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This third chapter, I wanted to post these first three chapters in quick succession but going forward I'll be posting on a weekly basis, hopefully on a Saturday.
I want to say a massive thanks to all for the encouragement I've received and again thanks for the positive suggestions all of which I'll take on board. Please keep them coming.
Life's Illusions- Chapter 3 - Follow The Money.
The following morning I called the local police station and spoke with Comisario Principal Covas.
I told him what I needed to know from Carlos Andreu :
Who gave the orders on how they operated. What scams were being operated. Where the proceeds of the various scams went. How long had the scams been going on.
Comisario Covas offered to let me watch the interview from an adjoining room with a two way mirror and it took very little time for Carlos Andreu to break down and confess all, he outlined several scams that we knew about like the ghost employees and the staff benefits.
Worryingly there were several we hadn't detected like fake invoices for foodstuffs creating the impression we were purchasing good quality products when in reality the kitchens were regularly receiving cheap out of date produce.
Fake invoices for alcohol which showed premium brand wine and spirits when in reality cheap local produce some of very dodgy origin was being served.
Carlos Andreu was a clever man, he identified Sylvio Ramos as the one directing the operation and pocketing the lions share of the proceeds.
Each Hotel director was allowed to keep 25 percent of the proceeds and the balance was paid into an account for Sylvio Ramos.
He had saved most of the communications sent to him directing him to carry out the various practices and was offering to give us the proof in exchange for a lenient sentence.
I asked Comisario Covas to find out one last piece of information, Senor Andreu had made no mention of the proceeds from the room safe charges and when questioned he admitted this had been his idea and he kept the proceeds to himself.
I agreed with the Comisario that they could strike a deal with Señor Andreu for the proof to use against Sylvio Ramos as long as Señor Andreu paid back a minimum 100,000.00 Euros to Woodruff and when offered the deal Señor Andreu took it gratefully.
I'd been keeping my Grandfather and Josh (though I didn't speak directly to Josh) up to date on developments by conference call, (my father had apparently taken an unscheduled vacation).
I'd informed them that on the following Monday I would be springing surprise arrests on Sylvio Ramos and all of the Hotel Directors who were implicated in the scam.
I asked for the loan of 31 staff from North American Operations to take temporary positions as Hotel Directors at the properties where I intended to sack the current Directors and I needed them pronto within the next 3 days.
One of the best decisions I had made when rebuilding the North American Operation was to appoint 3 Hotel Directors for each property enabling there to be someone on duty for most of the peak hours without working more than an 8 hour shift, it also meant that at least 2 of them had to agree any amendment to current practice and if the non consenting 3rd person felt strongly against the amendment he or she could call in an arbitrator in the form of a board member.
I was completely taken aback when Josh spoke, "I would suggest that if the Head of European Operations wishes to borrow staff from North America then he should have the common decency to direct his request to the Head of North American Operations not the the Chairman of the Board, those are my staff you're asking to borrow".
To say I was livid would be an understatement, I directed my reply to Josh "You want me to show some common decency and address my comments to you do you?, well Mr Fucking Head of North American Operations, in case you forgot, I'm the one who busted my balls to rebuild the North American Operation which you are currently having an easy time overseeing. I'm the one who introduced the 3 person management rule which is why I know I could borrow 31 staff short term without causing any great difficulty".
By now I knew I was shouting.
Pip had come into the office and was staring open mouthed at me, I was so angry there were tears streaming down my face, I was shaking.
"I'm the one who once again is busting my balls to clean up someone else's mess and bring a large section of our, and I stress our properties back to profit. I'm not the only one who will see the financial benefits from having these properties cleaned up, but hey, here I am being given a lesson in common decency by a two timing slut with no fucking morals, well fuck you, keep your bloody staff I'll manage on my own but mark my words, when this is over I'll be thinking long and hard about my future, why would I want to continue being the one who cleans up everyone else's shit and receives no help or thanks, right now I feel like cutting all ties and going it alone, that way I won't lay myself open to being constantly shafted by people who pretend to care for me", and with that I cut the conference link.
I stormed out of my office past a startled Pip, through reception and out into the street where I bummed a cigarette from one of the young waiters taking a crafty drag during his break.
He nearly freaked when he saw me approaching him but I smiled and said " Ok, I could sack you for smoking on duty but spare me a cigarette and I'll forget I even saw you", he held out a packet in shaking hands so I took one and using his lighter lit it then winking at him strode off towards the Promenade.
I needed to work the anger off and a walk on the Promenade usually did the trick.
I also now had a bigger problem, there was no doubt I had to sack the Directors at the problem properties but how would I maintain any semblance of order if I didn't have a Director to take their place?.
I'd strolled some short way along the Promenade and sat on the wall to draw on the remnants of the cigarette right opposite what appeared to be an abandoned part built apartment building.
Studying the abandoned building it didn't look as though it had been too long since work had stopped, the shell was around 16 or 18 floors with what looked to be 4 apartments on each floor.
The two front facing on each floor faced the beach and the rear 2 faced over what I expected would eventually be gardens and probably a communal pool but, with their wrap around balconies the rear apartments had a half sea view as well.
I realised I was doing what I always did, laying the current problem aside and at some point the answer would come to me, it was a strategy that had worked for me for as long as I could remember much to the annoyance of my best friend Billy who frequently fretted for days on end only to admit he couldn't see a solution then just as it seemed impossible I would have a flash of inspiration.
Whilst sitting on the sea wall my phone rang and caller ID told me it was Pip, "Yes" I answered gruffly, "Stow it buster, shooting the messenger won't help" she answered just as gruffly.
This was why she was so good working with me, she had no fear of me and thought nothing of dishing out a tongue lashing if needed, "Sorry Pip, that conference call didn't quite go as planned and I needed to think", I said.
She told me she had my Grandfather on the line and he wanted to speak with me, I hesitated, I wasn't sure I wanted to rehash that outburst right now but Pip was having none of it and so before I could object I heard my Grandfather on the line.
He started to apologise for Josh's behaviour but I cut him off, "He was right Gramps but I guess I'm still angry with him and I let it show which is unacceptable I'll apologise".
Gramps told me how I dealt with Josh was my business but yes he agreed we didn't need to have that sort of behaviour at board meetings because as we'd just proved it was counter productive.
I apologised to Gramps and told him to leave it to me I'd try to think of a solution which is when he really surprised me by telling me not to worry, my staff, all 31 of them would be with me in 3 days I just needed to work out where I wanted them and get them set up.
He told me that Josh was mortified when I freaked out and then cut the call, he'd spent the next few minutes berating his own stupidity and apologising to Gramps for causing the situation, he'd said he just wanted to get some reaction from me so I'd speak to him directly because it's was more than he could stand with me ignoring him but the last thing he wanted was to push me further away and he feared it was just what he'd done, he'd promised Gramps he would select the staff I needed and have them out to me in three days and begged Gramps to let me know he was sorry and wouldn't ever be so stupid again.
I really didn't want to deal with the problems between Josh and I right now but I knew Gramps was concerned so to placate him I said I'd bring an end to that situation soon which seemed to please him, in truth I had no idea if I could honour my promise and I realised for the good of the company it might mean my having to leave Woodruff if I couldn't resolve the situation between us.
Back at the Hotel as I entered my office I pointed at Pip and drew my hand across my throat in what was meant to be a threatening gesture and I would have pulled it off except for the smile.
Pip burst out laughing "Dream on buster you'd need a bigger set of balls first" she shouted after me.
I made a call to Sylvio Ramos and after the pleasantries were over I told him I had arranged a meeting the following Monday at the Woodruff Madrid for all Spanish Hotel Directors and himself to update everyone on the change of management and my plans.
I advised him to inform his staff to attend the meeting at 0900hrs and arrange for accommodation where necessary as I expected all hotel Directors to attend unless the were actually out of the country on approved leave (I already knew that applied to only three Directors and they were not names that concerned me, their properties were clean so far)
Senor Ramos had the nerve to suggest that it was the company strategy of penny pinching that was causing the problems and an increase in the operating budgets would solve the problem, oh yes I thought, and the extra funds would go straight into your pocket, like that's going to happen.
I'd already had Pip reserve our rooms at the Woodruff Madrid and arranged transport on Sunday.
The conference room and 2 adjoining meeting rooms were reserved at the Madrid Woodruff for our meeting on Monday morning.
It was Thursday so at 4pm prompt a whirlwind in the form of Lenny breezed into the office and declared a national holiday.
I immediately cheered up she was like a breath of fresh air and I needed no prompting to close my lap top and head to the bar.
After one drink we walked arm in arm along the promenade enjoying the warm early evening breeze and before I knew it we were opposite the building site I'd studied before, I sat on the wall pulling Lenny down beside me.
"What are we doing" she asked.
"Looking at my next project" I replied.
I told Lenny I'd done a little investigative work and found the developer had money troubles which he was desperate to solve, I had this idea of buying the building from him and completing it.
The planning consent allowed a mix of commercial and residential occupancy and I'd been a little adrift on my earlier calculations which I could only put down to my agitated state on the day I'd fired off a volley at Josh.
There were actually 20 floors, currently configured as a ground floor commercial unit and 19 floors which had 5 apartments per floor, 2 x 3 bedroom units at the front facing the ocean and beach with 3 x 2 bedroom units at the rear facing the proposed gardens and pool with the centre rear apartments being the only ones without any sea view as each outer rear apartment had a wrap around balcony that gave a side view of the ocean. On the top floor the current plans showed a slight deviation to allow 4 penthouse apartments with slightly larger wrap around balconies and access to a communal roof garden shared by the 4 penthouse apartments.
I asked Lenny for her thoughts about buying it and she studied the building for a few minutes then turning to the ocean said, "Are you crazy, who could not want to live there it's a gem, it just needs to come in at the right price, have you roughed out financials yet?".
I told her I hadn't done the exact figures but in my head I'd worked out what I thought was a plan.
I wanted the ground and first floor to be an up market fashionable restaurant, one that would draw people from miles away to be seen there.
I wanted the top floor to be mine alone so 4 penthouses became 1 with probably around 6 or 8 bedrooms which meant the rooftop garden with pool would be mine as well.
Most people hearing that plan would have immediately shot it down with obvious objections of how much space I was taking away from the saleable or rental value of the remaining units, after all, that meant less revenue back to justify the purchase but as I said to Lenny.
"This isn't about revenue, this is where I'm going to settle, it's going to be my castle".
Cost was hardly a problem I had trust funds with accessible liquid assets available from my mother and grandmother which would easily cover the purchase outright and I expected to make a good deal of the purchase price back selling the apartments.
Lenny asked me if I was serious about buying it and it took me only a moment to answer, "Yes, I want it, I want to grow here, to put down roots, I'm not going back Lenny, my future will be here".
"Ok", she answered, "then can I head up the purchase team while you concentrate on sorting the Hotel problems?".
I couldn't believe my luck, I'd never dreamed she would do that for me.
"Don't ask me why but I feel it's important I get this for you if it's what you want" she said.
And so I left it in her capable hands, my future, or so I thought but then life has a way of being an illusion, plan it out all you like but sometimes it just takes you where you would never have thought and I was in for some pretty big shocks and surprises.
I opened the meeting at 0900 on Monday morning.
I introduced myself and then asked the delegates to look at their literature packages and the ones marked with a large C should move into the adjoining meeting room on the right whilst all those whose literature was marked with a large D should stay here and enjoy the refreshments which were just being wheeled in including breakfast pastries, coffee and tea along with all manner of soft drinks, the last thing I wanted was alcohol available.
Comisario Covas had travelled with us as a liaison with the local police and would help in the subsequent interviews, he accompanied me into the adjoining meeting room and I could hear some muttered reservations about futures.
It seemed the people I had selected to be in this room were firmly of the opinion that they were about to be dismissed and the mood was somber.
Closing the room off from the conference room I turned to the gathered men and women who looked at me with almost a pleading expression one and all.
I didn't intend to keep them in suspense, " Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for attending today, now let me put your fears to rest, I've heard some of you say you think I'm about to dismiss you, well far from that, I can assure you, you are the only members of Woodruff staff present today who will leave here with your titles intact, you are the collective good amongst a great deal of bad and I want to thank you for staying strong, for resisting the evil that I can guess some of you have had pushed at you, to me you are family and we will go on together".
There was a collective sigh and random applause which alarmed me a little because I didn't want the people in the conference room to get any sort of heads up of what was either happening in here or what was about to happen to them.
I shushed the people in front of me and explained that shortly I would return to the other room where everyone there would be arrested and charges with embezzlement, I promised to return later and explain my plans for our Spanish Properties.
Returning to the conference room I asked Sylvio Ramos to join me at the front of the room and as he approached me the doors of the second meeting room opened and around 60 police officers filled quickly in taking up station in twos and threes at each exit door to prevent anyone from leaving.
Sylvio Ramos looked shocked as did the rest of the room, I thought to myself, okay here goes.
"Senor Ramos, the purpose of this meeting is to eradicate the problems we are encountering with our properties in this country and by far the biggest, most significant problem is you. You have systematically embezzled vast amounts of money on a long term basis and used your thugs to ensure you got what you wanted, well all that stops today, you are dismissed immediately, you will be arrested and charged with embezzlement".
He looked shocked and was blustering that I must be mad I would never get away with this but I ignored him and turned to the rest of the room.
"And you ladies and gentlemen will fare no better, you made your choice in joining him and lining your pockets with stolen proceeds well now it's time to pay the piper and believe me the cost is high as it should be to prove crime does not in the long run pay".
By now Senor Ramos was being led away in handcuffs through the busy hotel lobby, slowly the rest of the people in the conference room were arrested and taken to various police stations throughout Madrid's suburbs to ensure they were kept apart.
I returned to the meeting room where I received a tumultuous round of applause, when the clapping and congratulations died down I outlined my plans including the addition of 2 extra Hotel directors for each property and how the process worked and was pleasantly surprised by the positive reception I got.
By far the most pressing question was how they could squeeze the upcoming changes out of what I learned were meagre operating budgets.
I announced that as of the following week the budget of each property would return to what was actually allocated along with an increase as and when the new staff came onboard.
None of them could believe the amount of their budget that Sylvio Ramos had been siphoning off for his own pocket, most had been operating on between a third and a half of what they were awarded.
I told them, "Going forward these budget figures are yours to use, please use all of your budget, anyone with more than 1% left over at year end will be expected to explain to me personally why you didn't spend your entire budget so go make your property shine, impress me and enjoy the benefit, because I promise as in any family you will be rewarded for good behaviour, but, don't be fooled, any bad family member will feel the full wrath of the family".
I explained the changes in the staff benefits package which they expressed their gratitude for.
I impressed on them our staff were the life and soul of our business and they needed to be looked after, I told them to never hesitate to contact me if they felt I could help in any way.
After a long lunch I sent them happily on their way back to make their properties shine.
I had thought now I could relax a little, the 31 borrowed Hotel Directors had arrived during the early hours and before our meeting in Madrid commenced I spoke with them and then left them for a couple of hours with Ramon and Rozel who explained what they would be facing when the arrived at their respective properties, once they were up to speed I sent them on their way to take up position in each of the troubled Hotels.
I had asked Ramos and Rozel to spend a few days in Madrid to help out the new Hotel Director mainly because this property had been hit harder than many of the others.
Ramos had brought along Raul his almost 3 year old son.
Our meeting was one of the moments I will cherish for the rest of my life and it cemented a relationship I would fight tooth and nail to protect.
I was staying overnight and had spent the day briefing the new Director on what I expected and then giving him free reign on how to achieve it.
I strolled out onto the terrace carrying a cold beer which I expected to sit and savour but to my surprise Ramon was there with his son trying to discuss beverages with the Bars Manager but Raul was proving a little too boisterous probably because he was bored with this adult idea of fun so I strolled across and looking down at Ramon and Raul I asked if I could take Raul on a little tour.
Ramon looked aghast as if he had somehow messed up but I assured him he had important work to do and I was finished so I could indulge myself with fun and I guessed the little fella with him would appreciate my idea of fun more than his.
Raul seemed eager to be having fun rather than sit with his dad and listen to boring work so as I held out my arms a little joyful bundle of fun launched himself towards me.
It was unusual to be holding a small child with only one leg.
I'd held kids before many times and it was no great shakes to entertain them, they mostly saw everything as interesting though mostly for only limited periods, but with Raul I quickly realised he found fun in just about everything.
I walked down to the area where our entertainment team were enjoying a fun afternoon with around 25 youngsters aged from 1 to around 10 years, surprisingly the older ones immediately took to Raul and for the next hour he hardly stopped laughing, so much that by the time Ramon found us, with me tied up on the floor being sat on by Raul dressed in a pirate outfit with a hat that almost covered his eyes and me being tickled by four or five of his fellow pirates.
Ramon looked terrified as he undid my roped wrists and ankles but I wasn't ready to give up yet.
I promised to come back the following afternoon and one of the older kids asked if I'd bring my son with me because he was great fun. I explained I was not Raul's dad though I would have loved it if I were, I was just an honorary uncle for the time being, Ramon smiled as we walked towards the terrace.
I asked Ramon if he would eat with me tonight but he seemed nervous when he declined saying he usually ate early with Raul and then got him ready for bed around 7pm, after that he couldn't be out because he didn't have his usual army of relatives here to look after Raul.
I called Pip and asked if she had any plans for this evening, she started laughing and said if this was a chat up line it was pretty lame, I laughed and told her I needed a babysitter whilst I talked to Ramon over dinner, that's all it took, the prospect of babysitting the little angel Raul, she said she'd be at Ramon's room around 7pm.
I took Ramon to the Fielding Hotel in Madrid which although smaller than the Woodruff was a 5 star rating and had a prestigious restaurant.
I'd had Pip call earlier for a reservation and she'd been told they had no availability for several days.
I called Billy in New York where it was still only lunchtime and asked for a favour from my oldest and closest friend, explaining I wanted to give Ramon an experience and show him class and I wasn't joking.
Billy knew I envied how all of his hotels were smaller than ours but at the same time they managed to exude class and drew the rich and famous like flies to a flame, it was something I'd never been able to emulate.
Billy put me on hold for a few minutes then came back and confirmed my table at 7.45pm, he also told me he was coming to Spain in a few weeks and would firm up with me beforehand so we could spend some time together, I thanked him and we ended the call.
I'd arranged a limousine to take us to the Fielding Hotel and on the way I planned to try and ease Ramons really nervous state.
Sitting in the back of the limo I said "Ramon why are you so nervous around me".
Ramon blushed a deep red before he answered, " I've never been an outward person, I don't do well with strangers and especially millionaires so I keep thinking I'm going to fuck, Err sorry, mess up, and then this afternoon Raul was so full of energy he didn't want his usual rest so I had to take him with me and I thought you'd think I couldn't cope doing the job you'd trusted me with and that gets me flustered even more because I love the job and I promise I'll do my best for you honest".
He hadn't stopped to take a breath until he finished and then he gulped in air, I couldn't help it I burst out laughing, my mistake because I saw a flash of anger in his face.
I quickly added, "No please, I'm not being horrible it's just that for someone who reckons he can't communicate very well you've been doing exactly that since I appointed you to Bar and Beverage Manager and this afternoon before I took Raul from you I listened to a confidant passionate Manager explaining exactly how you wanted things done, and just now I realise you wanted to get all of that off your chest but you didn't leave me wondering, you explained perfectly, so how on earth could you think you don't do well with people?".
As we arrived at the Fielding, Ramon seemed to have gained confidence, I'd explained I wanted him to see the class of hotel I'd always hoped we could offer but so far we had fallen short, I did tell him to not misunderstand me, I was more than happy with the standards in out hotels but I wanted better all the time.
Just to play with his mind as we exited the limousine, with me going first I looked back and said "Oh, by the way, I'm not a millionaire".
He looked surprised I'd thrown that one out and he answered, "Oh sorry I just listened to gossip and most people just say you're really rich".
By now we were being approached by the Maitre d who looked like he was disappointed to be inconvenienced by yet more hopefuls looking for a table in his restaurant.
He didn't greet us nor did he bother to ask if we had a reservation he simply looked down his nose at us and announced, " We are fully booked, perhaps a bar meal would suit your needs".
I didn't move, I looked at Ramon and smiled broadly then pulled out my phone and punched a pre dial number.
Ramon was getting nervousness and I placed a hand on his shoulder, " Don't fret this is more than I could have hoped for, I'll explain shortly as soon as I've had this prick taken down a peg".
The Maitre d called to a waiter to get security to remove us but I stayed exactly where I was.
I heard the call connect with the familiar American long ring tone and Billy greeting me, " Well Bro twice in one day what favour you want this time and make it quick I'm in a meeting and you're on speaker".
I laughed when I answered, "Oh you are so gonna regret putting me on speaker Bro, you see I'm stood in the entrance to your Madrid Hotel Restaurant, I've been insulted by the most obnoxious prick I've ever met and told to eat in the bar because it would suit me better, now if this is how you treat your best Bro I guess your patrons should expect hell on earth and I can't wait to spread the word".
By now I was openly laughing and although Ramon didn't know who I was talking to he was laughing along with me.
Billy on the other hand was to put it mildly bloody furious, " PJ put your phone on speaker and hold it in front of the prick for me".
I did as he asked indicating the Maitre d should listen and he seemed fascinated by this novel attempt to impress him, though he blanched when Billy's voice blasted out of the phones speaker, " You listen to me you stuck up prick, this is William Fielding and in about 2 minutes if he knows what's good for him your Hotel Director will be removing you from your position and possibly your job because you just made the worst mistake of your miserable career, now if you want to do a little work on redeeming yourself I suggest you seat my best and oldest friend PJ Thorn and his guest, do you think you could manage that?"the Maitre d nodded so I spoke for him "He's nodding yes Billy so I think you solved the problem now go back to your meeting and I'll see you in a few weeks, bye Bud, love to Julia".
The Maitre d then launched into a tirade of apologising whilst leading us to a table in the centre of the restaurant and seating us whilst still apologising, from then on the evening became one of the best I'd had in a long time.
Ramon and I talked like friends who'd known each other forever, he told me with emotion about his childhood sweetheart Raul's mother who he still missed every day, and his devotion to his boy who had life so hard but laughed his way through each day and paid back his fathers long hours of work with priceless kisses and cuddles.
He told me about his quest to earn enough to pay the price quoted at the private prosthetic clinic for a false leg for Raul.
I thought it was time to give him the papers which were the main reason why I wanted to have this dinner.
Ramon looked confused when I gave him the papers and didn't seem to understand so I explained it for him, " You have there the funds to do everything you want to do for Raul and before you object which I know you will, that little bundle of joy means more to me than you can imagine and this is my present to him not you, you are the guardian until he is old enough in your opinion to manage the funds himself, but most of all Ramon I want you to work with me and you will have a brilliant future if you want it".
Ramon was speechless and I could see him trying to form words but nothing was coming out, he was damp eyed and I realised he was struggling not to openly cry.
It took him a few minutes to compose himself during which I burbled on about mundane subjects and finally he mastered his emotions.
"Mr Thorn I don't know what to say, no one has ever done so much for me and my son, at first they told me I would most likely lose him like his mother but he was such a fighter and he defied all odds to pull through, it's been a really hard struggle this last year but the one thing I couldn't do was to give him a normal life like his friends. I had this dream that he could have a false leg and do everything his friends did. I wanted, no, I want him to live as normal a life as possible. I know a false leg isn't quite the norm but the kids I've seen at the hospital deal with putting on glasses, wearing false teeth, wearing wigs, false hands, false arms, false legs, all these things that aren't normal but allow them to enjoy the things we all enjoy and you just made that possible and I thank you for me and for my son who I know thinks you are one of his cool friends".
I started to say something but Ramon stopped me, " I have to ask this and I'm sorry if it comes out in a way that sounds rude but I need to know you aren't leaving yourself short by giving Raul this wonderful gift because I couldn't allow that".
I looked at this man who would drive himself into the ground to provide whatever his child needed and here he was presented with the means to make his dreams come true and he was so honourable he would turn down the gift if he thought he was transferring his hardship to someone else.
"Ramon what I said earlier about not being a millionaire was not strictly accurate, and I wouldn't normally talk about this but I need you to know the trust papers you hold there are from my personal funds but I don't want you to think I will miss the money, you see I'm technically a millionaire many times over because I'm actually a billionaire but that is something I'd prefer not to be widely discussed, now how about we have dinner and you tell me about all these changes I've heard about you implementing and how much you are changing our guests experience for the better.
TBC
Constructive comments, good or bad to cfgw2000@aol.com please, headed "Life's Illusions" in the subject box.
Thanks for giving your time to read this.
Author ARB