Ross and Tim met at Shun Lee on that Sunday afternoon.
After exchanging pleasantries, and ordering drinks and lunch, Tim handed Ross a large folder of sheets.
"This is the next company that I'm thinking of buying. Let's just say that I would call it about "Medium Sized" However, I know that with you being my marketing and PR rep and business manager, you can evaluate such and judge such far better than I can" Tim said.
"Okay, what's the time frame, and the money ballpark?" Ross asked.
"Ideally, 30 days, but since I know that you still do run a big company and a major oil and gas company in Oklahoma, I can get you 60 Days" Tim said.
"Tim, you know me, buddy. I'm a man of compromise. I dont want to promise you 30 days, and not be ready. I also dont want to take 60 days and drag my feet. How does. 45 days sound?" Ross asked.
Ross and Tim bumped fists lightly in commiseration. "Just fine, buddy. When are you leaving again for the oil land?" Tim asked.
"I wont know until I talk to this foreman's brother later today. You know me, I can bounce back and forth between OKC and here. The teacher may do a bunch of buzzing, but not sting. She knows that we are trying to sell a major gas strike. While I never give her details due to privacy, she knows the basics that you buy and take over a lot of companies, and that I have to do a lot of evaluating for you in addition to your monthly work and PR and marketing campaigns. I will figure it out, Sir Tim, have no fear" Ross said confidently.
Tim smiled. "You've never given me reason to doubt you, my friend and sole business manager" Tim said.
"Tim, seriously, Okay, so say, I take 45 days to evaluate this company hypothetically, just for argument'[s sake. When would you want to have a first conversation with these people?" Ross asked truthfully.
"Again, in the middle is fine. Let's say 21 days. If you find you can do it sooner, tell me, and we will set something up" Tim said.
"Just fine, Tim" Ross said.
Ross and Tim finished lunch, said their goodbyes, and said they would keep in close touch. When Ross got back to the office, he called the oil field and spoke to the foreman.
The foreman had good news for Ross. "Ross, I spoke to my brother. He can meet with us next week. We will speak to him on the phone first, and then, we will have a meeting with my brother, you, Fritz, Steve, and I and get down to the business of just how my brother can help us with this strike. My advice. Come down here next Monday morning, and plan to stay for a few days. Then we can get to work, and hopefully we can have a productive time" The foreman said.
"Just fine. I will call Fritz and Steve now. Thanks, and we will keep in touch" Ross said.
Ross then called Fritz and Steve,. "Guys, just talked to the foreman. He told me that he can introduce us all to his brother next week. I would like to spend this week up here doing work for Tim and RossShell, and then next Monday I will fly down, and we will meet with the foreman and his brother about this gas strike. Hopefully by sometime next week, we will have a deal, and be ready to move this thing" Ross said.
"We know that you have to stay up there sometimes, and take care of your relationships with Miss Kayley and Mister Tim. It's okay. If we need you, there is always the phone, and the computer" Fritz said, as the men hung up.
Ross worked through the day trying to do a first evaluation of the company that Tim had given him. Ross left the office a bit after five, and got home at 615.
"Mmmm, that's nice. Good timing, how are you, Sir Marketing Man?" Kayley said, greeting Ross with a big kiss.
"Just fine, Madam Teacher, and you?" Ross said, kissing Kayley long.
"You look happy tonight" Kayley said.
"Well, hopefully by next week the foreman will begin to introduce us to his brother and we will begin to plan on how we sell this gas strike. I would finally like to start moving this sucker. Oh, and just for laughs, I met Tim for lunch today, and he gave me another company to evaluate within 45 to 60 days" Ross said.
"Just another day in the life of Ross C, the marketing and oil man" Kayley joked.
Ross and Kayley had dinner, made love, and then Ross, never a good sleeper, went into his home office, and began to look at the numbers of the new company that Tim had given him to look over.
It did not look too bad. Yet, Ross had some questions, wrote those out, and planned to call Tim in the next couple of days to discuss the questions.
This "Medium sized company" would likely cost Tim anywhere between 25 and 50 million dollars. Tim was almost a billionaire, and had many interests from companies he bought folded into his main company, product design, product sales, and other interests.
Around 2 am, the teacher entered the den. "Er, no sleep for you, student?" Kayley asked.
"I'm not tired. I'm just looking at something" Ross said.
"You need to take care of yourself" Kayley said, in a pointed but quiet tone.
"I took care of you. I said, I'm not tired. If I have to, I will sleep an hour or two later and go in at ten or eleven. As you have pointed out many times, I run and own the company. I dont punch a time clock" Ross said.
Kayley sat in Ross's lap. "Yes, I know that, but I have also known you for over twenty five years, and when you know someone and love them for that long, you know them better than you know yourself they say. What is really on your mind? I have a strong feeling it is not this company you are pretending to busy your time with for Tim" Kayley said.
Ross sighed. "You caught me I'm antsy. I feel like the gas strike is this huge new toy that I just cant wait to play with. Yet, I feel like it is in a big box that I cannot yet open" Ross said.
"Ross, please. I know that selling this strike is taking longer than putting together your usual gas deal. It is because it is so massive, and you guys have to be so careful with how you deal with it. You will sell it, and when you do begin selling it, you will feel the satisfaction immensely" Kayley said.
"Kale, you do realize that when we sell off this strike and the money is all figured out, I'm going to begin to figure out how to pack RossShell in" Ross said with a serious tone to his voice.
Kayley cackled. "Now where have I heard that before? You were running a nice , small company called RossCo after you lost RossShell to Tazzio. When you got RossShell back from Tazzio, you were supposed to scale it down, and never did, and instead have been ever expanding it like wildfire with one new account after the next, and hiring one new marketing person after the next" Kayley said truthfully.
Ross sighed. "I know. However, with each expansion, and new deal which Ross, Fritz, and me do, I get more immersed in Oil and Gas all the time. I almost feel like RossShell is an unneeded burden , Kale, in which I created the monster for myself. We both know that oil and gas has become like a business addiction for me, the way that RossShell used to be. I am finding that any major decision I make for RossShell almost annoys me. Anytime I get a chance to go to OKC for Fritz and Steve, you know that I almost always drop everything, and run. I am going to respect your right to work as long as you desire, and to retire only when you want to, Babe. You have earned that right, and that is what a husband who loves his wife as much as I love you, does. I might get bored with RossShell when I';m not in OKC, but, if RossShell is not the burden that it now is or used to be, maybe when we are not doing oil and gas deals, Fritz , Steve and me can do building or partner up with other people in office developments or something like that. I dont know. This time I am more serious about scaling down RossShell than ever, and I am not saying that in an angry or off handed tone. I have been thinking about this for a long time, with each deal we do that expands the oil and gas company, and now especially with this massive Gas strike" Ross said.
Kayley could see from Ross's eyes, his face, and his tone, that this time he really was serious.
"Babe, you know that I love you, and support any decision you make. We both know that even if you do come to this decision as a final one, you will never completely "Pack RossShell in" You will keep Tim and anyone he refers you to, scale down the company like you did before by referring the less important clients to other firms. Keep Victor, a secretary, and a few other people, get a smaller office like you used to have, and simplify your business life. This way, if you have to fly off to OKC for a day or two, all you will be leaving business wise then is a small or medium sized company, and maybe one slightly ticked off teacher. I would support this decision one hundred and one percent. I worry more about your obsession and your health even more than the days we spend apart. You know that" Kayley said.
"I know., Let's go back to sleep. I will go back to bed with you, try to sleep, and then go in tomorrow and get home at a reasonable hour. This week I do have to evaluate this company for Tim in a normal manner. OKC with the foreman's contacts are not until next week. I have important work to do for Tim before that, and I have important things to take care of with you" Ross said.,
"Oh, and what might those be with me?" Kayley asked off handishly
"Well, let's see. More feeling, more holding and kissing, more sex. I have to satisfy you as a husband in every way" Ross said.
Kayley kissed Ross. "You already do" She said.
Ross and Kayley went back to bed, and the next morning, Kayley dressed for work, while Ross sleepily rolled over.
"Please just rest and dont go in until ten. I will not watch the clock even if you come home tonight at seven or seven thirty" Kayley said.
"I will be home by seven. Ten to six in the office and home by seven is enough. I want to delve into the details of this company today, and see if I can make first calls to people I know and about this company. I hope that this is a nice, straight buy,. As you and me know well, when Tim and me do business, nothing seems to go as it should" Ross said.
Kayley kissed Ross goodbye. Ross left the apartment at nine, and got in by ten.
"Vic, please dont disturb me or have anyone disturb me unless its about Tim,. Fritz, Steve, Dave or Larry. Tim gave me this project to do, and I must finish it within a certain time" Ross said.
"Of course, Ross" Vic said.
Ross was evaluating the company, and playing with the situation. Close to noon, his cell phone which was sitting on his desk rang. It was Tim.
"Ross, we may have a problem. The people who are trying to sell me this company are squeezing me so to say. They want the company evaluated and for me to make an offer by the close of business on Friday" Tim said.
Ross was dumbfounded. "What The Hell, Tim? How can I evaluate a company and a deal of this size in a complete manner in one business week? That is unrealistic. We both know it, and I honestly think they do too" Ross said.
"I will tell you what. Work on it today. We will meet for an early dinner tonight. Just do the best you can. If you think I should buy it in your first opinion, tell me to go for it. I will make them a lowball offer, and will in no way hold you responsible if it does not work" Tim said.
"Straight question, my friend Tim. Would you be willing to walk away saying that we have not had sufficient time to look over this company?" Ross asked.
"The thing is this. What I really want to do, is to combine this company with another small company I already own, and flip it to another guy for a profit. I dont know the exact amount yet, but it will be a decent sized profit, and I have to do it soon. That is why time is of the essence, and why I will not hold you responsible in any way if you evaluate this company for me and turn out to be wrong" Tim said.
Ross sighed. "Okay. Even though you are my best friend. You are also my client, and I have to honor your wishes. As you said, I will give you my best opinion, and then proceed as you want me to, as I always do" Ross said.
"Shun Lee at six. We will discuss this, and see what to do" Tim said.
"Okay, client and best friend. See you then" Ross said.
Ross clicked off Tim and felt really, really uncomfortable.
Why was the other side, and for that matter, why was Tim so almost adamant on trying to close a deal on a company in one week, when it usually always took Ross between 30 and 90 days to evaluate a company for Tim, meet with the other owners, and put together the deal? What were the conditions that really did exist with this deal for Tim?
Those would be seen.
After exchanging pleasantries, and ordering drinks and lunch, Tim handed Ross a large folder of sheets.
"This is the next company that I'm thinking of buying. Let's just say that I would call it about "Medium Sized" However, I know that with you being my marketing and PR rep and business manager, you can evaluate such and judge such far better than I can" Tim said.
"Okay, what's the time frame, and the money ballpark?" Ross asked.
"Ideally, 30 days, but since I know that you still do run a big company and a major oil and gas company in Oklahoma, I can get you 60 Days" Tim said.
"Tim, you know me, buddy. I'm a man of compromise. I dont want to promise you 30 days, and not be ready. I also dont want to take 60 days and drag my feet. How does. 45 days sound?" Ross asked.
Ross and Tim bumped fists lightly in commiseration. "Just fine, buddy. When are you leaving again for the oil land?" Tim asked.
"I wont know until I talk to this foreman's brother later today. You know me, I can bounce back and forth between OKC and here. The teacher may do a bunch of buzzing, but not sting. She knows that we are trying to sell a major gas strike. While I never give her details due to privacy, she knows the basics that you buy and take over a lot of companies, and that I have to do a lot of evaluating for you in addition to your monthly work and PR and marketing campaigns. I will figure it out, Sir Tim, have no fear" Ross said confidently.
Tim smiled. "You've never given me reason to doubt you, my friend and sole business manager" Tim said.
"Tim, seriously, Okay, so say, I take 45 days to evaluate this company hypothetically, just for argument'[s sake. When would you want to have a first conversation with these people?" Ross asked truthfully.
"Again, in the middle is fine. Let's say 21 days. If you find you can do it sooner, tell me, and we will set something up" Tim said.
"Just fine, Tim" Ross said.
Ross and Tim finished lunch, said their goodbyes, and said they would keep in close touch. When Ross got back to the office, he called the oil field and spoke to the foreman.
The foreman had good news for Ross. "Ross, I spoke to my brother. He can meet with us next week. We will speak to him on the phone first, and then, we will have a meeting with my brother, you, Fritz, Steve, and I and get down to the business of just how my brother can help us with this strike. My advice. Come down here next Monday morning, and plan to stay for a few days. Then we can get to work, and hopefully we can have a productive time" The foreman said.
"Just fine. I will call Fritz and Steve now. Thanks, and we will keep in touch" Ross said.
Ross then called Fritz and Steve,. "Guys, just talked to the foreman. He told me that he can introduce us all to his brother next week. I would like to spend this week up here doing work for Tim and RossShell, and then next Monday I will fly down, and we will meet with the foreman and his brother about this gas strike. Hopefully by sometime next week, we will have a deal, and be ready to move this thing" Ross said.
"We know that you have to stay up there sometimes, and take care of your relationships with Miss Kayley and Mister Tim. It's okay. If we need you, there is always the phone, and the computer" Fritz said, as the men hung up.
Ross worked through the day trying to do a first evaluation of the company that Tim had given him. Ross left the office a bit after five, and got home at 615.
"Mmmm, that's nice. Good timing, how are you, Sir Marketing Man?" Kayley said, greeting Ross with a big kiss.
"Just fine, Madam Teacher, and you?" Ross said, kissing Kayley long.
"You look happy tonight" Kayley said.
"Well, hopefully by next week the foreman will begin to introduce us to his brother and we will begin to plan on how we sell this gas strike. I would finally like to start moving this sucker. Oh, and just for laughs, I met Tim for lunch today, and he gave me another company to evaluate within 45 to 60 days" Ross said.
"Just another day in the life of Ross C, the marketing and oil man" Kayley joked.
Ross and Kayley had dinner, made love, and then Ross, never a good sleeper, went into his home office, and began to look at the numbers of the new company that Tim had given him to look over.
It did not look too bad. Yet, Ross had some questions, wrote those out, and planned to call Tim in the next couple of days to discuss the questions.
This "Medium sized company" would likely cost Tim anywhere between 25 and 50 million dollars. Tim was almost a billionaire, and had many interests from companies he bought folded into his main company, product design, product sales, and other interests.
Around 2 am, the teacher entered the den. "Er, no sleep for you, student?" Kayley asked.
"I'm not tired. I'm just looking at something" Ross said.
"You need to take care of yourself" Kayley said, in a pointed but quiet tone.
"I took care of you. I said, I'm not tired. If I have to, I will sleep an hour or two later and go in at ten or eleven. As you have pointed out many times, I run and own the company. I dont punch a time clock" Ross said.
Kayley sat in Ross's lap. "Yes, I know that, but I have also known you for over twenty five years, and when you know someone and love them for that long, you know them better than you know yourself they say. What is really on your mind? I have a strong feeling it is not this company you are pretending to busy your time with for Tim" Kayley said.
Ross sighed. "You caught me I'm antsy. I feel like the gas strike is this huge new toy that I just cant wait to play with. Yet, I feel like it is in a big box that I cannot yet open" Ross said.
"Ross, please. I know that selling this strike is taking longer than putting together your usual gas deal. It is because it is so massive, and you guys have to be so careful with how you deal with it. You will sell it, and when you do begin selling it, you will feel the satisfaction immensely" Kayley said.
"Kale, you do realize that when we sell off this strike and the money is all figured out, I'm going to begin to figure out how to pack RossShell in" Ross said with a serious tone to his voice.
Kayley cackled. "Now where have I heard that before? You were running a nice , small company called RossCo after you lost RossShell to Tazzio. When you got RossShell back from Tazzio, you were supposed to scale it down, and never did, and instead have been ever expanding it like wildfire with one new account after the next, and hiring one new marketing person after the next" Kayley said truthfully.
Ross sighed. "I know. However, with each expansion, and new deal which Ross, Fritz, and me do, I get more immersed in Oil and Gas all the time. I almost feel like RossShell is an unneeded burden , Kale, in which I created the monster for myself. We both know that oil and gas has become like a business addiction for me, the way that RossShell used to be. I am finding that any major decision I make for RossShell almost annoys me. Anytime I get a chance to go to OKC for Fritz and Steve, you know that I almost always drop everything, and run. I am going to respect your right to work as long as you desire, and to retire only when you want to, Babe. You have earned that right, and that is what a husband who loves his wife as much as I love you, does. I might get bored with RossShell when I';m not in OKC, but, if RossShell is not the burden that it now is or used to be, maybe when we are not doing oil and gas deals, Fritz , Steve and me can do building or partner up with other people in office developments or something like that. I dont know. This time I am more serious about scaling down RossShell than ever, and I am not saying that in an angry or off handed tone. I have been thinking about this for a long time, with each deal we do that expands the oil and gas company, and now especially with this massive Gas strike" Ross said.
Kayley could see from Ross's eyes, his face, and his tone, that this time he really was serious.
"Babe, you know that I love you, and support any decision you make. We both know that even if you do come to this decision as a final one, you will never completely "Pack RossShell in" You will keep Tim and anyone he refers you to, scale down the company like you did before by referring the less important clients to other firms. Keep Victor, a secretary, and a few other people, get a smaller office like you used to have, and simplify your business life. This way, if you have to fly off to OKC for a day or two, all you will be leaving business wise then is a small or medium sized company, and maybe one slightly ticked off teacher. I would support this decision one hundred and one percent. I worry more about your obsession and your health even more than the days we spend apart. You know that" Kayley said.
"I know., Let's go back to sleep. I will go back to bed with you, try to sleep, and then go in tomorrow and get home at a reasonable hour. This week I do have to evaluate this company for Tim in a normal manner. OKC with the foreman's contacts are not until next week. I have important work to do for Tim before that, and I have important things to take care of with you" Ross said.,
"Oh, and what might those be with me?" Kayley asked off handishly
"Well, let's see. More feeling, more holding and kissing, more sex. I have to satisfy you as a husband in every way" Ross said.
Kayley kissed Ross. "You already do" She said.
Ross and Kayley went back to bed, and the next morning, Kayley dressed for work, while Ross sleepily rolled over.
"Please just rest and dont go in until ten. I will not watch the clock even if you come home tonight at seven or seven thirty" Kayley said.
"I will be home by seven. Ten to six in the office and home by seven is enough. I want to delve into the details of this company today, and see if I can make first calls to people I know and about this company. I hope that this is a nice, straight buy,. As you and me know well, when Tim and me do business, nothing seems to go as it should" Ross said.
Kayley kissed Ross goodbye. Ross left the apartment at nine, and got in by ten.
"Vic, please dont disturb me or have anyone disturb me unless its about Tim,. Fritz, Steve, Dave or Larry. Tim gave me this project to do, and I must finish it within a certain time" Ross said.
"Of course, Ross" Vic said.
Ross was evaluating the company, and playing with the situation. Close to noon, his cell phone which was sitting on his desk rang. It was Tim.
"Ross, we may have a problem. The people who are trying to sell me this company are squeezing me so to say. They want the company evaluated and for me to make an offer by the close of business on Friday" Tim said.
Ross was dumbfounded. "What The Hell, Tim? How can I evaluate a company and a deal of this size in a complete manner in one business week? That is unrealistic. We both know it, and I honestly think they do too" Ross said.
"I will tell you what. Work on it today. We will meet for an early dinner tonight. Just do the best you can. If you think I should buy it in your first opinion, tell me to go for it. I will make them a lowball offer, and will in no way hold you responsible if it does not work" Tim said.
"Straight question, my friend Tim. Would you be willing to walk away saying that we have not had sufficient time to look over this company?" Ross asked.
"The thing is this. What I really want to do, is to combine this company with another small company I already own, and flip it to another guy for a profit. I dont know the exact amount yet, but it will be a decent sized profit, and I have to do it soon. That is why time is of the essence, and why I will not hold you responsible in any way if you evaluate this company for me and turn out to be wrong" Tim said.
Ross sighed. "Okay. Even though you are my best friend. You are also my client, and I have to honor your wishes. As you said, I will give you my best opinion, and then proceed as you want me to, as I always do" Ross said.
"Shun Lee at six. We will discuss this, and see what to do" Tim said.
"Okay, client and best friend. See you then" Ross said.
Ross clicked off Tim and felt really, really uncomfortable.
Why was the other side, and for that matter, why was Tim so almost adamant on trying to close a deal on a company in one week, when it usually always took Ross between 30 and 90 days to evaluate a company for Tim, meet with the other owners, and put together the deal? What were the conditions that really did exist with this deal for Tim?
Those would be seen.
