Ross went for drinks with Fritz and Steve.
"Cheers, Gentlemen" Fritz said, raising his glass as Steve and Ross raised their glasses.
"Ross, we are going to tell you what is up, briefly, and then explain and show it to you all in detail tomorrow. It involves money, but it is something very very good" Fritz began.
Ross nodded. "Okay, so what is the big secret?" Ross said, a bit puzzled.
"We bought a struggling medium sized oil and gas company. The guy needed immediate cash flow as the situation was not working out for him with oil and gas We are going to look at it, survey the wells, financial return, and potential for now, and the future. The difference between us and him, is that with the way our company is expanding constantly, we can afford to wait this out even if it takes an extra six months for a well to hit, whereas he cannot. We might not make a lot at first, but long term, it looks really good" Fritz said.
"That's great. Ah so how much will this cost me?" Ross asked.
"That's part of the surprise. We paid for your share already. Even if you don't accept it as a "gift" We will not take any money from you, until those fields specifically start paying off, however long it takes, because it is already paid for , so it does not matter" Fritz said.
"Fritz, that is very kind, but.. ah, I dont feel right about accepting it from you. I' m sure it must have cost you guys a mint. It does not seem right for me to ask you to carry me, until some fields come in long term. What happens if you guys need the money for other projects, even ones that I am not involved with, like a land deal that you guys might do separate from me?" Ross said.
"Ross, no ifs ands or buts. When the fields pay off, we will figure everything out, and figure out a price. Trust me, even when we charge you, you will get it for a bargain" Fritz said.
Ross sighed. "You guys are gems. Okay, fine. Now to the business at hand. I have 48 hours and no more, unfortunately. I will work around this as much as I can. Without giving specifics, because that would be unethical for me to discuss another client even though he is my close friend just like you guys are my close friends. Let's just say that this is going to be a long process of examining this company I'm working on for him. I had originally promised Tim I would not come down here for a month, but I think I will be able to work around that if it is at 24 hour intervals and does not disrupt anything I'm doing for him. So please tell me what is up?" Ross asked.
"Okay, fine. Two things. One meeting and oil show for ten investors at once, and one, potential, and I do mean potential meeting with a guy who might have a small shopping mall deal for us. The oil and gas would be done as it always is. A show in the office, a show at the wells, and then we decide. The shopping mall. You meet this guy once. He gives you blueprints, financial layout, commitment, and potential renter fee and return, and then you go back home., We talk on conference call, and we handle it, and figure out a fair split, okay?" Fritz said.
"Okay" Ross smiled, shaking Fritzs hand.
When the meeting with Fritz and Steve was over, Ross went back to the hotel, and called Kayley.
"You woke me up, man boy, the adults have to go to work tomorrow, not do oil shows" Kayley said, sleepily.
"Sorry, go back to sleep. We will talk tomorrow" Ross said.
"Well, as long as you already woke me up, tell me what is going on" Kayley said.
"Okay, I will then. Small oil show while I'm here, and a meeting with a guy about a strip mall I think. Fritz and Steve will oversee the strip mall, and all I have to do is talk from New York, and lay out the cash for my part. I know that my curfew is midnight Tuesday. Let me see how this goes. I doubt we can meet the guy about the strip mall tomorrow due to the oil show. However, if we can meet him for lunch Tuesday, then maybe, and I stress maybe, I can get out of here at a decent hour" Ross said.
"Okay, sounds like the usual. Have a good time" Kayley said, sleepily hanging up the phone.
On Monday morning, Ross, Fritz, Steve met at the office with what turned out to be twelve potential investors. The meeting went more quickly than usual, so, in consideration of Ross's situation, everyone went out to the oil fields to survey and discuss. The potential investors were then handed financial statements, and everyone shook hands and left.
"Ross, we are only an hour from the office. How do you feel?" Fritz asked.
"I';m a bit tired, but I'm managing" Ross answered.
"Would you like me to call this guy and see if he can meet us for a late dinner or drinks tonight, so you can get out of here early tomorrow morning, and have the day in New York to do as you please?" Fritz asked.
"Thats up to you. I said I would stay all day tomorrow. Even if I leave early tomorrow morning, I will be flying all day, and wont go into the office tomorrow anyway. I will be too tired. So long as I am out of here and home by late tomorrow night, and in the office Wednesday, that is my deadline" Ross said.
"Let me see if I can pull this off tonight" Fritz said.
Fritz called the mall situation guy. Fritz told the mall guy that one of his business partners had major ventures in, and lived in, New York,, and had squeezed in time to come into town to meet with the man. The guy said he could not meet that night, but agreed to an unusually early 6 am breakfast meeting the next morning, which would get Ross out of OKC earlier than expected
"Okay, bud, go back and rest. You are getting a 4 am wake up call from me " Fritz said.
"I will set my alarn, but okay. " Ross said.
It was only mid evening. "Not that it will matter to you because ypu will be at work anyway. However, I should be home no later than early evening tomorrow. We have an early breakfast meeting with the guy on the mall deal. I will come home, and not even let anyone know I'm in town, and just crash and wait for you. Even though by then you should be home anyway" Ross said.
"How do you feel?" Kayley asked.
"A bit tired, but nothing more than would usually go on. I did an office meeting, and an oil fields show. the usual for when I'm down here" Ross said.
The next morning, Ross, Fritz and Steve had their early breakfast meeting with the man involved with the potential strip mall.
"This is our equal business partner, Ross C from New York City. Ross runs a major marketing company in New York, and is a third partner in a massive and ever expanding oil and gas company here. He is occasionally involved in our other land and mall projects, but not all the time due to his other responsibilities" Fritz said.
"Ross, nice to meet you" The man said, shaking Ross's hand.
Then the man discussed the project. "A large strip mall right outside the city limits. In a crowded suburban area with many potential shoppers. The location looks prime. That should be no problem. The exact stores and amount of stores is still being worked on" The guy said.
"What would the investment be?" Ross asked.
"Roughly, ten mil each for the three of you, and . twenty five mil each for my partner and me." The guy said.
"So a 60-40 cost and profit split, if I'm hearing you correctly" Ross asked.
"About. the numbers can be fine tuned" The guy said.
After the meeting ended. Ross had a few hours to go back to the office with Fritz and Steve alone, before needing to go to the airport to catch his plane.
"What did you think?" Fritz asked.
Ross sighed. Honestly, and without you being offended?" Ross asked.
"Of, course, partner. That is what friends and partners are for" Fritz said.
"Maybe it's my non trusting New York mentality. The only three people I trust in business are you two, and Tim. Besides that, I get skeptical" Ross said.
"Okay, fine. I understand and respect that. Tell you what. It costs us nothing to hear him out. Let him put the whole thing down on paper. Amount of square footage, building time, investment required exactly. We look it over, discuss it, and if anyone here is uncomfortable, we tell him to either change things or we walk away. We do not need this deal with all the other oil and gas deals we have going on. I just thought it might be a nice change. Is that fair?" Fritz said.
"More than fair. Thank You, sir" Ross said.
Ross, Fritz and Steve said goodbye,.
Ross was able to get on a noon time flight from OKC considering the early breakfast meeting. He arrived at JFK at 530,jumped into an Uber and rode home.
"Hello, roommate arriving home in time for dinner. What are you doing?" Ross asked.
"Waiting for you, what else? Are you up to showering and going out to dinner if we stay close" Kayley said.
"Yes, let me catch my breath, get an iced tea, and then shower and we will go" Ross said.
Ross hopped into the shower, and then the couple went to their Italian food hangout.
"You look surprising good for someone who did as much as you did down there" Kayley said.
"I'm okay, just a bit tired. Yes, I am planning to go to the office tomorrow I purposely got home at a decent hour so we could spend the evening together, and I could get a good night's sleep, and then go about my business tomorrow" Ross said.
"So, how was it? What was big emergency?" Kayley said.
"Oil deal with twelve people. That will be the usual, and will be easy. Also a guy proposed a strip mall to us. I want to see everything down on paper before I comment. I told Fritz and Steve that I promised I would keep an open mind" Ross said.
"I've known you for 26 years, Ross, there is a but in there. Is the but that you question the guy and his truthfulness? Are you not perhaps carrying over your frustration with this company Tim bought" Kayley said.
"Kayley wait a minute. Please dont put words in my mouth. Two separate situations. A guy with a stirp mall in OKC, and a company that my best friend and most important client in New York bought that I'm trying to figure out would best serve him when there seem to be so many roadblocks of how to do so. Two different things, my dear Kayley. Please do not mix them in at once. Me dealing with them one at a time is bad enough" Ross said.
"Sorry. I will keep my expertise to the classroom. I did not mean to sound" Kayley said.
"Kale, bottom line, between us, and not to leave this table, which I know it wont. A strip mall that we can walk away from , or wont lose an astronomical amount even if it does not pan out. I dont love it, but its not a killer if it loses. Tim's company, if we cant figure this out, is far more. costly and dangerous. Its not a crushing blow for either Tim or me. The more I read this deal Tim gave me, the more I dont like it. I'm going around in circles trying to make it work for him, but the more I look at the potential, the downfall seems to outweigh the upside" Ross said.
"Okay, so then fine. Keep trying, and if you dont like it, meet with him and tell him such" Kayley said.
"The problem with that is this. I gave a 30 day deadline so as not to waste time on a loser company. Tim says in his mind, there is no deadline, which means to me, that Tim expects that I will keep analyzing it until I figure out a way to win. My question is, what happens if I cant figure out a way to win? I dont want Tim to waste money and time, on something that wont work out" Ross said.
"Tell you what, keep analyzing, and after a month, meet with him and tell him where you are at. You and Tim have a great personal and professional relationship. Tell him what you think hear him out, show him what you have, and discuss it. Somehow I think you can figure it out" Kayley said.
When Ross got home, he got a message from Tim on his home office answering machine. "Ross, I dont know if you are home, or still on your way. If you get this at a decent hour, please call me. Someone else I spoke to seems to have the same concerns you do about that company I bought and asked you to look at. I think we should talk" Tim said.
Ross called Tim. "Hi, Tim. I got home a bit early, and just came home from dinner with Kayley. Home as promised, and ready for us to meet tomorrow. You know I have not looked at it in a couple of days because of OKC I agree with you, and think we should meet tomorrow for lunch to discuss where I am, and your options, okay?" Ross asked.
"One pm Shun Lee. See you then. Have a good night" Tim said.
Ross hung up the phone and sighed.
OKC One nice success. One question mark that Ross would have to see more on before he decided.
Tim's company analysis. Ross was very uncomfortable about it, and Ross and Tim needed to talk, seriously.
That conversation would come the next day.
What would the conversation be, and what would come of the conversation?
That would be seen.
"Cheers, Gentlemen" Fritz said, raising his glass as Steve and Ross raised their glasses.
"Ross, we are going to tell you what is up, briefly, and then explain and show it to you all in detail tomorrow. It involves money, but it is something very very good" Fritz began.
Ross nodded. "Okay, so what is the big secret?" Ross said, a bit puzzled.
"We bought a struggling medium sized oil and gas company. The guy needed immediate cash flow as the situation was not working out for him with oil and gas We are going to look at it, survey the wells, financial return, and potential for now, and the future. The difference between us and him, is that with the way our company is expanding constantly, we can afford to wait this out even if it takes an extra six months for a well to hit, whereas he cannot. We might not make a lot at first, but long term, it looks really good" Fritz said.
"That's great. Ah so how much will this cost me?" Ross asked.
"That's part of the surprise. We paid for your share already. Even if you don't accept it as a "gift" We will not take any money from you, until those fields specifically start paying off, however long it takes, because it is already paid for , so it does not matter" Fritz said.
"Fritz, that is very kind, but.. ah, I dont feel right about accepting it from you. I' m sure it must have cost you guys a mint. It does not seem right for me to ask you to carry me, until some fields come in long term. What happens if you guys need the money for other projects, even ones that I am not involved with, like a land deal that you guys might do separate from me?" Ross said.
"Ross, no ifs ands or buts. When the fields pay off, we will figure everything out, and figure out a price. Trust me, even when we charge you, you will get it for a bargain" Fritz said.
Ross sighed. "You guys are gems. Okay, fine. Now to the business at hand. I have 48 hours and no more, unfortunately. I will work around this as much as I can. Without giving specifics, because that would be unethical for me to discuss another client even though he is my close friend just like you guys are my close friends. Let's just say that this is going to be a long process of examining this company I'm working on for him. I had originally promised Tim I would not come down here for a month, but I think I will be able to work around that if it is at 24 hour intervals and does not disrupt anything I'm doing for him. So please tell me what is up?" Ross asked.
"Okay, fine. Two things. One meeting and oil show for ten investors at once, and one, potential, and I do mean potential meeting with a guy who might have a small shopping mall deal for us. The oil and gas would be done as it always is. A show in the office, a show at the wells, and then we decide. The shopping mall. You meet this guy once. He gives you blueprints, financial layout, commitment, and potential renter fee and return, and then you go back home., We talk on conference call, and we handle it, and figure out a fair split, okay?" Fritz said.
"Okay" Ross smiled, shaking Fritzs hand.
When the meeting with Fritz and Steve was over, Ross went back to the hotel, and called Kayley.
"You woke me up, man boy, the adults have to go to work tomorrow, not do oil shows" Kayley said, sleepily.
"Sorry, go back to sleep. We will talk tomorrow" Ross said.
"Well, as long as you already woke me up, tell me what is going on" Kayley said.
"Okay, I will then. Small oil show while I'm here, and a meeting with a guy about a strip mall I think. Fritz and Steve will oversee the strip mall, and all I have to do is talk from New York, and lay out the cash for my part. I know that my curfew is midnight Tuesday. Let me see how this goes. I doubt we can meet the guy about the strip mall tomorrow due to the oil show. However, if we can meet him for lunch Tuesday, then maybe, and I stress maybe, I can get out of here at a decent hour" Ross said.
"Okay, sounds like the usual. Have a good time" Kayley said, sleepily hanging up the phone.
On Monday morning, Ross, Fritz, Steve met at the office with what turned out to be twelve potential investors. The meeting went more quickly than usual, so, in consideration of Ross's situation, everyone went out to the oil fields to survey and discuss. The potential investors were then handed financial statements, and everyone shook hands and left.
"Ross, we are only an hour from the office. How do you feel?" Fritz asked.
"I';m a bit tired, but I'm managing" Ross answered.
"Would you like me to call this guy and see if he can meet us for a late dinner or drinks tonight, so you can get out of here early tomorrow morning, and have the day in New York to do as you please?" Fritz asked.
"Thats up to you. I said I would stay all day tomorrow. Even if I leave early tomorrow morning, I will be flying all day, and wont go into the office tomorrow anyway. I will be too tired. So long as I am out of here and home by late tomorrow night, and in the office Wednesday, that is my deadline" Ross said.
"Let me see if I can pull this off tonight" Fritz said.
Fritz called the mall situation guy. Fritz told the mall guy that one of his business partners had major ventures in, and lived in, New York,, and had squeezed in time to come into town to meet with the man. The guy said he could not meet that night, but agreed to an unusually early 6 am breakfast meeting the next morning, which would get Ross out of OKC earlier than expected
"Okay, bud, go back and rest. You are getting a 4 am wake up call from me " Fritz said.
"I will set my alarn, but okay. " Ross said.
It was only mid evening. "Not that it will matter to you because ypu will be at work anyway. However, I should be home no later than early evening tomorrow. We have an early breakfast meeting with the guy on the mall deal. I will come home, and not even let anyone know I'm in town, and just crash and wait for you. Even though by then you should be home anyway" Ross said.
"How do you feel?" Kayley asked.
"A bit tired, but nothing more than would usually go on. I did an office meeting, and an oil fields show. the usual for when I'm down here" Ross said.
The next morning, Ross, Fritz and Steve had their early breakfast meeting with the man involved with the potential strip mall.
"This is our equal business partner, Ross C from New York City. Ross runs a major marketing company in New York, and is a third partner in a massive and ever expanding oil and gas company here. He is occasionally involved in our other land and mall projects, but not all the time due to his other responsibilities" Fritz said.
"Ross, nice to meet you" The man said, shaking Ross's hand.
Then the man discussed the project. "A large strip mall right outside the city limits. In a crowded suburban area with many potential shoppers. The location looks prime. That should be no problem. The exact stores and amount of stores is still being worked on" The guy said.
"What would the investment be?" Ross asked.
"Roughly, ten mil each for the three of you, and . twenty five mil each for my partner and me." The guy said.
"So a 60-40 cost and profit split, if I'm hearing you correctly" Ross asked.
"About. the numbers can be fine tuned" The guy said.
After the meeting ended. Ross had a few hours to go back to the office with Fritz and Steve alone, before needing to go to the airport to catch his plane.
"What did you think?" Fritz asked.
Ross sighed. Honestly, and without you being offended?" Ross asked.
"Of, course, partner. That is what friends and partners are for" Fritz said.
"Maybe it's my non trusting New York mentality. The only three people I trust in business are you two, and Tim. Besides that, I get skeptical" Ross said.
"Okay, fine. I understand and respect that. Tell you what. It costs us nothing to hear him out. Let him put the whole thing down on paper. Amount of square footage, building time, investment required exactly. We look it over, discuss it, and if anyone here is uncomfortable, we tell him to either change things or we walk away. We do not need this deal with all the other oil and gas deals we have going on. I just thought it might be a nice change. Is that fair?" Fritz said.
"More than fair. Thank You, sir" Ross said.
Ross, Fritz and Steve said goodbye,.
Ross was able to get on a noon time flight from OKC considering the early breakfast meeting. He arrived at JFK at 530,jumped into an Uber and rode home.
"Hello, roommate arriving home in time for dinner. What are you doing?" Ross asked.
"Waiting for you, what else? Are you up to showering and going out to dinner if we stay close" Kayley said.
"Yes, let me catch my breath, get an iced tea, and then shower and we will go" Ross said.
Ross hopped into the shower, and then the couple went to their Italian food hangout.
"You look surprising good for someone who did as much as you did down there" Kayley said.
"I'm okay, just a bit tired. Yes, I am planning to go to the office tomorrow I purposely got home at a decent hour so we could spend the evening together, and I could get a good night's sleep, and then go about my business tomorrow" Ross said.
"So, how was it? What was big emergency?" Kayley said.
"Oil deal with twelve people. That will be the usual, and will be easy. Also a guy proposed a strip mall to us. I want to see everything down on paper before I comment. I told Fritz and Steve that I promised I would keep an open mind" Ross said.
"I've known you for 26 years, Ross, there is a but in there. Is the but that you question the guy and his truthfulness? Are you not perhaps carrying over your frustration with this company Tim bought" Kayley said.
"Kayley wait a minute. Please dont put words in my mouth. Two separate situations. A guy with a stirp mall in OKC, and a company that my best friend and most important client in New York bought that I'm trying to figure out would best serve him when there seem to be so many roadblocks of how to do so. Two different things, my dear Kayley. Please do not mix them in at once. Me dealing with them one at a time is bad enough" Ross said.
"Sorry. I will keep my expertise to the classroom. I did not mean to sound" Kayley said.
"Kale, bottom line, between us, and not to leave this table, which I know it wont. A strip mall that we can walk away from , or wont lose an astronomical amount even if it does not pan out. I dont love it, but its not a killer if it loses. Tim's company, if we cant figure this out, is far more. costly and dangerous. Its not a crushing blow for either Tim or me. The more I read this deal Tim gave me, the more I dont like it. I'm going around in circles trying to make it work for him, but the more I look at the potential, the downfall seems to outweigh the upside" Ross said.
"Okay, so then fine. Keep trying, and if you dont like it, meet with him and tell him such" Kayley said.
"The problem with that is this. I gave a 30 day deadline so as not to waste time on a loser company. Tim says in his mind, there is no deadline, which means to me, that Tim expects that I will keep analyzing it until I figure out a way to win. My question is, what happens if I cant figure out a way to win? I dont want Tim to waste money and time, on something that wont work out" Ross said.
"Tell you what, keep analyzing, and after a month, meet with him and tell him where you are at. You and Tim have a great personal and professional relationship. Tell him what you think hear him out, show him what you have, and discuss it. Somehow I think you can figure it out" Kayley said.
When Ross got home, he got a message from Tim on his home office answering machine. "Ross, I dont know if you are home, or still on your way. If you get this at a decent hour, please call me. Someone else I spoke to seems to have the same concerns you do about that company I bought and asked you to look at. I think we should talk" Tim said.
Ross called Tim. "Hi, Tim. I got home a bit early, and just came home from dinner with Kayley. Home as promised, and ready for us to meet tomorrow. You know I have not looked at it in a couple of days because of OKC I agree with you, and think we should meet tomorrow for lunch to discuss where I am, and your options, okay?" Ross asked.
"One pm Shun Lee. See you then. Have a good night" Tim said.
Ross hung up the phone and sighed.
OKC One nice success. One question mark that Ross would have to see more on before he decided.
Tim's company analysis. Ross was very uncomfortable about it, and Ross and Tim needed to talk, seriously.
That conversation would come the next day.
What would the conversation be, and what would come of the conversation?
That would be seen.
