The Knapthorne Conspiracy by Malcolm Ballard (best english novels for beginners txt) 📕

“I was still young and wanted to channel my creativity and imagination into an area that I had some control over. After spending three years in production I’d got a bit of capital behind me and set up my own company before I was thirty. God, when I look back now I realise how naïve I was!”

“But surely you couldn’t have got involved with television straight away? From the little I know about it, I’d imagine you wouldn’t have had the facilities or the money.”

“You’re not wrong, there! It wasn’t easy for the first couple of years but then I secured some good corporate clients…” Bella interrupted him.

“Corporate? In what way?”

“Promotional videos, tv advertisements, that sort of thing. Then we secured a contract as ‘stringers’ for an independent channel, providing their regional news coverage for them. That was the first break.” With a quick, broad smile he broke off to take a drink and attack his ham salad which, so far, had remained untouched on the table in front of him. She let him eat in peace and when he sat back, dabbing at his lips with a serviette, she put her question to him.

“You say that was the first break. By the sound of it then there were others?”

“Mmm,” he replied, with a nod, as he put the serviette back down on the table. “Well, one other really. I’d set up my small studio in Bristol and, of course, there were others around doing the same thing. Although I must add that there was no-one with my kind of background. Some were more professional than others, with one or two just doing weddings and that sort of thing. Anyway, to cut to the chase, my major competitor had been established for over ten years and was experiencing some problems. I’d got to know him and his set-up, which was bloody good, far larger than mine by the way but he’d lost a couple of major clients and lacked the aggression to get out into the market place and drum up some business. Well, old Andy, that’s my competitor, rings me up out of the blue one day and asks me to meet him.” Bella was intrigued.

“Were you surprised? Did you have any idea what he wanted?”

“Was I surprised? Yes and no. It was a fairly incestuous industry in those days and I’d heard about his problems on the grapevine.”

“So, what happened?”

“Oh, he waffled on for a bit and talked about everything under the sun until I told him to get on with it and say what was on his mind. It turned out he could see the benefits of us getting together, some sort of amalgamation or partnership, and wanted to discuss it. A trade-off involving my business drive and extensive list of contacts against his extensive production facilities. I simply listened, my head buzzing. All sorts of ideas were going through my mind but I needed time to think!” Bella could see that he was reliving that meeting as he talked. Indeed, the talking had made him thirsty, and he paused for a moment to take a drink.

“I told him that it was an interesting proposal,” he continued, “but I needed to think about it carefully. When I left him, I couldn’t believe my luck! I’d only dreamed of doing the things which now, if I played my cards right, were going to be achievable in the very near future.” The fire went out of his eyes for a moment as he recalled that time in his life. “But it was going to be risky if we were going up against the more well-known, longer-established outfits and I had to convince Andy to take that risk.”

From what she had already observed about the man opposite her, it came as no surprise to Bella that he had a ruthless streak. In the pressure cooker of modern business it was survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle applied. It occurred to her that Kyle was ideally suited to that environment although the greed-motivated, winner-take-all and damn the human cost mentality of the corporate world appalled her.

“Eventually, we formed a partnership and raised some more capital against our combined assets. I took out a second mortgage on my place and we never looked back.” A hollow laugh followed the statement. “It wasn’t quite that simple of course. Sadly, Andy died a couple of years back and I bought his share of the company.” Bella reflected on his story as Kyle finished off the remainder of his meal and her thoughts returned to when they had first met.

“Presumably, then, you’ve still got family in Yeovil?” she asked him.

“Parents, that’s all. They still live in the house where I was born.”

“Any brothers or sisters?” While she had the opportunity she was determined to find out as much about him as she could.

“One of each. Both married.”

“And you’ve never even come close to tying the knot?” Disbelief permeated every word of her question and his expression remained impassive as he shook his head.

“Strange as it may seem, no. I work in a very sociable industry but it also makes huge demands on my time. Over the past five years I’ve also set up two other companies and I’m very much a ‘hands-on’ person. I like to be in control and know what’s happening. If you’re not I’ve learned that you can find out you’ve got problems when it’s too late, just like poor old Andy. I enjoy my independence I guess. Perhaps I’d find it too difficult to adjust to a permanent partner, having been on my own for so long…”

“Now, there’s a challenge for someone!” A mocking grin accompanied Bella’s words.

“How about you?” The question wiped the grin off her face and she looked at him in shock.

“Eh?” Caught off guard, Bella was momentarily lost for words.

“Have you ever been married?” The fact that she greeted his question with laughter took him