‘Mr Milos, thank you for the pleasure of your company. Enjoy the rest of your day.’ Andrew’s formality gave out a clear message, not just a hint, which Jonathan understood.
Andrew got up and without looking back walked out of the restaurant thanking the Maitre d’ on his way out. When Jonathan asked for the bill he was told that it had already been settled by Mr Le Charos.
By the time he left the restaurant Andrew had made his decision.
Once outside, his driver was already holding the door open for him. He got into the car, which left the kerb within seconds on its way to the airport. He pressed a button, lowering the glass partition.
‘Thomas, we need to make a stop at the Point Piper house on our way. I’ll only be a few minutes.’
Half an hour later, the car stopped outside Andrew’s seafront home. Andrew opened the front door and walked briskly through the hall and out into the garden. He saw her standing by the quay before she saw him and he quickened his pace.
‘Andrew, it’s exactly one o’clock. Punctuality was always one of your good traits.’
‘I haven’t got long. I need to be at the airport in an hour.’
‘This won’t take long. I’m sorry for not giving you more notice.’
‘I must admit I was surprised when you called. I had no idea you were in Australia. I saw Katerina the other day and she did not mention that you may be visiting.’
‘She had no idea. I only decided two days ago.’
He studied her. ‘How is it that you become more beautiful with age?’
‘Andrew, don’t flatter me please.’ She indicated her hair. ‘This is the work of a master craftsman. And please don’t tell me you refuse to see the lines on my face, the legacy of a busy life.’
‘Maturity suits you. I have watched you all these years, what you’ve done with the company. Imagine if we had joined forces. But you always wanted to keep the two companies separate. What a pair we would have been. What a dynasty we would have created.’
‘We always had a dynasty and a lot more besides. A family. Two great sons. Only you could not see it.’
‘Yes, I have followed their path as well with interest. They have done well. You have done well with them, and on your own. You must be proud of them.’
‘I am. And you are not?’
‘Of course I am. I wish I had them running my companies, especially Aristo. He beats us both hands down.’
‘They both have good genes. I think Aristo got the best of both of us. However things ended between us, nobody can deny your business acumen. Your achievements are proof of that.’
‘Thank you. You know, there was a time when I felt intimidated by you, by your success, your power, your money.’
‘What, you mean you are not anymore? I must be losing my touch. Age can do that to you, you know.’
‘My darling Elli, we are not getting any younger…’
‘Are you going to bombard me with another marriage proposal?’
‘No, I wouldn’t dare. But we had something special, you and I.’
‘Had, Andrew, had. A long time ago.’
‘I am glad you called and came here. In fact I was going to call you.’
‘Yes? Why?’
‘Have you spoken with Katerina since she got back?’
‘No, I didn’t get the chance. Why? Has something happened?’
‘No, it’s nothing to worry about. But it has to do with me and you and Andros’ family.’ He paused. ‘Elli, would you believe me if I told you that I have changed, that I want to have some sort of relationship with you all?’
‘Is that why Katerina came to see you? Is it a daily trip of a guilty conscience? How long will it last before you are back to your old ways?’
‘Elli, after all I have put you through you would be right not to believe me. But I want this. I really do. I want us all to be a family again, if not like we were back then when we were married, at least the closest thing to what we could have been.’
‘So you are ready to tell Aristo and Vasilis that you are their father?’
‘Yes.’
‘Even with all the cynicism that I see things after all these years, I have been waiting a long time for you to say this.’ Her eyes began to water and her lip quivered. She tried to hold back the tears. Her face betrayed her, though.
‘Elli, if I didn’t know better I would say that you are about to cry.’
‘Don’t you believe it.’ She smiled through wet eyes. ‘You got me there. I will not pretend otherwise. What excuse could I have? That I have dust in my eyes?’ She paused. ‘Look, Andrew, despite what you may think, I am human and not ashamed to show weakness, where appropriate of course. I will tell you though. You have been lucky.’
‘Lucky?’
‘Yes, lucky that the truth has not come out in all these years. That nobody even hinted at the truth before Aristo and Vasilis. It was a luxury to go about your business all these years without interruptions, without complications without the tension of a revelation and condemnation by gossip. Now you cannot afford to avoid it any longer, we cannot afford for our children not to know the truth. You have an opportunity to at least go some way to righting the wrong against them. Don’t waste it and don’t delay. The longer we leave it now that you have taken the decision the higher the risk of them finding it out through a third party, even if this has not happened for such a long time.’
‘I really want to make it up to them.’ He paused. ‘And Elli, I feel no animosity towards you anymore. I no longer hate you. I have changed.’
‘I’m beginning to believe you. How are you going to go about this? Will you be coming to Cyprus?’
‘Yes, I am planning a trip in the next few weeks.’
‘Excellent. Then we hope to see you then. Now I will tell you what I wanted to talk to you about.’
‘It must be important for you to come all the way here.’
‘Yes, it merits a private face-to-face discussion.’ She paused. ‘Andrew I have learned that you are behind the purchase of the 10 % stake that the Manoukios branch of the family has in the Valchern Corporation.’ At his hint of a protestation she raised her hand in a gesture for him to stop. ‘You are going to tell me that it’s not true, because your name does not appear on the papers as the registered owner of the shares. But I know that there is a secret agreement between you and Manoukios.’
‘There’s no point asking how you know. Your sources of information have always been impressive.’
‘Exactly, so why go through the charade of creating this elaborate scheme to cover your identity? Unless it’s because you have seen the articles of the company. Of course, you know that no shareholder can sell even a single share to an outsider, but only to another existing shareholder. And there is no preemption option, so that a shareholder cannot offer his shares to other existing shareholders and, if there is no interest to buy, then that shareholder may go outside to offer to sell. Money must have passed between you. You must have paid them a considerable sum for the use of that stake, haven’t you?’
‘Yes, I have. I knew they were looking for a legal exit, a way to monetise that stake than simply receiving dividends which they will still continue to receive. They are the owners of the stake after all.’
‘What do you mean you knew? How did you find out when I did not get even the slightest wind of this? That’s very strange behaviour on Manoukios’ part not talking to me first.’
‘I don’t know.’ He paused. ‘Elli, I just want to be involved more closely with my family.’
‘So it’s simply noble intentions, is it?’
‘Yes.’
‘You have a funny way of going about it.’ Elli paused and looked Andrew hard in the eye. ‘To cause trouble, you mean. And here am I almost being convinced that you had changed and sincerely wanted to come back to the fold.’
‘I do, Elli, I really do.’
‘You have always been a master actor which has not harmed you in business.’