A special thanks to Barney R for his wonderful editing.
*****
During the next few days he didn't try to get in touch with Ralph. He didn't want to look eager, especially after his initial misgivings. Finally he rung up all his group members and invited them for lunch at his hotel room. He didn't want to take any chances.
He surveyed them thru the thick haze of cigarette smoke. They were all there. The councillor was dressed in a three piece as usual, his tall lanky frame giving him the look of a successful CEO. He had combed back his thinning blond hair while his handle bar moustache was waxed as usual.
He was a glib talker and had been a marketing man before he met his wife Isabelle who came from a political family. The switch from marketing to politics had been a smooth one and the press spoke highly of him and felt he would go far.
'Yup he sure would,' thought Brad 'as long as his wife or her family didn't get wind of his philandering ways.' Some time back he had dropped in unannounced at his country house to discuss a finance proposition and had caught him fucking his rival's wife. He had a pencil thin dick like the rest of his personality. Since then the Councillor had become more pronounced in his friendliness towards him.
Neither was the councillor above making a commission for himself from the government contracts. In fact he played an important part in their financing game by providing all the inside information about the upcoming projects. It was then up to Big Mac and Ralph Jordon to rope in a prospective businessman willing to put himself as a front for their financing.
His gaze shifted to Big Mac. The word "Big" described him well. He was the only black member and stood at over 6"4' and with a sharp acumen and a body that only regular weight lifting can deliver.
He had a Denzel Washington kinda looks and Brad was sure he had a long list of women admirers. He was also called "Tiny" by some from his profession but Brad never got around to asking him for the reason although he could make a wild guess. He shifted his gaze back to Nick. It was time to set the ball rolling.
"Ralph here has got us a born loser and says each of us gets to pocket a couple of million if we finance him."
"That guy is a loser and yes his estate stands on a very valuable piece of land. But to get our hands on it we'll first have to have him lose to us, if you understand what I mean."
"You mean no risks, no returns. I gotta first finance the loser before I get to see the colour of money."
The councillor leaned back on his chair and smiled benevolently at Brad.
"I rest my case."
Brad then turned to look at Big Mac.
"What's your opinion?"
"I have seen Harold. He's one of those flashy guys who spends more time showing off their wealth than earning it. Mind you, he's pretty good at it and is all over the magazine pages. But I'll make sure that the legal papers we draw up are air tight."
'Yeah,' thought Brad, 'That bastard is pretty good in impressing everybody with his wealth.'
Finally he looked towards Ralph. Thankfully he was sitting afar from him and couldn't floor him with his nauseating garlic emissions.
"Hey, if you want I'll even set up a meeting between you two. After all the funding will be routed thru your front companies and you have a right to meet the man you're gonna finance."
Brad remained thoughtful for a few moments before speaking up.
"Okay, I think I'll throw my hat in. But for starters I would prefer that my name is not brought up. I'll let my senior man at the front company do the talking."
There was a general look of relief in the face of all the three. Since it was Brad's company that was going to do the legal financing, they wanted him in at all costs.
"Look once this guy folds up, I'll get him to agree to share his wife with us. She's a real stunner and we'll ..." Ralph couldn't get further as Brad cut him off.
"Rightly said ... when he folds up ... now just how is he gonna fold up? After all he's been somehow avoiding Chapter 11 so to say."
Big Mac leaned forward and gave a smile that didn't exactly reach his eyes.
"He's gonna rely heavily on his skilled workers completing the remaining work in the short time left."
Ralph Jordon joined in with his golden tooth sharky smile.
"And his machines will require constant maintenance and spare parts so as to ensure there's no idle down time. Time is running short."
Then his three partners continued to silently sip their drinks, watching Brad absorb what they had said.
"So, what I understand here is that time is of the essence and there's a surprise in waiting for ole Harold in terms of tool down strikes and sudden snags in delivery of machine spares."
Big Mac's eye's grew big and he turned to his fellow associates and said in a hurt innocent tone, "Gee guys, did any of you hear any of us talking about shut downs?"
"No, oh Heaven's forbid no," came the instant chorus reply from the other two partners as they raised their glasses in mock salute.
Brad too acknowledged the salutation by raising his glass. So far so good.
-----------