by Joe Corso
“Yes. Especially Susan Slay. The girl acted very professionally under trying circumstances and that impressed me. Tell her she’s getting a 25% increase in salary. Now let’s talk about you, Jason. What do you make a year, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I take out about $100,000.00 in salary before taxes.”
“Well suppose we give you $200,000.00 after taxes. Would that work for you?”
Jason smiled like the Cheshire Cat. “It sounds great to me, but - er, well.”
“Spit it out, Jason. What’s on your mind?”
For the first time since John W met him, Sweeney appeared nervous. “Well, it’s not that I don’t trust you, Mr. Christo, but is an employment contract part of this deal?”
“Of course it is, you dolt. You don’t think I’d take your company and hang you out to dry like McCormack would? After all, you worked hard to build the company that I’m buying from you and I want you protected. You’ll still be running the company. And that goes for you too, Jerry.” John W looked around the room at the happy faces of these men. “Look guys. I’m not an idiot. I don’t just go around handing out money to just anybody. You guys are now a big part of my inner circle. I trust you men. When the chips were down, you performed brilliantly.”
As he was giving his little speech, he noticed the two new security men sitting in the rear near the door. “And you two,” he said, pointing to them. “You guys are new here, but since I’m in a generous mood, handing out raises to everyone, I’m including you two. Lee, what are you paying these men?”
Lee didn’t hesitate in answering. “They’re earning $55,000.00 a year, plus bennies.”
John W shook his head. “That’s not enough money for these men to live on. Give them $80,000.00 a year, plus benefits.”
The two men broke out into smiles and one whispered to the other. “I had a good feeling about this place when I first came here.”
John motioned to Lee to get his attention as he was talking to the two men.
“Yes, Mr. Christo?”
“The other men you hired. You might as well increase their salaries as well. We’ll be growing fast as a company now and I’ll need their loyalties if I’m to do what I have planned. Assign one of the men as Persistent’s assistant. In reality, he’ll be his bodyguard. It’ll be a good opportunity for the young man to get to pick Persistent’s mind and to grow with the company. All of you people in this room can expect to get rich as the companies grow. But I insist on loyalty.” His face contorted into a mask of hatred and his voice conveyed a sinister tone. They knew that whatever he was about to say to them would be chilling. He spoke slowly and his words carried the inflection of his message. “If I ever discover that one of you has betrayed me, I’ll see to it that you rot in hell. I’ll destroy you so thoroughly it will be as though you never existed.” It was as if his words sucked all the air out of the room and they were sitting in a vacuum. The benevolent good man that they knew as John Christo had become the personification of evil. Evil for just that one moment, but that moment was enough. The message got through to everyone in that room and the men had a newfound respect for their boss, John Christo. John had to do what he did. He had to let them know that while he was a generous man, he was also a man who would destroy anyone who betrayed him. He spent seven years in prison on a trumped up charge and he swore he would never let that happen again. These men had to know what would happen to them if they ever betrayed his trust, so he laid down the ground rules that these men had to follow.
“Gentlemen,” he said. “With me, there is no grey area. It’s only black or white. Either you’re with me one hundred percent or you are my enemy. I can’t put it any simpler than that. Be loyal and I’ll make all of you rich men. Betray me and I’ll destroy you. Simple isn’t it?”
The sleek black limo pulled to the curb in front of the Hayes Real Estate Company.
“Do you want me to come in with you, Mr. Christo?”
“No, Angelo. I just want to have a few words with Mr. Hayes. It won’t take me long.” John W opened the door, asked the receptionist if Mr. Hayes was in, and handed her his card. As soon as she told Hayes who was asking for him, his door opened and Hayes came rushing out.
“Mr. Christo. Please come into my office with me.”
When they were seated, John looked at him and said. “There’s something I have to confess to you, Mr. Hayes.”
“You, Mr. Christo, have something to confess to me?”
“Yes. Please don’t interrupt me while I tell you a little story.” John W. Hardin explained everything that happened to him from the time he was put in jail until this moment.
“My God, boy. You’ve changed so much, I never would have recognized you. Not in a million years would I have recognized you.”
“I couldn’t take the chance on telling you before this. I didn’t want McCormack to know that Mr. Christo was in fact John W. Hardin . . . at least not until I was ready for him to know. Money changes a man Mr. Hayes. With money, I found the confidence I lacked when I was penniless. When I was finally free, I took a year off and traveled through Europe. I hired a tutor who taught me etiquette. I bought the finest clothes I could buy. I learned how rich men dressed and acted, and I emulated them. I transformed myself like a chameleon and became John Christo. Mr. Hayes, you have always shown my mother and me kindness, and I would like to return it. I want you to move your corporate offices into my building. You will manage my properties for me, plus you can run your business from there. After all, I’m not asking you to leave the state. I’m asking you to move from here and into my building. I want to do something for you so that you will never have to worry about anything ever again.”
Hayes looked at John W and saw the young man he gave the property to and the memory caused a tear to trickle down the right side of his face. He turned as he wiped it with his hanky.
John waited for Hayes to get his emotions under control, and then he asked him, “Is Virginia still staying with her aunt?”
“Why, no. Now that McCormack is no longer a threat, she’s back home.”
John’s heart leaped with anticipation. “Is she at home now?”
Hayes was smiling now. “Yes. Do you want me to call her for you?”
“No. I’d rather go there and surprise her.”
“Well, she’s been pining away for that young rascal John W. Hardin for seven years now. So I guess she’ll still be there waiting for him.”
John’s heart leaped a little higher. “Gee, thanks, Mr. Hayes.”
Hayes shook his head and smiled. Here was this sophisticated young billionaire, acting just like the kid he used to be. Hayes was thoroughly enjoying the change in the boy. John W no longer had to be wary of danger or treachery. He was among friends here and he could let his guard down, at least for the moment. Hayes watched him bound out of the office and get into his limo. He was heading to the girl he never stopped loving and who still loved him. Hayes couldn’t resist. He picked up the phone and dialed his daughter. It looked as if he would be attending his daughter’s wedding at last.