Frederik would not cut corners, if safety, or longevity of the building were involved, and this pleased Helena, who also wanted her buildings to endure. She managed to incorporate features that would give her buildings individuality, her own signature, and Frederik encouraged this, but he always insisted Helena’s creative talent did not interfere with his ultimate objective, which was to make money.
He firmly saw she did not get carried away with designs that might look incredible, but were too expensive to build. Sorensen Enterprises was not about to build another Sydney Opera House. Sorensen Enterprises was about making him rich. His formula worked.
The name “Sorensen” in the building world, quickly became synonymous for sturdy practicality, functionality before aesthetic appeal, a go-to for those wanting no-nonsense, well constructed edifices. Frederik was not concerned whether his buildings won awards, although they often did. He was concerned that they sold quickly, and showed good profit margins, which also, because he managed his companies so well, they invariably did.
He sought out and hired the best project managers he could find to supervise each job, and instituted procedures whereby they were required to report frequently to himself, which drove them a little mad, but which enabled him to closely oversee how progress was being made. It also made them concentrate. He built up a team of loyal and talented site managers, earning at the same time, a reputation as a fierce task master. Frederik would pounce on anything he did not understand, or was not happy with, and demand full explanations. His crews were constantly surprised how he managed to get his head around complex details of a large number of projects, simultaneously.
Sorensen Enterprises quickly grew to become the single, biggest, employer of tradespeople in Sweden, with buildings under construction throughout the country. The company’s reputation grew, and his business expanded far beyond what he had at first envisaged, but he remained restless and unsatisfied, pushing hard to stretch the boundaries further. He found he could get by with five hours sleep each day, and that became his norm.
Frederik and Helena frequently travelled together, scouring the countryside for suitable sites for new ventures. She found keeping up with her boss exhausting, but also exhilarating. He made things happen, and had an uncanny eye for spotting opportunities that others had missed. The company built shopping centres, and numerous large commercial ventures, and agents from around the world began putting propositions forward.
It would have happened sooner if it had not been for the pace at which he was working, and the pressure which that entailed, but being in the company of the lovely Helena became an essential part of his life, and Frederik came to the realisation, he was in love with his architect. He could not bear to be away from her for too long. It crept up on him, between the multitude of details he was constantly supervising. He wanted to be near her. He should marry Helena! Helena, too, had felt the same way about him, for far too long. She thought, “he will never get around to asking me.”
Helena insisted he take time out for a proper ceremony, and honeymoon, and after a wedding that was the talk of Stockholm for days, they spent two luxurious weeks, unwinding on a Fijian island resort. He had found love again, and although the memory of his parents death remained vivid, life became much more bearable. After the honeymoon, it was back to making money.
Within a few years, the Sorensen Enterprise’s banner had became a familiar sight on new constructions in most of Sweden’s main cities. His companies, much loved by the banks, who fell over each other offering finance, kept expanding. Frederik needed a team of accountants and bookkeepers to keep track of it all, and he had lost track of his own net worth, but still he pressed on.
Frederik, remembering the vitality that country had demonstrated, turned his attention to America. Together with Helena, they spent a month, travelling through a number of American states, looking at cities, and talking to both business and estate agents, assessing where there was potential for growth. While travelling, he kept a tab on his ventures back in Sweden through his computer, and Facemail.
Frederik understood that expansion of his type of business followed jobs growth, and he sought out areas where there were plenty of jobs, low unemployment, and good future prospects. Some states he avoided, but in others, he recognised potential.
After his first buildings in America were completed, profitably, he realised the scope for expansion in the States was better than in Sweden. America was bigger, and there was more money around. Things sold more quickly, but that awareness came with a downside. To oversee this expansion properly, he and Helena would have to be there. Helena agreed.
They would relocate, for the time being, to America, and spread the Sorensen wings there. He would retain the construction business he had built up in Sweden, and allow his managers there to run it, under his supervision, perhaps slow it down a little.
Marrying Helena had been a good move. Not only was she lovely, and they got along well, now she was available at all hours to discuss projects. They might consider a family later, but for now, for Frederik, it was building. He established an American development team to search the country for suitable ventures, and put together proposals for he and Helena to study. Once satisfied, he gave key staff considerable freedom. A detailed progress on each job hit his desk twice every week, to be studied carefully by himself, and if he thought it necessary, by his wife as well. His eye for detail rarely missed anything of significance.
Bonuses, paid on completion of each successful project, kept his key staff happy, and loyal, and Frederik knew it was money well spent. He gave jobs to women whenever possible; Sorensen Enterprises became known for the number of women holding key positions. Frederik found he worked better with women, and thought that, by and large, they were prepared to work harder than men.
He encouraged his team to look out for successful businesses that looked to be under-housed, and deserved better buildings. Helena, or one of the team, would sketch a proposal, they would approach the owner, and get him or her on board, and Sorensen Enterprises would build the business a new, more prominent premises. This sometimes included taking old premises in part payment, which gave him another development site.
The rapid expansion of Sorensen Enterprises in America astonished observers. His company by now was so substantial it became its own banker, and Frederik provided the finance for selected clients. His banking division grew quickly.
His friend Gerry had wanted to be a millionaire before his twenty first birthday. By the time Frederik turned thirty, he had moved well past his first billion, and was heading towards the second. His companies had now spread their wings throughout America, Canada and Europe. He and Helena again relocated to Stockholm, but he spent many hours flying between countries, time he spent going over reports and proposals. He was also on the way to becoming a father.
Helena had fallen pregnant, and their son, Viktor, named after the grandfather who would never see him, was presented to the world just before Frederik’s thirty fifth birthday.
Life for the Sorensens became even more hectic. Their second son, Michael, arrived two years later.
7
“Let’s get away Frederik, just for a few weeks, away from this pressure. That bloody phone of yours never stops ringing. You are forever having to decide this, decide that, tell someone what to do, or how to do it. I know you like to keep on top of everything, but it is all getting too big, too many phone calls. You have to let your staff make more decisions, and give more of your time to your family. Young Viktor will be fifteen soon, and he hardly gets to spend time with you, and Michael barely sees you. They are growing up, and before you know it, these years will be gone, and they can’t be replaced.”
Frederik stopped short, put his phone down, then took his wife’s hand. What Helena had just said, bit deep.
“I am sorry Frederik, I did not mean to be nagging at you, but I am worried you are wearing yourself ou
t, chasing after all these things you do, and really, you do not need to be doing all this yourself any longer. Let others do it for you.”
Frederik had been having the same thoughts for some time now, but breaking habits that had entrenched into his life was not easy. However, he was not about to have an argument with Helena about it. She was right. He had been caught up, he didn’t own his businesses, now they owned him. His various interests around the world were taking all of his time. Just keeping his head around them all, feeling he was still in charge, gobbled every precious minute, and his family, pushed into second place, had paid the price. Helena’s words hit him like a thunderbolt! She was right, he didn’t need this any more, he had set out to make a lot of money, and he had made a lot of money. He could be counted among the handful of the world’s richest.
His team was experienced, reliable, his accountants made sure everything was being done correctly, his enterprises made money faster than he could count it, he had lost track of the number of properties he owned that were generating income every day. Now was the time to step back, read reports if he felt like it, so long as his staff thought he was reading them, and only get involved if things look worrying.
With more than ten billion dollars behind him, or was it eleven, and money rolling in, he was insulated from any minor ups and downs the businesses might take. None of his ventures were highly speculative and likely to lose money. It was time for him to forget about making money. It was time for his family, time to think about the big plan. He took Helena’s hand.
“You are absolutely right. It might surprise you, but I have been thinking the same thing, my darling. I have been obsessed with the businesses, and that is not what I set out to do. We will go on a holiday, very soon, perhaps in a couple of weeks. There are a few things I will need to set in place, and then we can be off.”
Surprised, but mollified, and still a little miffed, Helena responded.
“Well, that is wonderful. Do I have any say in where this holiday is going to be?”
The thought struck him suddenly. Frederik, still holding her hand, looked straight into her eyes.
“How does Africa sound to you?”
Helena could not keep the surprise from her face.
“Africa! After what happened to your parents there! I didn’t think you would ever want to set foot in Africa again, ever. Africa? Why on earth Africa, so all of a sudden?”
Frederik considered his answer. Since his parents death, he had not contemplated trying to help poor people in the third world, apart from sending money to the various charities working there, but memories of those times spent with his parents, ran deep.
“I want Viktor and Michael to experience some of what I had when I was their age. Don’t worry, we won’t be going anywhere near unrest, or danger. My parents ignored warnings, and paid with their lives, as you know. I would not for a moment risk your life, or the boys, nor for that matter, my own.
“I will check out some small villages in South Africa that are peaceful, find one suitable to visit, make sure there are no terrorists around, or rebels opposing the government. I know the standard of living across the country is pretty dismal, and they could use some help, so let’s go and see what we can do. When we find something suitable, I will ask Olaf to send someone from the company to plan something for them, perhaps a project we could do, to help the villagers. It would be good for you and the boys to have a taste of village life, and perhaps see what it was my mum and dad were trying to do, before they were killed.”
Helena took a deep breath, and considered what she was hearing. Frederik had recounted the story of his parent’s death, his attempt to save them, the treachery of the kidnappers, his frustration, guilt and anger, but she did not know of his deep determination to make amends for his failure. She had some insight into what motivated her husband, but had no idea how deep it went.
“Can you be sure the boys will be safe?”
“As sure as I can about anything. We will take along some protection. I will hire a team of professional bodyguards, to be with us, just in case, and if there is any chance of danger, we will get out.”
Over the years that Helena had known and worked with her husband, she knew, if anyone could organise something properly, it would be Frederik. His eye for even the smallest detail was extraordinary, and she trusted his judgment.
“What should I pack?”
“Not much, pretty simple. It’s summer, it will be fairly warm, so light clothes that cover you up. There could be some Muslims in the area, who don’t take kindly to women showing skin, so it’s best to keep them happy. We don’t want to be upsetting the locals, just see how they are living, and perhaps do something, to make their lives more pleasant and liveable.”
They made their plans. They flew in Frederik’s Gulfstream to Johannesburg, where he chartered a small plane to fly them to what was once known as Pietersburg, but now called itself Polokwane. The family first spent a day exploring Jo’burg, as the locals called their city, Frederik insisting they stay in their vehicle most of the time, keeping doors locked, and only venturing onto the streets where there were crowds, and surrounded by their escorts.
They drove in a small three car convoy, their bodyguards in vehicles both in front and behind them, which, although he thought this unnecessary, Frederik arranged to ease Helena’s fears.
The boys were fascinated. At Polokwane, they drove in a small fleet of brand new Landrovers, hastily purchased by Frederik, and delivered days before their departure from Sweden. He didn’t want vehicle breakdowns to cause headaches, and decided new vehicles were called for. They wouldn’t be brand new when his family finished with them, but they would be new enough to make a useful gift to the local game park.
They headed north towards the Mutamba river, through the small township of Mudimeli, before coming to the little village of Muloo Muloo, set in a clearing, at a safe distance from the river bank. The village protected its inhabitants and live stock from wild animals coming to the river to drink, with a stake and brush fence all around. There was a pull-across brush gate, to shut off and protect the village at night.
Frederik brought camping equipment, and tents were set up next to the village. He employed some young village men as guards, assigned to keep watch at night to look out for lions, or other animals, that might happen by.
He wanted Helena and his sons to see first hand, how the villagers spent their days, scratching in their small plots of vegetables and corn, fetching water from the river to pour on the plants, and doing their other daily chores. The young Sorensen boys quickly found friends with the village children. Despite not being able to converse with them, they soon joined happily in their games.
Frederik had brought a number of footballs, baseball bats and balls, plus some other toys for the smaller children, and these were quickly grabbed by the youngsters. The villagers spoke few English words, but Helena and Frederik were surprised how quickly their young sons picked up local expressions, and used them, and after just a few days, Michael was able to translate a few words to his parents. He was quicker than his older brother, at picking up the local language.
When Olaf heard of the pending trip, he asked if he might be included, and Frederik, wanting his old manager to understand what might be needed later, agreed. Olaf remembered the tales brought back by his parents. He joined up with the family, at Johannesburg. Olaf had never set foot out of Sweden previously, and Africa overwhelmed him. He and Frederik sat down with the village elders, and together outlined a proposal to install a pump on the river bank, to be powered by solar panels, and install some galvanised tanks in the village, that could be filled as reservoirs. Getting the tanks to the site would be a challenge, but it was do-able.
When they left, ten days later, the elders shook their heads, and wondered what it was all about. A few weeks later, when a small convoy of trucks arrived, bringing machinery and the tan
ks, and a work crew which began to set up the water system, plus a toilet block, the village had a huge celebration. Other villagers came from miles around, to see for themselves, when they heard of the miracle.
Frederik had occasionally told his boys stories of his experiences in villages like Muloo Muloo, how his parents worked with the local villagers to help them, but it was one thing to describe a village, and quite another to actually see it, smell it, hear it, and live in it. Viktor Jnr. and Michael were both energetic bundles of eyes and ears, asking questions incessantly, and soaking up the experience. Helena returned with a new respect for the stories her husband had recounted, of his times with his parents, working among the villagers. She also had a new respect for his parents.
For his family to have this experience, was one of two reasons Frederik had taken them to Africa. The other reason he kept to himself. Frederik had come to a decision. He was now rich. There was ample money, both for his family to be secure, and to fund whatever it was he decided to do. As yet, he wasn’t sure what that was, but money was no longer the issue. It was now a matter of finding the right project.
The time had come to avenge his parents, to right a great wrong, but just how he was to achieve that, he wasn’t sure. Buried deep in his subconscious was a shadowy awareness that, somehow, it would involve Africa.
8
The decision to begin taking action, stalled in Frederik’s mind. He had decided it was time to act, but he had no idea what it was he could do that would be significant, that would make a difference. There were so many wrongs to be righted in the world.
Governments on every continent seemed ineffectual in providing stability, and a good life for their constituents. Dreadful wars rampaged in so many places around the globe. Beautiful old cities were being bombed into rubble by opposing armies, fighting each other to the death over seemingly meaningless trivia. Terrorist cells, such as Boko Haram who had murdered his parents, were rampant in many countries, killing and destroying, often in the name of religion. Politicians made speeches and threats, but did not bring solutions. There were few places on the globe that could call themselves peaceful.
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