The Barclays area manager had kept his word and arrived on time and offered Jinnie a special savings account, through a Premier Account. She asked why she had never been offered a Premier Account before and the area manager said basically they were rarely offered, only people with over £100,000 in the bank were offered one. That could be in a current account, shares or savings or the total of any combination. Perhaps she hadn’t reached the threshold before? The Premier Account came with several advantages like a Black Debit Card and a Black Visa Card that shops and businesses recognise as a special customer. Jinnie pulled her Black Barclay Business Debit Card out of her bag and said, “Like this one,” much to the surprise of the Mr Jones.
Jones explained that with a Premier Account he was able to offer much better terms than were available for an ‘ordinary’ current account. After a few minutes discussing interest rates and instant access. Jinnie accepted the offer. As Jones was getting ready to leave she said, “Now there are a couple of small things you can help me with. As I explained to the girl on the phone I currently have over £15 million in three shares in my smart investor share investment account and they will be joined by another £30 million in several other shares in the next week or so as they are electronically transferred into the account. Obviously, this will mean I will incur higher monthly charges now I would like this charge to be paid automatically from my Premier Account and I would also like all dividends to be automatically reinvested in the share.” “That’s easily done Dame Jinnie,” said Jones, “but I am afraid I can’t do it, it has to be done by the smart investment team or I think you can do it yourself when logged into your share account. But I will speak to someone who will contact you first thing tomorrow to organise it for you.”
Jinnie’s next task was to ring Belinda and to explain she had come into some money, and they were looking at a house extension and could she come and have a chat about what was wanted. Belinda said, “I’m afraid it’s not really my field of expertise.” Jinnie had been expecting that and said, “What I want is a similar service to that you gave Sir Nigel on his house build. I want you to oversee the architect, the planning application, building regulations, the groundworks, the build and finally the fit-out of the building. I am thinking of a rear extension possibly wrapping around the side. It needs to be big enough to add at least two more bedrooms with ensuites, and an ensuite for Millie’s room so that the current Jack and Jill bathroom and be Willie’s.”
“Then an enormous kitchen, a utility room, a TV room, a computer room, a living room and a kitchen for Izzy, so she can entertain if she wants to,” continued Jinnie. “Maybe we should look at another garage space we can only get two cars in there currently, so Izzy’s C3 lives on the drive. Now that’s a thought, could we put rooms over the garage and attach them to the house then they could be Izzy’s and she could have her own private access.” “I am sure it could be done,” replied Belinda, “but there are two problems that I see immediately, planning permission and what you have described will cost a fortune, have you won the National Lottery?”
Jinnie giggled before saying, “No, actually I have come into some money, and we have decided we would love a bigger house with more rooms so we could entertain visitors, but we don’t want to move. Of course, we could move but we love living here and we want to stay.” “I can hardly refuse a friend, but I warn you it is not going to be cheap,” replied Belinda. “I think we need to meet in person to work out what you want, then we need to talk to an architect. Once we have a design we will need planning permission. I think it might take a while to get things sorted, before we can even let the groundworks and building contracts. Do you have any architects in mind?” “Not really,” said Jinnie “What do you think of the people Nigel used next door.” “They were good, but expensive,” answered Belinda. “Don’t worry about the money,” said Jinnie, “that is the least of the problems. I’m more worried about getting planning permission. Now when are you available so we can have a brainstorming session to rough out what I want.”
“If I bring Andrew over, he can do some preliminary sketches,” said Belinda. “I can then approach the architects with them. I wonder if it’s worth having a preliminary chat with the council, I think I might have a chat with the architect first.” “When were you thinking of coming over?” asked Jinnie. “Well, I’m busy tomorrow morning,” said Belinda, “but I suppose I could make three in the afternoon.” “That suits me just fine,” replied Jinnie. “We can have tea with the twins if you have time. Oh, and can you get Miranda to come as well, I would love to have a word with her.”
***
Jinnie sat in her garden office and looked over at Larry who was napping in his basket. He was definitely getting old; he was sleeping much more. She thought, ‘I wonder if we should get a kitten when he is gone,’ and then said to herself, ‘I mustn’t think like that, Larry wouldn’t like it.’ As she looked at her old cat he twitched and suddenly she heard a voice in her head say,‘Get a Maine Coon they are big, but friendly and love children.’ Jinnie shook her head and thought, ‘The childen are right; Larry does talk to you.’
Jinnie called up Google and searched ‘Six Bedroom house Sandy Lane Barbados’ and got a load of hits varying in price from US$2 million to US$11 million. Reading some of the details, it seemed to cost more to live nearer the beach with a big pool and with a lot of grounds which hardly surprised her. She looked at properties and liked some but thought, ‘I can’t buy a house by looking at pictures, we are going to have to go and look.’ As she wasn’t supposed to be back at work, she indulged herself and, first checking that Larry seemed to be asleep, looked up Maine Coon cats. There were plenty available for sale and the price varied considerably. She needed to find out more about them. Who did she know who was a cat lover and might know? Once again, the word ‘Belinda’ leapt into her mind. She turned and saw Larry was watching her. Smiling at him she said, “Thanks Larry.”
Over dinner, with the twins in bed, Jinnie told Paolo and Izzy about her day. Izzy said, “That explains why the man from the bank relaxed when I told him I was only the nanny and took him to you. He must have initially thought I was you and I was going to have a go at him.” Paolo asked, “Did Belinda give you any idea of the cost?” “No,” replied Jinnie, “apart from saying it wouldn’t be cheap, but hay hoe, money hardly matters.” “I like the idea of a Maine Coon kitten when we lose Larry,” said Izzy. “I had an auntie who used to breed them. They can have huge litters, and start off quite small but grow very quickly, they are big and fluffy and very friendly. But they are nothing like Larry, he is just clever, and the twins swear he talks to them by putting words in their brains.” “They could well be right,” replied Jinnie.
***
The following morning, after swimming in Nigel’s pool and doing half an hour’s exercise, Jinnie decided that she ought to check in with DKL and phoned Ro who said, “Hello, it’s lovely to have you back, how are you?” “Pretty good thanks,” answered Jinnie. “I feel much better than when I was released from hospital. I’ve been working on getting my fitness back and I think it’s working. I’m officially still off sick until my GP gives me the OK to go back to work. I’m seeing him tomorrow, so I’ll let you know how I get on. In the meantime how are things in the office?” “Pretty good,” replied Ro. “The new computer system is brilliant. Jed got us on courses and thank God he did, it’s so different. But I can now call up documents instantly, as your personal assistant I have instant access to all sorts of things that I don’t really understand. You know I can even look at Belinda’s drawings for the next Dark Kitchen project on my own PC.”
“That’s good,” said Jinnie, “how has it gone down with the staff?” “I haven’t heard anyone moaning after the first few days. It was a bit crazy when we first swapped over but most of the systems are the same. I still use ‘Word’ but it’s just how you save things; private in one place, public in another. Brian says it has really speeded up the accounts and he can see sales in the Caribbean virtually instantly. Jed and his team worked some long hours that first week but it’s back to normal now, except he says he’s doing a lot less firefighting.” “That’s good,” said Jinnie. “See, you don’t really need me.” “Oh yes we do,” replied Ro. “Brian has been brilliant, he has been doing his job and while I’ve been able to do a lot of your stuff, he has had to step in and make some decisions that needed someone at board level to make them. Some days he has looked shattered. He’ll be glad to hear you’re going to be back soon.”
“OK Ro,” said Jinnie, “even if the doctor doesn’t let me go back to work full time, I will still be able to pick up things on my office PC. So, keep me in the loop like you used to.” “That’s not so easy,” said Ro. “Jed needs to do some updates to your PC.” “I might have guessed that, Nigel said the same about my Trattoria Trevi PC,” answered Jinnie. “I’ll tell him later I expect he will ring to organise coming to see you,” said Ro. “I have the doctor Wednesday morning and I have promised Dad I will help him with last-minute canvassing in the afternoon and early evening,” said Jinnie. “I read he was standing in the by-election,” said Ro, “so I suppose that means Thursday is out.” “Not really,” answered Jinnie. “I can’t do anything on polling day and the count is not until Friday morning, so Friday is out, but Thursday is good.” “Right,” said Ro, “I’ve made a note.” “Now can you transfer me to Brian please,” asked Jinnie.
Brian answered the call on the second ring and Jinnie said, “Good morning, Brian.” “Jinnie! How are you? Are you still in Barbados?” Brian asked. “No, I’m back in Hadley” said Jinnie “When they let me out of Hospital the doctors wouldn’t let me fly, so Paolo got a suite on a repositioning cruise back to Southampton. I’m not supposed to work until I’ve been cleared by the GP. But I wanted to let you know I’m here if you need me. I’m on the other end of a phone call and I’m fighting fit. I hear you have been taking on a lot of my work and I can only thank you for that. I understand that the software on my home office PC needs updating before I can use it properly.” “That right” said Brian “and you will need to be shown how it works, but it will be the same for your Trattoria Trevi P.C.” “Yes, I popped into new office yesterday afternoon” said Jinnie “and Nigel explained he’s going to come round and sort it for me. The office’s look good.”
“Is there anything we need to talk about?” asked Jinnie “Not really,” answered Brian, “I have taken a tentative decision to start looking for a kitchen site in Trinidad, the two in Barbados are flying, even SuperBurger are ahead of their targets, Jerry still knows a lot of people there and gets to hear a lot of things. He was telling me a tale he heard from their FD this morning. It seems they are worried someone is building a stake in the company prior to a takeover. Someone has picked up three lots of 5% of the ordinary voting shares, through Barclays Stockbrokers, they don’t know who it is yet but are expecting a takeover bid any day now.”
Jinnie chuckled and said, “I’ll let you into a secret, the new stakeholder is me.” “What,” exclaimed Brian, “that must have cost you millions, are you really going to mount a take-over bid?” “No chance,” answered Jinnie. “I inherited the shares. You remember my three old Resistance friends. They held 5% each and they left their holdings to each other and the last one to die left the lot to me. I suppose it could look like someone stake building, but actually it was the solicitor moving the shares into a holding account while they sorted out Inheritance Tax and probate before transferring them to me. Strangely when I finished talking to you, I was going to ring them up and ask to speak to the FD. I have decided I would like a seat on their board, but with only 15% they would have to invite me. I thought I might hint I could buy a bigger stake or cause trouble at the next public meeting.”
“Why on earth would you want a seat on their board, just sit back and enjoy the dividends,” said Brian. “I would like to have a little influence on some of their decisions,” answered Jinnie. “I heard they are sitting on a cash pile and could be subject to a real takeover by a big asset stripper who wants the cash and would then sell on the shell of the company. I want to get them using the money, buy someone or open more branches before the inevitable happens.” “Do you think they would listen to an independent director?” said Brian. “Particularly a woman, I hear their board is a bit misogynistic, the only female director is HR and Jerry says she is a mouse.”
“If they don’t want me or won’t listen to my warning, I’ll just sell to the bidder and wave two fingers at them,” said Jinnie. “I would then be a bidder for their 50% of DKL when it was sold off. It would fit beautifully in my portfolio. Before you say it, I know I would officially have to bid for 100% but I can guarantee you Trattoria Trevi will not be selling their 50%, in fact it might even be a bid from them with me supplying the money as a director’s loan. In fact, thinking about it that could be a better approach.” “I would back the second approach,” said Brian. “We could save a load of money by combining our systems, planning and purchasing, and we would become a private company.”
After finishing the call to Brian, Jinnie rang the head office of SuperBurger and having looked up his name, told the switchboard she would like to speak to Mr Peter Millard. After a few clicks a female voice said, “Good morning, Finance, how can I help you?” “Good morning,” said Jinnie. “This is Dame Jinnie De Luca, I was hoping to have a word with Mr Millard.” “I’m sorry Dame Jinnie, he doesn’t take unsolicited phone calls from strangers, perhaps I can help you, I am his personal assistant Jane.” “Well Jane,” answered Jinnie, “I am not exactly a ‘stranger’, I am Managing Director of DKL, the 50/50 joint investment SuperBurger have with Trattoria Trevi. But if you want to ignore a company that has just paid you over a million pounds in annual dividends, so be it.” “Just a moment, Dame Jinnie, I’ll check if he is available,” came the reply.
The line went silent for a minute before a male voice said, “Good morning Dame Jinnie, I’m Peter Millard. I don’t believe we have spoken before; how can I help you today?” Jinnie was still not happy with her reception and replied, “We did meet once Mr Millard, you were dining in the Trattoria Trevi, Turners Hill, and I was visiting the branch as COO, I recognised you and enquired if you were enjoying your meal and you totally blanked me. But that’s forgotten, now I just want to pass a piece of information on to you. I understand that the board are a little bothered that someone is building a stake in SuperBurger prior to a takeover.”
“Go on,” said Millard, “you have my attention.” Jinnie continued, “Well you have nothing to worry about at the moment, as I am the holder of the 15% you are concerned about and I have no intention of launching a bid. I have just inherited three holdings of 5% each and the movement of the shares you have been seeing has been the solicitors for the deceased moving the holding from the first to die to the second and then the third and finally to me.”
“Thank you, Dame Jinnie, that’s a relief, I will tell the other directors. I hope that as a major shareholder you will be attending our AGM next month, we hold a reception for major shareholders and with 15% you are certain to get an invitation along with our other big holders who are mainly investment trusts and pension funds.” “Thank you,” replied Jinnie, “but it is a different invitation that I would really like, a seat on the board.”
“Oh,” replied Millard, “I’m afraid that is not within my gift. It would have to be a decision of the full board.” “I am perfectly aware of the rules,” replied Jinnie, “but I must start somewhere and as a director you can put the suggestion to the next board meeting. I wouldn’t expect to be a working director or to be paid but I have an insight into the restaurant and takeaway business that could prove invaluable to you when that inevitable bid arrives for your cash pile.” Millard sighed and said, “I’m afraid you are talking about things I am not at liberty to discuss, but I will put your proposal to the board.” “Thank you,” said Jinnie, “please remember, there are several groups out there who would fall over themselves to purchase my 15% in the event of a bid.”
Jinnie was more than happy with the call to SuperBurgers outcome. She had made herself known to the board, she had learnt that they were pandering to big shareholders, it was true they were worried about a takeover, and she had put the cat among the pigeons over her possibly backing a takeover. It was up to them now; did they want her on the inside or were willing to risk her joining a takeover bid?
***
Jinnie, Izzy and the twins had beans on toast for lunch and throughly enjoyed it. Jinnie loved lunch with the twins when they were on school holidays. They tended to chatter on switching between, Italian, English, and increasingly French. Jinnie listened and marvelled at their rapid improvement in French. Izzy whispered to Jinnie, “They are beginning to test my A-Level conversational French vocabulary. I have decided I need to do evening classes; would you mind?” “Not in the slightest,” answered Jinnie, “but I think the twins are doing well, Miss Evans seems to be doing a good job. I forgot to tell you earlier, but we have guests for tea, Belinda is popping round to start off the extension process. I think she will be bringing her daughter, Miranda, we are in business together with her events business and Andrew who is her head of design and a whole lot more. I suspect he runs most things when she is out of the office.”
After lunch, Jinnie and Larry retreated to the garden office and while Larry curled up in his basket Jinnie had a look at her emails, starting with the DKL one. The first thing was she could see them, so they must be held outside of SAP, but it was clear that Ro had kept on top of them and had weeded out the dross. What was left was worth reading and she quickly skimmed through the oldest first discovering from the monthly reports just how the business was progressing. She learnt how the new kitchens in Barbados had initially been swamped with orders but had quickly managed to cope. Just as she had heard in Barbados, the Bridgetown call centre had quickly learnt how to use the software that was intended to send orders to the kitchen covering the part of the island to only take orders from the area served by the Bridgetown kitchen.
Looking at the ordering statistics Jinnie saw that Aunty JoJo’s was getting most orders but were beaten on sales value by both the TT Continental and Anderson’s Fish Bar. A quick look at the SuperBurger numbers showed a slow start but a steady increase in sales. When the Speightstown Dark Kitchen had come online, it had been a much smoother start, and hadn’t impacted the Bridgetown sales at all. The numbers from the newly purchased delivery company were good, again they showed a steady improvement in punctuality as the drivers got used to the systems and software. Jinnie smiled contentedly before moving on to other reports.
Jinnie was halfway through the financial reports when a knock came on the office door. Larry was up like a rocket, reacting far faster than Jinnie and he was standing by the door when Jinnie beckoned Belinda, Miranda and Andrew in. Belinda scooped up Larry and said hello to him and he was quickly purring loudly. Miranda said, “Hello Larry, I have heard all about you, the famous Chief Mouser. My, you are a lovely fellow.” Belinda placed Larry in his basket and said, “Hi Jinnie, I have just been talking to the twins, gosh they are growing up fast.” “Too fast,” said Jinnie.
“Can we get right down to business and go and take photos and make sketches of what you want, and what can be done?” asked Belinda. They headed back to the house where Belinda and Andrew set about taking laser measurements and photos on their phones. Jinnie and Miranda stood to one side and let the others get on with their work. Jinnie said to Miranda, “I bet you wondered why I suggested you came this afternoon. Well, it’s simple really, I am a bit worried about Wedding Dress Bargains. Now I know it’s profitable and growing, but it is only growing very slowly. It’s missing someone at the top who can give it a bit of impetus. When your sister married and she and her husband were posted abroad, the business lost it’s driver.”
“Now I must admit I took my eye off the ball on this one, and it now needs a substantial injection of cash and management who know how to grow a business,” continued Jinnie. “Now I have come into some money and I’m willing to put a substantial sum into WDB and I think you have proven your management skills at TT Events. How would you feel about casting a bit of your magic over it?” “It’s not really in my skill set,” answered Miranda “and Melissa is back in five months.” “True,” said Jinnie, “but what this company needs is a bit of direction right now. There is nothing wrong with the clothes it produces or the prices it charges. But they really need someone to drive the business forward until Melissa can pick up the reins. I think you are the person to give the business a nudge in the right direction and Melissa will be back well before your peak Christmas season begins.”
“Let me explain what I have in mind,” said Jinnie. “I think we need a good full-time designer, maybe two, Andrew is fantastic, but he is busier and busier at Wright Refurbishment. We need to open several shops around the country and turn Unit 11 into our production centre and we need to advertise. What would you say if I offered you £100,000 to run the business until your sister is back, and I put a director’s loan of £2 million into the company for the expansion I described.” “You’ve convinced me,” answered Miranda, “I’ll give it a go. When do I start?” “Tomorrow,” replied Jinnie. “The money will be in the company account then.”
Over tea with the twins, Belinda said to Jinnie, “Here’s my ideas, let me know if you don’t like anything. The gap between the garage block and the house is too small for another car so I propose we extend the far end by enough to park another car. Over the enlarged garage there will be plenty of room for a ‘nanny flat’, we suggest an ensuite bedroom, a living room and kitchen diner. If we bridge the gap to the house we can put in a stairwell with a door that goes into your first-floor landing. For separate access, we propose an enclosed staircase in the gap up to the bridge. I expect planning will want a separate fire escape from the flat, so we propose one of these emergency ladders that goes out of the window at the far end of the flat.”
Andrew said, “I done some quick sketches,” and handed them to Jinnie who said, “I like that.” Belinda then continued, “So you now get an en-suite bedroom back, but we have sketched a rear extension that adds two more en-suite bedrooms and a new en-suite to Millie’s room. Downstairs there is room for a huge kitchen with an eating space, a utility room, a TV room, a living room and a computer room. It looks like it will be a bit more than the allowed 10%, so we will have to go for full planning permission. As we’ve squeezed it in with just a rear extension and over the garage, I don’t think they will say it’s overdeveloped but you never know. Let’s see what the architect thinks, Andrew and I have a meeting with them tomorrow morning.” “I wish I could join you,” said Jinnie, “but I have got an appointment with my GP.”
In Chapter 10 – A by-election
© WorthingGooner 2024
