Buying Brazil (Buying Brazil Trilogy Book 1)

by Arthur Rawl

  “No, the past has gone. We will concentrate on our future together. You’re not Shelly. You know who you are, know what you want and know how to get it. Shelly knew none of these and it truly wasn’t a partnership. We’ll have a partnership and it will make us stronger, more resilient. Learning who you really are, how complex and accomplished you are makes repetition of my past impossible. Now are we going to eat, I’m starving.”

  Dinner was a pie large enough for six people. It wasn’t the local chef’s interpretation but a true reproduction of the ‘Margherita Pizza’ created by Raffarle Esposito for Queen Margherita in 1889 simply topped with just chopped fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and cheese to resemble the colors of the Italian flag. An hour later I was surprised when Alana and I finished all but one slice.

  Alana looked toward the door, “Excuse me Querido my driver is making signals to me. I think he wants to talk to me.” A few minutes later she returned with a very troubled look on her face.

  “Why didn’t you tell me there was trouble at your apartment?”

  “I was told to forget what I saw and heard by the military police. I’m a guest in Brazil so when a policeman tells me what to do I comply.”

  “Yes, that’s what they always say. Please Carl, you should tell me if something bad happens. My Guardian is not without influence. His security chief called with a message to stay away from Haddock Lobo. He said there was serious trouble and the police believe one of the trouble makers is still loose. What happened?”

  “Not very much that involved me. The BrasTel Security team found a stranger hiding in my building’s garden. They had me look at him to see if I knew him, I didn’t and I went upstairs to take a shower before I met you.”

  “Is that all? How did you get here?”

  “I walked here escorted by my BrasTel keepers.” Now it was my time to point across the room, “Two of them are sitting right over there and having dinner while watching us”.

  “I asked if that was all that happened.”

  “No, there was a shooting in front of my building. A military policeman and one of the bad guys were killed and another of the bad guys wounded. They think it was an attempt to free the guy found hiding in my garden.”

  “The police believe you were the target?”

  “I don’t know. It doesn’t any make sense to try to kill me in my own flat where I’m surrounded by guards.”

  “The message I got tells a different story. The one wounded and taken said there were four of them. They came from Russia with a contract to kill you but they were hired by a middle man and don’t know who their client was. There are two dead, one in captivity and one still out there who may try to fulfill the contract or simply get over the border to flee to Europe.”

  “Perhaps, but I don’t think it makes sense to bother with details when he could be telling them anything to save his own life.”

  “I believe it. I also believe it’s time to tell me everything. I know about what happened at the café on Rua Oscar Freire. They told me it was just an attempted robbery that turned into something more when you would not cooperate. You say you know me now so it should be clear I make up my own mind and I am not blind.”

  “I know that. I’ve just been trying to hold the pieces together, finish what I have been told to finish by the people who want BrasTel and then get out of here. If I let everything I know get out Robin would be out of here in a flash and I would have more people after me because I didn’t keep my mouth shut.”

  “You said more people; you certainly don’t think that BrasTel people were involved tonight? Who else could it be?”

  “No, tonight it probably was some crazy Italians who want to get even with me for something they think I was responsible for but didn’t do.”

  “What …?”

  “I can’t tell you because it may involve … that’s all, I can’t.”

  “It may involve my Guardian? Carl, I am not naïve. I know about the things he did to save Brazil and continues to do for our country. I know he is hard and can be ruthless when necessary. I told you how he thinks. Don’t hesitate and move first. I know all these things and I still love him. There is nothing you could say that could change this but what you don’t say could prevent him from helping you.”

  “I think his ‘help’ is what started this.”

  “Tell me how.”

  Chapter 29

  Alana was waiting when Robin and I got to the office just before nine. This morning’s traffic wasn’t up to its usual disaster level and Jóse Carlos had taken one of the more direct routes from my apartment.

  “You are early, anxious to get this deal moving?”

  “Good morning Querido. Thank you for the pizza. It was just what I needed after yesterday.”

  “It’s a shame the evening had to end so early.”

  “My Guardian worries about us all and what happened around your apartment last night worried him a great deal. He wants his family far from any trouble even though we all have bodyguards when we are away from home. He provides his sons and their families with their own guards. When we are all together at his house there is an army around us.”

  “He’s a careful man. I’m sure he has seen too much trouble during his life to be otherwise. Did you get the translations this morning?”

  “Yes, they were waiting when I got here at eight. I read over the Portuguese and German versions and they seemed accurate. My German is not as good as my Portuguese so I’ll ask Dieter to reader the German version before we sign. The translator is waiting downstairs in case we want to make changes and need re-certification.”

  Robin and Jóse Carlos came through the front door carrying bags and boxes from the French bakery downstairs, “Breakfast is served guys.” Dieter was announced a few minutes later; by 9:30 we were back at work and by eleven he was explaining the changes he wanted made to the German version to the translator.

  “She must have learned her German from someone who grew up in the North, maybe Hamburg. A Bavarian would not put so many definitional phrases in the text. In the North everything must be painfully clear. It makes some Northern documents impossible to read.”

  “When the translation is revised I’ll have nine originals of each document run on letterhead downstairs and have them brought up by the notary for signature. Robin, will you come with me to watch the production process and control use of your letterhead and second sheets? Dieter, do you want to take a look at the revised German version before we run the originals?”

  “Yah I should. Why are nine originals necessary?”

  Robin patted a folder on the table in front of her, “I’ve got the letterhead and second sheets right here.”

  “The nine originals are for the buyer, the buyer’s lawyer, the buyer’s investment bank, the buyer’s commercial bank, the seller’s management, the seller’s lawyer, the Federal Public Utilities Commission and The Central Bank. When the originals are signed and notarized I’ll have a stack of copies run for lawyers and other professionals that will be involved if, or I should say, when a final offer is accepted.”

  I looked at my watch, “Looks like we are going to make the noon delivery schedule.”

  “We certainly will Carl. I have two moto-boys waiting down in the garage. They are two of the fastest in São Paulo. One will make it from here to Av. Paulista and the buyer’s lawyer in less than ten minutes and the other will make it downtown to the Central Bank offices in fifteen minutes. They both have nice new shiny Honda motorbikes and can weave through traffic at over sixty miles per hour.”

  “… at sixty as long as someone doesn’t pull out in front of them. I was told the average life expectancy of these madmen is less than a year.”

  “Averages are for average people. One of my two has been riding almost ten years, the other more than eight and both without accidents. They have earned their reputations as the fastest, most reliable and of course, the most expensive.”

  “I thought they were almost a fungible commodity.
”

  “No, they are some of the hardest working least rewarded Brasileiros.”

  The translator ran through the door and stopped, looked around and hurried around the table to Dieter. “This is the revised German translation. Please, would you approve this?”

  Dieter snatched the paper from her outstretched hand, “Yah, I will need five minutes.” He rose and walked to the far end of the table and sat spreading the document in front of him.

  Robin, Alana and I exchanged a knowing look, “It’s time for coffee and French pastry.”

  Dieter raised a hand with its index finger extended, “Just coffee for me please.”

  Alana brought Dieter his coffee, stood for a moment looking over his shoulder then asked, “What do you think Dieter? Is it ok?”

  “It is good. The unnecessary words have been eliminated and word use is very consistent within her constructions so the meaning is clear enough. You and Sra. Robin should make the original documents for us to sign.”

  She patted him on the shoulder, “Thank you Dieter, Robin let’s go downstairs and start the secretaries working on the final documents. Carl we’ll be back in ten minutes, maybe a little more. I left drafts of the transmittal letters on the conference table. Review them please and call my cellphone if you have any problems. We have to get Dieter on his way to the airport.”

  It was twelve-thirty when Dieter announced he was done and ready to leave. His bags were waiting in a car Alana had for him in the garage. “Dieter when you get to the airport the driver will introduce you to an official who will take you through an accelerated exit process. It should take no more than five minutes for the formalities. He will then take you through security to your gate where a member of the Lufthansa staff will stay with you and insure you receive priority boarding and seating. The General wishes you a safe journey and the best with your wife’s condition.”

  “Thank you Alana. Thank you all. My plan is to return after two weeks and stay until we finish the transaction. I know it is usually longer before things start to happen but I should be here in case problems arise. Please call me with the smallest question. Good day and good health to you all. Come Alana, we will talk on the way to the car.”

  The two of them left arm in arm with their heads leaned in toward the other. Watching, I felt sure they knew a lot more about the deal than I as was usual with more delicate deal details held close by lawyer and client. Yes, it wasn’t unusual. The merchant banker’s role, my role was one of more packaging and facilitating than anything else and I was accustomed to this lawyer client secretiveness or should be however, with Alana involved it felt different.

  Robin brought me back, “Carl, we have verbal confirmation the offer letter has been received by the seller’s lawyer. He will get the further distribution to management and the congressional committee done by the end of the day.”

  “Now we can sit back and wait. Even if the offer is perfect the seller will let us swing for a day or two and then ask for more. It never changes.”

  “Should I try to reach our client with the news?”

  “We can be certain Alana found out before we did. We can be sure she will either tell Dieter directly or call him if he’s already on the way to the airport.”

  The office front door banged shut and Alana came into the conference room. “I think we can all sleep late tomorrow morning.”

  “Is he on the way to the airport?”

  “He will be in a few minutes. I left him at the heliport on the roof with a security guard after I got confirmation of the delivery to the seller’s lawyer. I wanted to hurry down and give you the status report so I came downstairs when we were told my Guardian’s helicopter was two minutes away. At this time of day driving can be unpredictable so I called my Guardian and he approved using the helicopter.”

  “Lucky him, he’ll avoid the afternoon traffic leaving the city.”

  “… he will also avoid the usual delays that exist getting across and then out of the city. We don’t want him to miss his plane.”

  Robin looked uncertain, “How far is it from where he lands to the airport?”

  “The Senator’s helicopter has clearance to land inside the international airport’s grounds. An army vehicle will then drive him across the airport to the internal VIP entrance where an official will be waiting to take him to his gate.”

  “That’s great for him. Will you make the same arrangements for us when we leave?”

  “I thought you would be staying Robin. Who is going to look after your business when Carl goes to New York to try and settle his litigation with Lazer?”

  “What business? When BrasTel’s done there isn’t anything else here.”

  “Maybe this will help you feel differently. My Guardian thinks BrasTel will want to consolidate some of the smaller cellphone operators into a new holding it will form once the deal closes. He thinks there could be as much as five years of follow-on transactional work. He hasn’t said anything to me but I am sure he is counting on you two and the Brazilian team you will build to handle it.”

  Robin turned and looked me squarely in the eye and then turned back to Alana, “I’ll think about it but seriously but I don’t know. Frankly, there are some things in the way that I don’t think Carl and I will be able to work out.”

  “That would be a shame. You two seem to work so well together. You two complement each other better than any other two professionals I’ve worked with. It would really be a shame.”

  “Thank you but as I said, I don’t know. For now there are some things that need documenting so the files are up to date. We have this deal to finish before we worry about anything else. Excuse me.”

  “When we have our closing dinner with my Guardian he will want to talk about the future Robin. He will try to convince you and Carl to see the same future as he sees. It is his way, he is always thinking about tomorrow and the next day.”

  “We’ll see.” Robin scooped up a pile of papers and walked out.

  “What’s going on Carl?”

  “She doesn’t like a lot of things about this deal and has made it very clear a number of times.”

  “If I don’t know what’s going on I can’t help. As I said, it would be shame for the two of you to break up.”

  “It’s a business relationship not a marriage. If she decides to go I’ll just have to carry on without her.”

  “You don’t believe that. What’s going on between the two of you?”

  “Nothing personal and there never was so that’s not the problem.”

  “Then what is?”

  “To put it simply, I don’t think she trusts me anymore. There have been too many things I haven’t been able to tell her either because I’ve been warned not to or because I knew she would be on an airplane within hours of telling her.”

  “It’s clear to me that was a mistake Carl. She’s tough enough to make up her own mind and to take care of herself. In trying to protect her you didn’t treat her as an equal.”

  “I couldn’t, the damned Brazilians who were trying to manage who got hold of BrasTel acted like a bunch of thugs and the damned Italians are thugs. I couldn’t let her get in the middle.”

  “It was never your choice to make in a vacuum. You should have discussed it with her. You two have been together for years and I’ll wager neither of you has ever let the other down.”

  “Do we have to talk about this here with Robin in the next room?”

  Loudly from the next room, “Yes, it’s about time we talked about it.”

  “There’s your answer Carl, I’ll go downstairs and talk to BrasTel’s lawyer.”

  Robin walked in, “No Alana, I think you should stay. I have a feeling you know a lot more about what’s been going on than Carl does. I want the whole story so you better stay.”

  “Do you eat Japanese food Robin?”

  “Sure as long as it doesn’t get too exotic.”

  “Good, let me go downstairs for half an hour and then we’ll go to a litt
le restaurant in Japan town that I’m sure Carl will remember from his meals there with Pedro Rossi. It is very modest but well known among certain people for its food, atmosphere, safety and absolute privacy.”

  “Sounds like a good place to have a frank and open conversation.”

  “You are right Robin and only the three of us will know about it. I’ll tell you more details when I come back later.”

  “Before you go, there are so many good places to eat close by in the Jardens, why not go to one of them. If you’re worried about privacy, Rossi took me to a private club in a widow’s home on this side of Ave. Paulista. It’s closer, probably more private and the food was very good. Do you know the place?”

  “Yes, she is a General’s widow. My Guardian thinks she caters to too many of her husband’s old friends who still support the wrong political ideas. Naturally he is not a member and would not like me to be seen there. The Japanese place is where his friends go when the need to be absolutely sure about privacy.”

  “Rossi goes to the Widow’s place and he held a high judicial post during the Golden Years so his ideas must have been acceptable.”

  “Yes he did. At that time he was very useful because he was considered a fair and impartial man by most of São Paulo’s educated people. He is still very useful and still considered fair and impartial.”

  “I assume that’s why there are times he seems to be walking a tightrope.”

  “He does it very well doesn’t he? It is a big part of why he is still respected by most of the powerful people in politics. Ate logo …”

  We watched Alana breeze out the door as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Robin was first to fill the silence, “She’s quite a lady. Judging by your face Carl, a lot more than you thought.”

  “She certainly is.”

  “Don’t be a fool. If you let her get away you’ll be number one on the dumb fool list.”

  “I think we still plan to get married but she has her own set of requirements and they may not fit with my commitments.”

  “What commitments, your old pile in England or squeezing Lazer in New York? I’m sure she has a passport and I’m also sure ‘her Guardian’ will make it worth your while to spend a good piece of the year here, sufficiently worthwhile to have your own plane if you want it.