They say a millionaire and his money are soon parted, and, believe you me, when little ol’ Busty is around they’re so right. One mention of me fondling the crown jewels in Vegas last week and the next thing I know I’m being showered with Tiffany gifts from my secret agency millionaire.
Bless ’im, my brush with royalty had turned him into a right rampant green-eyed monster and he was banging at my door as soon as last week’s column went live.
Now I do like to play hard to get, er, sometimes, so I made him wait at least 10 minutes before I let him in round the back, although I must confess once he was in I was on all fours quicker than you could say woof, woof, big boy.
Mind you, I did at least make sure he lavished me before he ravaged me… and what a lovely pearl necklace I got for my troubles.
Not that he’s the only agency millionaire to have had an expensive week, although the fall from grace of the famous Jonathan Stead bank account has been on the cards for a while. And I must confess that I’m slightly worried that I was a little responsible.
If only I hadn’t made that jibe – when the agency moved into the rather portentously-named Battleship Building – that things were not quite so rosy for Stead & Co. If only I’d gone to the launch party I might have been able to rally a few more people. If only…if only…
On the plus side there’ll now be loads of really talented people needing jobs and that’s a big bonus for my Uncle Ivan’s new venture, Bone Idol. There’s also some extra office space going cheap in Paddington I hear…
No-one has been hit harder in the pocket than old Steady, who apparently hasn’t paid himself for over two years, although the £2.9m he gave himself in 2010 – combined with the millions he trousered every year before that – could just cushion the blow.
Whether all those people appointed with the promise of shares – including a certain old Etonian who left last year and allegedly still held half a million quids’ worth – will feel much sympathy is another matter.
Then again, Companies House data reveals that maybe Steady picked the wrong name when he rebranded from Rapier Stead & Bowden back in the day. With nearly 20 companies named ‘Rapier’ going tits-up in recent years, maybe it’s all in the name. Maybe he should’ve gone with his gut instinct and called it Steady Stead.
On a positive note, there’s not a single Bone Idol that’s gone bust…yet!
Follow Busty on Twitter @BustyIdol
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