myself, so I just give him a smile and get out.
As I walk into Leary, I pass Guy, who is on his way out.
?Hi Georgie,? he grins, winking at me.
I smile back and keep walking. And then I freeze. Guy is on his way out . . . he?s probably on his way to New York. I didn?t think they?d have sent him away so quickly. I?ve got to do something! If Guy goes to New York before Nigel can tell him what?s really going on, the merger will go ahead and Leary will be shut down and Nigel will lose his job. I can?t let it happen.
I think quickly. What I need is a diversion so I can tell him what I heard last night. Unfortunately there are no diversions on hand, and Guy is nearly at the door.
?Guy! Don?t go!? He turns round and a couple of people who are waiting in reception look up interestedly.
?I mean it. You can?t go. Not until . . . until we?ve talked properly.?
The receptionist looks at me strangely, and Guy looks embarrassed. Oh great. Now everyone?s going to be told that Guy and I are having an affair.
?I?ve got to go,? says Guy kindly, as if he?s talking to a child. ?I?m really late and there?s a taxi outside waiting for me. Look, have a word with Nigel.?
?No!? I grab his arm and he tries to shake me off. This is not the measured conversation I had hoped for.
?Guy, I need to talk to you,? I hiss. Honestly, you?d think he would listen to me. I mean, I am one of his personal researchers, a trusted face in a cold, corporate world and all that.
?Look, I?m sure it can wait.? Guy is staring at me. The two men waiting in reception are also staring now. I realize that one of them is the guy I saw last night with Robin. Maybe they?ve been sent to make sure Guy never makes it to New York. Maybe they are waiting for me to go, and then they?re going to follow him out to the cab and do something terrible . . . or maybe they are waiting for him to leave so they can sort out the merger and keep the Learys out of it.
The receptionist calls out to Guy that his taxi won?t wait much longer and then she gives me a meaningful look. I?m sure it?s along the lines of ?have some self-respect.? She has a point?I am holding Guy?s arm very tightly.
Guy starts walking and I go with him. He?ll be grateful eventually, I reason.
Once outside, I usher Guy into his waiting taxicab and get in after him.
?So you?re coming, too, are you Georgie? Fine. The Bolton?s, please. Now, Georgie, what exactly can I do for you??
?You can?t go to New York.? I?m looking out of the back of the cab to see if we?re being followed. ?They?re just trying to get you out of the way. Robin said so . . . you?ve been asking too many questions. And Duncan Mailor is behind it all. He?s the chairman at Tryton, which is involved in all the HG acquisitions and he was on the board at that company in America where they went to prison and he?s going to close us all down and you?ve got to stop them . . .?
Guy is grinning broadly.
?Georgie, did you hear where I told this cab to go??
I shake my head.
?Chelsea. I?m going to see the Learys. And a couple of the other investors. They are all voting against the merger.?
?You mean . . .?
?I mean, you have done some very valuable work, but maybe you want to watch a bit less television.?
?But last night . . .?
?Yes, Nigel told me what you heard last night. And I?m glad you told him. It seems the announcement of the merger was a little premature. One or two of our board members seem to have taken the view that if the merger plans were announced, the deal would become inevitable. Unfortunately for them, our investors did not take kindly to being told about the strategic direction of the company by worried employees, and so the merger talks have been suspended.?
?Duncan Mailor!?
?Taylor,? Guy corrects me. ?Well, Taylor was one of them. But the real force behind the merger was Robin. He owns quite a bit of stock?insisted on it when he was appointed, and it appears he wanted to cash in. Which he could only do if the company floated, or was sold. Luckily the majority of the other investors are more long term in their ambitions.?
?So . . . so it?s all off??
?Well, it is for the time being. And I can?t imagine the shareholders are going to be very keen on the idea when they know the facts. I?m sure we will merge with another company at some point, just not HG, and not now.?
I breathe a sigh of relief. ?But what about that man in reception??
?I think he was waiting for Robin.?
?Waiting for Robin??
?Yes, I think he was going to take him home.?
?You mean . . .?
?I mean that you are talking to the new chief executive of Leary. The chairman was meeting with Robin first thing this morning, and I?m on my way to see the Learys now. They always like to meet the chief exec formally on appointment.?
?So you?re not going to New York, then,? I say slowly. I?m silent for a while. We saved the day. Nigel and I really
