The Emperor Awakes (38 page)

Manoukios began to have the chilling feeling that he had lost the battle. He had to get out and think. With his defiant declaration he was buying himself time before a suspected humiliation at the hands of Elli came. He had to save face before all present.

He had to leave the room quickly, postpone or, if he was lucky, completely escape the sentence Elli would unilaterally pass on him and execute with ruthless efficiency and no remorse. She would have every right to do that. He was the culpable party after all. However, unbeknownst to him, with his statement his folly was now complete and his fate inescapable.

He stood as if to leave, but didn’t get very far. Something was slowing him down with every step he took, and was pulling him back. He could sense Elli’s eyes on him. He knew she had more to say.

He stopped and turned towards those present. His eyes locked on Elli’s. He started to say something, to protest, but whatever he intended to say was cut short prematurely and killed at birth.

Elli had had enough of his stupidity. ‘Sit down, Manoukios, and shut up.’

‘We don’t trust you.’ He said as he sat down, his demeanour one of a scolded child, still defiant but with his protest weakening with every syllable.

Elli waited until she had everybody’s attention. She could feel their eyes boring down on her. She was enjoying herself. She only hoped that they were enjoying the show as much as she did.

‘Manoukios. You have been in Andrew’s pocket for quite some time now, haven’t you? For those who don’t know who I am talking about I am referring to Andrew Le Charos.’ Elli paused. She looked around the table at shocked and in some cases also confused faces. ‘Yes, the Australian shark as he’s otherwise known.’ There were nods of recognition. She continued. ‘You conspired with Andrew to cause trouble not just to me but disruption to the company itself. How much has he paid you Manoukios?’

‘You are bluffing. You have no proof of that.’

‘I’m not bluffing. And I believe I speak for all of us here when I say that by claiming that I am bluffing, you have confirmed that what I said is true.’

Manoukios was shaking his head; his face was going red, causing in the others the fear that a stroke or a heart attack was imminent. His whole body began to tremble, he appeared to be shaken by convulsions, he seemed almost on the verge of madness and it made one expect that he would start to break apart and explode at any moment, like a tremor that opens up cracks in the earth. The others were watching him with fascination.

Elli continued. ‘You can deny it no longer.’

Manoukios was becoming desperate. He felt he was losing his supporters in the room. He had to do something. He had to say something. But maybe it was already too late.

‘You run the company like your personal fiefdom. You take decisions and do whatever you like without consulting the board.’

‘You know as well as I do that that is part of my extensive authority according to the company’s rules. I do not have to consult the board and that’s how it has been for hundreds of years.’

‘Perhaps it’s time for this to change. Especially since you have abused your position and disgraced this company and caused it irrevocable damage.’

‘I suggest that you stop this nonsense before you cause the company and suffer yourself irrevocable damage.’

‘Are you threatening me?’

‘No, I am not. I don’t have to. You are doing the damage to yourself by seeing enemies where there are none and fighting the shadows. We are not out to get you, you know. You always get so …’ She paused. ‘… defensive.’

He ignored her. ‘Let’s not lose sight of the ball here. As I was saying, before being rudely interrupted, this woman has harmed this company, this board and, by extension, us. And I provide these as proof.’

He proceeded to distribute copies of newspapers and various other publications with highlighted stories about Elli, stories with spurious and serious allegations about her professional capacity and role, about mismanagement and abuse of that role and nonsense about her private life. It was unbelievable and cheap.

Elli had suspected that he might use this material and had no doubt that he had fed all these lies, these fabrications to those publications with the aim of creating a huge scandal and embarrassing her with the ultimate aim of crashing her and forcing her out of the company, the family, society and friends and acquaintances.

She knew he was the one that instigated this ridiculous but seriously misguided campaign against her in the press and other media. Elli was prepared for that eventuality.

‘This nonsense that you have presented so flamboyantly and with such flair before us is already with the lawyers. You and these publications, which stupidly without checking their sources, printed these lies, and any media that have broadcasted any of it, will be sued for libel. You and the people you gave the story too will be receiving court documents in the next few days.’

‘But how? What are you saying? Don’t try to wriggle out of this. You know that everything is true.’ As he was saying this he was beginning to lose heart, the passion and confidence in his voice noticeably waning. ‘I spoke to no-one. You should have been more discreet, or rather not have done any of this at all. Ah, Elli you’ve always thought you were better than us. What do you have to say for yourself now?’

‘Manoukios, just stop it. That’s enough. If lies is the best you have to throw at me then you are a very small man indeed. I do have evidence that it was you who spoke to the media.’

He almost went to protest, but thought better of it or caught Elli’s forbidding act of the lifting and widening of the eyes, which effectively shushed him.

Elli had anticipated his action or saw the flicker of a movement, which was enough to warn her. ‘I have written statements and those who have given those statements are also willing to testify against you.’

She moved her eyes away from his, indicating the people around the table who were ravenously consuming and voraciously reading the written tosh. ‘Do you think anyone in here believes this rubbish? Oh, you may say they do, because they are, at this moment, very interested in it and can’t get enough of it, but it’s just entertainment for them, the novelty value of new amusement and salacious scandal which is always popular whether it’s true and based on fact or not, as the case may be. But give it a few days and then interest will vanish. The papers themselves will tire of this and they, as well as the public, will move onto the next big thing, the next breaking news.’

Elli had to get the others away from their voracious reading and she knew how, with something even more interesting.

‘Manoukios, did you know that your family, more specifically through your wife’s side was involved in collaboration with the Ottoman Sultan in 1453 in the abduction of the last Emperor and the instalment of an impostor?’

The others stopped their reading or whatever else they had been distracted with and turned towards her giving her their full attention.

Manoukios would not take this sitting down. ‘I’m impressed. Such fairytales. You know how to weave a story. If you have not written a book yet, it is such a waste. Someone should rush and sign you on quick.’

‘It is not a fairytale. It is true.’ Here Elli bluffed a bit. Although it was her suspicion that that was what happened, and some manuscripts that were found by Aggelos at the library of the Monastery of Pantokrator on Mount Athos did make some reference to such a plot and the said family’s collaboration, she did not yet have confirmation that there was an impostor on the throne at the time.

‘But even if you have evidence of that, it was a long time ago. It is irrelevant. It has nothing to do with today’s events and my motion. Don’t think that you can distract from that and pull wool over our eyes. I think you are becoming desperate, because you are guilty and reckless and …’ He was becoming hysterical and was by now shouting. ‘… you should not be here anymore. You should have no right to be here anymore.’

‘And you, Manoukios, are trying to divert attention from your breach of your duty to the company and, more specifically, which has legal complications for you, the fact that you have illegally and against the company’s rules pledged your stake to someone outside the family, effectively giving that person control over your stake which you are expressly not allowed to do.

‘In addition, because of that, you have abused your position within the company and as a member of the board and you have passed on to an outsider confidential and sensitive information on the company and its activities. I think the lawyers and the courts will have a field day with this case. I believe your position on this board and within the company has become untenable, my dear Manoukios.’

‘What are you talking about? All these false accusations and without a shred of evidence.’ He looked around the table. ‘As if further proof was needed that you are insane and unfit to run this company.’

‘The evidence is all there, Manoukios, and, furthermore, Andrew Le Charos himself told me all this.’

‘He did not. You are bluffing.’

‘You should know that I am not. And even if Andrew does not wish to testify if we reach that stage, he can be compelled by law to testify. So, you see, your plot and your dirty practices have been uncovered. And it’s too late to even try to put them back into the box and secure it.’ Elli paused. You have underestimated me, haven’t you, Manoukios? I have had enough of trying to persuade you to come to your senses and drop this personal vendetta against me for your own good and the company’s, but all you’ve always done is put booby traps in my way.’

She gave a piercing gaze at Manoukios’ so-called allies who had so far kept quiet. They lowered their eyes to their notepads, seemingly embarrassed or uncertain of themselves. They said nothing whether in support of Elli or, interestingly and more crucially, in support of Manoukios. Elli was amused. The traitors could not even manage to stay loyal to their betrayal and seemed to be wavering, standing on the fence, undecided whether switching sides would be more beneficial to them. Even if they had done it now, and wholeheartedly supported Elli, it would have been too late to hide their internal strife. The fact that they were even considering it was the last straw, the nail in the coffin of their betrayal.

Manoukios’ grand alliance was crumbling before her very eyes or, perhaps, she was misreading the situation. It was their reluctance to expressly denounce Manoukios, their erstwhile ringleader, and firmly and unequivocally pledge their loyalty and allegiance to Elli, that proved to her that they could not be trusted. Because of that she would not give them another chance. It would be pointless, as they had burned their bridges already. If they had betrayed her once, they could do it again. ‘Suit yourselves. Is that how you all feel? Does Manoukios speak for you all?’

Manoukios’ eyes were darting around in panic and fear gripped him of what else Elli had up her sleeve. He was searching his memories, his actions, his whole life, for anything else incriminating and damaging. He was almost ready to capitulate in shame and accept his fate when he looked around the table at the faces of those present for the answer to Elli’s question.

He thanked his god and his lucky stars for the panic and uncertainty that forced him to delay his surrender, to conceal his weakness before Elli’s onslaught at the critical time that his fate would be judged by his allies maintaining their support and standing firmly behind him, to rein in the urge to give up and leave this humiliation, to hold back from uttering the words that were rushing to get out as the fruit of his fears.

He thanked all that he held sacred for keeping him quiet for that bit longer, but long enough not to trip, not to disrupt the feelings of his allies, not to allow them to be intimidated by Elli into submission by being brought back to their senses and changing their minds, forcing his eviction from their loyalties, their minds and their hearts.

There was a glimpse of hope on his part that he had not lost his support in the meeting. His supporters were still with him. And then he saw what he had hoped but accepted he could no longer expect. He could not believe it. There was strong assent from all the heads of the clans and shareholders present that they agreed with the views he had expressed, apart from Elli’s own immediate family, including Iraklios, who, though he had his own agenda in mind, had decided that there was no need to stir those particular waters right now or to draw attention to himself. He could not allow anything, let alone something as minor as this internal company conflict, to detract from his ultimate goal.

Manoukios could not believe it but Elli had not managed to sway the minds of his allies, even after having exposed him and his weaknesses for all to see, even after him failing to hold the course and stand firm and stay faithful and strong to his strategy agreed with them before the meeting, even after being made to look like a fool, although he had to concede he had done that all by himself to himself. They agreed with him.

All those people still agreed with him after all that had transpired at the meeting. They were stupid, he thought to himself, but it did not matter as long as they were his stupid allies and he was glad to have them on his side.

The time had come for Elli to quash this laughable uprising and bring the matter to a close once and for all. It was time for the trump card. ‘Fine. As you wish. This meeting is over. Go back to your plush and decadent little lives and be comforted by your personal and vested interests. You shall not have them for long.’