this programme?”
I was beginning to feel furious. Someone was going to have to pay for this. All my months of work down the pan.
Alan Henderson shifted from one foot to the other and ran his fingers through his hair. He didn’t look at me as he replied, “Leo.”
“What did you say?”
“It’s the name Magnum used to register copyright on Gemini. They’ve named it Leo.”
I brought my fist down hard on the desktop. My anger and frustration making me raise my voice, as I said, “I want to know where this leak has come from. Ring security and have them meet me here in half an hour. We must keep this between ourselves for the time being. Don’t mention it to anyone, until we find out exactly what has been going on.”
Alan nodded then ran his hand over his chin. He was as agitated as I was, his anger just as difficult to keep under control.
Alone, I mulled over the facts. On completion of Gemini I had, as usual when a project was finished, copied my file on to two discs. One lay in my safe at home and the other in our safe in the office; both were controlled by an electronic keypad, which required a pass code to open them. In addition, the office safe also required a key. Alan had one and I the other. I trusted Alan implicitly, there was no way he would jeopardise his position. He was committed to the company, which had supplied him with a very comfortable lifestyle. I was certain of his loyalty. He would have been shooting himself in the foot to attempt to sabotage our future. Besides, he’d be the first person to come under suspicion, as he and I were the sole key holders.