The next morning, Ross dressed, and went to the office to call the man who had left Ross the message about Charles Harton.
"Ross, I'm Bernie I used to represent Charles Harton as both Harton's business manager and his project preparer. I worked for him for many years. Finally, just before Harton sought you out, Charles just wanted a "Change" I think it would be beneficial for us to mee" Bernie said.
Ross sighed. "Okay, Bernie, if you can really help me, I will give you an hour of my time. Where and when?" Ross asked.
"Original PJ Clarkes, today or tomorrow, your choice" Bernie said.
"Let;s do it today, say 1 pm" Ross said.
"Fine, see you then" Bernie said.
Ross spent the morning reading reports and wondering what Bernie would have to say.
Ross departed for PJ Clarkes. Ross knew the people that sat people at PJ's but not as well as at Shun Lee.
"Mister C, Bernie is here, I will take you to meet him" The person that sat customers said,.
Ross was taken. Bernie stood up, and bumped fists with Ross. "Ross, I'm Bernie, thanks for taking the time to come to this meeting" Bernie said.
"My pleasure" Ross said.
After a lunch of burgers and iced teas were ordered, and small talk was exchanged , Ross and Bernie got down to the business at hand.
Ross started to explain how Charlies was behaving with the constant changes and basically driving Ross insane when Ross tried to prepare ideas for Charles.
Bernie laughed. "Good Old Charlies. Just so you know, Charles does the same thing with his charities. He is a control freak. Charles thinks he knows it all, and basically drives his workers crazy"
Then Ross said. "So, how can you help me?"
"Simple when I get back to my office, I am going to prepare a detailed personality profile of Charles, how he used to behave with me, and how you should try to best handle him" Bernie said.
"Okay, so straight question. What will this cost me in return?" Ross asked.
"Straight fee. Twenty five thousand. Twelve thousand immediately, and the other twelve when I finish the personality profile" Bernie said.
"Is that negotiable? How do I know this is on the up and up? How about a five thousand down payment, then the other seventy five hundred, and then the final twelve thou five when you give me the finished project?" Ross asked.
Bernie smiled "Fine. I've heard you are a hard businessman to deal with. Now I see why" Bernie said.
Ross and Bernie finished lunch. Ross walked back to the office. There were messages on the office phone. From Timothy, and from Charles.
"Timothy I will call, Ashley. Harton can wait until after I'm finished with Tim" Ross said.
Ross took out his cell phone and dialed Timothy. "Hello, best friend, problem with your work?" Ross asked.
"The work is fine. Can't I just call my best friend to say hello and offer to take you to a social lunch tomorrow?" Tim asked.
Ross sighed. "Sure,. I'm sorry, my friend. This Charles Harton is driving me insane. I just came back from lunch at PJ's with a guy who used to work for Harton. The guy says he knows Charles's personality, and that this guy can help me with Charles"
"What will the cost be?" Tim asked.
"Ah, thats private, buddy, but not that much, if this guy can come through with what he says he has for Harton" Ross said.l
"Sorry, Tim will mind my own., How about we have lunch tomorrow at Shun Lee?" Tim offered.
"Sounds great, one pm, your treat" Ross joked.
"But of course, sir. See you then" Tim replied.
Ross called Charles Harton, and Charles was continuing to give Ross a hard time.
Ross was so frustrated, that he punched out at 5, and was home before six.
"You're early. Any reason? Timothy or Charles Harton" Kayley asked.
"Timothy and I had a nice talk on the phone. I'm seeing him for lunch tomorrow. It's Charles Harton. I met with a guy named Bernie who says he worked for Charles for a long time, and that Bernie can help me with Charles. It's almost like Bernie is a shrink who is trying to give me a "Personality profile for Charles" " Ross said.
"Do you believe this guy Bernie?" Kayley asked.
"I dont know, Kale, but its worth a shot. I want to stay and work on Harton, more so to show myself that I can succeed with him since the money is not the important thing of course. It's going to cost me an information fee. Hopefully what Bernie has to tell me will be beneficial. If not, it's a small bad business deal to me, a lot less than I've lost on some business deals" Ross said.
Ross and Kayley had dinner that night, and then made love.
Ross was sleeping. Ross opened his eyes, and the nude Kayley literally had herself wrapped around him so he could not move from bed.
Ross kissed Kayley on top of the head, and tried to stir her. "Kale, you have me in a phyton like wrap. Market Boy has to go to the bathroom, teacher" Ross said.
Kayley half stirred from her position with Ross enough for him to move. Ross put on boxer shorts, and went to the bathroom, the kitchen to get a drink, and then into the den because he was not tired.
When Ross opened up his email, he saw a message from Bernie.
"Both myself and someone who works for me will have detailed information for you if you if you bring a Cashier;'s Check to my office tomorrow afternoon. No reason for down payments, let's just do the deal Twenty Five K. You spend some money, but this information if it works for you, will be worth far more than that. I would also like a ten percent cut on whatever fees you charge Charlie going forward" Bernie said.
Ross sat at his desk and sighed. The price Bernie had mentioned at first was now being raised. Ross had always done straight business deals , and never paid anyone who he was not a partner with in a deal anything more than just a fee. Was Ross getting the "Run Around" from Bernie, or would this prove to be helpful information from Bernie that would cause Ross to have a much easier time dealing with Charles Harton.?
Ross heard Kayley's footsteps coming toward the den. Ross rose and met her at the den door, not wanting to get into it with her at that hour.
"Sorry, coming back to bed. I want to be good at this hour, especially with you just having given me your body, teacher" Ross said, kissing Kayley on the lips.
"Is everything okay?" Kayley said.
"It's nothing, just an email from that guy Bernie about how to possibly deal with Charles Harton. Its not nearly as important as my coming back to bed with you, and being present for you, both to hold you, and for me to sleep" Ross said.
Ross and Kayley got back into bed, this time just cuddled. and while Kayley just drifted back to sleep, Ross's mind as usual was working.
Ross wanted to figure something out with and regarding Charles Harton.
Was that just Ross's stubborn, try to never fail at anything personality, or could Bernie truly provide helpful information that would finally make Ross dealing with Charles Harton less complex?
That would remain to be seen when Ross carefully studied the information at a more reasonable time of day than the current time of the middle of the night, and whether Ross could actually use the information regarding his dealing with Harton, and how Harton would react to everything Ross tried if Ross did and could use Bernie's information.
"Ross, I'm Bernie I used to represent Charles Harton as both Harton's business manager and his project preparer. I worked for him for many years. Finally, just before Harton sought you out, Charles just wanted a "Change" I think it would be beneficial for us to mee" Bernie said.
Ross sighed. "Okay, Bernie, if you can really help me, I will give you an hour of my time. Where and when?" Ross asked.
"Original PJ Clarkes, today or tomorrow, your choice" Bernie said.
"Let;s do it today, say 1 pm" Ross said.
"Fine, see you then" Bernie said.
Ross spent the morning reading reports and wondering what Bernie would have to say.
Ross departed for PJ Clarkes. Ross knew the people that sat people at PJ's but not as well as at Shun Lee.
"Mister C, Bernie is here, I will take you to meet him" The person that sat customers said,.
Ross was taken. Bernie stood up, and bumped fists with Ross. "Ross, I'm Bernie, thanks for taking the time to come to this meeting" Bernie said.
"My pleasure" Ross said.
After a lunch of burgers and iced teas were ordered, and small talk was exchanged , Ross and Bernie got down to the business at hand.
Ross started to explain how Charlies was behaving with the constant changes and basically driving Ross insane when Ross tried to prepare ideas for Charles.
Bernie laughed. "Good Old Charlies. Just so you know, Charles does the same thing with his charities. He is a control freak. Charles thinks he knows it all, and basically drives his workers crazy"
Then Ross said. "So, how can you help me?"
"Simple when I get back to my office, I am going to prepare a detailed personality profile of Charles, how he used to behave with me, and how you should try to best handle him" Bernie said.
"Okay, so straight question. What will this cost me in return?" Ross asked.
"Straight fee. Twenty five thousand. Twelve thousand immediately, and the other twelve when I finish the personality profile" Bernie said.
"Is that negotiable? How do I know this is on the up and up? How about a five thousand down payment, then the other seventy five hundred, and then the final twelve thou five when you give me the finished project?" Ross asked.
Bernie smiled "Fine. I've heard you are a hard businessman to deal with. Now I see why" Bernie said.
Ross and Bernie finished lunch. Ross walked back to the office. There were messages on the office phone. From Timothy, and from Charles.
"Timothy I will call, Ashley. Harton can wait until after I'm finished with Tim" Ross said.
Ross took out his cell phone and dialed Timothy. "Hello, best friend, problem with your work?" Ross asked.
"The work is fine. Can't I just call my best friend to say hello and offer to take you to a social lunch tomorrow?" Tim asked.
Ross sighed. "Sure,. I'm sorry, my friend. This Charles Harton is driving me insane. I just came back from lunch at PJ's with a guy who used to work for Harton. The guy says he knows Charles's personality, and that this guy can help me with Charles"
"What will the cost be?" Tim asked.
"Ah, thats private, buddy, but not that much, if this guy can come through with what he says he has for Harton" Ross said.l
"Sorry, Tim will mind my own., How about we have lunch tomorrow at Shun Lee?" Tim offered.
"Sounds great, one pm, your treat" Ross joked.
"But of course, sir. See you then" Tim replied.
Ross called Charles Harton, and Charles was continuing to give Ross a hard time.
Ross was so frustrated, that he punched out at 5, and was home before six.
"You're early. Any reason? Timothy or Charles Harton" Kayley asked.
"Timothy and I had a nice talk on the phone. I'm seeing him for lunch tomorrow. It's Charles Harton. I met with a guy named Bernie who says he worked for Charles for a long time, and that Bernie can help me with Charles. It's almost like Bernie is a shrink who is trying to give me a "Personality profile for Charles" " Ross said.
"Do you believe this guy Bernie?" Kayley asked.
"I dont know, Kale, but its worth a shot. I want to stay and work on Harton, more so to show myself that I can succeed with him since the money is not the important thing of course. It's going to cost me an information fee. Hopefully what Bernie has to tell me will be beneficial. If not, it's a small bad business deal to me, a lot less than I've lost on some business deals" Ross said.
Ross and Kayley had dinner that night, and then made love.
Ross was sleeping. Ross opened his eyes, and the nude Kayley literally had herself wrapped around him so he could not move from bed.
Ross kissed Kayley on top of the head, and tried to stir her. "Kale, you have me in a phyton like wrap. Market Boy has to go to the bathroom, teacher" Ross said.
Kayley half stirred from her position with Ross enough for him to move. Ross put on boxer shorts, and went to the bathroom, the kitchen to get a drink, and then into the den because he was not tired.
When Ross opened up his email, he saw a message from Bernie.
"Both myself and someone who works for me will have detailed information for you if you if you bring a Cashier;'s Check to my office tomorrow afternoon. No reason for down payments, let's just do the deal Twenty Five K. You spend some money, but this information if it works for you, will be worth far more than that. I would also like a ten percent cut on whatever fees you charge Charlie going forward" Bernie said.
Ross sat at his desk and sighed. The price Bernie had mentioned at first was now being raised. Ross had always done straight business deals , and never paid anyone who he was not a partner with in a deal anything more than just a fee. Was Ross getting the "Run Around" from Bernie, or would this prove to be helpful information from Bernie that would cause Ross to have a much easier time dealing with Charles Harton.?
Ross heard Kayley's footsteps coming toward the den. Ross rose and met her at the den door, not wanting to get into it with her at that hour.
"Sorry, coming back to bed. I want to be good at this hour, especially with you just having given me your body, teacher" Ross said, kissing Kayley on the lips.
"Is everything okay?" Kayley said.
"It's nothing, just an email from that guy Bernie about how to possibly deal with Charles Harton. Its not nearly as important as my coming back to bed with you, and being present for you, both to hold you, and for me to sleep" Ross said.
Ross and Kayley got back into bed, this time just cuddled. and while Kayley just drifted back to sleep, Ross's mind as usual was working.
Ross wanted to figure something out with and regarding Charles Harton.
Was that just Ross's stubborn, try to never fail at anything personality, or could Bernie truly provide helpful information that would finally make Ross dealing with Charles Harton less complex?
That would remain to be seen when Ross carefully studied the information at a more reasonable time of day than the current time of the middle of the night, and whether Ross could actually use the information regarding his dealing with Harton, and how Harton would react to everything Ross tried if Ross did and could use Bernie's information.
