Coveted (Completed) - Chapter 5: Chapter 5
You are reading Coveted (Completed), Chapter 5: Chapter 5. Read more chapters of Coveted (Completed).
"Good Afternoon, Commander " Beth greets me as I
walk back into my offices.
"Beth, any messages?"
"Lady Greystone called, she said it was a family matter and not urgent" she told me first, knowing that family was very important to me.
"Your messages and the gate has just let me know your next meeting is on his way in" she handed me a pile of yellow slips and I grinned, Beth loved her message pad and refused to modernise saying it was a better way of doing things.
"Thank you Beth, anything else" I reply and she shakes her head as the phone rings. I start to move away when I hear her answer.
"Commander Fraser is very busy can I ask what it is regarding?" "Lady Greystone?" her eyes raise to where I have stilled listening and I indicate for her to put it through. "One moment please I am transferring you to the Commander now" I know I have very little time before my next appointment arrives but anything to do with Maisie was important to me.
The phone rings in my office and I pick it up "Fraser" I bark down the line.
"Good afternoon Commander, my name is Hector Breitmeyer, I wonder if we could arrange a meeting to discuss Stewart Duncan and some land we believe is Lady Greystones" the man asks as my gaze scans my diary.
"Thursday at 14.00hrs, do you know where my office is?"
"Yes.."
I cut him off as I see my next appointment come through the outer door.
"Contact my secretary, she will make all the arrangements, I'm sorry but I have another meeting" I tell the man and ring off.
Beth appearing in the door frame "He will phone back, book him in for 14.00hrs Thursday and make the arrangements will you" I ask her and she nods. "Send him in" I add as she steps back out and her desk phone starts ringing and I return my focus to work.
Its late when I finally finish, Beth had left hours ago and had confirmed my Thursday meeting was all set. I had wavered between phoning Maisie and going to the house, but I knew my cousin would hide behind the phone so I left the base and headed to hers.
Mary greeted me at the door, telling me she was in the library, I could see the relief on her face at my appearance, as she followed me down to the library, the belief that something was wrong grew. Her muttered jab at making sure Maisie tells me everything, had me pinning Maisie with the look that had my men cowering. She took longer than most but soon the whole story came out and I felt my anger grow, mainly towards Stewart, but also towards the Breitmeyers"
"I had another call today" I tell her pausing before letting her know who called "A representative from the Breitmeyer Group would like to meet with me, why would that be?"
She shook her head looking confused "They probably want to buy your land, as I will not sell... are you going to?"
"Yes, I have a meeting with them Thursday on the base" I tell her, waiting for what I know she'll do next.
"I want to come" she rushes out and I fight my grin, sometimes she was so predictable.
"Of course" I tell her stopping the argument before she's even opened her mouth.
"I can?" she questions, narrowing her eyes at me.
"You can" I agree, knowing its safer to engage with her and be there to make sure she is okay. Rather than let her approach them herself, or even them go direct to her, which so far had not been done well. I wanted to know she was okay with dealing with them.
She has always been my favourite cousin and had been my shadow whenever I was home when she was younger,
before her parents died and then after I made sure she knew I would always be there to protect and support her, even if sometimes she forgot and tried to deal with things herself.
The rest of the evening we steered away from discussing Stewart and the land issues choosing to relax and enjoy the meal with Mary. Pluto appearing briefly to say hello before he disappeared back to his preferred spot in the window.
By the time Thursday afternoon came round I had done some research on the Breitmeyer Group, on the whole nothing raised any red flags, only the interaction with Maisie. I was curious as to why they had approached me directly. Maisie had forwarded to me the emails she had received and I had checked the people coming to the meeting were not named in any of those emails.
Mary had phoned me to an hour ago to let me know Maisie was planning to cycle over and I had shaken my head and sent a driver for her, ignoring her arguments that it wasn't necessary.
"Commander, your visitors have arrived" Beth's voice came through the intercom and a quick glance at the clock showed me they were early, not enough to be a problem but enough to beat Maisie here.
"Thank you Beth, can you show them into the conference room and arrange some drinks, I'll be there shortly, and when Maisie arrive show her down too"
"Yes sir" she replies.
I can hear the murmur of voices outside my closed office door as Beth shows them through and I quickly review the file on my desk.
Maisie still hadn't arrived by the time I made my way along the hall to the conference room. I scan the three men sat along the table, two I recognised from my research, Angus and Hector Beitmeyer, the third was unknown.
"Gentlemen" I greet as they stand to shake hands.
"Commander Fraser, Thank you for meeting us. I am Hector Breitmeyer, this is my brother Angus and our head of security Jensen Jamison"
"Just Jamison please" the third man offers as he shakes my hand. I gesture for them to return to their seats as I sit and look at them... waiting.
Beth appears with a tray of drinks and I thank her before refocusing on them.
"First thank you for seeing us without much explanation but we have recently found that an employee has been acting outside their brief and without authority" Hector starts
"Caroline Strait?" I ask and they share a look before nodding. "Why don't you start at the beginning" I prompt.
"She was one of our land agents, she was tasked with procuring some land locally for a small specialised retreat, she quickly brought to our attention the land owned by Stewart Duncan. He agreed to sell and all seemed above board, however on registering one of the key parts was not included in the sale, our agent was instructed to arrange that purchase as well and we believe that she in partnership with Duncan tried to pressure Lady Mairead Greystone into selling using methods not condoned by the company, meanwhile she had completed the paperwork for the sale with Duncan as the seller. Our company paid him following instruction from Ms Strait, this was then flagged by our legal team and brought to our attention"
"I see and... "
"We have tracked the money and Strait down but Stewart Duncan has vanished. It was brought to our attention that a few key procedures have also been overlooked and other key landowners have not been contacted about our plans, you being the majority land owner apart from your cousin Lady Greystone" Angus explains.
"What do you want from me?"
"In light of what we have unearthed we wanted to talk to you about our approach to Lady Greystone, the best way to resolve the issue to everyone's benefit" Angus continues.
"You still want her land?" I ask carefully. "For what reason?"
"The plot of land is where we would envisage the main building placement, with views over the loch and surrounding hills"
"And if you don't get the land?" I watch as they share a look at my words. "Or the local support?" I add and see frustration and determination cross their faces.
"Its a good plan, the resort would bring in tourism and funds and jobs to the area" Hector argues and I let my first smile free.
"We have no unemployment in this area, to create jobs would bring in traffic everyday from outside the area, and all the businesses do very well supporting the existing local population" I tell them.
I hear the sound of steps approaching and know that Maisie has arrived.
"But in fairness you can both apologise directly to her and ask her yourself" I tell them just as the door opens and Maisie rushes into the room.
"So sorry I'm late, there was a issue on the way here..." she trails off as she takes in the other men in the room.
"Gentlemen, Lady Mairead Greystone" I introduce, noticing the stunned expression on both the Breitmeyer men's faces.
walk back into my offices.
"Beth, any messages?"
"Lady Greystone called, she said it was a family matter and not urgent" she told me first, knowing that family was very important to me.
"Your messages and the gate has just let me know your next meeting is on his way in" she handed me a pile of yellow slips and I grinned, Beth loved her message pad and refused to modernise saying it was a better way of doing things.
"Thank you Beth, anything else" I reply and she shakes her head as the phone rings. I start to move away when I hear her answer.
"Commander Fraser is very busy can I ask what it is regarding?" "Lady Greystone?" her eyes raise to where I have stilled listening and I indicate for her to put it through. "One moment please I am transferring you to the Commander now" I know I have very little time before my next appointment arrives but anything to do with Maisie was important to me.
The phone rings in my office and I pick it up "Fraser" I bark down the line.
"Good afternoon Commander, my name is Hector Breitmeyer, I wonder if we could arrange a meeting to discuss Stewart Duncan and some land we believe is Lady Greystones" the man asks as my gaze scans my diary.
"Thursday at 14.00hrs, do you know where my office is?"
"Yes.."
I cut him off as I see my next appointment come through the outer door.
"Contact my secretary, she will make all the arrangements, I'm sorry but I have another meeting" I tell the man and ring off.
Beth appearing in the door frame "He will phone back, book him in for 14.00hrs Thursday and make the arrangements will you" I ask her and she nods. "Send him in" I add as she steps back out and her desk phone starts ringing and I return my focus to work.
Its late when I finally finish, Beth had left hours ago and had confirmed my Thursday meeting was all set. I had wavered between phoning Maisie and going to the house, but I knew my cousin would hide behind the phone so I left the base and headed to hers.
Mary greeted me at the door, telling me she was in the library, I could see the relief on her face at my appearance, as she followed me down to the library, the belief that something was wrong grew. Her muttered jab at making sure Maisie tells me everything, had me pinning Maisie with the look that had my men cowering. She took longer than most but soon the whole story came out and I felt my anger grow, mainly towards Stewart, but also towards the Breitmeyers"
"I had another call today" I tell her pausing before letting her know who called "A representative from the Breitmeyer Group would like to meet with me, why would that be?"
She shook her head looking confused "They probably want to buy your land, as I will not sell... are you going to?"
"Yes, I have a meeting with them Thursday on the base" I tell her, waiting for what I know she'll do next.
"I want to come" she rushes out and I fight my grin, sometimes she was so predictable.
"Of course" I tell her stopping the argument before she's even opened her mouth.
"I can?" she questions, narrowing her eyes at me.
"You can" I agree, knowing its safer to engage with her and be there to make sure she is okay. Rather than let her approach them herself, or even them go direct to her, which so far had not been done well. I wanted to know she was okay with dealing with them.
She has always been my favourite cousin and had been my shadow whenever I was home when she was younger,
before her parents died and then after I made sure she knew I would always be there to protect and support her, even if sometimes she forgot and tried to deal with things herself.
The rest of the evening we steered away from discussing Stewart and the land issues choosing to relax and enjoy the meal with Mary. Pluto appearing briefly to say hello before he disappeared back to his preferred spot in the window.
By the time Thursday afternoon came round I had done some research on the Breitmeyer Group, on the whole nothing raised any red flags, only the interaction with Maisie. I was curious as to why they had approached me directly. Maisie had forwarded to me the emails she had received and I had checked the people coming to the meeting were not named in any of those emails.
Mary had phoned me to an hour ago to let me know Maisie was planning to cycle over and I had shaken my head and sent a driver for her, ignoring her arguments that it wasn't necessary.
"Commander, your visitors have arrived" Beth's voice came through the intercom and a quick glance at the clock showed me they were early, not enough to be a problem but enough to beat Maisie here.
"Thank you Beth, can you show them into the conference room and arrange some drinks, I'll be there shortly, and when Maisie arrive show her down too"
"Yes sir" she replies.
I can hear the murmur of voices outside my closed office door as Beth shows them through and I quickly review the file on my desk.
Maisie still hadn't arrived by the time I made my way along the hall to the conference room. I scan the three men sat along the table, two I recognised from my research, Angus and Hector Beitmeyer, the third was unknown.
"Gentlemen" I greet as they stand to shake hands.
"Commander Fraser, Thank you for meeting us. I am Hector Breitmeyer, this is my brother Angus and our head of security Jensen Jamison"
"Just Jamison please" the third man offers as he shakes my hand. I gesture for them to return to their seats as I sit and look at them... waiting.
Beth appears with a tray of drinks and I thank her before refocusing on them.
"First thank you for seeing us without much explanation but we have recently found that an employee has been acting outside their brief and without authority" Hector starts
"Caroline Strait?" I ask and they share a look before nodding. "Why don't you start at the beginning" I prompt.
"She was one of our land agents, she was tasked with procuring some land locally for a small specialised retreat, she quickly brought to our attention the land owned by Stewart Duncan. He agreed to sell and all seemed above board, however on registering one of the key parts was not included in the sale, our agent was instructed to arrange that purchase as well and we believe that she in partnership with Duncan tried to pressure Lady Mairead Greystone into selling using methods not condoned by the company, meanwhile she had completed the paperwork for the sale with Duncan as the seller. Our company paid him following instruction from Ms Strait, this was then flagged by our legal team and brought to our attention"
"I see and... "
"We have tracked the money and Strait down but Stewart Duncan has vanished. It was brought to our attention that a few key procedures have also been overlooked and other key landowners have not been contacted about our plans, you being the majority land owner apart from your cousin Lady Greystone" Angus explains.
"What do you want from me?"
"In light of what we have unearthed we wanted to talk to you about our approach to Lady Greystone, the best way to resolve the issue to everyone's benefit" Angus continues.
"You still want her land?" I ask carefully. "For what reason?"
"The plot of land is where we would envisage the main building placement, with views over the loch and surrounding hills"
"And if you don't get the land?" I watch as they share a look at my words. "Or the local support?" I add and see frustration and determination cross their faces.
"Its a good plan, the resort would bring in tourism and funds and jobs to the area" Hector argues and I let my first smile free.
"We have no unemployment in this area, to create jobs would bring in traffic everyday from outside the area, and all the businesses do very well supporting the existing local population" I tell them.
I hear the sound of steps approaching and know that Maisie has arrived.
"But in fairness you can both apologise directly to her and ask her yourself" I tell them just as the door opens and Maisie rushes into the room.
"So sorry I'm late, there was a issue on the way here..." she trails off as she takes in the other men in the room.
"Gentlemen, Lady Mairead Greystone" I introduce, noticing the stunned expression on both the Breitmeyer men's faces.
End of Coveted (Completed) Chapter 5. Continue reading Chapter 6 or return to Coveted (Completed) book page.