>
VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2] ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 16:11:56 05/03/02 Fri
Author: Repost Fairy
Author Host/IP: 64.193.19.25
Subject: Chapter 55
In reply to: Genevieve 's message, "Burden of Proof - Chapter 55 onwards..." on 16:10:02 05/03/02 Fri

~*~*~*~*~

Kevin Green was a man who normally enjoyed his work. Not today, however. Today, he was definitely feeling the need to check the number of weeks before he was entitled to take long service leave. After the two legal representatives withdrew, the silence in the mediation room was deafening.

He’d overseen some corkers in his time, and this one was right up there. There’d been no harsh words exchanged, but the tension was palpable and unmistakably hostile.

He cleared his throat. “Would either of you like a cup of tea or coffee? I could have my secretary bring something in.”

Salla Vachek shook his head before replying abruptly. “No.” Almost as an afterthought, he added an unenthusiastic, "Thank you.”

Ms. Wirth’s client was much more polite in his refusal. “Thanks, but I’m fine for the moment.” The young man held his gaze, and then went back to listlessly turning the pages of his own employment contract.

The three of them sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. It was obvious neither man wished to discuss the matter without their legal counsel present, which left Kevin with the unenviable task of making small talk. He sighed. When in doubt, talk about cricket.

“Mr. Duskovic, what do you think of our team’s chances in the World Cup in South Africa next week?”

Joe Duskovic looked up in surprise. “Uh, I don’t really follow the cricket. I’ve never really had much time to catch the test matches on TV.” He glanced at his former employer, his expression becoming grim. “I guess I’ll be able to watch them now, though.”

Salla Vachek looked amused. “Every Englishman’s dream, surely.” He spoke politely, but it seemed to Kevin there was a dark, almost taunting, note underlying his courteous words. “And how is your lovely wife, Joseph? Is she enjoying having you at home?”

The younger man paled, his boyish features tightening with anger. “How you can sit there and…”

Kevin put up a hand, chiding himself for even attempting to make small talk. But who would have thought that that the subject of cricket, the great leveler amongst all classes of men, would provoke such a reaction. “Gentlemen, name calling solves nothing.” He looked at each man in turn. “If one of you should wish, you’re more than welcome to wait in our reception area. It’s a common practice.”

Ms. Wirth’s client shook his head. “No. I’m fine.” He glared at Salla Vachek with what Kevin sensed was uncharacteristic venom, given what he’d seen of the young man, and then looked away, staring at the Workplace Health & Safety posters on the far wall of the room.

“Mr. Vachek?”

Salla Vachek shook his head regally. “I am quite comfortable here, Mr. Green.”

The arrival of a slightly breathless Ms. Wirth, some five minutes later, brought great relief. Kevin pushed back his chair and got to his feet. Nikita Wirth looked strangely flustered. Kevin knew she wasn’t as seasoned a negotiator as her opposing counsel, but he didn’t think she was so green as to find a routine discussion such an ordeal.

“Have we made any progress?”

She glanced at her client, then back at him. “I need to speak to my client again, if I may?”

He nodded, pleased at the thought of making some headway. “Of course. The room just across the hallway is vacant now.”

Ms. Wirth gave her client a reassuring smile. “Shall we?”

Joe Duskovic was swiftly on his feet. Kevin couldn’t blame him. He couldn’t imagine what Salla Vachek was like to work for. Of course, he would never let his personal view of the participants colour his advice regarding the situation.

As Kevin turned back to Salla Vachek, he heard Ms. Wirth speak. Her tone quite changed from its previously lighthearted, husky timbre, the three words were punctuated with disdain. “Excuse me, please.”

He looked up to see Vachek’s barrister smile politely at Ms Wirth before moving out of her way. “Of course.” Michael Samuelle waited, watching while his opponent led her client across the hallway. He then turned and walked slowly into the mediation room. He reclaimed his seat, straightened the pile of papers in front of him, and then glanced at his client and Kevin in turn.

“They have a condition of acceptance.”

Kevin reached his pen and notepad. “Which is?”

Michael Samuelle looked at him. “Ms. Wirth has requested that Mr. Duskovic be issued appropriate character and performance references.”

Kevin frowned. “Why have they found it necessary to make that a condition?” He looked at Vachek’s barrister, puzzled. “If Mr. Duskovic’s contract was terminated as a result of corporate restructuring, then surely such documentation has already been provided?”

Michael Samuelle’s expression was, momentarily, one of exasperation. He turned to his client. Kevin waited, watching curiously as the two other men appeared to conduct a silent conversation. Perhaps, he mused, this was a sore point between them. It would certainly explain why a simple question had managed to provoke such a reaction.

Finally, Vachek shrugged, his tone off-hand. “I would have to check with our Personnel Department, of course, but I believe that is standard procedure.”

Kevin turned back to Vachek’s barrister, still frowning. “Did Ms. Wirth give a reason for her request?”

Michael Samuelle hesitated, giving the impression he was reluctant to answer the question. He glanced quickly at Salla Vachek, and then refocused his attention on Kevin. His tone was calm and unemotional, as though he was trying to downplay the significance of what he was about to say. “She alleges Mr. Duskovic’s chances of being re-employed have been significantly reduced by a deliberate attempt by Vachek Holdings to damage his professional standing.” He looked at his client. “Ms. Wirth asked that Vachek Holdings agree to her stipulation as a show of good faith.”

Kevin glanced at Salla Vachek, anxious to gauge his reaction to the allegation. A slight tightening of the other man’s lips was the only sign he was displeased, but his words more than adequately conveyed his irritation. “A ridiculous accusation,” he declared loftily. “My company will not be held responsible for Miss Wirth’s client’s failure to find another position.”

Faced with his client’s stubbornness, Michael Samuelle looked faintly impatient. “Salla, perhaps we should consider…”

Vachek frowned. “No. Please inform Miss Wirth that her condition of settlement is rejected.”

Kevin glanced at Michael Samuelle. “Shall I ask Ms. Wirth and her client to rejoin us? Perhaps a compromise could be reached…”

Salla Vachek regarded him coolly. “No. I don’t believe so.”

Barrister and client exchanged a long, hard look, and then Michael Samuelle turned to Kevin. “Would you kindly inform Ms. Wirth that settlement has failed to be reached?” The words were slightly clipped. Kevin could sense his underlying anger. Given his client’s behaviour, Kevin couldn’t say he blamed the man.

He nodded swiftly, conscious of a simmering tension between the other two men. “Of course.” He rose to his feet, and looked at each of them in turn. “That being the case, I believe we’re finished here.”

Salla Vachek smiled unpleasantly. “Thank you.”

Kevin said nothing, but only waited while the two men gathered up their belongings in silence. He walked with them down the corridor, and when they reached the reception area, he stopped to offer Salla Vachek his hand. “Good afternoon, Mr. Vachek.”

Vachek lifted an elegant eyebrow, and returned the handshake briefly. “Mr. Green.” He then turned and walked toward the elevators. Kevin stared at Vachek’s retreating back for a few seconds, and then shook his head. Ms. Wirth and her client definitely had their work cut out for them with that one. He turned to Michael Samuelle, and wasn’t surprised to see a silent apology in the other man’s eyes. It was obvious that Vachek’s own barrister also had his work cut out for him.

Michael Samuelle shook his hand firmly. “Thank you for your time. We’ll be informed of the date of the hearing?”

Kevin nodded. “Yes, notification will be sent to both yourself and Wirth & Wirth.”

The other man bowed his head politely. “Thank you.”

Kevin watched them enter the lift, and shook his head. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but there was something not quite right about this case. He pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, trying to ignore the rumbling of his stomach. As peckish as he felt, lunch was going to have to wait until he’d spoken to Ms. Wirth and her client.


~*~*~*~*~

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

  • Chapter 56 -- Repost Fairy, 16:13:23 05/03/02 Fri
    [ Contact Forum Admin ]

    Forum timezone: GMT-5
    VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
    Before posting please read our privacy policy.
    VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
    Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.