Four Ways to Keep a Secret by William Paley

Author:William Paley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Self Publishing Partnership

Chapter 16

On the Wednesday, Sylvia attempted to control her indignation at that little girl having caused such a major interruption in the hitherto smooth process of integration but, even more infuriating, had endangered her success bonus and even continuance of the business. After the recurrence of a few moments of internal and impotent rage at her dilemma, she managed to adopt an icy calm and called Laura into her office.

“I saw Roland last night in order to ascertain whether he had had any ideas to save the business. He hadn’t. He hasn’t contacted the bank yet, but he’s not hopeful whether that would do any good, anyway. The only possibility open is for us to throw ourselves upon his mercy and persuade him that saving the company is worthwhile. He has very nearly come to the conclusion that it’s more risky than he had previously thought and he will need very convincing arguments to change his mind. He would be risking three million, after all. Nobody would be keen to throw that amount away.”

“But we’ll lose fifty years of history. My grandfather worked all his life for this firm. There could be a great future with Stetford.”

“Yes. Your grandfather’s life’s work; but it isn’t Roland’s, is it? Why should he take a risk? The company is bust. Don’t you understand that?” Sylvia replied coldly. “Nobody has worried about cash control for years and, as a consequence, we have a huge overdraft that we can’t pay off. Now is the time for realism. We have to get the money or sink without trace. The only hope we have is Roland and he needs a lot of persuasion. We’re on the brink of disaster. If he doesn’t bail us out, we’re finished. It’s as simple as that.”

Laura could not even grasp at straws. There were none. Sylvia’s blunt speaking had hit her hard and Laura knew that she spoke the unvarnished truth.

“I’ll have to tell him to go ahead with the rights issue. I suppose it’s our only hope,” she added weakly.

“Yes,” Sylvia said contemptuously. “You are speaking sense at last. But whether he will go ahead, now, is doubtful. Use every argument you can but remember that he has the means and you have the begging bowl.” Then, unable to resist a witch’s cackle at Laura’s captive position, she added gleefully, “You’ll have to comply with his every demand before he agrees.”

Laura was horrified at the thinly veiled meaning of her words. “That’s something I shan’t agree to,” she said.

“Grow up,” Sylvia snarled. “This is dog-eat-dog time. If you want to save the company, you’ll have to accede to any suggestion; but don’t worry. You’ll only have six weeks and you might even get to like it in that time.” Sylvia was relishing her release from formality and delighted in Laura’s expression of horror. She had no need, any more, to maintain any semblance of congeniality; the company would either sink or be sold off. Whatever happened, Laura would be a dead duck.

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