Page 46 of The Facilitator: Part 2
It wasn’t that I wanted to know everything about her. I did want to know what business venture she had planned for his money. Although he’d made a brief mention of that, he hadn’t said anything since and it wasn’t something I wanted to bringup.
I turned slightly in my seat. “I’m worried about you, Mackenzie,” I said, catching him offguard.
“There’snothing…”
The raising of my eyebrows cut his sentenceshort.
“Okay, I believe someone is buying shares in one of my businesses at a rate that has me a littleconcerned.”
“You don’t know who?” Iasked.
“No. The only thing I do know is there are multiple offshore companies, but they all share the same bank in Grand Cayman. That’s too coincidental, so I think it’s oneperson.”
“Addison’s father?” I couldn’t remember hisname.
“He doesn’t have the money. Rather, hedidn’thave themoney.”
“What willhappen?”
“I own the majority shares so they can’t wrestle control from me, but I sure as hell don’t want someone with enough shares they think they have partner status. I don’t do well with partners. It’s enough to have a board of directors to answer to with thatbusiness.”
“What will youdo?”
“I can’t stop people buying shares. But I have aplan.”
“Whichis?”
“That business deals with navigation systems for military aircraft. The government awarded that contract, so I’m pretty sure they’d be interested in who ownsshares.”
“If you don’t know who it is, how will theyknow?”
It was his turn to raise his eyebrows atme.
“Is that why you met with the MP the other day?” Iasked.
“Yes, although he’s not directly involved in awarding the contract. He has contacts, who have contacts, who might be able to help identify who is buying the shares. It’s not good to have silent individuals in thatcompany.”
“Hopefully you won’t have to wait too long. I can see it’s stressingyou.”
He relaxed his face and smiled. “Another thing I’ve been looking into is scaling back a little. I want to have more spare time,Lauren.”
Mackenzie was a workaholic. It was only when I moved into his house that he stopped working at home and over the weekends. I could always find work to do myself, but as a couple, we’d never have time for each other if we did that. I began to wonder if not working all the hours was also stressing him. Perhaps he had too much to do that it was all backingup.
“I wonder how easy that will be for you?” I said, as we pulled through the gates tohome.
He chuckled, “No idea, but I thought I’d have a try at semi-retirement.”
“I think semi-anything would drive you nuts. You are an all in or all out type ofguy.”
“It’s a nice dream to have.” He laughed, then picked up my hand and kissed myknuckles.
Once inside the house, Mackenzie went straight through to the kitchen. He made himself an espresso and a milky coffee for me. We both decided to sit on the terrace while weunwound.
I watched him rest back in a chair and raise his face to the sun. He closed his eyes and breathed indeep.
“Don’t you ever just crave fresh, clean air?” hesaid.
“Often. And the sound of waves crashing on the shore. That is my favourite noise and if I’m stressed, I picture sitting on a white sandy beach and just connecting with myselfagain.”
