"D'accord. We have been taking enough of a hammering in the press lately," Charles growled.
Elizabeth looked over at him and asked, "Why?"
Rhys explained, "The company is facing a lot of unusual problems just now, Liz. We're involved in heavy lawsuits, we're under government investigation, and some of the banks are pressing us. The point is that none of it is good for our image. The public buys pharmaceutical products because they trust the company that makes them. If we lose that trust, we lose our customers."
Ivo said reassuringly, "We have no problems that can't be solved. The important thing is to reorganize the company immediately."
"How?" Elizabeth asked.
Walther replied, "By selling our stock to the public."
Charles added, "In that way we can take care of all our bank loans, and have enough money left - " He let the sentence trail off.
Elizabeth looked at Alec. "Do you agree with that?"
"I think we're all in agreement, Elizabeth."
She leaned back in her chair, thoughtful. Rhys picked up some papers, rose and carried them to Elizabeth. "I've had all the necessary documents prepared. All you have to do is sign."
Elizabeth glanced at the papers lying before her. "If I sign these, what happens?"
Charles spoke up. "We have a dozen international brokerage firms ready to form a consortium to underwrite the stock issue. They will guarantee the sale at a price we mutually agree upon. In an offering as large as this one, there will be several institutional purchases, as well as private ones."
"You mean like banks and insurance companies?" Elizabeth asked.
Charles nodded. "Exactly."
"And they'll put their people on the board of directors?"
"That's usual..."
Elizabeth said, "So, in effect, they would control Roffe and Sons."
"We would still remain on the board of directors," Ivo interposed quickly.
Elizabeth turned to Charles. "You said a consortium of stockbrokers is ready to move ahead."
Charles nodded. "Yes."
"Then why haven't they?"
He looked at her, puzzled. "I don't understand."
"If everyone is in agreement that the best thing for the company is to let it get out of the family and into the hands of outsiders, why hasn't it been done before?"
There was an awkward silence. Ivo said, "It has to be by mutual consent, cara. Everyone on the board must agree."
"Who didn't agree?" Elizabeth asked.
The silence was longer this time.
Finally Rhys spoke up. "Sam."
And Elizabeth suddenly realized what had disturbed her from the moment she had walked into this room. They had all expressed their condolences and their shock and grief over her father's death, and yet at the same time there had been an atmosphere of charged excitement in the room, a feeling of - strangely, the word that came into her mind was victory. They had had the papers all drawn up for her, everything ready. All you have to do is sign. But if what they wanted was right, then why had her father objected to it? She asked the question aloud.
"Sam had his own ideas," Walther explained. "Your father could be very stubborn."
Like old Samuel, Elizabeth thought. Never let a friendly fox into your hen house. One day he's going to get hungry. And Sam had not wanted to sell He must have had good reason.
Ivo was saying, "Believe me, cara, it is much better to leave all this to us. You don't understand these things."
Elizabeth said quietly, "I would like to."
"Why bother yourself with this?" Walther objected. "When your stock is sold, you will have an enormous amount of money, more than you'll ever be able to spend. You can go off anywhere you like and enjoy it."
What Walther said made sense. Why should she get involved? All she had to do was sign the papers in front of her, and leave.
Charles said impatiently, "Elizabeth, we're simply wasting time. You have no choice."
It was at that instant that Elizabeth knew she did have a choice. Just as her father had had a choice. She could walk away and let them do as they pleased with the company, or she could stay and find out why they were all so eager to sell the stock, why they were pressuring her. For she could feel the pressure. It was so strong it was almost physical. Everyone in that room was willing her to sign the papers.
She glanced over at Rhys, wondering what he was thinking. His expression was noncommittal. Elizabeth looked at Kate Erling. She had been Sam's secretary for a long time. Elizabeth wished she could have had a chance to speak to her alone. They were all looking at Elizabeth, waiting for her to agree.
"I'm not going to sign," she said. "Not now."
There was a moment of stunned silence. Then Walther said, "I don't understand, Elizabeth." His face was ashen. "Of course you must! Everything is arranged."
Charles said angrily, "Walther's right. You must sign."
They were all speaking at once, in a confused and angry storm of words that beat at Elizabeth.
"Why won't you sign?" Ivo demanded.
She could not say: Because my father would not sign. Because you're rushing me. She had a feeling, an instinct that something was wrong, and she was determined to find out what it was. So now she merely said, "I'd like a little more time to think about it."
The men looked at one another.
"How much time, cara?" Ivo asked.
"I don't know yet I'd like to get a better understanding of what's involved here."
Walther exploded. "Damn it, we can't - "
Rhys cut in firmly, "I think Elizabeth is right."