Sonia is not impressed when we first walk through the door with the words War Room written on it.
“It’s just a big empty conference room,” she says.
That all changes with one push of a button on my phone.
“Whoa,” she says.
The wall opposite us on the other end of a large oblong table of recycled mahogany has been transformed into a huge video screen arranged with various sizes of smaller screens filled with spreadsheets, slide presentations and legal documents. The wall to our right is another video wall with a different arrangement of screens with their own data. The wall to our left is plexiglass backlit to look like a whiteboard and contains marker scribblings and formulas in various handwriting styles. And, when I close the door behind us, Sonia turns to see the door has disappeared and is now part of another wall that is also a giant whiteboard. This one is full of facts, figures and musings in only one handwriting style. Mine. All four walls are automatically adjusted to provide just the perfect ambient light level to foster a creative atmosphere.
“Wow,” she says. “Cameras too I suppose. If you were still one of my escort clients, I’d lock the door and we’d really have some fun.”
After Gordon, Raphael, Ai-Ling and Graham have entered and seated themselves, I explain that Sonia’s roll has changed to being my chief and personal legal counsel. Everyone is enthusiastic about the new arrangement. They know Sonia’s legal prowess is second to no one.
Gordon explains the situation as it developed because of my phone call and that his Boise contact has still not got back to him so his report to the others is a repeat of what I already know.
Then it’s my turn.
By the time I’m finished, the room has grown quiet as a tomb. It’s Gordon, as usual, who speaks first.
“So, let me get this right.” His face has often been red with various shades of frustration, anger, pride and embarrassment but this is the deepest shade I’ve ever seen.
“You let me,” he looks around the room, “all of us, believe that we were in this deal one hundred percent with you. But you were lying to us, your friends, the friends who believe in you and stick with you through thick and thin, no matter what. You protected at least half of our money but risked all of yours so that, when a deal came in, you paid out to us like we had risked everything with you, but we hadn’t, right?”
“Right,” I say. “I learned a long time ago that risking my money didn’t feel like any big deal but that risking the money of my friends made me so uptight I couldn’t function well. So, logically, the best way for me to be effective at what I do was to protect at least half of your money. And, if I wanted the pleasure of the reaction I got when you all received double your investment, all I had to do was to take it out of my share.”
“So, you set it all up,” Graham says, “so you could be our hero.”
“Well—” I say as I look at Sonia with a feeling of regret. The look she returns is calm, level, all lawyer. Looking away, I continue. “Actually, Graham, there’s more to the picture than just some hero worship but, yeah, that’s a lot of it. I love the way you all light up when we score big.”
“Did it ever occur to you,” is Gordon’s face getting even darker? “that we are adults who don’t need the great and powerful Chase Madison to be our hero?”
“And now,” Raphael adds, “the deal could be falling apart and, if it does, you’ll be broke.”
“To be clear,” I reply, “the other businesses are shielded in their own corporate entities but nothing they make for years will go into my pocket. The income they bring in will go toward paying back the loans for NIERE. In effect, I’ll have nothing. The banks will take charge and bring in a boat load of quantoids to take over, but you guys can walk away financially secure.”
“Sorry, Boss,” Graham says, “but don’t be a dick. You’re dead wrong if you think I’d just walk away and leave you holding the bag.”
“No one,” says Raff, “not one of us, if I know these people at all, would ever do that.”
“I will,” Gordon says, glaring at me. “My support only extends to letting you sleep in the garage, on the floor, without a blanket unless the dog wants to share his.”
Ai-Ling’s voice is soft. “I don’t know if I am relieved that I still have more money than I need or if I’m offended that you misled us and decided for us that we couldn’t take these risks with you. We’re all born risk takers, Chase. We love the thrill of it the same as you, especially when we can do it with others we care about.”
“I’m sorry, guys.” Looking at Sonia again, I say, “Now that everything’s coming out, everything I say sounds lame, but I truly am sorry.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Raphael says to the group before turning to me and saying, “I don’t want any of the money if it isn’t used to help you get through this. That’s not open for negotiation.”
Heads around the table nod in agreement and Ai-Ling says, “It’s something people will have to decide for themselves but I already know everyone here at HQ is going to say the same thing.”
“True,” Graham agrees. “But, Gordon, you have a family. There is no reason for you to risk your money.”
Gordon waves his hand. “Oh, the house is paid for and I’ve set up a trust fund for my family that can’t be touched except for their use. If anything happens to me or I personally go broke, Breanna and the girls will be fine for the rest of their lives. If worse comes to worse, I’m pretty sure Bre will let me share the garage with Chase. But I’ll get the dog’s blanket. That dog loves me.”
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