Ross landed in OKC about noon Central Time on that day, jumped in an Uber, and went to the office, where he gathered with Fritz and Steve, both of whom welcomed him warmly.
"Ross, my dear friend and partner, long time no see. You look wonderful, better than I've ever seen you look quite frankly" Fritz said.
"Thanks, Fritz. I feel great, not only because of the fantastic sojourn that Miss Kayley and I took, but also because of my new arrangement with Timothy, which, when I fine tune the details, will make the relationship of the three men in this room even better and more productive" Ross said.
"Excellent, now, before we discuss what will happen on this trip, old business. Two months O and G investment checks for you and Miss Kayley, commission checks from the last deal we finalized while you were away, and , please sign those papers for our new situation with John Fish, which will enable us to move forward with him" Fritz said.
Ross took out his reading glasses, got a pen, and signed the papers, then put the checks in his briefcase. "Good, now the wife and I can eat the next couple of months. Both of you know that I never make any money from RossShell" Ross said, half joking and half serious.
"Okay, now to this week's business. Lunch. Virtual meeting with investors this afternoon, dinner tonight, and hopefully, three shows between tomorrow and Wednesday. We " hope " you can get out of here Friday night,, but it may not be until Saturday morning Fritz said.
"Whatever, Timothy and I have an arrangement. I was just with Kayley for a month, I was already in the office for a couple of days, and all is arranged there. I am focused on us, and this trip" Ross said.
"Good. Oh, also. We are going to do one little phone call about a potential real estate investment in the future, but that is the least important matter on this trip" Fritz said.
"Just fine" Ross replied.
Ross, Fritz and Steve had lunch, and then went back to the office, where they did a virtual show with 100 investors, discussing the field locations, investments, returns, and total expected return.
Then, that evening, Ross, Fritz and Steve had dinner at a Japanese Steakhouse, before Ross went back to his hotel and called Kayley.
"One virtual show today, field shows tomorrow and Friday. I will either be home flying overnight Friday night, or by noon Saturday" Ross said.
"Its okay, we were just together for a month. I'm not holding you to a time clock" Kayley said.
"Good, glad to hear that" Ross said.
The next day, after breakfast, Ross, Fritz and Steve went to the field, for an in person show for what turned out to be 75 investors. The usual format, lecture by Fritz, explanation of the "nuts and bolts" by the field foreman, and projected investment, and return, and other matters.
When the day was over, the men figured they would have 35 to 40 investors signed up.
"One third to half, not bad. We will take that, and try again tomorrow" Fritz said, as they headed back to OKC in the SUV.
When Ross, Fritz and Steve got back to dinner in OKC, a surprise was waiting for them.
"Ross, this is Gabe Schloss, he's going to be joining us for dinner. Gabe thinks he has a nice little proposition for us" Fritz said.
"Gabe, nice to meet you. Excuse me, I need to go wash up. Will be back in a minute" Ross said, going to the men's room.
When Ross got back, he sat down, and ordered an iced tea.
"Ross, Fritz and Steve were telling me how mega successful your company has been, and how it keeps expanding. Unfortunately, my company seems stuck in neutral. I have a very solid company, that is neither expanding, nor contracting. I figure, that with your incredible business experience, and Fritz and Steve 's experience in oil and gas, I can change that" Gabe said.
"What is your proposal?" Ross said, folding his arms, exhausted, a bit annoyed, but keeping his cool especially because he was with Fritz, Steve, a potential new business contact, and his relationship with Fritz and Steve.
"I could do a straight sell off with just selling my company to all of you for cash, a selloff where I retain a minority share, or, you guys oversee it with me, and help it expand" Gabe said.
"Gabe, with all due respect, if Fritz and Steve told you my situation, I run an extremely major company in New York focusing on marketing. My time to come down here is carefully fixed into my schedule. I honestly dont have time to help run another company, except to offer advice as a consultant" Ross said.
"I believe that would be fine for now. " Gabe said.
"I'm going to be down here for a couple of more days. I will tell you what. Please send me the financial specifics of your company to my office in New York. I will look it over, and all four of us will talk. I sincerely want to help you, Gabe. I appreciate that all of you think so highly of my financial abilities. I just have to figure out the best way to help you" Ross said.
"Thats just fine, Ross" Gabe said.
The men had dinner, and then in the SUV on the way back to the hotel, Fritz said to Ross.
"What did you think?"
"Gabe seems like a gentleman and a very straight forward guy. Fritz, the thing is, and you know this, between how RossShell drives me crazy every day, and how our company keeps expanding with investors alone, any situation with Gabe would take me quite a while to evaluate. This cannot happen tomorrow" Ross said.
"No one said it has to. We will discuss this going forward. For now, get a good night's sleep,. we do two shows tomorrow, and then tomorrow night, get the Hell out of here, and go back to the zoo, okay?" Fritz said.
"Yes, Sir, Mister P " Ross said.
When Ross got back to the hotel he called Kayley.
"So, how goes it?" Kayley said.
"How goes it is that the show was not great, but that's not what concerns me. After the show, we had a surprise dinner with a guy named Gabe, that wants us to help him with his energy company in some way. I think that Fritz wants me to do all the analysis, but I told Fritz such will take me time. When I get home, I must finalize a plan for Timothy. That will make my day to day life in the office much, much easier. After that, I can think about this meeting and any proposal with Gabe, but first things first, tomorrow's shows" Ross said.
"Take a calming med, and just rest and sleep. You will figure this out" Kayley said.
The next day, the men went back to the fields, and did two separate shows of 100 people , where only 20 in each show committed to sign, a far less than usual twenty percent.
Ross was pissed, and just wanted to get on a plane, and get home.
"Ross, please dont let it get to you. We all know in this business, you win some , you lose some, and dont worry, we will figure it out with Gabe. Please just get on the plane, get home safely, figure out Tim's situation, we will conference call with John Fish, and figure things out from there" Fritz said.
"I understand. Thanks, Mister P. I will be back within the month Considering how disappointing this was, if you can get together two or three hundred potentials, I will come back in two or three weeks" Ross said.
"Good to hear it, and we will" Fritz said.
Ross flew home on the midnight flight to JFK, and with the changeover, flying overnight, and landing in JFK at 7am, and getting home at 8.
It was the day before Kayley had to go back to school. She was home, but would go to school later that day for last minute prep for opening day.
When Ross came in the door, he kissed Kayley.
"Terrible in every way. We got hardly any investors, and a very nice guy named Gabe, wants me to work on a project with him regarding his company, but I dont know how to help him. I just want to get undressed, shower, and forget about this trip. I have enough to deal with Monday figuring out Timothy;'s crap" Ross said.
Kayley hugged Ross. "There, there, sir oil boy, it will all be okay"
Ross went into his home office, the light was flashing, and listened to what could be another negative message.
What did the message say?
That would be seen.
"Ross, my dear friend and partner, long time no see. You look wonderful, better than I've ever seen you look quite frankly" Fritz said.
"Thanks, Fritz. I feel great, not only because of the fantastic sojourn that Miss Kayley and I took, but also because of my new arrangement with Timothy, which, when I fine tune the details, will make the relationship of the three men in this room even better and more productive" Ross said.
"Excellent, now, before we discuss what will happen on this trip, old business. Two months O and G investment checks for you and Miss Kayley, commission checks from the last deal we finalized while you were away, and , please sign those papers for our new situation with John Fish, which will enable us to move forward with him" Fritz said.
Ross took out his reading glasses, got a pen, and signed the papers, then put the checks in his briefcase. "Good, now the wife and I can eat the next couple of months. Both of you know that I never make any money from RossShell" Ross said, half joking and half serious.
"Okay, now to this week's business. Lunch. Virtual meeting with investors this afternoon, dinner tonight, and hopefully, three shows between tomorrow and Wednesday. We " hope " you can get out of here Friday night,, but it may not be until Saturday morning Fritz said.
"Whatever, Timothy and I have an arrangement. I was just with Kayley for a month, I was already in the office for a couple of days, and all is arranged there. I am focused on us, and this trip" Ross said.
"Good. Oh, also. We are going to do one little phone call about a potential real estate investment in the future, but that is the least important matter on this trip" Fritz said.
"Just fine" Ross replied.
Ross, Fritz and Steve had lunch, and then went back to the office, where they did a virtual show with 100 investors, discussing the field locations, investments, returns, and total expected return.
Then, that evening, Ross, Fritz and Steve had dinner at a Japanese Steakhouse, before Ross went back to his hotel and called Kayley.
"One virtual show today, field shows tomorrow and Friday. I will either be home flying overnight Friday night, or by noon Saturday" Ross said.
"Its okay, we were just together for a month. I'm not holding you to a time clock" Kayley said.
"Good, glad to hear that" Ross said.
The next day, after breakfast, Ross, Fritz and Steve went to the field, for an in person show for what turned out to be 75 investors. The usual format, lecture by Fritz, explanation of the "nuts and bolts" by the field foreman, and projected investment, and return, and other matters.
When the day was over, the men figured they would have 35 to 40 investors signed up.
"One third to half, not bad. We will take that, and try again tomorrow" Fritz said, as they headed back to OKC in the SUV.
When Ross, Fritz and Steve got back to dinner in OKC, a surprise was waiting for them.
"Ross, this is Gabe Schloss, he's going to be joining us for dinner. Gabe thinks he has a nice little proposition for us" Fritz said.
"Gabe, nice to meet you. Excuse me, I need to go wash up. Will be back in a minute" Ross said, going to the men's room.
When Ross got back, he sat down, and ordered an iced tea.
"Ross, Fritz and Steve were telling me how mega successful your company has been, and how it keeps expanding. Unfortunately, my company seems stuck in neutral. I have a very solid company, that is neither expanding, nor contracting. I figure, that with your incredible business experience, and Fritz and Steve 's experience in oil and gas, I can change that" Gabe said.
"What is your proposal?" Ross said, folding his arms, exhausted, a bit annoyed, but keeping his cool especially because he was with Fritz, Steve, a potential new business contact, and his relationship with Fritz and Steve.
"I could do a straight sell off with just selling my company to all of you for cash, a selloff where I retain a minority share, or, you guys oversee it with me, and help it expand" Gabe said.
"Gabe, with all due respect, if Fritz and Steve told you my situation, I run an extremely major company in New York focusing on marketing. My time to come down here is carefully fixed into my schedule. I honestly dont have time to help run another company, except to offer advice as a consultant" Ross said.
"I believe that would be fine for now. " Gabe said.
"I'm going to be down here for a couple of more days. I will tell you what. Please send me the financial specifics of your company to my office in New York. I will look it over, and all four of us will talk. I sincerely want to help you, Gabe. I appreciate that all of you think so highly of my financial abilities. I just have to figure out the best way to help you" Ross said.
"Thats just fine, Ross" Gabe said.
The men had dinner, and then in the SUV on the way back to the hotel, Fritz said to Ross.
"What did you think?"
"Gabe seems like a gentleman and a very straight forward guy. Fritz, the thing is, and you know this, between how RossShell drives me crazy every day, and how our company keeps expanding with investors alone, any situation with Gabe would take me quite a while to evaluate. This cannot happen tomorrow" Ross said.
"No one said it has to. We will discuss this going forward. For now, get a good night's sleep,. we do two shows tomorrow, and then tomorrow night, get the Hell out of here, and go back to the zoo, okay?" Fritz said.
"Yes, Sir, Mister P " Ross said.
When Ross got back to the hotel he called Kayley.
"So, how goes it?" Kayley said.
"How goes it is that the show was not great, but that's not what concerns me. After the show, we had a surprise dinner with a guy named Gabe, that wants us to help him with his energy company in some way. I think that Fritz wants me to do all the analysis, but I told Fritz such will take me time. When I get home, I must finalize a plan for Timothy. That will make my day to day life in the office much, much easier. After that, I can think about this meeting and any proposal with Gabe, but first things first, tomorrow's shows" Ross said.
"Take a calming med, and just rest and sleep. You will figure this out" Kayley said.
The next day, the men went back to the fields, and did two separate shows of 100 people , where only 20 in each show committed to sign, a far less than usual twenty percent.
Ross was pissed, and just wanted to get on a plane, and get home.
"Ross, please dont let it get to you. We all know in this business, you win some , you lose some, and dont worry, we will figure it out with Gabe. Please just get on the plane, get home safely, figure out Tim's situation, we will conference call with John Fish, and figure things out from there" Fritz said.
"I understand. Thanks, Mister P. I will be back within the month Considering how disappointing this was, if you can get together two or three hundred potentials, I will come back in two or three weeks" Ross said.
"Good to hear it, and we will" Fritz said.
Ross flew home on the midnight flight to JFK, and with the changeover, flying overnight, and landing in JFK at 7am, and getting home at 8.
It was the day before Kayley had to go back to school. She was home, but would go to school later that day for last minute prep for opening day.
When Ross came in the door, he kissed Kayley.
"Terrible in every way. We got hardly any investors, and a very nice guy named Gabe, wants me to work on a project with him regarding his company, but I dont know how to help him. I just want to get undressed, shower, and forget about this trip. I have enough to deal with Monday figuring out Timothy;'s crap" Ross said.
Kayley hugged Ross. "There, there, sir oil boy, it will all be okay"
Ross went into his home office, the light was flashing, and listened to what could be another negative message.
What did the message say?
That would be seen.
