Ev POV
Three days later, I was sitting across from Mike Ramos with a pen in my hand getting ready to sign the Giants contract. I had to be approved by the higher ups but soon I would be one of them. Ramos was with R and K holdings and he owned a pretty big chunk of shares in the Giants. Once this deal was done, they would all be mine so I would be one of the largest stockholders of the company. Kruz's dad came through and the same day that I decided to put a bid on the company, Ramos's secretary called my secretary to schedule a meeting. I was prepared for everything. The whole take from yesterday was 200K and my take was about 130K. My first offer was 110K and was definitely too low. I knew he would counter with an offer that was between 15K and 10K more than my original offer, and that was the goal. As long as he didn't go over 20K we would have a deal. He would take me to the stadium to meet other stockholders and the coaches for the team. I might have to smooth things over if some of the guys are standoffish, but my guess is that it's only the old ones who are like that. A little bit of an initiation to see if the new guy can handle it. The only thing I didn't predict was that the news would be there.
Ramos was getting a lot of publicity from his legal troubles and the press was swarming. They were sharks who smelled blood in the water. The fact was, Mike Ramos was a dirty bastard who was drowning and couldn't do anything about it. But there are three unspoken rules in the trading world. 1) Don't snitch. Unless they have wronged you personally or you're sworn in under a court of law, don't talk. 2) Don't get caught. If you're going to do something illegal, do it well and hide it better. Number 3, doesn't matter now so lets get back to where I miscalculated. I didn't think about how with the news and gossip cites swarming, information would get leaked. Information like my deal with Ramos. The night before I had gotten a call from the New York Times. The editor, Bobby Day, was asking for a quote about my deal. He said this was front page news and would be 'really good for me in the public eye'. I obviously told him to go to hell and that I wouldn't be giving him a word, let alone a quote. (I don't like reporters if you couldn't tell). As soon as I stepped out of my car, I was swarmed by reporters asking a million questions a minute. I ducked my head and pushed through the crowds ignoring their questions and trying to avoid looking at the cameras. Never thought I would be front page news. I thought as building security let me in and stopped the journalists from squeezing through. I headed up the elevator to find Ramos' assistant waiting to escort me to his office. I smelt the man before I saw him. The signature scent of dirty money and cigars that were both overpriced and overpowering.
"Mr. Everett O'Brian." Ramos smiled as he stood from his desk to shake my hand.
"Please, it's Green, Mr. Ramos." I amended and took his hand.
"Then it's Mike," he replied, sitting back down. I took the seat across from him and studied him. He was an old man and did not age well. He was fat, his hair was oily, and that suit was obviously expensive and extremely tacky. It sounds rude, but his physical appearance is also reflected in how he treats his staff. I've never meet anyone with a staff that's more afraid of or disgusted by their boss. Every woman from my office that worked here for any amount of time says he's a creep who needs a lesson in personal space. One guy on my team said that he's also extremely temperamental if you disrespect him. Turns out he holds grudges for life and if you get on his bad side that could mean he makes it part of his life's mission to make sure your life in Wall Street is hell.
"Let's get straight to business," I start.
"I love a straight shooter," Mike compliments and hands me a folder. He wouldn't love me as much if he new it was because I just wanted to get out of there. But I smiled wryly and the documents in the folder. I had already read the papers, I just wanted to make sure he didn't slip anything in when I hadn't looked. It all checked out, so I took the pen and signed.
"Its all yours now. Do you want to go down to the stadium and see the boys practice?" Mike questioned, taking back the folder.
"Sure. Do you have a car?" I asked and fixed my suit in preparation for the media.
"My vehicle has been acquired by the SEC during a raid on my personal property," Mike explained, "We'll have to take your car. To escape the press of course." It sounded like he was covering that he was broke and needed a ride, but I needed a guide for the Stadium and the deal has a 30 day trial period. Now is not the time to piss this guy off. So I nodded and walked out the office with him in tow.
I had been to the Giants stadium before, but it felt different coming as a major stock holder. It felt a lot better than when I came as a kid for the first time. As we came in I opened my door to more reporters who again pummeled me with questions. Mike and I both walked as quick as we could with our heads down. Half way to the stadium we were met by security who escorted us the rest of the way in.
"What do you think?" Mike asked as he opened his arms to showcase the entrance to the stadium. It wasn't anything special. The entrance was cavernous and empty. There were giant posters with action shots of the players hanging from the ceiling and large skylights in the roof letting in the midday sun. I technically didn't own the stadium. I only owned the team and the money they make from games and merchandise. But it was kind of surreal seeing all this paired with the fact that it was sort of mine. I was obviously not going to look all wide eyed and amazed in front of this waste of air so I tamped down my excitement when I answered.
"I think it's pretty cool." I responded nonchalantly, "What are we going to see next?"
"How about we go see the boys practice then you can meet the coaches? I know a few of them blocked some time out of their schedules to see you." Mike hinted not-so-subtly. I knew he was trying to say I was going to be scrutinized by the long time holders and that his could either go really well or turn into a giant shit show. So I nodded my head and we went to the main field. We were almost in the nose bleeds, but I could still see the players practicing down below.
"How many coaches are their?" I questioned Mike.
"There's the head coach, then the head of the offensive and defensive, and the coaches for specific areas like linebackers and receivers and things. So I would say there's about eight main coaches but you have to factor add in coaching assistants so I would say between sixteen and twenty," Mike guessed, sitting and propping his legs up on the seat in front of him.
"But their not really important. They don't have any type of steak in the company. They're just paid to make the plays and look busy"
That's where Mike was wrong. I had a feeling that his legal troubles weren't the only reason Mike was leaving the Giants and I wanted to find the source.
"How many other major holders are there? Who's the main holder?" I quizzed and leaned on the seat in front of me.
"That's complicated. The second part of the question, I mean. There are thirteen holders including you. Now, you have about the same amount of stock as everyone else, except for Carlos Medina and Milford Rowell. They're the top stockholders and both want to be the top stockholder,"
"So, your house is at war and you didn't think to tell me before all this?" I scoffed.
"Nu uh. Your house is at war. I don't have any stake in the team no more. This is your mess," He corrected with a shrug.
"Why didn't you disclose this before I signed the contract? Isn't that illegal?"
"It's not illegal and even if it was, at the price I sold for, you practically stole the team. You read the deal yourself. There was nothing wrong with it. Besides, it's too late so why should you start complaining now?" It took everything in me not to roll my eyes and say something snarky. The paperwork wasn't completely finished so Mike could take this back if I pissed him off enough. And I could handle a little in-house fighting. I didn't just buy this team to run at the first sign of a problem.
"How about we meet the coaches next?" Mike asked but I had already started walking.
Not really a sports person but my family's really into football. No announcements or anything, but comment your favorite sport. - Naomi
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The Story of E & A
Ficción GeneralThese two guys at my school always acted really cute, and all couple like whenever they were together, and they were in our class so me and my writing friends would talk about how canon they were. So, we made all these stories and decided we could m...
