forthefamily.”
Blomkvistshrugged.
“Sothankyou,Mikael,”Vangersaid.
“Besides,Icouldn’twritethestorybecauseI’vehadituptoherewiththeVangerfamily.Buttellme,howdoesitfeeltobeCEOagain?”
“It’sonlytemporary,but…IwishIwereyounger.I’monlyworkingthreehoursaday.Allthemeetingsareheldinthisroom,andDirchhassteppedinagainasmyenforcerifanyoneactsup.”
“Thejuniorexecutivesmustbequakingintheirboots.IttookmeawhiletorealisethatDirchwasn’tjustanoldsweetieofafinancialadviserbutalsosomeonewhosolvesproblemsforyou.”
“Exactly.ButalldecisionsaremadewithHarriet,andshe’stheonewho’sdoingthelegworkintheoffice.”
“Howarethingsgoingforher?”
“Sheinheritedbothherbrother’sandhermother’sshares.Shecontrolsabout33percentofthecorporation.”
“Isthatenough?”
“Idon’tknow.Birgeristryingtotripherup.AlexanderhasseenthathehasachancetomakeanimpactandhasalliedhimselfwithBirger.MybrotherHaraldhascancerandwon’tlivemuchlonger.Hewastheonlyremainingpersonwithlargeshareholdingsof7percent,whichhischildrenwillinherit.CeciliaandAnitawillbeonHarriet’sside.”
“Thentogetheryou’llcontrol,what,45percent.”
“Thatkindofvotingcartelhasneverexistedwithinthefamilybefore.Plentyofshareholderswithoneandtwopercentwillvoteagainstus.HarrietisgoingtosueedmeasCEOinFebruary.”
“Thatwon’tmakeherhappy.”
“No,butit’snecessary.Wehavetotakeinsomenewpartnersandnewblood.WealsohavethechancetocollaboratewithherpanyinAustralia.Therearepossibilities.”
“Where’sHarriettoday?”
“You’reoutofluck.She’sinLondon.Butshewouldverymuchliketoseeyou.”
“I’llseeheratourboardmeetinginJanuaryifshe’sgoingtotakeyourplace.”
“Iknow.”
“IthinkthatsherealisesthatIwillneverdiscusswhathappenedinthesixtieswithanyoneexceptforErikaBerger,andIdon’tseewhyErikaneedstoknow.”
“Shedoes.You’reapersonwithmorals,Mikael.”
“Butalsotellherthateverythingshedoesfromnowoncouldendupinthemagazine.TheVangerCorporationwon’thaveafreepassfromscrutiny.”
“I’llwa