'This vendetta between you and Abel Rosnovski,' said Jake Thomas, 'has been going on for over thirty years. Do you believe if we followed your plan that would be the end of the matter?'
'What else can the man do? What else can he do?' stuttered William, looking around the room for support.
'We can't be sure until he does it, but with an eight per cent holding in the bank he has powers every bit as great as yours,' said the new company secretary - not William's choice, he talked too much. 'And all we know is that neither of you seems able to give up this personal feud.
Although you have offered ten million to protect our financial position, if Rosnovski were continually to hold up policy decisions, call proxy meetings, arrange takeover bids with no interest in the goodwill of the bank, it would undoubtedly cause panic. The bank and its subsidiary companies, to whom we have a duty as directors, would at best, be highly embarrassed and at worst, might eventually collapse!
'No, no,' said William. 'With my personal backing we could meet him head on.'
'The decision we have to make today,' continued the company secretary, 'is whether there are any circumstances in which this. board wants to meet Mr. Rosnovski head on. Perhaps we are bound to be the losers in the long run.'
'Not if I cover the cost from my private trust,' said Wil. liam.
'That you could do,' said Jake Thomas, 'but it's not just money we're discussing; much bigger problems arise for the bank. Now that Rosnovski can invoke Article Seven, he can play with us when and as he pleases. The bank could be spending its entire time doing nothing but trying to anticipate Abel Rosnovski's every move.'
Jake Thomas waited for the effect of what he had said to sink in. William remained silent. Then Thomas looked at William and continued: 'Now I must ask you a very serious personal question, Mr. Chairman, which worries every one of us around this table, and I hope you'll be nothing less than frank with us when answering it, however unpleasant that may be for you.'
William looked up, wondering what the question could be. What had they been discussing behind his back? Who the hell did Jake Thomas think he was? William felt he was losing the initiative.
'I will answer anything that the board requires,' said William. 'I have nothing and no one to fear,' he said, looking pointedly at Jake Thomas.
'Thank you,' said Jake Thomas. 'Mr. Chairman, were you in any way involved with sending a file to the justice Department in Washington which caused Abel Rosnovski to be arrested and charged with fraud when at the same time you knew he was a major shareholder of the bank's?'
'Did he tell you that?' demanded William 'Yes, he claims you were the sole reason for his arrest!
William stayed silent for a few moments, considering his reply, while he looked down at his notes. They didn't help. He had not thought that question would arise but he had never lied to the board in aver twenty - three years. He couldn't start now.
Tes, I did,' he said, breaking the silence. 'The infor. mation came into my hands, and I considered that it was nothing less than my duty to pass it on to the justice Department.'
'How did the information come into your hands?'
William did not reply.
'I think we all know the answer to that question, Mr. Chairman,' said Jake Thomas. 'Moreover, you let the authorities know without briefing the board of your action and by so doing you put all of us in jeopardy. Our reputations, our careers, everything this bank stands for over a personal vendetta.'
'But Rosnovski was trying to ruin me,' said William, aware he was now shouting.
'So in order to ruin him you risked the bank's stability and reputation.'
'It is my bank,' said William.
'It is not,' said Jake Thomas. 'You own eight per cent Of the stock, as does Mr. Rosnovski, and at the moment you are president and chairman of Lester's, but the bank is not yours to use for your own personal whim without consulting the other directors!
'Then I will have to ask the board for a vote of confidence,' said William.
'I'll ask you to support me against Abel Rosnovski.'
'That,is not what a vote of confidence would be about,' said the company secretary. 'The vote would be about whether you are the right man to run this bank in the present circumstances. Can't you see that, Mr. Chairman?'
'So be it,' said William, turning his eyes away. 'This board must decide whether it wishes to end my career in disgrace now, after nearly a quarter of a century's service, or to yield to the threats of a convicted criminal!