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Date Posted: 16:15:44 05/03/02 Fri
Author: Repost Fairy
Author Host/IP: 64.193.19.25
Subject: Chapter 57
In reply to: Genevieve 's message, "Burden of Proof - Chapter 55 onwards..." on 16:10:02 05/03/02 Fri

~*~*~*~*~

Vachek walked slowly towards the bank of elevators. Behind him, he could hear Michael speaking to the mediator. “Thank you for your time. We’ll be informed of the date of the hearing?”

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

“Thank you.”

Vachek turned as Michael caught up with him and gave the younger man a weary smile. “I should be angry with you, my friend, but you did try to warn me. That was a waste of my time.”

Unsmiling, his barrister returned his gaze. “It needn’t have been.”

Vachek was intrigued by the irritation lurking at the back of Michael’s eyes. Was it possible cracks were forming in his associate’s normally impenetrable façade? If so, what had been the catalyst for such a monumental event? Vachek sighed to himself. Were his suspicions regarding the undeniably beautiful Miss Wirth were justified?

Michael held his gaze for a few seconds, then looked away as he pressed the down button for the elevator. His features were once again set in a mask of composure, making Vachek wonder if he’d imagined the emotion he’d seen in the younger man’s eyes.

When the elevator’s doors opened, they entered and travelled to the ground floor in silence. The lift was filled with office workers, intent on reaching their lunch destinations. When they reached the building foyer, Vachek paused to don his overcoat before resuming their interrupted conversation. “I’m sorry, Michael, but I am not in the habit of allowing a chit of a girl to lecture me on the correct method of running my company.”

Michael glanced around casually, as though scanning for eavesdroppers. “It was a valid request, Salla, and it would have brought the problem to an end.” His tone was mild, belying the politely accusing words. “A problem that could have been avoided entirely, had it been handled correctly.”

“Yes, my nephew can be rather impulsive.” Vachek frowned at the thought of Elio, his brother's son. How was it that a man as intelligent as Stefan had sired such an imbecile? Sighing inwardly, he looked at Michael and shrugged. “It makes no difference now, my friend. You are free to wash your hands of it.”

“I’d like to keep working on it, if you don’t object.” Michael turned to look at him, his eyes once again expressionless. “After all, I doubt a date will become available in the industrial court before the end of next month.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that the matter can still be resolved out-of-court.”

Amused by his legal counsel’s stubbornness, Vachek shook his head. “You don’t give up easily, Michael.”

Michael looked at him calmly. “No. Not where your affairs are concerned.”

Vachek paused for a few seconds, then gave the other man a brittle smile. “Miss Wirth is quite the formidable enemy, isn’t she?”

Michael shrugged. “She’s certainly determined, I’ll admit that. But I don’t believe she will prove any more difficult to deal with than any previous opposition.”

“You don’t find her beauty…distracting?” Vachek watched the other man’s face, waiting.

His barrister gave him a rueful smile as they walked out into the pale noon sunshine, toward the cab rank. “I can’t deny she’s an attractive woman.” His smile faded, replaced by his customary severe expression. “But I’ve dealt with many attractive women during the course of our business arrangement, Salla.” Michael stopped walking and turned to look him in the eye. “Your best interests have always remained my highest priority. Even when faced with an ‘eye-catching’ opponent like Ms Wirth.”

Michael’s sincerity was unmistakable; Vachek felt the tension in his body ease slightly. He had trusted this man for last five years. Michael had never shown him anything but the highest level of loyalty. Why, then, did he still feel so uneasy? “If I allow you to continue handling this matter, can you convince her to accept the settlement offer before the hearing can proceed?”

A hint of a smile tugged at the younger man’s lips. “I’m sure of it. Now that she has done the necessary grandstanding in front of her impressionable client, she will no doubt be open to further negotiation.”

They looked at each other for a long moment, the human lunchtime traffic streaming around them as they stood, locked in a silent battle of wills. Finally Vachek sighed. “You are quite determined to handle this problem in your own fashion, aren’t you?”

Michael returned his gaze unwaveringly. “If it means keeping your name out of the papers, and preventing unnecessary action that would only waste your money and manpower, then, yes - I suggest we continue dealing with the Duskovic matter according to my instructions on the file.”

Vachek studied Michael carefully. Despite his earlier resolve, he couldn’t deny that his barrister’s argument made sense. There were far too many interested parties watching for him to act imprudently. As practiced as Mischa’s men were at convenient accidents, there was still the outside possibility of it being traced back to Vachek Holdings’ front door. Perhaps he should allow Michael one last chance.

He sighed. “I suppose I cannot complain about the fact that you are too good at what you do, Michael. After all, your skills as a litigator are why I enjoy such peace of mind.” Vachek frowned, then nodded slowly, coming to a decision. “You have two weeks. If, by that time, you have not been able to fix this, I will have my own staff attend to it.” He smoothed one hand down the lapels of his overcoat, then gave Michael a cold smile. “Do we understand each other?”

Michael’s expression didn’t change. “Yes. Perfectly.”

Vachek made a show of looking at his watch. “Excellent. And now I might leave you here, Michael. There are a few things I need to attend to in the city.”

Michael hesitated briefly, then nodded. “Of course. We’ll speak later.”

“Goodbye, my friend.”

~*~*~*~*~

Vachek watched Michael’s cab pull away from the pavement, then turned and walked in the opposite direction, deep in thought.

Despite Michael’s reassurances that the lovely Miss Wirth had nothing to do with his reluctance to let Mischa ‘handle’ things, Vachek remained unconvinced.

It stood to reason Michael would be disappointed at the mediation’s result. That was only to be expected. But was Michael’s disappointment merely a result of injured professional pride? Miss Wirth had obviously resisted his attempts to coerce her. Had she managed to get under his skin in a very different capacity?

Vachek was quite sure he already knew the answers to his own musings. Throughout the mediation, he had studied both legal counsels very carefully. From the very first moment, there had been a tension between them that patently had nothing to do with the litigation at hand.

Vachek frowned unhappily as he walked toward the High Street. He had seen Michael Samuelle in the company of many women over the last five years. Not once had he ever seen him look at a woman the way he’d been watching Nikita Wirth.

He sighed heavily. Michael had declared Miss Wirth was not a formidable foe. Sadly, Vachek’s reasoning had now proven otherwise. How disappointing. He checked his watch again, then reached for his phone.

“Mischa.”

“Sir?”

“Contact Fanning. I want him in my office in two hours. Tell him I have a very important job for him.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

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Replies:

  • Chapter 58 -- Repost Fairy, 16:17:49 05/03/02 Fri
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