Page 2

‘No.’

‘I just bought out T&C Media. Little Voice is part of the package –’

‘No, it isn’t,’ Kat interrupts. ‘T&C Media owns fifty percent of Little Voice. I own the other half.’

Freddy is a little wrong-footed, which is surprising considering how expensive his shoes are.

‘I think you’ve made a mistake there, Kat. As far as I’m aware, it was a total buyout.’ Freddy whips out his brand-new, not-even-available-to-the-public-yet, iPhone and checks the T&C takeover contract.

Little Voice, Little Voice…

Oh no. It’s right there in black and white:50% share.

A 50% share won’t work. Not for the changes Freddy needs to make. And T&C Media is nothing without the literature angle. It’s the key to unlocking so many big deals.

Freddy isn’t a partnership sort of person. He is a lone wolf. Lone wolves don’t compromise. They eat people.

‘Well look at that, Kat.’ Freddy quickly regains his composure. ‘We’re co-owners. Half each. I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you two million to sell me your half.’

‘No.’

This response surprises Freddy. He’s never met anyone who turned down a ridiculous sum of money before.

‘Maybe you didn’t hear me right.’ Freddy gives Kat a wink. ‘I said two million. Pounds. You can buy yourself an awful lot of new shoes. Or cardigans –’

‘Mr Stark,’ says Kat. ‘I am not motivated by money.’

Freddy stares at Kat, momentarily lost for words. This woman is crazy. But he should have known that by her outfit. Eventually, he asks: ‘So what are you motivated by?’

‘Looking after my team and creating books that give people a voice.’

Freddy feels no further need to ask questions. Kat Friedman has a screw loose. You can’t argue with crazy.

‘Okay then.’ Freddy glances at his redundancy list. ‘We’ll do things the hard way. As a co-owner, I can make changes –’

‘No, you can’t,’ says Kat. ‘Not without my permission. And I don’t give permission.’

‘But Kat, it’s in your interests to streamline staff,’ Freddy insists. ‘You’ll make more money, and your staff will find positions more suited to their skills. A real win-win.’ He’s about to wink at her again but thinks better of it. ‘Of course,yourjob is safe –’

‘I don’t have a job,’ Kat snaps. ‘I’m co-owner. You can’t fire me or anyone else. Not without my permission. And I don’t give permission. I take care of my staff.’

Freddy returns to the comfort of his trademark charm. He throws Kat a fabulous smile. ‘How about we talk business over dinner? You can tell me how you got those marks on your hand. I bet there’s a story there.’

‘They’re not marks. They’re scars.’ Kat holds Freddy in a steady death glare. ‘And I have no interest in spending time with a man who wants to get rid of my loyal employees.’

‘In my defence, I haven’t gotten rid of anyone yet,’ says Freddy. ‘But let’s start sorting the wheat from the chaff. Is there someone called Alan here?’

The oldest gay in the village starts crying.

Kat’s face crumples. She puts an arm around Alan’s leather-clad shoulders, then gives Freddy a look that could strip paint.

Freddy pushes a box of tissues towards Alan but feels unrepentant. Alan will get an excellent remuneration package. Enough to buy himself many more leather, studded caps. And frankly, given his attendance record, he’s unlikely to know the difference between working and not working.

‘Alan, stop crying,’ says Kat. ‘Mr Stark isn’t getting rid of anyone. To make decisions about this company he has to go through me. And I say no. We’re a family.’ She turns to Freddy. ‘So, take your cheap smile and your expensive suit and throw your weight around somewhere else.’

Freddy is impressed. He almost wants to give Kat a round of applause. She is marvellous andverypretty. But she is also in his way. She’ll have to go, just like the rest of her badly dressed, lack-lustre team.

Freddy wants Little Voice. It’s an untapped gold mine and also the key to some previously tightly locked tax advantages. And Freddy always gets what he wants. It’s just a matter of time.