*
“Fired!” Lili exclaimed incredulously.
Pat pointed to the TV and turned up the volume.
The same Bloomberg anchorman was in duplex with a political journalist reporting from the steps of Bank of England, a stone’s throw from the INI’s headquarters in the Gould Tower. The anchorman was interrupted by a news flash from the pressroom at 11, Downing Street, where the Chancellor of the Exchequer was reading a statement:
As of today February 23, 2015, City & Colonial, in accordance with a decision of Her Majesty’s Government, the Governors of the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority, a plan has been approved to inject fresh capital into the INI Banking Corporation plc, to put it on a sound footing following the difficulties it has recently encountered, notably loan defaults in Russia, and the changes implemented by the Russian government relative to the management of the INI Holding’s partner bank in Moscow.
The Chairman of Europa Bank Holding plc, has tendered his resignation and that of his board of directors, which is effective forthwith. As of today the INI Banking Corporation and its holding, are merged with City & Colonial Holdings plc.
INI will continue its everyday business as normal, functioning as a subsidiary unit of City & Colonial. The interests of INI’s clients will be assured one hundred percent. The same goes for its personnel.
The Chancellor went on to commended Michael Fitzwilliams for his cooperation with the financial authorities, which permitted the Bank of England to take the measures necessary to protect the interests of the UK banking sector as a whole.
A flurry of questions followed as reporters pressed forward. To their disappointment the Chancellor simply added a dry: “Thank you gentlemen.” Then wearing his usual enigmatic smile added: “Good morning.”
By magic the press-room door behind the Chancellor opened and he was gone.
It was in effect a takeover and Michael, his fucking friend, had left him in the lurch.
Lili’s eyes filled with tears as she tried to console her husband.
‘What will you do Pat? I mean is it legal?”
Lili as a lawyer and was trying to fathom the meaning of the news in professional terms.
“The first thing is to see how it affects us here,” said Pat angrily. “That stuck-up feeker from City & Colonial told me not to come in, but the bank here is only owned in part by INI London, the rest belongs to us … your family and myself.”
“You’re right Pat. I’ll call my brother.”
“Then there’s Tarasov.”
“Tarasov?”
“Yes, the Russian bank is an independent entity, separate from London. The Chancellor said something about the Russian government? In any case there’s some cross holding, but I can’t remember the exact details. We’ve been screwed .... Is Fitz part of this feekin set-up?”
Lili dabbed her eyes.
“Right. Let’s go.”
It was a short drive from the Peak down to Central and the Jardine Tower, where their driver dropped them off. Once inside the cavernous lobby of marble and stainless steel Kennedy spotted a group of reporters at one end of the long range of the security turnstiles on the look out for news.
Using their magnetic cards the couple slipped through unnoticed on the furthest side.
They took a lift to the 38th floor, where they were forced to push through a crowd gathered before the double doors leading to the bank’s suites. Once inside they were met by an anxious receptionist who pointed them to the main conference room.
“There are two men from City & Colonial here,” she warned them. “They’re with Brian Leung.”
“Where’s Angus?”
“He left for Shanghai on an early flight.”
“Shit.”
Pat, his face set in a grim expression, pushed open the doors and strode in unannounced.
“Good morning gentlemen, I’m Pat Kennedy, how can I help you?”
Two Brits in banking style attire looked up from the papers spread out before them their faces evidently startled by Kennedy’s brusk manner.
The older of the two, in a blue pinstripe, stood up and pompously announced he was from City & Colonial.
“We’re here to facilitate the transition Mr Kennedy.”
“I don’t care where you’ve feekin come from. I want you out now or I’ll have security throw you out.”
“But … but …’
‘There’s no ifs or buts. Out!’ shouted Kennedy pointing to the door and nodding to the security guards to show them to the lift.
The pinstripes were not about to get into a brawl. With an abashed look they hurriedly shuffled the papers before them together.
“I’ll take those,” said Kennedy pointing to the door.
“We’ll be back,” threatened the older pinstripe.
“Over my dead body. Out!”
Pat then ushered the bank’s own administrative staff out whilst waving Brian Leung, the assistant director, to remain and closed the doors.
“So Brian,” he said softly, “what did those two clowns want?”
Leung was shaken, in a sweat. “They said we’re now part of City & Colonial.”
“Did they have any identification?”
“The younger of the two was from the City & Colonial legal department. He said they had instructions from London to coordinate organisation and management changes.”
“I see, in their pig shit ignorance they jumped the feekin gun,” Kennedy said half talking to himself.
“Okay Brien, don’t worry, they won’t be back in a hurry. Lili call Gordon Cheung at Applebys, tell him it’s urgent we need him over here at once. Then try to get Angus MacPherson on the phone.”
Cornucopia Page 41
