Masters And Lovers 1-4

Forty-Three Years Ago

“Thank you for agreeing to see me, Mr Haswell.”

“No problem, Mr Kimberley. I’m always happy to talk with someone who’s had a new idea. Please….” The tall man gestures to a chair. “Do sit down. And it’s Edward. May I call you Albert? Or is it Al?”

“It’s Al. And yes, of course.” He takes the seat offered, placing a file and a document tube on the desk.

Edward clears his throat. “Would you mind if I bring in someone else to the meeting?”

Al hesitates, looking nervous. “Er…. Who…?”

“No-one to worry about. Just my son. He’s following me into the business and it will be good training for him to see how these things are done.”

“Of course. I’d like to meet him.”

Edward shouts through the door again. “Linda, can you ask Richie to join us.”

A minute or so later a boy appears at the door; maybe fifteen or sixteen, tall like his father, although with the usual teenage lankiness. He is dark-haired, is going to be handsome and has eyes unusually sharp in so young a face.

“Dad? Linda said you wanted to see me.”

“Yes, let me introduce you to our potential new business partner. Richie, this is Mr Albert Kimberley….”

“Nice to meet you, Richie.” Al stands, offering his hand.

“Nice to meet you too, Mr Kimberley.”

“Take a seat, Richie,” says his father. “I’d like you to listen in on this.”

Al flashes a surprised look at that, but Edward chuckles. “My son has a head for business. Everything he helps me with turns to gold.”

“He brings you good luck then,” smiles Al.

Edward sniffs, half smiling. “You could say that, I suppose. But in my experience, the harder you work, the luckier you are.” His manner turns business-like. “Now, what do you have to show me?”

roll of papers

a second sheet, this time on tracing paper. With some care, he aligns and overlays it to the first. Then he gestures,

spectacles up his nose, looking closely. “This is the area to the edge of my own development, near

the

looks at him over the top of his spectacles, the corners of his mouth twitching.

when…. when the first um, rumours of

now…. what? You’re offering to sell

project there.” Edward remains silent. Richie seems about to speak, but his father holds up a finger then simply offers a go-on gesture

as he indicates an area on the plan. “It seems to me that if you had access to this area here, your links to the new highway going in could be shortened considerably. So, if you were to follow this route…. then all along here you could build the hotel accommodation I believe you’re planning, and your original area could then become residential

me what you think. The base layer is the

as Edward leans in and over, scrutinising the detail. Brows beetled, he traces the outline of some detail on the upper sheet

some minutes, Al speaks up. “So…. What

lot of potential. How much of the backup work do you have in

development. Especially if moves were made to tie

not all of it? And that’s where

would be much better for both you and me if what you’re already doing and what I would like to do were integrated.” He licks dry lips. “So…. are you

chin, musing, then he taps at the

“That’s right.”

“May I see it?”

I have

the document, comparing it with the plan. “And do you own

a

Secured on

it covered.

at least, I’m interested.

course, I brought these as your copies. And I took the liberty of producing this.” Al offers across a thin folder.

you say and make a few enquiries of my own. We can meet

I’ll be

call in a few days and

to his son. “What do you

If you had access to that land, it would cut your road-building costs in half and you’d be able to build the hotel complex much closer to the highway. If there were shops and stuff around it,

thinking, Son. Just what I was thinking.” He turns, calling over his shoulder. “Linda, can