Billionaire's Pleasure-Chapter 50: A Raw Side View
Bruce’s POV
"As long as it works, I don’t care how much money it costs, David! Just go out and get it, please! Also, please refrain from contacting me every five seconds by phone. If you miss out on this deal because you’re on the phone with me, I’ll rip your balls out and give them to my Great Dane! It’s time to move on!"
I slammed the phone on the ground and clenched my fists. At the ceiling, I hissed and shook my head. "Shit, why does everything have to be so hard?"
While sitting across from me was Chris, my ten-year best friend and the Executive Vice President of Business Development at Onez Enterprise.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
As I shook my head, he shook his head back.
"What was the most recent bid?"
As soon as I saw the number 15 million dollars, I started screaming in excitement. Just bid twenty-five million dollars, David, and get it over with!! You know, the catalog said $30 million would be the maximum. I’m thinking fucking bid $30 million and get this over with. I don’t know what’s going on."
Chris’s smile caught my eye. At the time, I was a graduate student at MIT studying business management, and he was my lecturer. There were times when twenty-five cents was all I had and now I’m pitching a fit over thirty million dollars in an automobile I’ll never get to drive.
"Aren’t billionaires subject to their own set of difficulties?"
Chris uttered this with a grunt. As he crossed his legs, he brushed lint from his knee. When Onez Enterprises went public five years ago, Chris became quite wealthy, despite the fact that he was not a millionaire. It’s possible he could have afforded to spend $thirty million on a car, but he refused because he thought it was excessive and a waste of money.
"Why to get a fifty-thousand dollar Rolex?" he asked.
"Because you can’t get laid with a $50 Timex!" I replied.
Truthfully, I had more money than I could spend. One of the world’s largest businesses, Onez Enterprises had activities in practically every country.
As a result of my wealth, I was able to buy anything and everyone I chose. And I was drooling over that rotten Ferrari GT right now!
"In order to discuss the transaction..." Chris said, his grin fading away. "It’s time to put an end to this insanity! Retiring from the salt mines is a need."
We are going to acquire Van Telecommunications in New York since they are having financial issues. He pulled out a large folder from his briefcase to explain the transaction.
For a fraction of the price, we were going to get Van in exchange for his services. To fix it or to dismantle it, that’s the question. Chris was anxious because this would be our first step into telecoms. There’s a reason for that. I paid him to take care of such matters so that I didn’t have to.
"Is there a problem with the transaction?" I queried as I noticed him balancing the folder on his knee. Reading spectacles were resting on the tip of his nose when he opened the folder. He grimaced at the first page of the book he had just opened.
"I’m seeking to avoid difficulties," he said as he slid the papers across the desk at me.
"In light of the fact that this is our first telecom transaction and neither of us is a telecom expert, I decided to have an expert review Van’s financials and interview."
A red rubber ball was sitting on my desk. Like a rubber ball, it was made to be squeezed while you’re feeling anxious. When it came down to it, I wasn’t really stressed at all. My attention span was short, and I had trouble paying attention if I wasn’t doing anything with my hands.
In my right hand, I grabbed a sheet of paper, and in my left, I squeezed the ball. Due diligence, they had sent us a letter of engagement to handle this part of the investigation. I presented the piece of paper with my thoughts written on it and handed it to him.
"So, we’re shelling out $10 million to Maximo to complete Van’s research? the reason we can’t do all of our due diligence in-house should be explained to us. If our legal department isn’t handling this, why aren’t we hearing from them? 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
Chris said, "We’re performing much of our due diligence in-house. As I’ve already said, we can’t comment on specifics of the telecommunications industry."
I wouldn’t think twice about spending $30 million on a car, but I loathed the idea of wasting money on my company. Despite the fact that the sale had already been completed, Chris was a stickler for protecting our interests.
There was a list of people who will be working on the project, as well as its description. After slamming the paper across the desk at him, I threw the ball into the air.
"Well, that’s fine with me. You should do what you think is right. Maximo’s crew will be in town, so do you know any of them?"
Chris set the document on top of the folder after removing it from the stack. Through his spectacles, he studied the names on the list. With his index finger, he scanned the list.
In other words, the older folks whom I used to work with. "I’ve never heard of this person’s name. She’s obviously a stranger."
It was then that I admitted, "I’d never heard of Laura either." I snatched the ball out of the air and threw it back
Henry used his wet finger to flick through the pages of the folder. "I’ve compiled a list of the qualifications of key people. Let’s have a look at this... they gave her a bachelor’s degree and an MBA (Master of Business Administration). "
"Fresh meat," I murmured, sighing.
Chris continued to read, ignoring my pleas for him to stop. To join Maximo after graduating from Harvard, she has to be extraordinary. She is currently a member of several Maximo consulting teams in the telecom industry."
"Was there a picture?" A link to her personal page?" I gave him a sly smile. As far as looks go, she’s got some going for her.
"This isn’t a math making," Chris said, glancing at me through the top of his glasses. In their resumes, they don’t include images.
"Pity." Back and forth, the ball swung. Resumé in hand, he placed it back into the folder and cleared his throat. His words were followed by an exhalation of relief: "Tan, please do me a favor. What are the chances you’re going to remember to keep the dick in your pants this time?
I caught the ball with my right hand while staring at him. Disbelieved, I put on my best-bewildered look. How do you know what Chris is talking about?" He says.
"Except when it’s inside some random woman who’s struck your fancy." He rolled his eyes and answered. Chris regarded himself as a wise uncle to me all his life. In the same way, you would tell a child with burnt fingers that they shouldn’t touch a hot stove, he gave me the same expression.
"Look, I know it’s not my position to tell you what to do," he said, pointing out that he had no authority to do so.
As I laughed, "Chris don’t push yourself."
It wasn’t even funny when he took off his glasses and tucked them under his suit jacket. He inhaled deeply and gently exhaled. If you have any idea what I’m talking about, please let me know. Don’t ruin this agreement for me by swindling any of the actresses, models, or strippers in it.
A few years before, when we tried to buy a company, I had an affair with the CEO’s wife, which caused quite a stir in the business community.
Her husband was caught fucking her from behind on his desk right before the papers were to be signed.
The deal fell through, as expected. That was Chris’s constant reminder to me.
My elbows were resting on the desk as I swiveled in my chair. As I held the ball in my palms, I grinned. If you can’t take advantage of your business associates’ wives, daughters, girlfriends, or women, then what’s the point of having all this money?
"Tan, you have a market value of $3 billion. There is no one stopping you from screwing anybody you choose. Just keep that in your pants till we’re done with this transaction," he said.
I made the Scout salute by raising my index and middle fingers three times. The following is my solemn oath, Christ: "I will do all in my ability to keep my dick in my pants until this deal is concluded."
To which Chirs said, "I wish I could believe that," he stated his skepticism. His pocket phone began to ring. Pulling out the tool, he opened the screen. They have arrived, the crew of Maximo."
A furious glare from me conveyed my dissatisfaction. Reading lengthy papers from expensive consultants was the only thing I dreaded more than having to meet with them.
Consultants to the management industry in particular. If they had some awful secret that may damage your firm, they wouldn’t tell you about it unless you paid them large money. They were all so arrogant and confident about it.
They were like parasites, sucking the blood of genuine companies because they lacked the intelligence to establish their own business ventures themselves. It was as if they were little fish that swam alongside sharks to eat their leftovers rather than fend for themselves. They all seemed to be so... consultative.
The gist of it is this: In the end, I was irritated to the point of exhaustion.
My bare feet rested on the desk as I relaxed back in my chair. Seeing the soiled bottoms of my shoes made Chris squirm. Second, in command, he was dressed in three-piece suits. I wore shabby jeans, sneakers, and t-shirts to work since I was the boss.
As I picked up my phone, I wiggled my toes at him. In response to the Ferrari call, "You deal with Maximo. I’m still waiting."
"Tan, they’re coming to meet with both of us," he said, shoving my feet to the floor. When I approached him, he put his hands together and snarled at me. "Now that you’ve put on your fucking shoes, let’s get this party started. "
"You’re such a jerk," I said.
