such blatant and sloppily organised betrayal. She knew how she would have gone about doing it, if she was planning such a coup, and it would not be like this fool has done it. And it would probably have had a bigger chance of success. So typical of Manoukios not to be properly prepared. His habits during his school years still bedevilled him.
‘Manoukios, you always were a greedy fool. Now, shut up and listen. This concerns not only you but all of us. It is not about you, about one person or one family.’ Elli paused. ‘And I will tell you why. It appears you have not done your homework. You have not studied the rules of the company. I am the current 60 % majority shareholder and as such I have absolute control of this company. The rules were created by the founders, so as to prevent future petty challenges causing upheaval by distracting from the company’s management and damaging the company.
‘You are on a slippery slope, Manoukios. To continue on this silly course of ignoring the facts and hoping for a miracle is a waste of all our time and it smacks of a vendetta, of a desperate attempt to settle scores. Perhaps you believe you are in a parallel universe where a miracle will override the company rules.’ Elli’s last sentence was phrased as a question. Her words oozed caustic irony.
Manoukios was still smarting from Elli’s assault, but there was no giving up and no turning back. He had to see this through to the bitter end. He went on a new assault of his own.
‘My dearest Elli, I repeat. Why should you and your clan be the one solely deserving of this honoured position? Tell us, please, where it is written that you and your brood are the chosen ones. Because, and I believe I speak for most of us here, I don’t know of any such situation that should continue in perpetuity.’
Elli almost laughed out loud. Manoukios certainly had a lot of fight still left in him. Playing to the gallery, as they say. Such splendid posturing. She was almost impressed by his performance and sheer stupidity, put on display for all to see.
He was now well on his way to, expertly and determinedly, dig an even larger hole for himself and taking his allies with him. Well, he would do that literally and very soon, Elli thought. And he didn’t know it yet. Elli calmly and tactfully nudged Manoukios along.
‘I think you have not been listening.’
‘Yes, I have, and I plan to challenge those rules in court. I’m going to call my lawyer right now.’
Manoukios began to have the chilling feeling that he had lost the battle. He had to get out and think. With his defiant declaration he was buying himself time before a suspected humiliation at the hands of Elli came. He had to save face before all present.
He had to leave the room quickly, postpone or, if he was lucky, completely escape the sentence Elli would unilaterally pass on him and execute with ruthless efficiency and no remorse. She would have every right to do that. He was the culpable party after all. However, unbeknownst to him, with his statement his folly was now complete and his fate inescapable.
He stood as if to leave, but didn’t get very far. Something was slowing him down with every step he took, and was pulling him back. He could sense Elli’s eyes on him. He knew she had more to say.
He stopped and turned towards those present. His eyes locked on Elli’s. He started to say something, to protest, but whatever he intended to say was cut short prematurely and killed at birth.
Elli had had enough of his stupidity. ‘Sit down, Manoukios, and shut up.’
‘We don’t trust you.’ He said as he sat down, his demeanour one of a scolded child, still defiant but with his protest weakening with every syllable.
Elli waited until she had everybody’s attention. She could feel their eyes boring down on her. She was enjoying herself. She only hoped that they were enjoying the show as much as she did.
‘Manoukios. You have been in Andrew’s pocket for quite some time now, haven’t you? For those who don’t know who I am talking about I am referring to Andrew Le Charos.’ Elli paused. She looked around the table at shocked and in some cases also confused faces. ‘Yes, the Australian shark as he’s otherwise known.’ There were nods of recognition. She continued. ‘You conspired with Andrew to cause trouble not just to me but disruption to the company itself. How much has he paid you Manoukios?’
‘You are bluffing. You have no proof of that.’
‘I’m not bluffing. And I believe I speak for all of us here when I say that by claiming that I am bluffing, you have confirmed that what I said is true.’
Manoukios was shaking his head; his face was going red, causing in the others the fear that a stroke or a heart attack was imminent. His whole body began to tremble, he appeared to be shaken by convulsions, he seemed almost on the verge of madness and it made one expect that he would start to break apart and explode at any moment, like a tremor that opens up cracks in the earth. The others were watching him with fascination.
Elli continued. ‘You can deny it no longer.’
Manoukios was becoming desperate. He felt he was losing his supporters in the room. He had to do something. He had to say something. But maybe it was already too late.
‘You run the company like your personal fiefdom. You take decisions and do whatever you like without consulting the board.’
‘You know as well as I do that that is part of my extensive authority according to the company’s rules. I do not have to consult the board and that’s how it has been for hundreds of years.’
‘Perhaps it’s time for this to change. Especially since you have abused your position and disgraced this company and caused it irrevocable damage.’
‘I suggest that you stop this nonsense before you cause the company and suffer yourself irrevocable damage.’
‘Are you threatening me?’
‘No, I am not. I don’t have to. You are doing the damage to yourself by seeing enemies where there are none and fighting the shadows. We are not out to get you, you know. You always get so…’ She paused. ‘… defensive.’
He ignored her. ‘Let’s not lose sight of the ball here. As I was saying, before being rudely interrupted, this woman has harmed this company, this board and, by extension, us. And I provide these as proof.’
He proceeded to distribute copies of newspapers and various other publications with highlighted stories about Elli, stories with spurious and serious allegations about her professional capacity and role, about mismanagement and abuse of that role and nonsense about her private life. It was unbelievable and cheap.
Elli had suspected that he might use this material and had no doubt that he had fed all these lies, these fabrications to those publications with the aim of creating a huge scandal and embarrassing her with the ultimate aim of crashing her and forcing her out of the company, the family, society and friends and acquaintances.
She knew he was the one that instigated this ridiculous but seriously misguided campaign against her in the press and other media. Elli was prepared for that eventuality.
‘This nonsense that you have presented so flamboyantly and with such flair before us is already with the lawyers. You and these publications, which stupidly without checking their sources, printed these lies, and any media that have broadcasted any of it, will be sued for libel. You and the people you gave the story too will be receiving court documents in the next few days.’
‘But how? What are you saying? Don’t try to wriggle out of this. You know that everything is true.’ As he was saying this he was beginning to lose heart, the passion and confidence in his voice noticeably waning. ‘I spoke to no-one. You should have been more discreet, or rather not have done any of this at all. Ah, Elli you’ve always thought you were better than us. What do you have to say for yourself now?’
‘Manoukios, just stop it. That’s enough. If lies is the best you have to throw at me then you are a very small man indeed. I do have evidence that it was you who spoke to the media.’
He almost went to protest, but thought better of it or caught Elli’s forbidding act of the lifting and widening of the eyes, which effectively shushed him.
Elli had anticipated his action or saw the flicker of a movement, which was enough to warn her. ‘I have written statements and those who have given those statements are also willing to testify against you.’
She moved her eyes away from his, indicating the people around the table who were ravenously consuming and voraciously reading the written tosh. ‘Do you think anyone in here believes this rubbish? Oh, you may say they do, because they are, at this moment, very interested in it and can’t get enough of it, but it’s just entertainment for them, the novelty value of new amusement and salacious scandal which is always popular whether it’s true and based on fact or not, as the case may be. But give it a few days and then interest will vanish. The papers
