Page 40 of Hidden in Memories
“Why didn’t you tell us he’s your godson?”
“You didn’t ask.”
The evasive response bothers Daniel. They don’t have time for Henry Sylvester’s Stockholm ways.
“You and Charlotte had known each other for over fifty years,” he says. “Plus you’re Filip’s godfather. Surely that means you must have had a close relationship.”
“Certainly, but at the same time, Charlotte was a complex person who kept her cards close to her chest. I don’t think many people really got close to her. She had high standards, and found it difficult to trust those around her.”
“How come?” Hanna asks.
Henry crosses his legs. The open fire is crackling away, with logs piled up decoratively on either side of the hearth.
“I guess it was a survival strategy. Women of her generation who’ve gotten involved in the venture capital industry have had an incredibly tough time. This was long before the #MeToo debate, the jargon was brutal and ruthless. To be honest, it was sometimes flat-out misogynistic. The competition was fierce; it can’t have been easy to stand your ground. Charlotte had to fight hard to be respected. The only way to do it was to become the same as her male colleagues—or even worse.”
“It doesn’t sound like a particularly pleasant working environment,” Hanna remarks.
“It wasn’t. Ask anyone who’s fought their way up in those companies. On the other hand, when you do make it to the top, the world is your oyster, so to speak. As a partner in the big venture capital companies, you earn a vast amount of money—much, much more than most people could ever dream of. But like I said, it’s a matter of surviving until you reach that level. Many fall by the wayside.”
“So Charlotte learned to stick at nothing in order to get what she wanted? Is that what you’re saying?” Daniel asks.
“That’s one way of looking at it.”
“And how about you?” Hanna says. “Have you become like that too?”
“Touché.” Henry winks. “I’m not saying I’ve been an angel when it comes to my business dealings, but I hope I’ve gotten better with age. And maybe I’ve managed to atone for past sins to a certain extent by giving away what I don’t need.”
Daniel gives him a searching look, but Henry seems genuine. There is nothing to suggest that he is having fun at their expense.
Hanna takes a different tack. “What can you tell us about Charlotte’s relationship with Stefan Forsberg?”
“They’ve known each other for a long time. Stefan was an adviser on the Storlien project—he has a lot of useful contacts in the political world.”
There is nothing wrong with Henry’s answer, but Daniel can see that Hanna is not satisfied.
“Did they have a more intimate relationship? An affair?”
“You’re very direct,” Henry says.
“Was he her lover?”
“I couldn’t possibly say.”
He gets up and goes over to the kitchen area. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like a coffee, or something else?”
Daniel shakes his head. In fact he would love a decent cup of coffee now he has the chance, but there is something about Henry’s attitude that irritates him. He seems so convinced that he is part of the elite, a more elevated circle. The fact that he doesn’t sound remotely humble gets under Daniel’s skin.
Henry presses a button, and the espresso machine gurgles. Then he returns to the sofa with a small silvery cup, and takes a sip before putting it down on the table.
Judging by the aroma, the beans are high quality. Daniel knows his coffee; the Italian tastebuds are part of his DNA.
“Do you really have no idea about Charlotte’s personal relationship with Forsberg?” Hanna persists.
“I would prefer not to speculate on the matter.”
They’re not going to get any further. Daniel signals to Hanna to drop the subject, and she leans back on the sofa.
Daniel moves on.
