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Life's Illusions - Book Five - Chapter 8
Milo was kept in the hospital for 7 days, during which time the family took it in turns to visit throughout each day.
Vinny had decided to stay on after his Poppa was discharged, to complete the I.T. work he'd been planning to carry out for the Australasia Division, but Paulette sensed something else, and in her usual way broached the subject head on with her husband two days before Milo was due to be discharged.
"What is it you're not saying Vinny?, you know I can read you like a book, so don't pretend there's nothing, or that it's something and nothing which I don't need to be concerned with, it's something which you are having trouble finding a way to tell me about, so do what I've always told you to do, lay it out for me now".
He looked a little like the proverbial rabbit caught in the headlights, frozen, but he knew she was right, and she saw the tears appearing as he answered her.
"I don't want to go back, I'm terrified he'll die whilst I'm so far away, he's not out of the woods yet, the doctors have told him he has to rest for at least three months, he won't do it, I know him too well, the minute we all leave he'll be back to working full pelt, Poppa Piers, Baz, Jez, they won't be able to stop him, it needs us, or at the very least me here".
Paulette gave him a peck on the cheek.
"See, that was easy wasn't it?, so what are you saying, you want us to stay on here for several months?, because that's not a problem, it just means we could end up with an Ausie child, which wouldn't be bad if he, or she, grows up like Daddy, remember I'm at six months now, but if it puts your mind at ease, then I'm all for it".
Vinny pulled her in for a hug.
"You never cease to amaze me, I'm asking you to uproot your world at a moments notice, for an unspecified period, and you just take it in your stride as if I've asked you to cross a street, the Lord only knows what I did to deserve you, but I'm thankful he saw fit to send you my way".
Vinny had Paulette's approval to stay on in Sydney, but he knew he didn't, and wouldn't, get Josef's, so it was no surprise when, after he'd mentioned their plans at dinner, Josef and Juan cornered him, with Josef leading the conversation.
"This idea of yours to stay on here, it's not really on Vinny, we need you in Torremolinas, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news but that's the way it is".
Juan took up where his brother had left off.
"You have two weeks to complete the I.T. upgrades here then you come back to Torremolinas, are we clear?".
Vinny looked deflated, but he just nodded.
Paulette found him a little later, or more to the point, she'd walked in as he was explaining to his Poppa Piers that he wouldn't be able to stay on in Sydney, he'd been to ambitious in thinking he could, which surprised her.
"Vinny, why have you changed your mind, I don't understand, I thought you wanted to stay on?".
His reply, where he recounted the meeting with Josef and Juan sent Paulette into a foul mood.
"You want to stay, with good reason, I agreed we'll stay, that's all there is too it, outside forces don't interfere with decisions made in our family, unless of course they're looking for trouble, in which case I'll give it to them, we are staying on in Sydney, if anyone tries to tell you otherwise, refer them to me, now I'm just going to have a chat with my father, so if you hear screaming, or crying, feel free to ignore it".
Paulette found both her father and Josef in the garden, along with her mother and Ralph.
Carry saw her approaching from a distance and sensed Paulette's mood.
"Okay, who did what to upset our daughter?, because there's what looks like a firestorm approaching, I know I've not done anything bad, and I very much doubt it's Ralph, so that just leaves you two, Ralph you'd be wise to follow my lead because I'm getting out of the way".
Paulette nodded as she passed her mother and Ralph, coming to a stop directly in front of her father and Juan.
She directed her comments toward her father.
"I'm only going to say this once, don't ever again interfere in matters within mine and Vinny's family, if you do you'll regret it, we will be staying on in Sydney for as long as Vinny feels it's necessary".
Josef wisely didn't respond, but Juan stupidly tried to.
"Paulette, we've told Vinny...............".
He didn't get any further.
"I was talking to the organ grinder, not the monkey".
At that Josef did respond, angrily.
"Show some respect girl, is that any way to speak to your uncle?, Vinny has his two weeks in which to complete the I.T. upgrade, we will also show some leniency, but if he's not back in Torremolinas in four weeks, he should look for alternative employment".
Even Josef would later admit to Carry, that had been a stupid move, because all it served to do was to further infuriate Paulette.
"Girl!, girl!, really, you think talking down to me, or issuing threats is going to get you anywhere boy?, well hear this, I reiterate, Vinny will be staying in Sydney for as long as Vinny deems necessary, that is going to be longer than four weeks, possibly twelve weeks or more, so we will take it that he is fired, there, you have your resolution, I hope you're happy boy".
Paulette walked away leaving her father and uncle speechless, but as she approached Vinny he could see she was worried.
Vinny was still sat with his Poppa Piers.
"Okay, that look tells me it didn't quite go according to your plan, so come sit, and tell me what we're facing".
Paulette sat looking at him before saying.
"It seems I've accepted your notice for you, I'm sorry Vinny, he riled me so much, he actually addressed me as 'Girl', then he said if you weren't back in Torremolinas in four weeks you would be out of a job, so I basically told him to shove his job up his arse, I accepted notice for you, I really am sorry".
Vinny started to chuckle, then it grew to a belly laugh as he pulled Paulette into a hug.
"Don't be sorry, I'm not bothered, it's not like we're on the breadline, I can get another job whenever I want, too be honest, I might look at starting my own I.T. Company, working freelance, that would give us more freedom as well".
Paulette was surprised.
"You're not mad at me?".
Vinny was still laughing.
"For what, standing up for me?, that'll be somewhere around the day hell freezes over, not before then my love".
Piers was sat beaming at them, so proud of his son, and of Paulette for defending him.
Meanwhile, Carry and Ralph had walked back to where Josef and Juan were still sat looking speechless.
"See Ralph, you're probably going to agree with me here, most people, when they see a firestorm approaching, they'd choose the wise option, and seek safe ground, but then of course there are the daredevils, the ones who see the firestorm coming but choose to offer more fuel for the fire, did I say daredevils?, on reflection I actually meant idiots, well done 'Boys', and yes Josef, I clearly heard that demeaning reference to our daughter, I wasn't impressed".
As she walked away with Ralph, Carry couldn't help but giggle.
Conversations at dinner that evening were a little strained, especially as Piers, Vinny, Baz, Jezz, and Gracie were at the hospital visiting Milo.
At dinner were Josef and Carry, Juan and Ralph, Paulette, and Ferdie, who hadn't a clue what was going on, he just chose to keep his head down, mainly to avoid any flying crockery, which he was convinced could possibly be airborne at any moment.
Paulette would later admit to Vinny, she'd been nervous about who's side her mother would take, she needn't have been, Carry met her in the hallway leading to the dining room and immediately linked arms, saying.
"Let's show a united front, I was proud of you this afternoon, well done".
Josef tried his utmost to go the extra mile being gracious, but Paulette was having none of it, and Carry seemed to find every rebuff he suffered as hilarious.
Paulette was talking to her mother when Josef asked.
"Can I pour you a glass of wine?".
Her reply was nothing short of acid.
"No thank you, I know how difficult you find the prospect of giving, offering, or doing, something for others, I wouldn't want you to compromise, I'll get my own".
Josef sighed, and Juan once again, foolishly stuck his foot back into the fray.
"That conversation this afternoon, it should never have happened Paulette, as far as the company is concerned, it's not your place to offer, or accept termination of Vinny's contract, that can only be for Vinny to do, so we assume things will continue unchanged".
Paulette smiled before answering, something which unnerved both her father and uncle.
"So let me get this right, 'The Company', i.e. you pair of pratts, rather than the actual four shareholding partners, advised me, the wife of an employee, not the employee in question, that said employee would be sacked, fired, unemployed, please feel free to choose any of those phrases which sits most comfortably with you, unless certain conditions were met, so forgive me for not understanding, it's alright for 'The Company' i.e. you pair of pratts again, to use a proxy for deliverance, but it's unacceptable for the employee to employ the same method for response, am I understanding the situation correctly?".
Juan exhaled loudly before answering.
"There is no need to be rude or demeaning, we will speak to Vinny when he is available, it's his decision after all, not yours".
Paulette was on a roll now.
"Please, feel free to speak directly with Vinny, though I don't see what that will achieve, I've already given you the answer he agreed, oh yes, as for being rude and demeaning, it was one of you pratts who started the practice, I thought you were comfortable with it, so I'm carrying it on for you".
Juan then turned to Josef and said something which puzzled Paulette.
"And this is what you want me to endorse, I'm out, I'll leave you to tell Milo tomorrow, it's not going ahead".
Carry now almost barked a response at Juan.
"We agreed not to speak in public".
Her uncles reply further confused Paulette.
"Does it really matter now?, your daughter has blown a massive hole in the ship, it's sunk, as is the entire plan, accept it Carry, I only hope you find as much hilarity in this situation as you have in all of the other antics today, personally I'm weary of the whole thing, I'm leaving tomorrow as soon as we see Milo safely home, if you aren't ready to leave I'll arrange my own transport".
Juan got up and left the dining room.
Paulette watched as her mother looked at her father, who shrugged his shoulders and said.
"He's got a point, he was going to be the one who gave up the most 42.5 percent down to 16 percent, you and I lost hardly anything, a few percent each, Milo gained 1 percent, like Juan, I'm weary of it all, I'll not fight any more, if as Paulette says, Vinny is intending to leave the company in a month then so be it, it won't matter anymore, his loss will not be recoverable from, our growth plans will effectively be dead in the water, we fucked up, our star will be extinguished, I'm agreeable to going home tomorrow if you are, once we know Milo is home safe there seems to be no reason to stay".
Josef got up and left the dining room, leaving Paulette staring at Carry, who suddenly looked very sad.
Carry sensed her daughters stare, stating dejectedly.
"Stop it Paulette, even if I explained all of that, it's far too late, your uncle Juan's right, you couldn't know what you were doing, but you sank the ship, it's a shame, but sadly it's a fact".
When Vinny got home from the hospital he found Paulette scribbling madly on a large legal pad.
The page was filled with notes and percentages.
"What are you doing, swatting for a math exam?".
She'd pulled him down beside her.
"I started this praying I hadn't done something really wrong without knowing it, unfortunately, everything points to my being guilty, I'm going to tell you what I know, please don't hate me Vinny".
She'd explained everything she heard at dinner, then pointed out the share percentages she knew were held by each individual at the moment, and what she suspected they had been about to do.
"I may be wrong but I suspect they were about to break the company up into equal shares, six shares of 16 percent each, the remaining four percent has always sat with an independent to avoid deadlock at critical votes, I think you were going to be given a 16 percent share of the company, along with, I suspect, Rick".
Vinny was silently studying everything on the page when Paulette spoke again.
"Say something Vinny, I'm guilty of royally screwing up a massive chance for you aren't I?".
He looked up and he was smiling.
"No my love you aren't, you could only be guilty of that if you knew all this information at the time, and you didn't, holding back information is always a dangerous game to play, sometimes it works, in this case it backfired, and I'll always remember a reply my dear late Daddy gave me as a youngster, I was complaining I'd never owned a bike and didn't get one for Christmas, he said, what you've never had you can't miss lad so get over it, that's my stance now, so don't go dwelling on it".
Paulette heard him, but it didn't alter anything.
Later that evening she sought out her parents, and her uncle, she found them sitting quietly together.
As she approached Juan said.
"No more please, I've had all I can take today".
Paulette smiled.
"I agree, I'm only here to offer an olive branch, and apologise, for the derogatory comments and insults, even if I was mostly justified in making them, I withdraw them".
Her parents said nothing, it was Juan who spoke.
"Why?, and that's not a challenge, because I agree, you were justified in most of what you said, except the monkey part, that was rude and unjustified, but I'm prepared to recognise your olive branch and accept it, if you answer that one question, why?".
She didn't falter.
Because I know now, or at least I suspect, what you were about to do, and I have to admit, if I'm right, it would have been a pretty selfless act, I'm not ever going to be proud of sinking that ship, and I know it can't be raised, but the matter of Vinny leaving, you have the power to prevent that from happening, talk to him, he's frightened for his Poppas health, he needs to be based mostly here for a while, he's not being difficult, but you should understand, nothing is more important to Vinny than family, you presented him with an order he couldn't carry out, you didn't give him any wriggle room, try again, please".
Paulette walked away, leaving them all thinking, and surprisingly it was Ralph who spoke.
"Can I say something?, no, let me rephrase that, I'm going to say something, I know Guardian's affairs are non of my business, but you have all acted like complete tits over this business, why on earth was it so important to have Vinny in Torremolinas to tell him what you were doing, and I include you in that statement Carry, you of all people should have called a halt, stopped them instead of letting them wade deeper and deeper into the mire, and unless I'm mistaken, your ship didn't sink, the only thing damaged was your collective pride, so suck it up and try following Paulette's example, at least she had the balls to offer an olive branch, I didn't see any of you making the first move, I'll leave you to your deliberations, because quite frankly, I find I don't like your company right now".
Ralph got up and walked away toward the garden before anyone could respond.
Vinny spotted Ralph walking into the garden and his face looked like thunder.
"Hi Ralph, you look like a nice cold beer would hit the spot about now, is there anything I can help with?".
Ralph smiled, thinking, typical, the lad has been battered by two people he loves and respects, and he still isn't daunted.
"A beer with you would be very welcome Vinny, as for the rest, I thank you for the offer, but it's others not you who have both caused, and have the power to correct my demeanour, and all they have to do is act honourably, a simple task you would think, well we'll see".
Unbeknown to Ralph, Juan was looking for him, and close enough at that very moment to hear his statement.
Vinny looked aghast as Juan walked up and put his arm around Ralph, who didn't look the slightest bit uncomfortable knowing he'd been overheard.
"Ouch, that stung, but it was a true statement so I guess I'm going to have to suck it up".
He then turned to Vinny.
"I want to offer my apology Vinny, I've been a prick, I'm sorry, I know how worried you are about your Poppa, and I suspect you will hear these same, or similar words from Jo shortly, if we can roll back the clock, you are welcome to stay here in Sydney for as long as you see fit, just one request, please don't leave Guardian, we need you, you're one of our most prized assets".
Juan then held out his hand, which Vinny took and shook vigorously.
As they walked away Vinny went through the small opening in the screening which hid the garden from the vast Sydney Harbour, he sat on the edge of the boat dock slowly sipping his beer.
He jumped in surprise when someone sat down beside him, until he realised it was Josef.
"Piers said you'd be here, I'm not disturbing you am I?".
Vinny turned to clink bottles with Jo, thinking this was one of the things his Poppas didn't concede to the Australian way of life, they only bought bottles, never cans, or tinnies.
"Nah, I was just enjoying the view, it never ceases to amaze me, it's so beautiful, I often come here and think about how lucky I am, when Daddy died I was so heartbroken, and frightened, I was still a kid myself really, and I had three youngsters to raise, it terrified me, for the first year it was close to what I imagine being in prison was like, we were all under curfew, I was old enough to supervise them at home, but we couldn't leave the apartment without adult supervision. Then Milo turned up, completely out of the blue, he was like a breath of fresh air, then he took us to meet Piers and the rest is history, I love them so much, they gave us a life without ever thinking what it's cost them, the worry, heartache, disappointment".
Josef realised Vinny was crying and put his arm around him.
"I'm sorry Vinny, I know how much you value and love your Poppas, what we did was stupid, I acted like a dick, don't leave Guardian, I'm not bulling you when I say, most of the time, unless I'm signing cheques, you're more important to Guardian than I am, work from here for as long as you need to, don't even think of leaving until you're completely satisfied that your Poppas are safe, will you consider it?".
Vinny wiped his eyes then held out his bottle for another clink.
"I don't need to consider, it suits me, I'll travel if the need arises, safe in the knowledge Paulette is here, then I'll return here until I'm convinced my stubborn Poppa understands his limitations, but I need to ask a favour, I need Carry to be here two weeks before Paulette's due date, and until at least two weeks after the birth, she might act like Attila the Hun, but she'll need her Momma then, and don't ever tell her I said that, I'll just deny it".
Josef slapped him on the back laughing, as he rose to make his way back to the house.
Milo's return the following afternoon brought further anguish when Piers whispered to Vinny.
"He knows everything, Gracie's been feeding him Intel".
Vinny could only mutter.
"Shit".
He then grabbed Gracie bodily as she walked through the lounge, pushing her into the smaller lounge and slamming the door behind them.
"You've been telling him what's been going on here, why?, he was supposed to be kept calm, how do you think he's going to react now he's home, I swear Gracie I could strangle you right now, he's going to launch an attack on Josef".
But she started laughing before explaining.
"It's okay, calm down, he thought it was hilarious, he said Uncle Jo attacking you with Paulette around was like pitting a spud gun against an Exocet missile, he wasn't worried, oh, I also have a tip for you, there was one time when I described Paulette addressing Uncle Jo as the organ grinder, and Uncle Juan as the monkey, he actually laughed so much he peed himself, we were all banished to the corridor, and it took Poppa Piers nearly half an hour to clean him up".
She then leaned in close and whispered something to Vinny, whose face took on a grimace.
"Oh my god Gracie, I'm going to try really hard to erase that image".
Gracie was laughing uproariously now.
"Use the information wisely Bro, it might just save the day".
Vinny sought out Josef.
"You need to make sure you get to talk to my Poppa Milo ahead of everyone else, he knows what's been going on here".
Josef looked aghast.
"Oh no, how for Christ sake?, he was supposed to be kept out of everything?".
Vinny only said one word.
"Gracie".
Josef sighed, but Vinny beckoned him in close and whispered what Gracie had imparted, causing a smile to appear on his face.
"Oh my god, I don't think I'm ever going to be able to erase that image, but thanks anyway".
When Josef walked into Milo and Piers bedroom suite he wasn't surprised to find Milo with a scowl on his face, nor was he surprised by Milo's statement as Piers looked on.
"Perhaps you'd like to explain what has been going on here while I've been incapacitated".
Josef smiled, thinking, thank goodness for Gracie.
"I'd be happy to do that, but of course, there has to be give and take in all things, so if you can explain why you were laughing so hard in hospital, whilst you were incapacitated, that it took Piers more than half an hour to clean you up after you peed yourself, and very importantly, what was the new hair gel Piers was experimenting with, because I'm told it was not smoothed in very well, being evident in clumps on the front of his head when he emerged from your room, do that and I'll be happy to do the same".
Both Milo and Piers looked absolutely mortified, and it took Piers only a second to interject.
"I don't think we should put pressure on Jo, it was something and nothing that's settled now, so let's forget about it".
Piers glare at Milo said something like, pursue this and you'll be back in that hospital pronto, but this time you'll be arriving at the mortuary entrance.
Milo understood the look immediately.
"I agree, let's drop the subject".
A couple of days after Milo's return, most of the family departed for home, satisfied he was on the mend.
Before they left Carry requested a meeting of the Guardian Shareholders, she wouldn't disclose her reason for requesting the meeting.
They met in Milo's and Piers office at the house, Josef opened the meeting.
"I'm as in the dark as everyone else on the matter of why Carry has requested this meeting, so without further ado, I hand you over to Carry".
She didn't bother standing, just sat forward in her seat.
"Thank you for indulging me on this request, and apologies Jo, normally I'd discuss everything with you, but this time I wanted what I'm proposing to be heard by all of you at the same time".
She paused for a moment.
"Our plan to restructure the company as seven portions is what I want to discuss, I feel it's flawed, please hear me out before raising any objections, I will be the only wife, or partner to have allocated share capital, Ralph, Piers, Paulette, Sofia, they wouldn't have shares, I want to propose that I hand back my shares and the company is split six ways not seven".
Everyone looked surprised but only Josef spoke.
"Wow, that's a big decision, I admire you, and I'll support, and second a proposal, if you want to make it".
Carry didn't expect anything else from her husband, but she had to ask.
"You don't mind Jo?, it's just that I don't feel comfortable keeping shares which technically came from being your partner, especially when Juan is giving up the shares he inherited from Pierre, it just doesn't sit well with me".
Jo answered Carry.
"I have absolutely no problem with your decision, and I think you explained it perfectly, Juan, Milo, do either of you have any comments or objections?".
Juan spoke up.
"Yes, I just want to say that's a really good, and nice thing to offer, but I want to be certain you're sure of what you're proposing, we've discussed it today, but there's nothing wrong with waiting for the next meeting to vote on it you know".
Carry smiled.
"Thanks for the concern, and for the kind offer, but I'm absolutely sure, I'd like for it to be proposed as a motion now, can we have a second please?".
Josef immediately seconded the motion and it was subsequently carried unanimously.
Guardian would now be split into six portions, one portion of five percent, and five portions of Nineteen percent, on the 1st of February, day one of the new financial year.
A board meeting was convened on the last day of January with Vinny and Milo on Teleconference from Sydney, whilst all other board members were in the board room of Guardian HQ in Torremolinas.
Josef as Chairman opened the meeting.
It falls to me to announce significant changes in the ownership structure of the company, all interested parties have been informed in writing of those changes however, we still need a formal vote to bring them into action, therefore I first propose a motion to take back the shares which Carry Caswel-Thorn has voluntarily rescinded ownership of, can I have a second to that motion?"
Juan seconded the motion and it was carried.
Josef continued.
"I now want to express our sincere thanks to Carry for her loyal stewardship of the company for so many years, and to say how much her input will be missed unfortunately, I also have to ask that she now leaves the meeting".
They all cheered as Carry rose from her seat in Torremolinas, gave a bow, and left the room.
Josef continued on.
"I now propose a motion which will be voted on by only the remaining three shareholding partners: I propose that the company known as Guardian Security Services, as of midnight on this date, is reconfigured in its ownership, one of the owning parties has rescinded any claim on her shares, the remaining parties have agreed in writing that the company will be split in its entirety, into six portions, one portion of five percent, (slightly larger by 1 percent than previous) will remain as it always has with a known and recorded independent, who at this time will remain undeclared, the remaining 95 percent will be split equally amongst 5 partners, Josef Caswel-Thorn, Juan Alonso-Caswel-Thorn, Milo Grant-Alonso-Bowles-Cruz. Richard Caswel-Thorn, Vincent Grant-Alonso-Bowles-Cruz, can I have a second to that motion please?".
Juan, nodded to Milo who seconded the motion, and again the motion was passed.
Josef now spoke as Chairman again.
"I, as Chairman, will continue in this role officially until midnight of this day, we will reconvene tomorrow as a new, and stronger board, to commence our duties by officially appointing a new Chairman, and now my brother wishes to say a few words".
Juan looked around the room in Torremolinas, and up at the Monitor where Milo and Vinny were looking back.
"I want to direct my comments specifically to Milo, Rick, and Vinny. Until a few moments ago I owned 42.5 percent of this company, I now own 19 percent, something that really ought to frighten me, as it would appear to be a massive loss of fortune, but it doesn't either worry or frighten me, I've witnessed the company's growth since you three came onboard, the 19 percent I now own is worth more than my 42.5 percent was back when the first of you joined us, that's how much you guys have helped to grow the company since you joined, I know I'm backing a winning combination of talent, my congratulations on the increased shares Milo, you have earned them quite literally with blood, sweat, and tears, and welcome to the board Rick and Vinny, you both have toiled tirelessly and contributed immensely to the company's overall growth and efficiency, now let's go forward and set about making back some of my lost fortune, so I don't have to go begging on a street corner".
Josef closed the meeting with a reminder that they would meet again the following day as the new board of Guardian Security Services.
TBC Allan
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.