by Mark Stanley
Ludo, had been wrong. South Audley Street hadn't sold out in a week and not in two either. The market was proving very sticky all-round. The heady days of 2014 had been short lived, as the fears of the British exit from the European Union on the 23rd June loomed large. We, MSP and Brompton Estates, had provided substantial funds for the stay campaign; it suited us to do so. We derive the majority of our earnings from overseas buyers and anything that threatens that is very unwelcome. We were still very busy at MSP but were cautious about the market if Britain voted to leave. Publicly, we had declared our hand, at the request of the Chancellor and had been interviewed about the potential downside if Britain voted to leave. The facts were that no one knew what the effects would be for no one had ever had the temerity to leave.
"Ludo, sold out yet?"
"Please don't jump on the bandwagon of kick Ludo, its unkind and unwarranted."
"You set yourself up with your prophecy."
"And that was based on me selling them!"
"Where are we?"
"Just over 70% sold, so we're getting there."
"All of the town houses gone?"
"Yes, it's the darn two bed apartments which are sticking. We need overseas buyers to snap those up and they're just not biting."
I was relaxed, after all 70%, was way in excess of the development costs and would cover the additional bank borrowing that Brompton's had taken on to finance the Tulip deal. Due to pressure of work, I had to forego the delights of Royal Ascot's opening day but we would be there on Wednesday and Thursday. Danny and Melissa were going on Tuesday as well but today Melissa was at the spa with Victoria and Danny? I knew exactly where Danny was… where I wanted him.
"Mummy & Daddy seem in good humour, for once?"
"I wonder how long that will last."
Victoria rolled over and looked at me. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing."
"I don't believe you. The last time they were here you had the Panama Connection and you have the same look now as you had then, so I repeat, what are you up to?"
"And I'll repeat the same answer, nothing."
"Don't spoil this week Billy, please?"
"Of course I won't."
We have a rule in the house. At 6pm or when we return home, whichever is later, our mobile phones are switched off. After that we're home and are only available, to those that know the home number and there are precious few of those. Of course, there's the office phone, but Poppy leaves at 6pm as well and so there's only the answer phone. On Tuesday I was up and out as early as I could, turning my phone on was so exciting! And then, what I hoped would happen, happened, there was a text message at 19.21 and an email a couple of minutes after, the deed had been done and Danny Brompton was about to get his just desserts.
Tuesday was a full board meeting. Life had been so much simpler when it was just Giles and I. Board meetings could and did take place during a sandwich at lunchtime, now if was much more structured. It was hardly surprising that things had changed. We are still rapidly expanding and I have a desire to make MSP a billion pound company by the end of the decade with a top heavy female board of directors. The first would be easy to accomplish, the second a darn sight harder. We have two at the moment in Felicity and Josie and both appointments were working out as we had hoped. The ladies bought a different dynamic to the board and we were grateful for that and them. Today we had been tied up in our stock of developments, completed and almost so. Nothing was selling particularly well and we were still developing.
"Once the uncertainties of the Referendum are known things will improve."
"Perhaps Giles, but what happens if Britain votes to leave? I've looked at the figures and if the market falls ten percent in the following..."
Josie had given us all spreadsheets and now embarked on a voyage of Microsoft Excel, I almost yawned, but she made very valid points. The effect on the business would be immediate and the days following the vote, if the UK voted to leave, would be challenging. The both companies rely on overseas clients and so the actual cost of the properties mirror the value of Sterling, when Sterling falls and the consensus was, that if the UK did vote to leave it would fall a minimum of 15%, the price of the house for these investors, fell by the same amount which would be an incentive, the disincentive would be that we were no longer part of the European Union. There was much uncertainty in many markets and we were waiting for the dust to settle to see what was going to happen because after a vote like this there would inevitably be changes but which way would the UK vote?
"The next matter regards Ellie and her appointment to the board? Does anyone have any views?"
"I think that she'll be a terrific appointment. We desperately need to expand the architecture and design side and she's proven over the last couple of years to be excellent at man-management and decision making."
"I agree Giles but she's still very young and I'm not sure if she's ready for yet another burden?"
"The problem is Josie, if we don't promote her, we risk losing her. She's been tapped up before and I've a feeling that it'll happen again, probably sooner rather than later."
"But offering her a Directorship to just tie her in seems almost, fraudulent."
I sat and listened to both sides and could empathise with Josie. She had been with us, almost from day one and had seen us go through peaks and troughs before, but now that we had reached critical mass, those days were over and she needed to see that. Some of the obstacles that she put up were both spurious and illogical and I suspected that she viewed Ellie as a late arrival who had spring boarded herself to this, in her view, elevated position.
"...and that's my considered view. Mark you've not spoken?"
"I've been very interested to hear all of the views and I think all of the points have some merit, but I want to leave aside Ellie and her appointment. I want us to all consider the bigger picture. We are a company that is top heavy in women. We actively seek to promote women and encourage them to be bold in their jobs and their vision. If we don't appoint Ellie I think that we are doing her and the women of this company and in many ways this country, a disservice. She's more than capable. She's created the architectural department and oversees the new interior design department. She's also been instrumental in developing with Giles and me the intern programme. Yes she's young and so was I many years ago when I took on a young, newly qualified accountant, when everyone around me, including Giles wanted me to appoint a more experienced man. The company has grown exponentially during the last couple of years and I've been slow in recognising that we needed to expand the board to take on a more, cosmopolitan selection of views, just because I was slow in appointing Josie and Felicity, I don't think that should be a bar to Ellie joining it. I'm happy to say that the young newly qualified accountant has been one of my better appointments and I would hope that she can see that we need to proactively appoint young fresh ideas."
"Put me back in my box!"
I smiled at Josie's quip, we then voted and unanimously Ellie was promoted to Director.
At home that evening, I had been helping Hugo with some maths homework when Danny and Melissa returned from the races.
"Had a good day?"
"Stupendous!"
"Daddy are you a little drunk?"
"Perhaps a smidgen but why not when everything is so right with the World?"
I smiled and said nothing.
"My, my you were energetic last night and again this morning, but dear heart no more or we'll be late for Her Majesty."
I knew Victoria was right, she's rarely wrong but today was a seriously big day. I got up and pulled on my sweats and went down to supervise the children. Mayhem in the kitchen is always on the agenda when I supervise. The older children are pretty much left to their own devices. Adelice knows what they want and that's what they get, unless they want something different, which is rare. Justine and Chloe were feeding babies and Flora, who immediately started banging her spoon on the table as she spied my entra
nce. After saying good morning to all, I sat and chatted with everyone as Danny arrived in search of tea, his drink of choice, certainly at breakfast.
"It says here in the Racing Post, that the treble on your horses hit the bookies really hard, apparently lots of people put them into combination bets and cleaned up. They estimate the losses were close to twenty five million."
"Undoubtedly an exaggeration for some press coverage."
"Did you win much Daddy?"
"Quite a bit of prize money Lulu."
"How much did you win off the bookies?"
"You know I never discuss that, its braggadocios."
"Ooh, big words at breakfast Dad."
"Thank you Charles, now clear off and get ready for school."
"What time are you having lunch Daddy?"
"We have to be at Windsor Castle by 11am and I expect lunch will be sometime around then. I think we drive down the Long Walk in cars and then transfer to the Landau's for the drive up the course."
"I've programmed the television so that it'll record you and Vic...Mummy, then we can all watch it together tonight to see if they were horrible or nice about Mummy's dress, I bet that they'll be swooning over her, as usual." She made a very pouting model face as she got up to leave the table.
"I expect you're right." It was awkward, two of the children, Charles and Lulu, starting to call Victoria Mummy and Hugo, steadfastly refusing to, instead calling her Victoria, not that it matters but the younger children were going to get very confused, still, as always we'll manage.
The children left to get ready to go and left me at the table with Danny.
"So how much did you win yesterday?"
"Enough. How much did you win?"
"Just over a million and you?"
I got up with a smile on my face, without answering the question, which would infuriate Danny. The only person that would know how much I had won, apart from me, was the bookmaker but it had been considerably more than Danny's winnings.
As I entered the bedroom, Victoria had already showered and I stared.
"Go away Billy! If you behave now, I promise that you'll be rewarded tonight."
I continued to stare and the inevitable happened.
"Oh no Billy! Shower now and take him with you!"
The day was a resounding success. Of course, we are well known to the Royal Family, many of whom were gracious enough to attend our wedding and so the day, along with the other guests, whilst formal, it was almost informal as the Queen, insists that everyone is there for an enjoyable days racing. Of course her knowledge of bloodstock and the various outreaches is legendary and far superior to my own, I'm just a fortunate owner but, along with her racing manager and bloodstock advisor I did have a discussion about Royal Quest. After which I made a mental note to ensure that I gifted a nomination to him, not that Her Majesty would ever ask or assume, but the broodmares that she has have terrific bloodlines and would be a real coup if she would send a single mare in his first year at stud.
Later, in bed Victoria, having made good her promise was snuggled up to me.
"What a wonderful day."
"It surely was and that ending was just perfect!"
"I still can't quite believe that we were in the first carriage with The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. They were both so nice, weren't they?"
"They were my darling and I felt very privileged to be there with them and you."
"Billy?"
"Yes?"
"I think you’re scrumptious."
Friday, came and time for some fun and games. The children had gone to school and Melissa and Victoria had gone to take the babies to visit my parents. I had an afternoon meeting and so I had stayed at home with Danny. The Referendum vote was due in a week and we were both nervous, for different reasons about the outcome and had spent some time discussing the ramifications.
"Of course, if the unthinkable happens then Christopher will have to resign, there'll be no alternative, not after aligning himself and campaigning so vociferously for the Remain group."
"Will Henry get caught up in the fall-out."
"Indubitably, there will be many casualties, that's why we've wanted you two to stay as remote as we could manufacture without it being seen as a criticism of Christopher. Your statement has endorsed your view and that of the companies, which is all right and proper but we didn't want you to be aligned with Christopher, just in case."
"The pundits seem to think it's going to be too tight to call?"
"How are the companies?"
"MSP has too much stock, that's a fact but with Ludo leaving, I felt I had no option but to stockpile, admittedly it's reduced in the last few weeks but not by as much as I would have liked. I've taken a view on some of the units that needed redevelopment and have decided that we should hedge our bets so they've been spruced them up and let them out on short-term leases, just to give us time should the need arise to decide what we're going to do. Brompton's are in fine shape and with the sale of a large chuck of South Audley Street, not only have they cleared the bank borrowings but they've also got a very acceptable cushion."
Danny looked across and raised a solitary eyebrow. "I wouldn't expect anything less; it's not a company to carry out foolish gambling with."
We were in the sitting room and I was waiting for the opportunity, which he handed to me on a plate.
"I really like your friend’s wife, Lucia, what an adorable girl."
"Decent fuck isn't she?"
He continued to stare across the room at me. "You'd know Mark, seeing you went there enough times."
"But not as recently as you Danny? Fucking her in that little pied-à-terre, you keep in Hay's Mews, how did you find her, accommodating?"
He didn't get flustered."Very as a matter of fact, she does some extraordinary things that you'd normally only get from a high-class whore."
"Unsurprisingly she doesn't have such a high opinion of your abilities."
"Disappointing that she should be so dismissive, I shall have to have words with her when I see her later."
"You won't be seeing her later."
"Yes I will, back at Hay's for a bit of pre-weekend rumpy-pumpy, can't beat it."
I reached in the pocket of my jacket and held an envelope. "What, even after you see these photo's?"
"So now we get down to it, 'do unto others as you have them do unto you' a bit of reverse blackmail Mark up the ante, raise the price?"
"I prefer to think of it as a 'Mexican standoff'."
"Whichever you prefer, so what do you want Mark and I shall see whether I'll give it...or not."
"Nothing so onerous that you extracted from me Danny, I just want safe passage for me, my family, friends and associates."
"Where?"
"Any and everywhere, no more, accidents, no more muggings, you get the idea."
"How else am I meant to control you?" He looked to the ceiling. "Of course, your own indiscretions that Victoria still doesn't know about." He smiled.
"Don't go there. I've done your bidding and I'll continue to do it but not with the spectre of more accidents hanging over me and if you don't comply?" I copied his look to the ceiling. "Then Melissa will find out as will Victoria and I do believe that the press will be presented with a set, to do with as they see fit."
"I don't think that what you have is as powerful a tool as you think it is and as powerful as what I command?"
"How come?"
"Melissa has her own place where she entertains, our marriage, is all about power and possessions, yes we love each other but not in a way that you would or could understand. I haven't had sex with Melissa for almost twenty years. Does that surprise you...I can see that it does. Melissa is an integral piece of me and me of her, we drive each other on and when one falters, the other is there, waiting, supporting. A disclosure to Melissa would be treated with derision, the press, well, let’s say that might be difficult to achieve. So Mark you have nothing, just some pictures, but as you think the pictu
res could hurt me, I can assure you that they will hurt Lucia, much, much more. Her marriage will be over, for Simon won't stay with her. Your friendship will be over with both of them and then there might, just might be some difficult questions to answer from Victoria. No Mark, you've got nothing and you'll continue to do as I say or your family, friends and associates, will face the consequences. In fact I think today has demonstrated that you need a little reminder of the power I wield, I think I shall have to arrange another demonstration."
"No, don't do that. I apologise and unreservedly remove the threat."
"I shall have to ensure of course that Lucia gets the full Brompton treatment for disclosure." He smiled in an irritatingly, conceited way, it wasn't a smirk; it was much more than that.
"How are you getting to town?"
"By train, Victoria will be back in time for the helicopter to pick me up for the return leg."
"I might join you; I haven't been on a train in years, where do we pick it up from?"
"I generally go to Sunningdale as it’s slightly closer than Virginia Water."
"What time?"
"Midday."
"That works for me. I can get a cab from Waterloo and get things prepared for Lucia. Couple of hours, shower the sweat and sex off me and I can meet you back at Battersea for the flight home."
It was drizzling as the car pulled onto the station forecourt and we got out and went inside to the ticket office.
"Four one way first class tickets to London Waterloo please?"
"That'll be three hundred pounds and eighty pence please."
Danny exploded. "Three hundred fucking pounds for four tickets to London fucking Waterloo are you mad!"