Jack Figg was waiting for him there. He introduced Richie to James Cardigan, and the three of them sat down in James’s private office.
‘Did you get everything done in Switzerland?’ Jack asked, knowing the answer before Richie spoke. He trusted this young man implicitly. He was brilliant, efficient and dedicated. And as trustworthy as his grandfather, Zhèng Wen Li.
‘I did, Jack. It all went smoothly. I also have all the passwords, codes, and Jonathan Ainsley’s PIN…his personal identification number, the security code for his own personal computer at the bank.’
‘So explain to me again what you’re intending to do exactly, so that James can understand it as well, Richie.’
‘With all these codes now in my possession, plus my knowledge about correctly filling out the online bank transfer forms, I can transfer money anywhere in the world.’
‘In other words, you are now in control of Ainsley’s money,’ James asserted.
‘That’s correct. I also control my grandfather’s money, the hundred million he invested with Ainsley. Because he gave me all his codes. And I control Grisha Lebedev’s investment with Ainsley in his Belvedere-Macau Private Bank.’
It was James who looked startled, and asked, ‘How the hell did you manage to do that?’
‘I didn’t. But as Jack knows, I am currently employing six hackers, the most brilliant in the world, and they hacked Lebedev’s computers and got the required passwords, codes, security code, the usual.’
‘Who are they?’ James gave Richie a searching glance, went on to probe, ‘And where are they?’
‘I can’t tell you who they are, that’s confidential, and anyway, you have no need to know. They are based all over…there’s one here in England, another in Macau, one in Stockholm, two in Germany and yet another in Iceland. They’re scattered.’
‘So what’s the final plan?’ Jack sat back.
‘Yes, I can explain it, Jack, but I’m going to do it in broad strokes and not in infinite detail because it becomes very complicated. And you’re not all that into computers, are you?’
Jack smiled ruefully. ‘No, I’m not.’
‘All right, here goes,’ Richie said. ‘At your meetings with my grandfather, you and he agreed that the best way to stop Ainsley was to go after the money. And it was Wen Li who dreamed up the idea of using me as an instrument, in a sense. This idea he put into motion very cleverly, by dangling the carrot in front of Ainsley. One hundred million US dollars as an investment in Ainsley’s bank, providing I was given a job at Belvedere to learn more about the business of banking in general. Before inheriting my own bank from Grandfather.’
‘I remember every detail,’ Jack murmured. Looking across at James, he added, ‘And Ainsley took the carrot. Also, he saw Richie as a future partner, in my opinion. He always grabs the main chance.’
‘Apparently he had no option. Over the last few years, as he’s recovered from his many operations in the clinic, he has been playing silly games with the money, and in some ways he’s rendered himself vulnerable,’ Richie confided.
‘In what way?’ James asked, focusing on Richie.
‘He spent a lot of his own money to pay for that ridiculous yacht, competing with Roman Abramovich by making it slightly larger than his was so foolish. He has not, as yet, dipped into my grandfather’s money, but he has used some of Lebedev’s investment with him. Now, and here’s the whole point of the plan, Lebedev is highly suspicious, and he’s going to start asking tough questions real soon. Also, he’s pissed off with Ainsley, because the latter made a play for the new woman in Lebedev’s life, a woman called Galina. I see a blow-up coming imminently, and that’s why I really have to act in the next couple of days.’
‘I know you have incredible sources,’ Jack said, giving Richie a reassuring smile, ‘but would you mind explaining one thing? How do you know about Lebedev’s attitude towards Ainsley?’
‘I have someone inside Lebedev’s trading company, an impeccable source. A man I went to school with.’
‘In America?’ Jack asked.
‘No, in Canada. In Toronto. Trust me, Jack, he is dependable, trustworthy, and on our side.’
‘I do trust you, Richie. So just give me a brief outline of what’s going to happen in the next few days, would you?’
‘I am going to start moving money out of Ainsley’s personal account at Belvedere-Macau. I will not be doing this, one of my hackers will. The money will go into a dummy account in a legitimate bank. However, it will be transferred out within twenty-four to forty-eight hours and sent to another dummy account, in another bank somewhere else in the world. Each dummy account will be closed after the transfers. When it has been moved three times by six different hackers working for me, it will end up in one of three accounts in Switzerland.’
Jack said, ‘Numbered accounts, I assume.’
‘That’s correct,’ Richie responded.
‘And in essence Ainsley’s money will just disappear into thin air, into the ether,’ James interjected. ‘Am I correct?’
‘Yes, you are, James,’ Richie answered. Turning to Jack he went on, ‘In Zurich yesterday I opened the three numbered accounts. I used fake Canadian passports which were bought for me on the black market. Each passport obviously has my photograph in it, to prove my identity, but the names were totally fake. I can never be traced, so I’m secure.’
Reaching inside his jacket pocket, Richie took out an envelope. ‘Here are the names of the three banks and numbers of the accounts, Jack. As you agreed with my grandfather when you were in Hong Kong, Ainsley’s personal money, which in effect we are moving out of his private bank, will be used for children’s charities around the world, those to be decided on by you and my grandfather. In other words, when the time is right, you and Wen Li will start to distribute the money to the needy children of the world in a discreet and orderly manner through the charities.’
‘That’s right, Richie, and I couldn’t have said it better.’
‘When I transfer Wen Li’s original investment, his profit is going to him as well. And Grandfather said he would give me enough to pay the hackers.’ He grinned at Jack. ‘But mostly they do it because they have to do it. They’re hackers, and they enjoy the thrill of it all.’
James said, ‘There’s one thing I’m curious about, Richie. How did you get a mole into the Lebedev company? And so quickly?’
‘I didn’t, James. It was a stroke of luck…one of those peculiar coincidences in life. I remembered, suddenly, when I was talking to one of the hackers, that my old school buddy, my best pal, was working for a Russian oligarch. When I looked him up on my computer just out of interest, I discovered he was with the Lebedev Group, as it’s called. And what’s more, he is actually leaving this week, because his contract is up. He’s heading to Bali for a rest and some fun. So no suspicion can fall on him either.’
James smiled and so did Jack, who then said, ‘So I wish you luck with all this, Richie. You’ve done a magnificent job for us. And your grandfather will be very proud, I’m sure.’
‘I hope so. He loathes and detests Ainsley; blames him for my father’s downfall and death. Well, there’s nothing like revenge, Jack, nothing at all.’
‘That’s true, and it’s a dish best eaten cold,’ Jack said dryly.
‘Oh, Jack, one other thing!’ Richie exclaimed. ‘Only you and my grandfather will have the numbers of the bank accounts. And while I don’t want to teach you how to suck eggs, I have to say this, although I know you must be aware of it…you only need the number of the account to withdraw the money. You don’t have to show identification.’
‘I was vaguely aware of that,’ Jack replied. ‘But thanks for reminding me. Well, let’s go and have lunch. And by the way, Richie, where are you going from here? Or are you going to start the operation from London?’
‘No, I’m not, Jack. I’m going to Istanbul. I have a fantastic hacker there who plans to help me to get going. Also, Istanbul is very convenient for me. I
t’s only four and a half hours by plane from there to Hong Kong, and to my grandfather. Wen Li misses me when I’m away, so I want to get back to him soon.’
FORTY-FIVE
Grisha Lebedev, one of the richest and most powerful oligarchs in Russia, stood on the balcony of his vast double suite in the Çirag? an Palace Hotel Kempinski in Istanbul. His gaze was directed across the beautiful flower gardens and the beach to the Bosphorus, and Jonathan Ainsley’s yacht Janus anchored there.
For the last few hours, on this beautiful Saturday morning in May, he had been cursing the Englishman under his breath, calling him every name he could think of in every language he knew.
Lebedev, a tall, good-looking man in his late forties, was smart enough to know that his investment with Ainsley, which had obviously gone missing, could never be recouped. Trouble was brewing for the Belvedere-Macau Private Bank, and his gut instinct told him the bank was going down. The owner of that bank, with whom he had invested a great deal of his oil money, had been criminally negligent. Lebedev removed the word ‘negligent’. Ainsley was a criminal, a cheap crook, and he, Grigori Lebedev, was going to have his revenge.
He swung around at the sound of the door opening, and a faint smile crossed his face as Galina came into the room. ‘Did you find what you wanted?’ he asked, and knew that she had by the huge smile on her face and the shopping bags in her hand. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Escada and God knows what else she was carrying, but he didn’t care. She could have anything she wanted.
‘I did, Grisha, I did. I found a seductive dress.’
‘I want to see it on you,’ he murmured, walking across the room, taking hold of her, kissing her on the mouth, filling with desire for her. She dropped the bags and gave herself up to him, kissing him back, leading him to the bedroom and pulling him in the direction of the bed.
Letting go of her for only a moment, to close the blinds, Grisha pulled down the bedcover, and began to unbutton his shirt.
Galina, laughing delightedly, pulled off her tight-fitting Leonard dress, took off her bra and panties and walked towards him in her perilously high heels. ‘How do I look, darling?’
He was already stretched out on the bed, and he began to laugh with her, his sky-blue eyes sparkling. ‘Good enough to eat,’ he answered, and waved her forward.
It only took her a moment to join him on the bed, and as he rolled over and began to kiss her breasts, she murmured, ‘I never thought when I took this job that I’d have such a big bonus.’
Lifting his head, staring into her incredibly beautiful face, he asked in a tight voice, ‘What bonus?’
‘Oh, Grisha, don’t play silly with me,’ she answered, her eyes full of happiness. ‘You. You’re the big bonus. Being in bed with you all the time, making love, that’s the bonus. And I thought I was just going to be one of your bodyguards.’
‘Yes, that’s true, that’s your job. So guard my body.’ As he spoke he pulled her on top of him, and muttered, ‘Take it, do it, take my body, my little bodyguard.’
Galina kissed him, wanting to stop the chatter now, needing to get down to the business of conquering this powerful man through her beauty, her sexual techniques and her expertise. And within minutes she had done this, had him moaning with pleasure under her. Suddenly, he turned them both over, and began to seriously make love the way she liked, bringing them both to a climax swiftly.
As he fell against her, he said, ‘It’s never been so fast with anyone. Jesus, Galina, what do you do to me? The way you make me feel has never happened to me in my life before. You’re such a sensual woman, and I can’t get enough of you. You’re my woman, aren’t you?’
‘That’s right, I am. I will not let another woman have you. Ever. Say this is forever, Grisha, say it, tell me you love me, tell me you’re mine.’
‘I am,’ he said, ‘I’m yours and I love you. And this body is yours.’ As he was saying the words, merely wanting to please her, he suddenly realized he meant what he was saying. And what he was about to ask her to do was suddenly unpalatable to him. Unexpectedly, he lifted himself off her, and sat up against the pillows, surprising her. After a moment he said slowly, ‘When you came to work for me it was as one of my bodyguards, and you knew you might have to kill someone in order to save me, didn’t you?’
Startled by the change in his mood, the seriousness of his voice, she could only nod. Finally she said, ‘Yes, I did, Grisha, and I will protect you. With my gun, and if necessary with my body if I have to. I would stand in front of you and take the bullet.’
‘Good. Now listen carefully. Earlier I said I wanted you to go over and see Ainsley, and seduce him, get him going, so that you could extract information from him. But all that’s now changed.’
‘You don’t want me to go to his yali?’
‘Yes, I do want you to go to his villa. But I don’t want you to look too enticing, Galina. And I certainly don’t want you doing this with him, getting into his bed. You are mine, you belong to me, and I love you. And I am going to marry you. But you must do this one thing first.’
‘I will do anything, Grisha,’ she said, filled with ecstasy by his words, kneeling next to him. She touched his lean and handsome face, the face she had loved since she’d first seen him.
‘He’s stolen a lot of my money. Our money, Galina. I’ll never get it back from him, he’s a crook, and his bank is going down, within days. I discovered that this morning. And so I must have satisfaction.’
‘What do you want me to do, my sweetheart?’
He stared into her honey-coloured, almost golden eyes, reached out and touched the exquisite face, marvelling at this nineteen-year-old girl, who was so bowled over by him it took his breath away. And then he said in a low voice, ‘I want you to set him up and take him out.’
Jonathan Ainsley could not believe his luck.
When Galina had telephoned him at noon earlier that day, he had been taken completely by surprise. Though he had given her his mobile number the last time he had seen her before leaving St Petersburg, he had not really expected her to call him. She was under the thumb of Lebedev and with him all the time. Jonathan had also been taken aback when she said she was in Istanbul for the weekend with Grisha and wanted to see him. Alone.
The only thing that had troubled him was her insistence that they meet here at the villa. She had said it was better, because being on the yacht, where Angharad was ensconced, made her extremely nervous. She did not want to run into his wife, she had explained. He had eventually seen the sense of that, and had agreed to the rendezvous here at the yali, on the shores of the Bosphorus. But not in the villa itself. He had told her to come to the small side jetty, around the corner from the main house, and that she should take the path to the summerhouse near the rose gardens. She had agreed to this, had whispered a few suggestive things down the phone before saying she would see him at six.
Having extracted himself from Angharad, with some clever lies about meeting one of his partners from Hong Kong, he had come to the yali, where he had changed his clothes, put on a casual shirt and cotton trousers.
Now, as he stood in the living room of the summerhouse, staring out of the window that faced the sea, he saw Galina walking up through the garden. He smiled to himself. Finally he was going to take possession of this exquisite young woman. He wondered if she was thinking about him.
Galina was not. She was thinking about the man she loved with all her heart, the only man who had ever behaved decently towards her, treated her with deference and kindness, given her a sense of dignity. Grisha Lebedev. Physically abused at eight, sexually molested at ten, raped consistently at twelve, thirteen and fourteen, she had known only the brutality of men.
Because she was turning into the most beautiful woman and was therefore even more irresistible, her three elder sisters had found the money to have her trained in the arts of self-defence. She soon became a crack shot on the range; got a black belt in karate; was the best in her fencing class. She could run long distance
s with ease; leap in and out of moving vehicles, and she was so physically adept she had once toyed with the idea of being a stuntwoman and working on movies. But then she had seen Grigori Lebedev at a public function when she was seventeen, and fallen in love. At eighteen she had managed, finally, to get a job with him as one of his bodyguards. Being close to him, in his orbit, had given her life a purpose.
He had treated her with respect, and in a businesslike fashion. He had only slept with her because she seduced him. On a trip to London six months ago, Grisha had become morose and sad, had finally admitted to her that he was lonely, and that he still mourned his fiancée who had died in a car crash in Moscow three years earlier. Galina had used her wiles to entice him into her bed, and he had never left it, or her. And he was her world.
The idea of fraternizing with Jonathan Ainsley after a morning in bed with the man she adored, was enormously repulsive to her. But she must grit her teeth and go and flirt with him, and then do what she had been trained to do.
Ainsley opened the door as Galina reached the top of the path, a smile on his face. He glanced at his watch. ‘Just six p.m., you’re right on time, Galina.’
‘I’m always punctual,’ she responded, then said, ‘Good evening, Jonathan.’
‘Good evening, Galina,’ he responded politely, and opened the door wide, ushered her into the summerhouse.
She looked around the sitting room, decorated in white and cream, checking everything; she noted the silver bucket holding the bottle of champagne sitting on the coffee table, made a mental note of the land line, his mobile on the coffee table. Nothing unusual here. Through an open door she could see the bedroom.
Turning to him, Galina asked, ‘Is there a bathroom I could use, Jonny? I can call you Jonny, can’t I? It’s much more intimate.’
He beamed at her. ‘I like the idea of being intimate with you…we are going to be intimate tonight, aren’t we?’
‘Oh, yes,’ she breathed in her sexiest voice, went on, ‘Do you have some music? I love music, it’s so romantic. Why don’t you put something on, and open the champagne? There is a bathroom, isn’t there?’
Breaking the Rules (2009) Page 41