Andros turned to his daughter.
‘Katerina, I agree with you, but he sounded sincere on the phone. He probably means it this time. Andrew Le Charos is a difficult and ruthless man, but he is family, after all. He has requested this meeting and I think you should be the one to go. I think we should give him a chance.’
‘After all he’s done to this family and to our business, trying to sabotage us and for some reason Elli as well at every turn?’
‘Katerina, remember that that is business. It is a game and Andrew plays it well. So does Elli. In business she can be as ruthless as Andrew. We were close once. He was very different back then. Someone does not change that much. The Andrew I knew or at least a big part of him must still be there, I’m sure.’
Katerina was like a dog with a bone. She would not let go. She hammered her point in, attempting to reason with her father whom he thought of being too soft and understanding in this particular instance. Perhaps getting older made us see bad things in a softer light. Could it be selective amnesia, she wondered, but could not utter her opinion to her father in this way. She chose a more tactful approach and spoke in a half-conciliatory tone to get her arguments across.
‘Maybe the row with his father and his self-exile in Australia changed him and caused an irrevocable breakdown with the family that cannot be mended. Aren’t you at least suspicious of his motives? It’s very sudden after all these years, is it not?’
‘I will admit that the thought had crossed my mind. Call me a stupid old man, but I’ve wanted this rapprochement for a very long time. People do have a sudden change of heart brought about by a guilty conscience or loneliness. There may also be business opportunities to come out of this.’
‘So it’s always money isn’t it?’
‘Katerina, there is nothing wrong with that. We would not be where we are now, if it weren’t for our ancestors taking advantage of opportunities and I have followed that tradition throughout my life. I think Andrew deserves our benefit of the doubt.’
Katerina could not hide the outrage that had risen like bile in her throat and sought release through her vocal chords lest it choked her.
‘Deserves? He has done nothing to deserve anything or earn any drop of pity. If you ask me, Andrew does not give a damn about this family. Why now, after all these years he decides to make contact? I don’t buy it. He’s up to something. He just cannot accept the fact that, first, not only did our family not collapse after he left, but it thrived beyond even his and our wildest expectations. I think for all his money and his power he feels jealous and resentful of us. And second, he simply cannot accept that Elli Symitzis, and especially a woman, is a lot richer and much more powerful than he is, and, on top of that, one of the most powerful business figures in the world and de facto leader of the Greek and Cypriot business communities around the world; and that she’s also the head of the Order of Vlachernae.’
Andros almost choked. Katerina had inadvertently hit the nail on the head; and she didn’t even know the truth about Andrew and Elli. ‘How do you know this?’
‘I have my sources.’
‘What sources?’
‘Dad, that’s my business. Oh, come on, you know how people like to gossip.’ She paused and her demeanour changed from antagonistic to conciliatory. There was no point fighting her father. She knew she wouldn’t change his mind about this, so she might as well help him and resolve this. And, besides, she could show Andrew up for what he really was and expose his deviousness. The thought made her feel slightly better, but not for long. Suddenly she was gripped by anger that Andrew was playing with her father’s feelings. She vowed that he would pay. But she would not admit this to her father now. ‘Anyway, you are right. We have nothing to lose and maybe everything to gain.’
‘Are you mocking me?’
‘Dad, I wouldn’t dare.’ She smiled her mischievous smile and winked at her father. ‘I will go.’
‘I’ve booked you on the morning Emirates flight via Dubai.’
She looked at him surprised.
‘I had no doubt you would go despite your protestations. You will never change. Sense always prevails with you in the end.’
‘Oh, dad, you know me better than I know myself.’ She bowed her head in grudging respect. Her humour had lost none of its caustic sting and effect.
CHAPTER 35
Sydney, Australia
Present day
The sun was rising fast, illuminating the city in a glorious hew of riotous colours, the skyscrapers of the Central Business District and those North of the Harbour Bridge gleaming in the sunlight. Did she imagine it or were they bowing to her, welcoming her?
She simply adored landing in this city in daylight, which brought it out at its best. The view from the plane window was breathtaking, definitely one of the best views in the world in her book.
She had always thought that the positioning of the runway at Sydney Airport was deliberate. Trust the Australians to put on a show for visitors on approach for landing, inspiring the feeling of a dream come true. Sydney was one of her favourite cities.
It was good to be back, even if she did not look forward to her meeting. At least it gave her the excuse to be in this city.
The car whisked her away, plunging bravely into the heavy morning clogged arteries of the city, heading to the Fanari Tower. She just sat back and relaxed, enjoying the ride, enjoying being bombarded with all the snapshots of rushed and incredibly stressed daily life; mundane routine activities that now seemed so beautiful to her. She was honoured to be a silent witness to them without being watched.
She knew it would be the same in every city across the world, but this was a special place, her special place. It was a city, a country, rich in stories that shaped the history of this country and continent both, stories to inspire, and entertain and feed the soul, going back all the way to the Aboriginal stories and their Dreamland and their wisdom and traditions.
She lowered her window. A rush of extraordinarily tempting smells invaded, immediately assaulting her taste buds and triggering involuntary mental salivating. She took it all in like a child arriving for the first time.
It had been long since she was last here. Well, a month to be precise. Yet even that was too long. That was how much she loved this city. It was the same every time. She never bore of this city, this country.
Her musings were cut short when the car stopped outside the building that rose one hundred and fifty metres into the sky, its aggressive design showing its mean intentions, and those of its owner, to spear the clouds, to break through and rise higher and higher.
Inside the glass lobby that rose thirty floors into the innards of the building she could not help but raise her eyes to the crystal chandelier-like sculpture hanging like an ancient stalactite falling towards the lobby, ready to open a hole in the floor and burrow its way to the centre of the earth.
She stopped herself and lowered her eyes just in time to show to the receptionist a dignified business-like face that had seen it all before.
The lift whizzed her to the forty-first floor. She knew the entire forty-second floor was her uncle’s penthouse and out of bounds for all but the most trusted members of his inner circle, and selected guests, when it was used as the stage for impressive parties.
Her uncle was a prolific entertainer and very adept networker who also gave millions to charity and personally got involved in his charity projects around the world. Where he found the time to do all that and at the same time run one of Australia’s largest corporations was beyond her. But then again, although he was a control freak, he had placed brilliant managers in key positions within his organisation who effectively ran the company day to day with terrifying efficiency. His companies basically ran themselves.
He also did like a flutter on the horses, for no less reason that he owned one of the biggest and greatest
