29. The Challenges Lay Alongside
Piker Temple met Dycke and Chad Snyder at the principal's office in the morning. Piker told the principal that due to the change in Dycke's circumstances, the school now had a security problem and there were only two ways to solve it. Dycke was now a high risk student, because he had inherited a great deal of money and it was now, or would soon be, in every newspaper, on TV and on the internet. Every person in the world, with evil intent, would know where Dycke went to school and where he lived. Piker explained that the easiest place to get to Dycke would be at school, where he was most exposed, for many hours. It was, also, the place, where collateral damage could be a very big problem, if an attempt to kidnap Dycke was tried. Dycke would have his personal security agent with him, at all times. However, who was going to protect all the other students at the school, if the attempt on Dycke failed and the kidnappers decided to take a different student.
Chad Schneider added that the parents of all the other students would complain 'en masse', if they thought their children were in danger because one student was causing a threat to the entire school. The best thing for the principal to do would be to graduate Dycke early or allow him to take his remaining courses by computer, in consultation with his instructors.
Piker Temple told the principal that with Dycke's current grade point average, he would graduate Summa Cum Laude. If the only problem the school was going have, with him graduating early, was the loss of money because of Dycke not physically in attendance, the Schneider family would pay the school board the actual amount loss and give the school directly, one hundred times that amount to its general fund. Mister Schneider's architectural and engineering firm, would also remove and the current athletic area and replace it with a state-of-the-art, high school football field /track stadium, which would be the envy of all the schools in the state.
The principal smiled and said to the three men sitting before him, Gentlemen, that is bribery and it will get you everywhere with me."
"Dycke," the principal continued, "I will get the paperwork to the school board this week and I will make sure that you graduate with honors. I will let you know high after I talk to your instructors. How much the check to the school board will be is another question that will be answered later this week. The check for the school, regardless of how much will be very much appreciated. Good luck to you young man. Unfortunately, I lose the ones like you too soon and the ones I would like to lose stay hung around my neck like an anchor chain, forever!"
"Thank you sir, I really enjoyed my teachers here. I could have done without most of the students that made my life hell, but the instructors that you have here are first-rate."
After the goodbyes were completed, Chad departed with his new "niece" to his offices and Piker left with Dycke and their escorts to go to his law offices.
All of the partners were already assembled and waiting for his arrival. They were unsure what this meeting was about, even though he had left them specific details. When they went into the meeting room, Piker told the assembled group, that he had a business proposition for them and that they should listen very closely to the young man he was about to introduce.
"I am buying out of my partnership share and going into solo practice. The young man before you is going to be my only client. This is not a joke. You have already or will read about this gentleman in this morning's newspaper. You will be reading much more about him during the next 35 or 50 years, as he becomes one of the wealthiest men in the world. This young man, my daughter's fiancé, is "Dycke Schneider" and he has a business proposition for you, that will make my leaving, a very sweet pill for you to swallow."
Addressing the group Dycke said plainly, "Good morning. Many of you know I inherited a large sum of money. You have no idea how much, but the 54 million dollars you saw in the paper is less than a tenth of the total amount. I want you to buy out my future father-in-law. I don't want you to haggle with him over the price. Come up with a fair market value price, for his portion of this firm and pay him over reasonable amount of time."
"When this is accomplished and Mr. Temple has set up my businesses the way they are supposed to be, I will send you triple the amount of business than you have paid him, toward your future legal services for my companies. If your services are good enough, I may keep your firm on for continued legal services, here in the United States. If not, after the agreed amount of money has changed hands, our agreement comes to an end. Mr. Temple and I will make that decision, at the appropriate moment." Having said everything he wanted to say, Dycke turned on his heel, and left the room.
Fiona was grinning when Dycke came out of the room. Dycke said, "Let's go outside, I need some air." Dycke was very happy that it was cool out this morning, because his body was glowing hot.
Fiona looked at him and said "Where do these brass balls come from boss?"
A short time later, a secretary came outside and asked Dycke to come back inside because a decision had been made. Mister Temple was waiting in the outer office, and took Dycke aside when he came in.
"Dycke" he said, "they offered me $250,000.00 my partnership and I'm going to take it.
"Okay dad, but as soon as they bill out at $750,000.00, our dealings with them are over. They are robbing you and both you and I know it. Those are your friends in there and for the lack of ten thousand dollars apiece, they screwed you. They just lost out on millions of dollars in business because of it."
Piker said to Dycke, "When I send them their final check. I will add a note explaining that fact to each one of them.
As Dycke and Fiona turned towards her car and Piker and Grace, his security officer, turned towards his Piker yelled toward Dycke and said, "I am going to the bank and depositing this, pointing to the one million dollar check in his hand, "and it had better not bounce!"
Dycke laughed and said, "Fiona will protect me if it does."
Chad Schneider arrived at work at 9:58a.m., with his new personal secretary, Nancy. He introduced his security officer, Nancy, as his niece, who had just graduated from the University of the Pacific. She had come east to look for a position in the financial world, but, so far, had been unable to do so. She would assist him in general matters, as his personal assistant, until she was able to find a position, outside the office.
When Dycke showed up at the office a little later, with Fiona, everyone in the office started wondering, how many nieces Chad had. Dycke walked into his dad's office and brought up the four months his dad had to design and build a combined football/ track facility at his old school.
"It is okay son, it can be done. We will believe pulling permits to demolish what is there now, as soon as we get the school board's permission to do so. We are ready have plans and specifications on hand to show them from previous work we've done and as we are doing it, we will spruce it up a little bit so that your old high school has the best facilities around. Where did you say I should send the bill?"
Dycke laughed and said, "I believe you have my home address, you can send it there. Oh, Dad I forgot to give you this to you, when I got home. I've had this in my wallet since I left Europe. I gave one to Mr. Temple as a retainer for services to be rendered in the future. This check is for your services rendered, in the past, by you and mom. I love you dad."
"What is this Dycke?"
"It's for all the things you and mom have done for me while I was growing up. You have made me who I am today. I would not be the man I am without mom and your help. The only reason Payne loves me is because I am like you. She knows it and I know it. I can never thank you enough, dad."
"Dycke, this is for one million dollars," said Chad Schneider.
"If you want more, dad, all I have to do is make a phone call." said Dick.
"No Dick this is very generous. What am I supposed to do with all this money, "asked Chad?
"After you finish designing the stadium and track facility, take mom on that world tour, I told you about."
Chad said, "That is another thing, when do I get to see your airplane?"
"When you have time dad, all four of us will go to the aircraft. Then we can go to either: lunch or dinner."
Chad said, "I think I'll call your mother and see if she is available. If she is, I will have her meet us at Napoli's restaurant for lunch. From there, we will go, with you, to the aircraft, for a look around. I will have her bring a suit and tie for you for tonight."
Dycke said, "That sounds great, dad. Fiona, would you call the crew and tell them to fuel and preflight the plane. We will go to Washington to see the new Memorial and then we will go out to dinner. Also, tell them, after todays' flight, we will need a hostess for the aircraft. You will be too busy guarding me. Okay?"
"Yes, boss."
"Okay dad. I am going to call the hospital and see if everything is all right with Payne."
