My World Domination System

Chapter 11 - Think About This

A horror-stricken Amber pulled Benjamin Black away from the crowd of astonished faces and the pallor expressions of Mardo Wormwood and Claire Black.

"What are you thinking?" she asked as they approached one of the ticketing counters. Benjamin didn't respond immediately, his body only moving deliriously when Amber grabbed him, and his eyes still set on WormWood.

“Hmm?” he half-mouthed at her question.

Amber looked around for the Bank Manager. She saw him emerging out of a hidden hallway, laden with paperwork that rose from his hands to above his head, and still not enough to cover that wrinkly crooked smile of his. It was going to rain a payday of commissions for this Skaling Bank Branch.

"We should leave now." Amber put it bluntly. "If you tell the Bank Manager it was just an honest overstep on your part, we can still avoid this. That man will still lose his stake in the bank, and you'll be in the good light."

"What?" That seemed to jolt Benjamin back to reality. "Why would I do that?" he asked seriously. Amber remained silent. Perhaps she had been too quick to judge Benjamin as some white knight. Isn't it the absolute truth that money corrupts even the most crystal clear of hearts?

"This will teach him to shut up" said Benjamin, becoming a little restless at her silence.

"I didn't know you were a man of impulse and careless words, Benjamin." she replied.

"Excuse Me?"

"What about the promise you made to me? Did you really mean to honour that?" she asked.

"Of course, I will! What do you take me for? This is just $20 million. A lot's more where that came from."

"Have you ever owned a cable company, Benjamin?" she asked.

"Hmm? No. Why?"

"This isn't like starting a YouTube channel. First, you need to buy a satellite and launch that into space. Did I say one Satellite? I meant a whole lot. One would set you back about a million dollars."

"O-kay" Benjamin followed.

"Next is content. What are people watching? When are they watching? Once you miraculously figure that out considering the fact that you're new in the industry, you have to start paying for sets, actors, and most importantly, marketing. Of course, Nobody's ever heard of you. Last I heard, Aircable and Dim-Warner paid about $30 million each in marketing in 2022, and an extra $10 during the Superbowl. For one year."

"Uhh...."

"Finally, it'd take nothing short of a world miracle to make any of your money back. What year do you think this is? Nobody's turning on cable when there's N*****x, HBO Max and the entire multiverse of streaming services. Why on earth do you think this man is trying to get the Sports rights? It's the only way Aircable is bound to survive. They must be in dire patches about now."

Benjamin Black closed his eyes and stroked his chin tentatively.

Amber started again: "Not to mention the time you'd lose trying to set up a failing venture in the first place. If you don't end  up using the rights in 3 years, it'd just go straight back to auction, flushing $20 million down the metaphorical drain."

"How the hell are you so knowledgeable about the entertainment business?" Benjamin snapped. Amber just shrugged. "It's all public information" she stated.

Benjamin scratched his head and chin again to think. No matter what, that man called Mardo had to suffer. Amber felt some of his hostility."Who are those people, really? she asked.

"They…." said Benjamin uncovering his face "That man, is just simply one of many others, that must pay. Under all circumstances." He turned to Amber again."What if I buy Aircable?"

"I don't think you understand. Although I did say that they were struggling a bit, Aircable is still a huge conglomerate, worth over 2 billion dollars. Their refusal to sell to a rival company would be just out of pride."she clarified.

Benjamin groaned. Was Benjamin really worth exactly the $490 million in his account? thought Amber. $490 million.  No more, no less. If he was so dead set on this vendetta, he would've reached out to sell more assets or consult one of his wealthier relatives. But it seems he had none of that.

"I'm not an expert on these kind of things, but isn't revenge about getting the last laugh? I think it should be painfully obvious by now that that man would be the one laughing if you bought into this crap deal.

"I think- you're probably right." Benjamin gave up.

"I know." Amber said playfully.

"It's so hard to believe, so difficult. To think that $500 million is such a small amount of money!" Benjamin cried.

"What?!" retorted Amber.

"I've been too relaxed." Benjamin mused.

"Now, hold on! Remember what you said about the hospital! And your Sister!" Amber interrupted alarmingly."I didn't forget. Manager!" yelled Benjamin.

David, the Bank Manager, had been standing behind them in glee. Waiting for the perfect time to bring down the paperwork, and make it rain money-"At your service, Mr Benja-"

"Apologies, Manager. I will have to forgo the purchase of those rights."

Mardo was down the banking hall, still rattling at the security guards, but turned his head on hearing that statement. David broke into waves of sweat "Are you- Are you absolutely sure, Mr Benjamin? Did I do something wrong?" David questioned.

"Not at all. My interests have just changed at the moment. There is another transaction I'd like to make."

An ordinary transfer was very different from a loan with a mouth-watering interest. David was crestfallen. "And the size of this transfer?" he asked Benjamin.

"About $350 million." said Benjamin. "To this woman." Benjamin nudged his chin to Amber.

Amber turned her head multiple times in surprise. On the other hand, David was wringing his fingers and mentally biting his teeth. It took all he had to stop from screaming. $350 million was more than half of Benjamin's portfolio in Skaling Bank! The golden goose was about to take off!