Echoes of Titanic

by Mindy Starns Clark

  “Well, come in, come in. How is your family holding up? I was so sorry to hear the news about Gloria Poole.”

  They discussed Gloria’s death and the funeral arrangements as Pamela led the way through two outer offices that looked more like opulent drawing rooms than places of business. At last they reached the inner sanctum—Pamela’s domain, complete with French doors that led out onto a rooftop observatory deck. Two walls held gorgeously carved bookcases, and behind the massive rosewood desk at the center hung several rows of what looked like embossed gold saucers. Peering at them more closely, Kelsey gasped.

  “Are these pre-Columbian?” she asked.

  Pamela stepped toward her, nodding proudly. “Yes. They are pectoral discs, circa twelfth century AD. They were worn by important chiefs and warriors as symbols of their power.”

  Pamela’s meaning was not lost on Kelsey. The discs themselves were strikingly beautiful, but to mount them on the wall in an imposing arrangement behind the desk of the most powerful chief in the building was downright tacky.

  Stepping away to take in the rest of the room, Kelsey decided that Pamela’s office had the same effect on her that Pamela herself did. Very classy, very intimidating. At least she didn’t have to sit facing her wall of power for their talk. Instead, the woman led her over to a pair of deeply cushioned wing chairs beside the French windows.

  “So, Kelsey,” Pamela said, smoothing her skirt as she sat, “I’ll be frank with you. It looks like Queen’s Fleet will soon be taking over Brennan & Tate. I have to assume that you’re here to secure a position within the new organization once the takeover is complete?”

  Kelsey made herself take a deep breath before answering. She didn’t want to blurt out anything stupid.

  “Why, no, actually. That’s not why I’m here at all.”

  “No?” Pamela arched a delicate eyebrow at her. “In that case, what can I do for you?”

  Kelsey took a deep breath, reminding herself of Cole’s words from their phone call the day before. You may be young, but you’re already the lifeblood of that place. He was right. She might not have the years of experience that a Pamela Greeley had, but she’d accomplished a lot in her time at Brennan & Tate, far more than many others her age, and she was perfectly capable of standing her ground.

  “Well,” Kelsey said. “First, I wanted…” She faltered for a moment but then cleared her throat and tried again. “I needed to speak with you, face-to-face, to ask how you could possibly be doing this to us. You knew my Great-Grandmother Adele, Pamela. You got up at her funeral and told the congregation you wanted to be just like her. Now you’re trying to take over the very company her father founded and she helped to build? Trust me, if you see this takeover through, you are nothing like her at all.”

  And there it was. She’d laid the gauntlet down in front of the head of one of the most powerful conglomerates in Manhattan. Kelsey had no doubt that with the amount of money that flowed through these hallowed halls, Pamela could buy and sell places like B & T for breakfast and crush a career like Kelsey’s for lunch. Yet somewhere inside the woman’s polished exterior had to beat a real heart. Surely she could see what a travesty this hostile takeover would be, for the stockholders, for those who worked at B & T, and especially for the legacy of Adele.

  “I’m sorry you feel that way,” Pamela said. “To my mind this would be a real coup for Brennan & Tate. You need a cash infusion and some new blood. We need a solid name in the investment branch, one that’s positioned precisely as you are. Seems to me it’s a perfect match.”

  Kelsey was about to respond, but Pamela continued, cutting her off.

  “You do know how you’re positioned in this market, don’t you?”

  Kelsey eyed the woman keenly, not sure if she was trying to lead her into some sort of trap. “Why don’t you tell me?”

  “Our research shows that B & T projects a dual image—which is not an easy thing to do, believe me. On the one hand, it’s thought of as a solid company rooted deeply in the past, but on the other hand, it’s one that is known for its innovative, forward-thinking investment choices. Are you aware that the company’s early success was due in a large part to the founder’s focus on wireless technologies? Here we are a hundred and some years later, and what’s one of the biggest slices of the financial pie out there? Wireless technologies! The mechanics are a little different now, of course, than they were back at the turn of the nineteenth century, but I still think it’s a delightful example of a business coming full circle. I’ve already been jotting down ideas for some ad campaigns. For example, I was picturing someone out of history, perhaps Braun or Marconi, sitting at an old wooden desk, tapping out a message in Morse code. Then that message is received as an email by a group of good-looking young executives around a computer at a state-of-the-art company where they make cell phones or GPS units or something. Clever, don’t you think?”

  Sadly, it was clever. But that was beside the point.

  “Pamela, B & T didn’t earn its reputation overnight. It took years, not to mention the blood and sweat and tears of my forebears. Brennan & Tate is a family company—my family—not just some clever, well-positioned entity to be absorbed into a faceless conglomerate.”

  Pamela studied her for a long moment, and Kelsey forced herself not to look away under the scrutiny.

  “I’m sorry, dear, but for all intents and purposes Brennan & Tate ceased to be a true family company in the thirties, when they had to give out so many stock shares to their creditors that their own holdings dropped below fifty percent.”

  Wow. The woman had done her homework.

  “Need I remind you that was the Depression?” Kelsey replied evenly. “At least they managed to hang on and get through, unlike a lot of other companies. Besides, there has always been either a Brennan or a Tate at the helm from day one.”

  “Oh, yes,” Pamela replied. “How is your father these days?”

  Game, set, match. The words hit Kelsey like a fist to the gut, but she managed to keep all expression from her face. This was a formidable opponent, one who knew how to hit below the belt.

  Trying to remain calm, Kelsey drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Somehow, looking at Pamela Greeley, she could almost picture one of those golden discs from the wall strapped across the woman’s chest.

  No matter. Kelsey had her own symbol of power, the golden Q with the diamond, pinned to her dress. Suddenly, she wished she’d worn Adele’s hat pin as well, yet another symbol of all she’d come from and how hard she would fight to preserve it.

  She could fight dirty too if need be.

  “Actually,” Kelsey replied in a calm tone, “he’s not doing well at all. And as sad as that is, I’m glad for it right now. At least he’ll never have to know that one of his most trusted executives secretly joined forces with the head of a major conglomerate and conspired to drive down the value of the company’s stock in anticipation of a hostile takeover.”

  Take that, Pamela Greeley, Kelsey thought as she sat back in her chair, relishing the shock on her opponent’s face. The gloves were off now.

  Bring it.

  Pamela didn’t reply for a long moment. Instead, she worked her fingers at a loose thread on the cuff of her sleeve as she seemed to be forming her thoughts. Finally, with one quick, sharp tug, the thread came loose. Rolling it into a ball between her fingers, she turned her attention back to Kelsey.

  “I am going to give you some grace here, Miss Tate,” she said slowly, “because I know you’ve had a difficult week and that you’re still reeling from the shocking loss of a woman who was very dear to you. But if you ever make such a slanderous accusation against me again—either in private or in public—I will sue you personally for every penny you have, and then I’ll go after your parents as well.”

  “This idea didn’t come from them.”

  “Where, then?”

  “Are you denying that you’ve been working behind the scenes with Gloria to do certain things to mak
e the company more affordable?”

  “I certainly am! How dare you even suggest such a thing?”

  “It’s not that much of a leap, Pamela. You make an offer, it gets turned down, the next day a man stands up in a public forum and impugns the company’s founder. The value plummets, and then immediately you sweep in and announce your intentions for a hostile takeover. How much did that one scene save you in dollars and cents? Whatever you had to promise Gloria to arrange it for you, I’d say you definitely got your money’s worth.”

  Pamela eyes narrowed. She placed her elbows on the armrests and leaned forward.

  “Strike two. Say it again, Kelsey, and I’ll be on the phone with my lawyer before the elevator doors have closed in your face.”

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY

  April 13, 1912

  ADELE

  Jocelyn “the Letter-Writer” has struck again, Adele thought as she sat on the chair in her stateroom and reread for the third time the note that had been left upon her pillow. Jocelyn had the gifts of writing and encouragement, and when the two were combined, they gave a powerful punch.

  Today’s note admonished as well, and it focused on a common topic between them, namely Adele’s tendency to value business and money above all else in life. In an elegant, impassioned plea, Jocelyn’s letter was meant to serve as a reminder that life needed a balance between matters of business and those of the heart. Jocelyn urged Adele to open her eyes to what was in front of her and embrace the idea of marriage and children as thoroughly as she had always embraced the hope of a profession.

  Adele knew Jocelyn was right. She also knew that she was saying this now because of Tad, for if ever an eligible suitor existed, it was he. Not only was the man smart and friendly and ridiculously handsome, he was also knowledgeable about the topics that interested Adele the most. The two of them had gotten off to a bad start, yes, but perhaps Jocelyn was right. He’d been much nicer lately about her business interests, so maybe she really should give him another chance. It would be quite nice to marry a man who shared her passion for business. That her father had already given his stamp of approval by sending Tad to London on his behalf was an added bonus.

  Adele tucked the note away in her new journal for safekeeping and then checked her image in the mirror. She decided she would try to do as her cousin said and open her eyes to what was in front of her. Whether there would end up being a spark between her and Tad or not she wasn’t sure, but at least it was worth a try. For all she knew, someday they would be telling their grandchildren about the way he had laughed at her ambitions, only to learn in the end that she was every bit as talented in business as he.

  For now, Adele needed to get going. She had promised to meet Jocelyn in the library, so she headed there and found her cousin waiting impatiently near the door.

  “There you are! What took you so long?”

  “I’m sorry. I know I said I’d just be a minute, but I hadn’t expected to find such a long and eloquent note waiting on my pillow.”

  Jocelyn blushed a pretty pink at those words. Though she frequently dashed off notes to her cousin, they were rarely acknowledged between them with anything more than a whispered thanks or a smile. Leaning close, Adele whispered, “How does one become so wise so young?” With a wink, she added that she appreciated the sentiments and would be happy to keep them in mind.

  Jocelyn looked deeply pleased. “Well, then, now that you’re here, let’s go. I have something to show you.” Grabbing her by the hand, she led Adele across the library, saying she had finally found her very favorite place on the ship and wanted to show it to her.

  Adele slowed. “Not the enclosed promenade at this hour, please. There must be at least twenty children in second class, and every single one of them will have just got up from their afternoon naps!”

  Laughing, Jocelyn gave Adele’s hand a tug and said no, this was something quite different. Taking her through the library’s aft door and into the C deck entranceway, she brought her up one flight of stairs to B deck. There, at the top of the staircase, was a vestibule comprised of a small sitting area, as elegantly appointed as every other part of the beautiful ship. It had two doors at each side that led to the promenade outside of the smoking room.

  “Have a seat,” Jocelyn urged, gesturing toward an empty chair along the back wall, beside the main mast.

  “Here?” Adele asked. “What is so special about this place?”

  “You’ll see in a minute,” she replied mysteriously.

  Adele took a deep breath and let it out slowly, telling herself to indulge this silly whim of her cousin. She had a feeling she knew what the girl was doing. More than likely, Tad would soon be emerging from the nearby smoking room and pass through this stairway vestibule for a “chance” encounter between them. And while Adele found the very thought both manipulative and embarrassing, she would play along. She had decided to give the young man another chance, after all.

  She was still trying to relax when suddenly she heard the opening strains of a familiar tune coming from somewhere below. Eyes wide, she looked at her cousin, who clapped her hands gleefully and explained she had discovered this spot just yesterday and realized it was the perfect place to take in the orchestra’s afternoon concert.

  “Don’t you agree? It’s comfortable and empty and far preferable to squeezing in with the crowd that will have gathered down there to listen.”

  Adele smiled, thinking fondly how often her cousin managed to surprise her. Just when she’d learned to expect one thing, Jocelyn would end up coming out with another.

  “It’s not the full orchestra, of course,” her cousin continued. “That’s only for first class. But at least we get a few of them, and the combination of instruments is quite pleasing—as is their choice of songs. Yesterday, they even played my favorite.”

  “Chanson de nuit?”

  Jocelyn nodded. “I enjoyed a lovely time of prayer and reflection right here—and admittedly a few tears.”

  “Why tears?”

  “Oh, it’s…” She sighed heavily. “I still do not know what my decision will be about staying in America or going home to Ireland. But as I sat here taking in the music and thinking about the rest of my life, I realized how blessed I am regardless. What a problem to have—choosing between two countries that would welcome me, not to mention two families that love me. With that in mind, truly, how can I go wrong with either decision?”

  “How right you are.” Adele looked into the face of her cousin, thinking that as beautiful as she was on the outside, she was even more so on the inside. “You know, if you go back to Ireland, you and I shall have to split up our hat pin set and decide who gets which pin permanently. Do you have a preference?”

  Jocelyn shook her head.

  “Good. Then I think you should keep the notes.”

  “Is that because you prefer the gold one to the silver?”

  Taking her cousin’s hand and giving it a squeeze, Adele replied, “No, it’s because the notes suit who you are. You’re like a song, you know, rising up into the air and filling the space with joy.”

  Tears filled Jocelyn’s eyes as she gave her cousin a hug.

  “Of course, that makes me the harp,” Adele continued lightly. “Big, solid, clunky—”

  “Don’t! Solid, maybe, but dependable, useful, and elegant.”

  They were quiet for a moment, just sitting there side by side and enjoying the music.

  “You know,” Adele said softly, “a harp and its notes belong together. Each is dependent on the other. Without the notes, the harp has no purpose. Without the harp, the notes don’t exist.”

  Jocelyn glanced at her cousin and nodded. She didn’t reply, but it was clear she understood exactly what Adele was saying.

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY-ONE

  Such fire filled Pamela Greeley’s eyes that Kelsey was inclined to believe her denial—almost, anyway.

  “Pamela,” Kelsey said in a softer tone, “can you l
ook me in the eye and honestly tell me you had no contact with Gloria before her death regarding the takeover?”

  She shook her head. “I didn’t say that. As a matter of fact, Gloria and I discussed it a few weeks ago.”

  Kelsey’s pulse surged. “You did?”

  “Yes.”

  “The two of you talked about a takeover of B & T by QFMG?”

  “About the purchase of B & T by QFMG, yes.”

  “In what context?”

  “She called me up on the phone, out of the blue.”

  “And said…?”

  Pamela looked away, seeming decidedly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry. When she called, she asked that we speak in confidence, and I agreed.”

  Kelsey raised her hands in a gesture of futility. “Do you think that agreement still holds now that she’s gone?”

  Slumping in her seat, for a moment Pamela looked every bit her age. “I suppose not, if she acted in a manner that’s reflecting poorly on me.”

  Kelsey nodded, understanding her logic. “Pamela, do you remember the man who stood up in the ceremony the other day and disrupted everything?”

  “Yes.”

  “The reason he was there was because Gloria sent him an invitation, five hundred dollars for traveling expenses, and a letter urging him to come and warning him that if the company were sold, he would lose all rights for any claims against the family fortune.”

  Pamela’s eyes widened. She did look genuinely surprised.

  “I’ll ask you again. Why did Gloria contact you and what did she say?”

  Pamela was quiet for a long moment, and then she spoke. “You have to understand, Kelsey, that I put out feelers all the time, all over the place. In the past twenty years of acquaintance with Gloria, I’ve probably brought up the topic of purchasing B & T a dozen times. Ask anyone. It’s just what I do. I put out feelers.”

  “I believe you.”

  “Well, I’m sure that’s why Gloria thought to contact me a few weeks ago. She called to ask if we could speak confidentially. Once I assured her we could, she told me she was looking for a buyer for B & T and wondered if I was still interested.”