Sacked and splashed across the front pages: an extract from Peter Stafford-Bow’s Black Odesa
In Peter Stafford-Bow’s latest novel, disgraced wine buyer Felix Hart has been sacked by his supermarket employer over allegations of financial wrongdoing. This extract from Black Odesa, published on 1 June, finds him appealing to his wine guild for help, only to discover that the national press has seized on his downfall with some relish.
Excerpt 1
From Black Odesa, a cautionary tale of vinfluencers, luxury retail and occupied wine regions.
Felix Hart, ex-wine buyer, has been fired by Gatesave Supermarkets following allegations of financial chicanery. Penniless, he flings himself upon the mercy of his House Provost at the Worshipful Institute of the Minstrels of Wine…
Provost Jordaan lowered her hood and turned to face me. Her olive skin glowed warm in the sunlight and the silver hairs threaded through her dreadlocks glittered.
“Yes, I’ve heard about your problems with the authorities, Minstrel Hart. Did you not think to come to your House Provost first?”
“I didn’t want to be any trouble. I was hoping to have sorted things out by now.”
“And how’s the sorting out going?”
“Well, still a few issues to resolve, but I was hoping—”
“It’s going badly, Minstrel Hart.”
“Yes, Provost. The situation’s not ideal.”
“It’s rather less ideal than you might be aware. Have you seen the article in today’s Financial Times?”
“No, not yet,” I said, my bowels beginning to churn. “Am I in it?”
“Yes, you’re very much in it. Up to your neck, in fact.”
Jordaan withdrew a smartphone from her cloak and handed it to me.
Gatesave Wine Executive Accused of Bribery, Market Manipulation.
“But I’ve been in the news once already,” I wailed, scanning the article. “Why are they having another go?”
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“I imagine the prosecution are keen to keep you in the public eye, so they can demonstrate to their political masters that they’re doing their jobs.”
“Well, it’s only the Financial Times. Hopefully the other papers won’t pick it up.”
“They’ve all picked it up, Minstrel Hart. The BBC too.”
“Oh, God! What do they say?”
“Same kind of thing, but with a greater emphasis on the exposure during your arrest.”
“Exposure?” I said, my heart quickening. “What have I been exposed to?”
“Minstrel Hart,” sighed Jordaan. “I’m referring to the exposure of your manhood.”
Jordaan took the phone, navigated to another page and handed it back.
Buff wine gargler quizzed over mystery millions.
“‘Buff wine gargler’? Could be worse, I suppose.”
“Oh, there’s definitely worse.”
Jordaan swiped the screen a couple of times, revealing another website.
Did Hung Tongue take Dodgy Bung?
“‘Hung Tongue’? That’s an outrage!”
“Yes, I agree it’s a rather inelegant piece of vernacular. The trouble is, people aren’t very keen on financial criminals at the moment…”
Black Odesa by Peter Stafford-Bow is released on 1st June and is available on Amazon and Waterstones.com. Read the drinks business interview with the author here.
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