A Very Corporate Affair book 3 (The Corporate series)

A Very Corporate Affair

Book 3

D A Latham

Copyright © 2013 D A Latham

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 1492170607

ISBN-13: 978-1492170600

DEDICATION

To my dearest darling Allan

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

With thanks to;

Andrea Mills

Trystan Lutey

Penny Harrison

Tomme Darlington

Michael Harte

Becca Elliot

Jaqui Martin

Gail Hayward

and

Claire Plant

Chapter 1

"Elle, are you alright?" Ms Pearson's voice sounded distant. She looked concerned as I sat reeling at the revelations of the last hour of my life.

"Why did Ivan instruct you to reveal the content of his will while he's still alive?" was all I could manage.

"Because he wanted you to look after the companies, knowing you are either doing it for him, or doing it for yourself. Don't let the other directors push through any decisions," she replied. It made sense, with Ivan missing, his companies needed protecting from other, less altruistic directors. I would have looked after them for him, but he had needed me to understand that if the worst should happen, I would need to learn to control the other board members for myself.

"Anything else?" I prayed that there were no further revelations.

"No, not at this stage. I suggest you take leave of absence for now, and I hope for all our sakes that this situation is resolved quickly." Ms Pearson looked sympathetic.

"Yes....yes, so do I...." My voice faltered as I struggled to keep control. I stood to leave, and, even in my dreamlike state, remembered to shake her hand, before heading out to the car.

"Where to next?" I asked Roger, "and who instructed you not to tell me about Ivan earlier?"

"I think you need to go to Retinski head office. Mr Ranenkiov asked me to bring you. Mrs Ballard asked me not to interrupt your mother's funeral with the news."

I remembered telling Jo about the funeral during our weekend in France. "Ok, Retinski it is." We headed off, and almost straightaway my phone rang. It was Oscar.

"Hi Elle. I understand you spoke to Darius. Has anything else happened?"

I raised the privacy screen. "Yes, I've been informed that I'm acting as managing director of his companies in his absence, and I've been told that he asked Ms Pearson to inform me that in the event of his death, all his estate goes to me." Oscar went quiet. "Are you still there?" I asked.

"Of course, I'm just....shocked. He's an extremely wealthy man. I'll sort his bank accounts so that you have access, including the company ones. If you need any help, you can always count on me, you do know that don't you?"

"Thanks. Have you spoken to Darius?"

"Yes, just got off the phone to him. The Russian government are insisting that they don't negotiate with terrorists, which, in itself, presents a bit of a problem."

"What sort of problem?"

"I have to set the terrorists up a numbered bank account in Switzerland so they can access the ransom, otherwise I have no way of getting the money into Russia secretly, that is, without the Russian government finding out."

"So where's the problem?"

"They're peasant revolutionaries, with no way of getting to Switzerland."

"I see. How big a bag would be needed for that amount of cash?"

"It's not that simple. There'd be nothing to stop them taking the cash, and keeping the hostages, or worse, killing them."

I thought about it. "Retinski must have money inside Russia, especially given that Ivan inherited Vlad's estate. Let me talk to Ranenkiov."

"Be careful who you trust, there's going to be a lot of people with a vested interest in Ivan not coming back."
Like you Oscar?

"Of course. I'm just on my way to Retinski now. I'll come and see you later on, when I know more."

"Ok. I'll be home tonight."

I cut the call, and sank into the seat, my mind racing with all the various pieces of information. I thought of what lay ahead, and quickly scrolled through the app store on my phone to download a Russian to English translator application. It wouldn't be ideal, but there was no way I'd be able to hire a proper translator quickly enough.  When we arrived at the tower, I headed straight up to Retinski Headquarters.

Walking into Ivan's office was difficult, and slammed it home to me that this really had happened. The room felt empty and void without his electric presence. I switched on his screen, and found that it needed a password. I tried the names Bella and Tania first, with no luck. I typed in my name, and the screen sprang to life, confirming that I had indeed been on his mind. Before I could check the emails, there was a knock on the door. I opened it to find Mr Ranenkiov looking grave.

"Welcome to Retinski, Ms Reynolds, we have been advised of Ivan's wishes that you assume the position of managing director. Have you managed to find out any news?"

"Not much as yet. I need to know the cash position of Retinski in Russia, in case we have to pay a ransom quickly. I also need to meet the other directors."

"Certainly, please come this way, everyone is in the boardroom." I closed down Ivan's emails, and followed him out. We walked down the corridor, and into a large room, dominated by an enormous oak table, with ten men seated around it. Mr Ranenkiov showed me to the seat at the head of the table, before sitting in the chair beside me. I surreptitiously switched on the app, setting the phone beside me on the large chair. One man spoke in Russian to the man seated next to him, and a few people laughed. I glanced down to read the screen.
*Ivan must be judging the value of directors on how good their tits are.*
sexist bastards.

"I'd like to introduce myself, I'm Ms Reynolds, Mr Porenski's nominated acting managing director. Before you all introduce yourselves to me, I would like to make it clear that only English should be spoken in my presence please." A murmur rippled around the room.
Stuff‘em, I'm not sitting like a lemon while they all chat freely in a bloody foreign language.
I pressed 'record' on my iPhone.

Each man introduced himself to me in turn, outlining their position and area of responsibility. Every single one of them was Russian. "Does anyone have information on what the current situation is regarding Ivan's kidnapping?" I looked around the table expectantly. I figured at least one of them would have a link to the Russian government.

"It seems the group were held at gunpoint at the steps of the plane. We know they were taken onto a truck. We also know that a video message was sent directly to the Kremlin. It shows Ivan, and all ten guards alive, and held captive in a room. Their captors are demanding fifty million dollars for their release."

"Any political demands? Or is it purely money?"

"At this stage, just money. The Kremlin are saying publicly that they won't negotiate, however, they have put a negotiator in place, who has made contact with the kidnappers. He will try and keep them talking for as long as possible, to ensure the safety of the captives," said the finance director, a short, rather skinny man, with rather beady eyes, and a slightly beaky nose. I racked my brain to remember his name. "Oleg Marakov, finance director," he reminded me.

"Thank you Mr Marakov, is there fifty million on standby to pay these people?"

"Yes, but of course, we'd rather avoid paying it, if Russian authorities can rescue them by other means. Ivan is a prominent businessman, and as such, this is huge news throughout Russia. If the authorities can be seen to not capitulate to terrorists, it is so much better."

"Clearly. I'm sure the authorities don't want a spate of kidnappings arising from this, but my main concern is getting Ivan out unharmed. We all know what happened when the authorities tried to rescue hostages in other situations, and ended up killing half of them. I would like fifty million placed into a new, separate, bank account straightaway, just in case. Can you arrange that today please?" I fixed Marakov with a hard stare.

"Consider it done."

"Good. Now gentlemen, I will need you all to bring me up to speed on all the current companies, and any projects underway."

I was interrupted by a tall, rather imposing man, who I remembered had introduced himself as Andrei. "Is there a reason why you have been asked to become acting managing director, when you don't even know our company?"
Fair point.

"I have been appointed to the board already. You have no director qualified in legal matters, so I was asked to join you as a non exec. Ivan appointed me as his nominated second in command, should this type of disaster occur. Please be aware that I will be sitting on this board when Ivan returns, so I would appreciate full disclosure from all of you."

Mr Ranenkiov spoke up. "Ms Reynolds is our lawyer from Pearson Hardwick, and due to her exemplary performance for our company, Ivan invited her to join us.”

"The network of companies is rather complicated....." Oleg trailed off.

"I'm sure I can manage." I smiled at him to try and disarm him. He didn't smile back.

"Gentlemen, I would like a full list of the companies, their structure, and accounts for the last three years please, in English. I'll use this weekend to get up to speed, as I'm sure you can appreciate, this was rather sprung on me. Is there any other urgent business?"  

Marakov looked sly. "Yes, we are about to vote through enhanced share options for the board. We are all in agreement, and it was only remaining for Ivan to cast the deciding vote. He had suggested it himself, so it was only a formality. He was planning to cut back on acquisitions, and use the cash to increase dividends and bonuses."

I gave him a hard stare. "I don't think this is the time or place for discussions like that. There will be no enhanced share options granted until Ivan returns, nor will there be any decisions about dividends or bonuses." There was a small murmur around the table.
Chancers.

"Are you sure that going against the wishes of the board is a good idea? It would place you in a somewhat
difficult
position. It would be a disaster for the company if anything was to happen to our interim MD as well."
Threatening me now are you?
I ignored him.

"Now, if that's all, I suggest we all get on with sorting the information I'm going to need, and concentrate on getting Ivan back in one piece. I handed each man a business card with my mobile number and email address. "Any information or news on the situation in Russia, I would be grateful if you would contact me immediately." They all began to leave. Mr Ranenkiov followed me into Ivan's office, and sat down in front of the desk, facing me.

"You handled them very well. I think they thought you'd be a pushover. The share option thing was a crock of shit."

I smiled, "I know. I wasn't born yesterday, besides, I'm really hoping Ivan comes back in one piece, and I don't think he'd thank me for selling off bits of his company on the cheap. Now, is there anything that needs my immediate attention?"