Chapter 39: Airport Settlement

Thursday early evening Ben rang and advised they could take over the airport business and they just rang him telling him settlement must take place tomorrow at 1pm. “Is that OK?” he asked.

“I’m fine with it but what about the liabilities and aircraft?” Helena asked.

“Well, I done a bit of wheeling and dealing there. We will take over all of the assets and they have to pay out all liabilities. They lease the planes from the AZN finance arm. I’ve told them we are taking over the business tomorrow and unless you give us a good payout figure, can you arrange for some pilots to fly them out tomorrow afternoon. After a starting figure of $100k each I got them down to $80 thousand for the 4. I’ve tried to check with William but he had not got back to me yet. He did mention that $100k each was a good figure. I have arranged, sorry without your consent, to meet the financiers at 2pm at the airport requesting all signed paperwork and we will pay them out. I can get a bank cheque in the morning. Happy with what’s happened so far?” replied Ben.

“Ben, 1^st you have my consent in any negotiations, so that is not a problem. Yes I have $80k in cash, so lets give them cash not a cheque. They cannot argue with cash. Don’t tell William of the purchase price yet. Do you have a list of assets and property that we are taking over?” replied Helena.

Ben felt confidence at her remarks. “Yes it includes 4 planes, some cars, parts and various machinery. The asking price is $1.350,000. I’ll have a bank cheque for the amount. We are taking over the company name and licences, they, lucky for us, have their liabilities in another company name with the directors being guarantor. We are not taking over that company. Technically they have no assets as the land is leased. I did a company and financial search to make everything clear.”

“OK, I will ring William now as I feel we will need, not necessary William but Engineer to check everything out. Can you get Bill to pick us up at 12.30, I’ll walk across to your office around 12 noon to sign what you need. By the way thanks for your work on the units, That’s is going to be Williams and staff accommodation when they are on the coast.” Helena responded.

Hanging up from Ben, Helena rang William. He answered the phone immediately saying “I was about to ring Ben, Whats happening?”

“Good news” Helena replied. “We are purchasing an airline business here on the coast with a nice factory/storage shed for your expansion. I do have some urgent requests. Can you get here by 10am together with Engineer. I know you are known here on the coast but is Engineer?”

“Yes I am known but Engineer is not known, he has never been to the Gold Coast. Where do you want to meet?” William replied.

“Meet at my unit. Can you sneak into here with anyone seeing you? I want Engineer to come with me for the settlement. I want to get his feel of the equipment and planes, making sure everything is good. As they do not know him, and he is a good engineer, he will find things out from the staff that we could miss. I get you to come but stay in the limo until I call you. My feeling is the people we are dealing with, do not like you or you have had a run in with them. What’s going to be funny is you will have the last laugh when you find out all of the details. Can you ring Bill to pick you up. The limo has dark windows.”

“That should be OK. I do have Bill’s number and I arrange. I have a good friend at the airport and he has a small shed. I will organise to get your plane into his shed so I can get out quietly. He can get customs to attend. See you around 10am.” William replied.

Helena rang Bill “Free day tomorrow please?”

Bill replied “NO! I have a 12 noon pickup, but it you.” Smiling in his voice.

“Make it 9.30 please. William and Engineer are coming from Vanuatu. Can you pick them up from a location near the airport, he will tell you, and bring them to my unit please. Actually I feel we will need you all day. It’s going to be busy. Bring Julie for company please.” Asked Helena.

“No problems, see you tomorrow.” Bill replied.

Helena then rang Zac “Can you get Dave to meet me at the airport after 2pm tomorrow please. I’ll have a few more locks to change. The units can wait, this job tomorrow is important.”
Zac mentioned “I’ll ring him now and get the OK? Call you back shortly”

Helena went downstairs for dinner. Just as she arrived Zac called “Not a problem, I got the address from Suzanne and passed it on to him.”

“Many thanks Zac.” Helena replied.

Helena just finished her dinner and was ordering another coffee when Ben rang again. “Spoke to William, as you know he will be here tomorrow. What are your plans or would it be better if I met you at your place say 11.30ish and discuss planning?”

“No, meet at the coffee shop at 11.30 for a nice early lunch, we can talk then. But just to satisfy you I plan to bring Engineer along with us for settlement, but keep William in the limo until it’s all settled. William is known, Engineer is not. My feeling is we will have some technical issues, you and I are not aware of but Engineer will be.” commented Helena.

Ben smiling replied “You and your feelings. I’ll follow your lead Miss Helena. See you in the morning.”

Helena went upstairs to unit 2 and got out some additional cash in separate envelopes and her cheque book for tomorrow events.

On arising Helena showered and dressed in a very business fashion. Knee length skirt, full underwear, silk blouse and jacket.

Looking at Harry’s ring she thought ‘It’s going to be a busy time today.’

Harry mentioned ‘You have me here for you. Don’t be afraid to use me. I’m looking forward to an enjoyable day. And Zac’s friends are very good people.’

Helena though ‘Thank you Harry.’

At 10 am William and Engineer arrived. After some small talk, Helena mentioned she would outlined her plan for the day at an early lunch of 11am downstairs at the coffee shop. They went down at 10.45 to the coffee shop, seeing Bill and Julie outside, they greeted Helena. She invited them to join them for an early lunch. Bill rang Ben telling him where he was. He came down, with Suzanne, early and by 11am they were sitting enjoying a light lunch with coffee’s.

Around 11.45 Helena mentioned “Well the plan for the day is Ben, Engineer, Suzanne and I will attend the 1pm settlement. Go over the equipment list, Engineer could you please check that everything is there and if anything else is needed or missing, let Ben, Suzanne and I know. You speak to us, not the current owners. We will ask those question in an Australian legal way for safety please. We will not introduce you other that you are our technical expert. Is that OK?”

Engineer smiled “Yes I fully understand, I like your new title for me as well!” William laughed.

“William when the paperwork is fully signed and funds handed over we will than call you in to inspect. I have a feeling you trust Engineer more that yourself with planes?” Helena continued.

William still smiling “Yes you know us too well. Engineer do a good job for us please.”

“At 2pm Ben and I have another transaction to conclude. When that is done we can check everything out together. Julie can you stay with William in the limo please. Bill can you act as security and messenger please? Just after 2pm Dave will arrive and I’m asking him to change all of the locks in the place. Dave, like you guys, I trust.”

Ben stated “I have told the company that all staff contracts finish with the sale of the business, again lucky for us they are employed by the other company, not the one we are taking over. I have asked if they wish to be considered for future employment to have their resume available.”

“Suzanne can you collect these, and check them out please?” Helena asked.

Suzanne understood, Harry will be doing his work.

“Ben do you have everything for settlement?” Helena enquired.

Hold up a brief case Ben replied “Yes everything is good.”

“OK, Lets go to Mills Street first please Bill.” commented Helena.

Everyone, except Ben & Suzanne, looked puzzled. They left the coffee shop and Helena left $500 on the table for costs. If it was more they would let her know later.

Getting into the limo Bill drove along Marine Parade. Helena ask Bill to stop just before Mills Street. “See these units William, I have purchased them for the company. Instead of hotel rooms you and Engineer can use the units together with any crew. I am organising to have a live in manager to maintain the units.” Helena mentioned William and Engineer both looked impressed.

“Very nice units, what are they like inside?” William asked.

“Don’t know, I have not looked inside yet?” Helena replied. Looking at Suzanne, “We can check them out later”.

Driving towards the airport private area William looked at one of the larger business and make a raspberry sound at it. Helena asked “Not a good relationship?”

“No I got ripped off by those owners, they are the reason I left the coast.” William responded in an angry voice.

Bill Drove to the end then turned around and parked opposite that business. William looked at Helena “Don’t tell me you got that shed and business?”

“Yes we have, now I understand the feeling I am having. You are going to enjoy walking onto this site when the settlement is concluded.” Helena replied.

William stated. “As soon as you have settled, please, please call me in and mention I am your business partner, I want to see their faces, please?”

Helena smiled “Well with THREE pleases, how can I refuse.”

Engineer spoke “I have never heard him say that word three times before.” They all laughed. “I will make you proud and double check everything for you boss.”

Making sure William could not be seen, Ben, Suzanne, Engineer, Bill and Helena left the limo to attend the settlement. They were met at the door by the two current directors and their solicitor. The directors took Helena and Engineer for a walk around whilst Ben, Suzanne and their solicitor checked out the paperwork. They were shown the office first. A scruffy place with 5 female staff members. Immediately Helena realised 4 of them would not be staying. Walking down onto the shed floor, there were three pilots and four floor staff. Helena shook hands with all and decided only one of the seven would remain. ‘What a nasty bunch’ Harry mentioned.

Inspecting the shed and inside two of the planes, there was a lot of maintenance to bring those planes back to good standard. Engineer followed like a hawk. Checking, lifting, opening, looking at Helena sad. The legal team entered saying they are ready.

Helena pulled Engineer to the side “Comments please?”

“Very poor maintenance, they don’t know what they are doing correctly, they are just doing enough to pass inspection. It will take weeks to bring back to quality standard, but it can be achievable with time and money.” He replied.

“Money is not your problem, that’s mine, are you prepared to do the necessary work to bring them to ‘YOUR’ excellent standard? Your answer will tell me whether to settle or cancel?” Helena asked.

“If money is your problem, like my boss, then for you Miss Helena, Yes I am prepared to bring them up to standard. It looks like most of the correct equipment is here but we will need to buy a few new parts.” replied Engineer.

Helena smiling “Go and have another good look around, do what ever you want, check everything out, check the tool boxes and storage area, Hell check everything whilst we settle this. I call you to collect ‘YOUR BOSS’ when it is finished.”

Helena went toward Ben and Suzanne, Helena mentally only 2 to Suzanne. She nodded her head.

Their solicitor open the meeting with “We are all in agreement with the paper work. You” pointing to Helena “will take over the shareholding of the company which has the following assets.” handing Helena a list. Without looking at it she passed it onto Ben. He looked then mentioned 2 cars are missing from the original list. The current owner stated, they were personal cars not meant to be on the list. Ben stated “They are in the company name and in the car park therefore part of the settlement. Please obtain the keys and add manually or do we adjust the price?”

The solicitor looked at the current owners who produced the keys tossing them onto the table.

Ben then stated “Can we have all of the keys including staff keys for all equipment, cars, door, planes etc now?”

A box of keys were produced and placed on the table.

Helena asked “Is that everyone’s keys including your key chains?”

Both current directors produced their key chains, taking off their personal keys, dropped them into the box. Suzanne went out to the office staff and asked for their keys as well including cars, doors, filing cabinets etc. Returning back to the room she placed the keys into the box as well.

Ben asked for the signed share certificates these were produced together with signed transfer papers. Engineer came into the room and whispered to Helena “Everything is OK but two door locks have been broken.” He sat down next to Helena.

Helena nodded to Ben “Please continue.”

Ben handed over the bank cheque for the settlement requesting a signed receipt from the directors and the solicitor. Initially he tried to refuse but Ben stated this was to ensure due diligent by him on the company transfer. He signed.

Helena asked Engineer to collect ‘His Boss’ and our fellow director. When William entered the room the two directors swore at him. William just smiled. They escorted all staff except the receptionist off the premises. Outside was an off white limo, one of the cars they tried to take.

Helena asked William “Do you need this limo?”

“No” He replied.

“Bill, Julie” Helena called They came over looking at the limo. “Got a $1” Helena asked.

Bill produced a $1.00 coin “Yes why?”

Helena took the dollar, smiling and said “Congratulations you have just purchased another limo. We do not need it here but your services do. However we only have one set of keys and they tried to keep this from our purchase today, so you will need to change the locks. Dave should be here in an hour, so he could do it for you. However we have a lot of work for him. Do you have a place to put it away?

“Thank you Helena and William, Yes if you do not need us for 30 minutes or so, Julie and I can take the car to our home and garage it. Dave can change the locks later.” replied Bill.

Suzanne came out with the box of keys, Looking in the box Bill found the keys. Bill and Julie took the limo home, it did sound like it needed a major service.

Just on 2pm another car arrived. The man said he was looking for a Ben and Helen. Helena corrected him and strongly pointed out her name as Helena. They left the others at the gate to look around. Suzanne was on the phone.

Ben and Helena took the man from the finance company upstairs and asked to see the paperwork. Ben checked that everything was in order. It appeared to be signing over the planes to the company and closing the leases. Helena then handed over $80,000 in an envelope in cash. His face went white. I need a bank cheque. No mention was made other that $80,000, so we got it in cash. Please sign the receipt and your closest branch is in Coolangatta. He signed the receipt and walked out quickly to his car then drove towards Tugun than Coolangatta.

Helena then called everyone into the hanger. “William do you like the planes and the facilities?”

“Yes I do. Even Engineer is happy.” replied William.

“Good we own those planes, not leased. I just paid $20k for each plane and they are now company property.” Helena stated smiling.

William looked then gave Helena a big hug. Engineer came over and gave Helena a big hug as well.

“We own them, great then we can do what we want without finance permission.” Stated Engineer.

“What do you mean?” Ben asked.

“When you finance a plane you cannot alter it in any way without their approval, they generally do not know a thing about planes but always makes it difficult to carry on with business. Mrs Romano did the same for me in Vanuatu. I will never forget her help and now the same with you. Thank you very much.” Stated William with Engineer smiling.

Ben asked “Helena this company must have physical bodies not another company as directors. Who are you going to nominate? You are one as financier.”

Helena stated “You, Fred, William, Suzanne.” looking at William nodding at Engineer, he nodded yes “Engineer but find out his real name. Suzanne will be my substitute in need, Is that sufficient?”

“Yes, but why me?” Ben asked.

“Your the paperwork man, do you think we can do that?” Smiling Helena remarked.

They all laughed. “We will talk about dividends later but at least 50% must be put back into the company. All happy with that?” Helena asked.

“Yes” they all replied.

Just then Dave walked into the building. Helena introduced Dave to all then asked Engineer to assist Dave. Helena stated “Dave I need all and I do mean all locks in this place changed and there are a few cars outside to change as well. We have just taken over this business and did not get all keys. We do need it secure tonight please. Bill had another limo to change but that’s on the later list. The units can wait please.”

Dave in his usually surfie attitude stated “No worries, Who has the current keys?”

“Suzanne is still outside with them I believe.” Helena replied.

Walking outside Suzanne was talking to Zac. “What are you two flirting about here?” Helena asked smiling.

“We have found the keys for all of the cars and Suzanne idea was to drive them to the units and park them in the garages, out of sight.” Zac replied.

Dave said “Good another tomorrow job, well done, good idea. I’ll get to the sheds and doors and gates Helena.” He walked away with Engineer taking the box of keys.

Looking at Suzanne Helena stated. “Thank you, are you driving them over now or what?”

Just then Bill and Julie returned. “We have the limo off the street now and we will call Dave to change the locks. What are you doing with the other cars?”

“At this stage they are driving them over to the units to lockup in the garages, can you assist driving please?” Asked Suzanne.

“No problem, who has the unit keys?” asked Bill

“I do, so as there are 4 cars, 4 drivers we can drive them over now and it’s only a short walk back” mentioned Zac. Helena left them to get on with the job.

In the mean time William had wandered down to his good friend where Helena plane was parked. He came back with Joe and Lisa his wife. William asked to speak to Helena alone in the board room. He introduced Joe and Lisa.

Harry mentioned ‘Excellent and trustworthy people, just the type you need.’

William asked “I cannot run the operation from Vanuatu and here all of the time I would like to bring my good and I do mean good friends in to assist. Joe is a good pilots and can fly all of the planes here. They have a hate relationship with the previous owners here who stole a lot of their business a few years ago. Whenever I come over here I generally stay overnight with them, that is how much I trust them. What do you say?”

Shaking hands “Agreed” Helena replied. “Why not either merge the two operations or separate into two, say over 10 seat’s here and smaller in their place or whatever.” Looking at Joe and Lisa “I am the finance arm, William is the captain and you know Engineer. Ben is my solicitor and will handle legal work for us/me.”

Harry mentioned ‘Nice do the right thing for them’

“Lisa and I are having a hard job in keeping out head above water at present. With this company always under cutting our prices and we do not know how they knew who we were quoting for. We can only bring in our expertise not any funds. I/we want you to know this first.” Joe stated.

“Thank you for your honesty. I need expertise over money at present. So if William is recommending you and agree, I would like to make you Joe Chief Pilot and a director of the business. You two together with Ben can work our the legal angle later. Lisa I need you to sort out the office paperwork please, I understand this is your forte.”

They looked at each other nodding and William stated “Welcome Director.” shaking hands.

Helena then called in the receptionist. And sent Joe and William to do their expert thing. Helena asked Trudy “What is your story here at this company please and please be honest. Of all of the staff you are the only one being kept on in the office. So relax you have a job.”

Trudy explained “I have been here for over three years on minimum pay, in the same role every day. I can do the other girls role because I did their jobs when they went on holidays. They have and I did not like it, a recording device on all of the phone calls going to all the other business in this are as we have the junction box here. Yesterday they removed the recording device. But not the junction device. My boyfriend is an electronic nut and I showed a picture of it. He stated it was not exactly legal but being Commonwealth property they are under different laws. I was in the process of looking for another job as I can not see any advancement and I’m getting bored with just being on reception. If you are keeping me on can I move from reception please?”

Lisa looked horrified as what was just revealed.

Harry stated ‘I kinda made her tell the truth.’

Helena commented. “Well first I will look at your pay level and change it. Sorry but for the next month or two I do need you on reception, but I promise to move to to a better job when we have got a handle on what was happening. Lisa, is going to take over as office manager and I feel you will be of great service to her. You will be more of a personal assistant to her in the next few months. Will you agree to help us out over the next three months then we can do a career plan for you?”