Items related to Over a Barrel
Synopsis
Nicole Devereux, a beautiful young lawyer, fights her corner in a man’s world, using her wiles to great effect. Ed Burke, her American CEO, is smitten, but is unsure of her loyalty, yet succumbs to her charms, as do others. While President Saddam Hussein prepares to invade Kuwait, Ed’s world seems to be falling apart, not knowing who to trust in the fevered atmosphere of Middle Eastern oil. Are his fears about his daughter Louise in Saudi Arabia well founded? Is Nicole on his side or against him? With so much to play for, Ed battles on, jetting into Baghdad when the going gets tough.
Will Ed end up on top? Or could it be Nicole, with her determined mindset? One thing is certain: they are both playing for high stakes where the winner takes all. ‘Over a Barrel’ is an exciting thriller with a tense plot, diverse characters, extensive love interest, perversity, and human stoicism. It’s too good to miss.
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Product Description
Ed Burke, an American oil tycoon, jets through the world's financial centres and the Middle East to set up deals, but where does this lead him? Are his premonitions about his daughter Louise in Saudi Arabia well founded? Is his corporate lawyer Nicole on his side or against him? Does he have opponents in the Middle East?
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1
It was one of those days in the middle of summer. A glint of sunshine peered through the early morning mist. The grey runways glistened, lit by the sparkle of the landing lights, all marshalled like soldiers on parade. Heathrow Airport, London’s international gateway, was coming to life after the relative calm of the night. It was a Sunday in July 1990, the 15th to be precise. It was a busy day as always. The roar of jet engines was already deafening. On the runway the smell of burnt jet fuel was pervasive, lingering in the still air. Everywhere there was bustle. For many the routine of the day had just started. For some it would be the day when adventures started, romances blossomed or business deals were done. For others it would be a day when a new life began, jetting off to a world unknown. For one it was the end of one nightmare, yet the beginning of another.
The Lear executive jet tripped down the runway like a child’s puppet. For the international jet set it was the emblem of their life-style, but for Ed Burke it was a vital tool of his trade. The pilot manoeuvred the plane towards the enclosure reserved for private jets. With a final yelp of its engines, the plane came to a halt. Ed sat back, grimacing at various thoughts that ran through his mind. He felt a world away from Geneva that he had left that morning as dawn was breaking. It seemed like a lifetime away from Jeddah, the mecca for pilgrims and oilmen that he’d last seen two days before. He unbuckled his seat-belt, took a final gulp of his scotch, stretched his taut body and whistled through his teeth. Ed lived a life of close encounters with corrupt dealers in the international oil market. It was part of his daily routine. This time he felt it was different: he sensed he was under threat, physically maybe, financially certainly.
The moment of contemplation was soon over. He was never a man to stand still for long. He put his papers together and snapped his briefcase shut. After grunting a few words of thanks to the stewardess, he clambered out of the plane, hunching his big frame as he went. The sharp, morning air took his breath away, but not for long. He strode across the tarmac towards the reception area, trailing his Armani jacket over his shoulder. The customs hall was nearly deserted, with an empty luggage consol moving aimlessly round, waiting for the next inward flight. Ed retrieved his Gucci suitcase and then presented his American passport to the Customs Officer. Six o’clock in the morning was hardly the time for high drama; the young man routinely flicked through the pages, noting the extensive entry visas, but without any obvious interest. "Thank you, Sir," was his only comment, as he stamped the passport and handed it back to Ed. Other than a glimmer of a smile, he didn’t respond; already his mind was on other things.
Ed moved swiftly through the ‘Nothing to Declare’ lobby, something he invariably did; he’d always had a thing about not paying customs duties. He didn’t take kindly to ‘petty officialdom’ taking a cut from his hard earned cash. Quite simply, he enjoyed the chance of beating the system. Sometimes, but not this time, he bought his wife Sophia expensive gifts, notably diamonds when the occasions arose. This time the opportunity hadn’t arisen; he’d been haggling over the price of oil, not an uncut gem. Sophia wouldn’t be pleased he’d come back empty handed. She didn’t take kindly to Ed’s continual absences abroad. Whilst she enjoyed the life-style that he provided, she questioned the means of doing it. Once in a while he had a twinge of guilt about the way he worked, with Sophia taking the brunt of his single-mindedness. This wasn’t one of those days. For him, the world of oil was the crux of his life, something he wouldn’t give up. It was in his blood, flowing freely night and!
day. Nothing would distract him from what he thought was rightfully his: oil and the rich rewards it gave him.
On leaving the customs hall, Ed was relieved to spot James, his chauffeur. Feeling tired and crumpled, he certainly wasn’t in the mood to hang around. He’d been up since the early hours of the previous day, moving from one meeting of OPEC Oil Ministers to another. He was used to this business grind, but this had been different; he had a feeling he wasn’t getting the true picture. Was something big going to happen? Another Yom Kippur war, for example? Or was Iraq on the point of falling out with the Saudis? He sensed that others were debating a separate agenda, maybe in Baghdad, Riyadh or elsewhere. At moments during the day he’d discussed his doubts with Nicole Devereux, his young Swiss lawyer. She’d proved to be an invaluable help; for him she was the ideal combination, someone with intuitive business skills, together with an ability to make him relax.
After the day’s gruelling negotiations, Nicole had invited Ed back to her Geneva apartment; he’d stayed much longer than intended, enjoying her company and the change of scene.
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