“Viking Mulberry,” he murmured into the shaving mirror. He liked the billing.
His first meeting that day was scheduled for twelve o’clock, when Harry would report back on his visit with Mrs. Babakova. He planned to publish Uncle Joe in April, and was delighted that Harry had agreed to go on tour. After a light breakfast—toast and Oxford Marmalade, a three-and-a-half-minute boiled egg and a cup of Earl Grey tea—Aaron read the article in the New York Times for a second time. He felt it was a fair reflection of his agreement with Rex Mulberry and was pleased to see his new partner repeating something he’d said to Aaron many times: I am proud to be joining a house with such a fine literary tradition.
As it was a clear, crisp morning, Aaron decided to walk to work and savor the thought of starting life anew. He wondered how long it would be before his father admitted he’d made the right decision if the company were to play in the major leagues. He crossed the road onto Seventh Avenue, his smile broadening with each step he took. As he walked toward the familiar building he noticed two smartly dressed doormen standing at the entrance. Not an expense his father would have approved of. One of the men stepped forward and saluted.
“Good morning, Mr. Guinzburg.” Aaron was impressed that they knew his name. “We have been instructed, sir, not to allow you to enter the building.”
Aaron was struck dumb. “There must be some mistake,” he eventually managed. “I’m deputy chairman of the company.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but those are our instructions,” said the second guard, stepping forward to block his path.
“There must be some mistake,” repeated Aaron.
“There is no mistake, sir. Our instructions were clear. If you attempt to enter the building, we are to prevent you from doing so.”
Aaron hesitated for a moment before taking a pace back. He stared up at the newly minted sign declaring VIKING MULBERRY, then attempted to enter the building once again, but neither guard budged an inch. Reluctantly, he turned away and hailed a cab, giving the driver his home address. There must be a simple explanation, he kept telling himself as the taxi headed toward 67th Street.
Once he was back in his apartment, Aaron picked up the phone and dialed a number he didn’t need to look up.
“Good morning, Viking Mulberry, how can I help you?”
“Rex Mulberry.”
“Who’s calling please?”
“Aaron Guinzburg.” He heard a click, and a moment later another voice said, “Chairman’s office.”
“This is Aaron Guinzburg. Put me through to Rex.”
“Mr. Mulberry is in a meeting.”
“Then get him out of the meeting,” said Aaron, finally losing his temper.
Another click. He’d been cut off. He dialed the number again, but this time he didn’t get any farther than the switchboard. Collapsing into the nearest chair, he tried to gather his thoughts. It was some time before he picked up the phone again.
“Friedman, Friedman and Yablon,” announced a voice.
“This is Aaron Guinzburg. I need to speak to Leonard Friedman.” He was immediately put through to the senior partner. Aaron took his time explaining what had happened when he’d turned up at his office that morning, and the result of his two subsequent phone calls.
“So your father was right all along.”
“What do you mean?”
“A handshake was always good enough for Curtis Mulberry, but when you deal with his son Rex, just make sure you read the small print.”
“Are you suggesting Mulberry’s got right on his side?”
“Certainly not,” said Friedman, “just the law. As long as he controls sixty-six percent of the company’s stock, he can call the shots. We did warn you at the time of the consequences of being a minority shareholder, but you were convinced it wouldn’t be a problem. Although I have to admit, even I’m shocked by the speed with which Mulberry has taken advantage of his position.”
Once Friedman had taken his client though the relevant details of the contract, Aaron wished he’d read Law at Harvard and not History at Yale. “Still,” said the lawyer, “we did manage to insert clause 19A, which Mulberry will surely now live to regret.”
“Why is clause 19A so important?”