“I didn’t realize it was so bad outside the States,” Eldon admitted. “Even here, I know you still have your detractors. I was in the employee cafeteria last week and browsed through one of those freebie shopping magazines. Ran across an ad for a group called The White Supremes. They’re collecting LGBT names, phone numbers, and addresses on their website, claiming that once they take control of Congress, everyone on the list will be rounded up for extermination. Gays are referred to as sodomites. They claim all lesbians belong to witch covens. They’re even collecting names of gay-friendly businesses and family members to be included in the big purge that’s coming. Whatdya make of all that, Eric?”
“Scares the hell outa me!” Eric scowled.
“Really?” Eldon frowned. “I thought you’d tell me it was just a lot of harmless nonsense. I hope those lunatics never get any real power in this country. Damn rednecks and their guns! I blame the NRA lobby for all this gun violence.”
“Why the National Rifle Association?” Eric asked.
“They’re the only people who think those zombie apocalypse movies are documentaries rather than science fiction!” Eldon sputtered. “By clinging to a strict interpretation of the second amendment, they’ve enabled every nut in the country to get their hands on assault rifles. The second amendment was written when the weapon of choice was a single shot musket. It needs to be updated to keep a few crazies from turning this country upside down.”
“I’m afraid there are more than just a few crazies,” Eric replied. “You know what a hate crime is, Eldon?”
“Sure,” Eldon nodded. “It’s a crime motived by prejudice, targeting a person because they belong to a particular group.”
“Exactly!” Eric nodded. “Violent hate crimes are mostly directed at people because of their race, religion, gender, or sexual identity. The FBI began collecting hate crime statistics in the 1990s, but reporting is voluntary and varies widely from state to state. Most experts believe the FBI stats are only a fraction of the real number of hate crimes. It’s estimated there are about 300,000 hate crimes each year, mostly targeting blacks, Jews, Muslims, and the LGBT community.”
“I didn’t realize there’s so many,” Eldon admitted quietly.
“We’ve made some progress since I was born,” Eric conceded. “Back then when a gay, non-white, or non-Christian was brutally murdered, the straight, white, Christian majority took as much notice as a driver hitting a small animal on the highway. Today, it’s become politically incorrect to applaud the murder of gays, non-whites, and non-Christians, but the killing continues. That’s about the only difference I can see.”
“How do we stop that?” Eldon asked.
“All the bigots will have to die of old age, without passing on their prejudice to their offspring,” Eric replied.
“That’ll take a long time!” Eldon scoffed. “You think that’s even possible?”
“Not sure,” Eric shrugged. “Look, bigotry is learned, it’s not inherited like brown eyes or blond hair. Put a baby in a room with other babies of different colors, genders, religions, and nationalities, and the baby will play with all of them. By the time that baby reaches double digits, its friends and family have passed on their prejudices. When small children see two men or two women kissing, it doesn’t make them sick to their stomach. How come it makes white supremacists, evangelicals, and militant Muslims sick? That’s a learned response. We either need to stop teaching prejudice or figure out a way to help people unlearn their hateful beliefs.”
“Pretty big challenge,” Eldon nodded. “You have a strategy for everything, so what’s your strategy to deal with homophobic crazies?”
“First, I take them seriously,” Eric replied. “Second, when the leader of the crazies grabs the highest political office in the country, I’ll quietly pack my things and move to a more secure location.”
“So your strategy is to run?” Eldon frowned.
“My strategy is to live to fight another day,” Eric smiled. “Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, and immediately began turning the country into a police state. It was no secret he and the Nazis hated Jews, gays, gypsies, trade unions, aristocrats, and communists. All those groups had more than six years to pack up and get out before the war started and borders were sealed. Most of them stayed put, with many dying in concentration camps. I would have been on the first flight out of Germany after Hitler took power. A few Jews saw the handwriting on the wall and fled to England and the States. Some even returned as soldiers a few years later to fight the Nazis. I don’t think there’s anything heroic about waiting around to be marched to the gas chamber. At the first sign the homophobic, racist crazies are getting any real power, you bet I’ll take off. I’ll find a secure location where I can wage my own fight on behalf of everyone treated unfairly just because of their DNA or religious beliefs.”
Looking troubled, Eldon sighed deeply. “I was born after the Great Depression and WWII, but my parents told me about that period. The rise of nationalism. Isolationists wanting to bury their heads in the sand. Rampant racism and bigotry. Everyone looking for someone to blame for the Depression. Many parallels to what’s happening today. Choosing leaders based on who thumps their chest loudest just like caveman days. I worry, but still hope we can find more sane solutions today.”
Realizing the conversation had taken an ugly twist, Eric quickly changed gears. “How do you think Sol’s gonna like our little surprise, Eldon?”
“I can’t wait to see the look on his face!” Eldon crowed. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, where did you learn so much about hostile takeovers? You weren’t involved in any at InterNorth Bank, yet you’ve quarterbacked this deal like a veteran.”
Eric chuckled, surprised no one had asked earlier. “I became fascinated with valuation techniques in grad school. There are dozens of methods, but no single method is right all the time. It was the subject of my master’s thesis and the more I read, the more I became convinced it was an area with lots of opportunity. I also realized knowing the rules of the game would be enormously valuable. I’ve read every article and textbook on corporate mergers, especially hostile takeovers. You might say I’m a home-schooled takeover expert.”
“Looks like all that knowledge is about to pay off big time,” Eldon winked.
Eric and Eldon met Brandon Hays at LaGuardia Airport. Brandon briefed them as the NEI limo drove them to Sol Samuel’s Manhattan office.
“Wait’ll you two meet this pig!” Brandon sputtered. “He’s a walking sewer.”
“Sorry to put you through that agony, Brandon, but we needed the extra day,” Eric assured NEI’s General Counsel.
“Did you get it?” Brandon asked.
Eric patted his briefcase. “It’s in here.”
All three men glowed with anticipation. Brandon summed up their feelings best. “God, this is gonna be great!”
When everyone was seated in his office, Sol put his feet up on his desk and lit a cigar. A short, squat man with a full beard and sideburns, Sol could easily have passed for a rabbi or Amish farmer until he opened his mouth.
“I don’t know why we’re meetin’ again today,” Sol sneered. “I thought I told your friend Brandy I ain’t changed my mind. So, whatdya want today?”
Eric glared at his coarse adversary. He was glad Sol Samuels was despicable. It made what he was about to do much easier. “Mr. Samuels, do you know what day it is?”
“You the faggot in the bunch?” Sol snickered. “I heard Vincent’s hiring queers these days. Do I know what day it is? It’s goddamn Tuesday, you fudgepacker!”
“I meant the calendar date,” Eric clarified in a crisp voice. Sol was getting to Eric much more quickly than he had imagined possible.
“Jesus H. Key-rist! What is this? Some frickin’ quiz show? It’s November 1. Okay? What do I win?” Sol yelled.
Eric lost his patience with Sol. As much as he wanted to bait Sol slowly, he also wanted to spring his surprise. The entire MPC had voted to le
t Eric uncork the bad news for Sol. After all, it was Eric’s idea.
“That’s right, you slob. November 1. Payday.” Eric stood and walked toward Sol, speaking through clenched teeth. Though Sol Samuels was not easily intimidated, Eric’s expression made Sol wiggle nervously. “This bond requires you to pay interest in the amount of $15 million dollars to the holder prior to the last day of each month. According to our records, you never made your October payment. We’re exercising the call provision of this note.” Eric tossed a copy of the note into Sol’s lap. With a quick swipe of his right hand, Eric knocked Sol’s feet off the desk. “Keep your cloven hooves off our furniture.”
Confused and shaken, Sol looked at the bond bearing his signature. “Where’d you get this?”
“From a mutual friend,” Eric grinned. “We paid a hefty premium to find out who was funding this transaction for you, and an even bigger premium to buy this note, but I think it’s going to prove to be one of NEI’s better investments. This bearer bond states if you default on the interest payment for as short a period as twenty-four hours, the bondholder can seize all the collateral. You pledged NEI stock and your own corporation as collateral, sleazeball! It’s exactly what I hoped you’d do to get a lower interest rate. Not only do we get our stock back, we get your company! I figure that jewel of a shipping line you built should fetch twenty billion dollars. You wouldn’t happen to know any potential buyers, would you, Sol?”
“You crooks!” Sol screamed. “Goddamn criminals! First you get a court order to delay the takeover. Then you get the IRS to freeze my funds while they go over my books. Now this!”
Eldon had to speak. “People like you, Sol, count on people like us to walk the straight and narrow path. It makes us attractive targets. It’s time you found out what it feels like to have the system used against you. You’ve been tap-dancing on other people’s tombstones too long. I’d say it’s been a pleasure, Sol, but it hasn’t. We have a court order for you to vacate these premises, so move your fat ass outa here, Sol! If you insist on staying, the three of us will help you find your way outside. Perhaps the fast way…..through a window!”
Sol scampered out of the office, cursing them as he promised revenge.
After a celebratory luncheon and several phone calls to Minneapolis, the NEI team returned to the corporate jet for the flight home. Eldon and Brandon were exhilarated by their victory, but alarmed when they saw Eric eyeing the bar.
“Don’t even think about it, Eric!” Eldon warned, crossing the cabin to close the bar.
Brandon stood behind Eric and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Still hard for you, huh?”
“Yeah,” Eric admitted. “Funny thing is, it’s hardest when things are going best. Guess I don’t feel like I deserve to be successful.”
Brandon nodded his understanding. “Impostor syndrome? I’ve heard of it. Well, I can tell you this, Eric Price. You’re no impostor. You’re a damn bright guy. We pulled off one of the slickest reverse takeovers in history. There’s no doubt about who deserves the credit. I want you to know it’s not only been fun working with you, it’s been a privilege. Honest.”
“Ditto for me,” Eldon chimed in.
“It’s not over yet,” Eric reminded them. “You can bet Sol’s filing suit against us right now.”
“And we’ll file countersuit,” Brandon assured Eric. “We’ll win, too. We played this nice and legal. It’s my baby from here, and I couldn’t ask for progeny with better papers.”
Eric finally felt better. He realized how timely his earlier conversation had been with Eldon since he found himself longing for someone special to share his triumph with. Lost in his own thoughts, Eric drifted off to sleep while Brandon and Eldon continued discussing their strategy to deal with Sol’s likely lawsuit. Eric had been napping for twenty minutes when Eldon turned to ask for his opinion.
Seeing Eric sleeping, Eldon motioned Brandon over to the bar. “Let’s grab a drink and continue chatting upstairs. Eric can use the rest.”
“Eldon, you’re about as close to him as anyone. Think he’ll stay on at NEI? Maybe even become Vincent’s successor?”
Eldon shrugged. “I think he can have just about anything he wants. I’m sure he could have Vincent’s job tomorrow if he wanted it. Eric’s too much of a gentleman to push the old man aside, so Vincent will have to retire or die for Eric to become CEO. That may take some time and Eric doesn’t appear to be the waiting kind.”
“So where does a guy like Eric go from here?”
Eldon stirred his drink with his pinkie for a few seconds. “I’m not much for reading tea leaves, but just this once I’ll give it a shot. A guy like Eric knows where he’s going, but seldom bothers to draw a roadmap for the rest of us. I think NEI is just a stopping off place. My guess is Eric wants to build his own company from the ground up.”
“You really think a lot of him, don’t you, Eldon?”
“Yeah, I do. Most of the time Eric’s proper and sociable. In private, a warm, vulnerable part of Eric peeks out through the starch and creases. He’s a decent man who expects other people to be decent. God help the poor son-of-a-bitch who betrays his trust. We’ve seen his anger when he’s focused and controlled. I’ll bet he’s absolutely terrifying when he loses the tight grip he usually maintains!”
Eric spent the next several months visiting NEI facilities around the globe, each trip accompanied by a different senior executive. He knew chatting in their offices would be a waste of time since people tend to play games on their own turf. Away from corporate headquarters, they would all be on unfamiliar ground. He wanted them to see what he saw. That way it was easier to gain their commitment later. Instead of ordering change, Eric discussed ideas with line managers who had direct responsibility, giving them an opportunity to make changes on their own.
To help stay sober, Eric also made sure he knew where and when nearby AA meetings were held when he traveled. His NEI field trips had the side benefit of helping him develop an international network of gays and recovering alcoholics. Stories he heard from gays in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia gave him new appreciation for the freedom he enjoyed as a U.S. citizen.
By the end of Eric’s first year at NEI, the company began to emerge from its slump. The most obvious problems were corrected quickly and relatively painlessly. Representatives from the investment community were invited to corporate headquarters and given lengthy briefings regarding changes on the drawing board for the next several years. Senior management concerns melted away as Eric involved them in the change process. The single item which left most NEI executives scratching their heads was his indifference to public recognition. It seemed as if Eric avoided the spotlight, allowing others to announce major moves he had actually initiated. As his fellow managers basked in their glory, Eric sat in the audience applauding.
CHAPTER 10
Castro Street, San Francisco
“Don’t turn around right away, but there’s a guy I want you to see. And don’t be real obvious about it, okay?”
Doing exactly the opposite, Ron turned around to gawk, then realized Blaine had not described the man. “Which one?”
“You ass!” Blaine hissed. “I told you not to turn around, but noooooooo, you turn around anyway! I can’t take you anywhere without being embarrassed.”
Ignoring Blaine’s scolding as he always had during their fifteen-year friendship, Ron asked casually, “Will you tell me which one he is? Or am I gonna hafta beat it outa you?”
Blaine hesitated, then his anger passed. He and Ron had been friends since they were ten years old and had never stayed mad at each other more than a few minutes. “He’s wearing a black leather jacket, faded black jeans, black boots, has black hair and dark skin. Really into the dark look.”
Ron turned again and spotted the man who had captured Blaine’s attention. Leaning against a brick storefront thirty feet away, he stared sullenly at Ron and Blaine.
“Did somebody order an extra creepy leather clone?”
Ron snickered. “Not really my type, Blaine. He’s all yours. Don’t know why you go for those beastie boys. Bet he’ll give you a good working over!”
Blaine spun around on one heel. “God, I think he’s so hot! Just looking at him scares the crap outa me. I’d love to get pumped by him. Bet he’s a dockworker. Probably strong as a horse and hung like one, too!”
“Go get him, girl!” Ron urged his roommate.
Blaine turned coy, knowing his slim figure, long blond hair, and seductive manner excited butch men in black. On the other hand, Ron’s preppy look tended to garner more attention on their trips to LA and San Diego. Blaine seldom had difficulty approaching the strong, silent type, then wangling an invitation home. He wanted the man in black, but he didn’t want to be alone with him.
“Up for a three-way tonight?” Blaine purred.
Ron frowned. “Don’t think so.”
“I can’t do this alone,” Blaine whined. “Come with me. Just to talk. If we hit it off, you can disappear, all right?”
Ron agreed reluctantly. He would do almost anything for Blaine, especially since Blaine’s breakup with his last boyfriend.
As they approached the man in black, Ron flashed a friendly grin. “Black is definitely your color, isn’t it?”
The man in black glared at them.
“I’m Ron. This is my friend, Blaine. And you are…..?”
“Mark,” the man in black replied.
“Nice to meet you, Mark,” Ron smiled. “I bet conversation isn’t your strong suit, is it?”
Mark flicked a lit cigarette past Ron, missing him by several inches. Staring at Blaine, he said, “If you want a man tonight, let’s go to your place.”
Ron blinked at Blaine. “Doesn’t say much, but she gets her point across.”
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