The Underdog Billionaire

Chapter 5: Deal Or No Deal?

“I can’t believe it!” Said Morgan. “Martin?”

“Yes. And he pulled out a bunch of paperwork showing that Richard did owe him half his empire. I couldn’t even tell if the documents were legit or not.”

“I thought Martin was an investment banker,” said Linda.

“Well, he invests in shady businesses and banks on his partners going sideways on him so that he can steal everything they have,” said Jake.

“What do we do now?” Morgan asked. She sounded panicked.

“I don’t even know. I have no clue about this kind of backdoor business. Richard didn’t explain any of this to me!”

“Get yourself together!” Linda snapped at him. “If Richard entrusted you with his wealth, it’s because he knew you have what it takes to handle it. Think!”

Her words set the wheels in his brain turning at high speed. How do you beat a bully at his own game?

“I’m going back to see Martin,” he announced. “I’m going to have a look at those documents again and see what I can find out.”

“Good,” said Linda. “Make us proud.”

When he showed up at Martin’s office and asked to see the business documents again, his rival laughed heartily.

“What do you think you’re going to find in them?” He asked Jake.

“Maybe nothing, but I want to see it.”

“Listen, buddy. Let me tell you the truth. This goes beyond business, ok? Richard and I had a deal and he chickened out and brought a stranger in to take my place.”

“Wait. So, you mean this thing about Richard owing you money was all a lie? Did he even do any business with you?”

“Yes, he did. And if I say he owes me, then it means he owes me. After all, he’s not here to argue about that, is he?”

Jake disliked Martin more and more as he continued to justify his wickedness.

“Fine. What do you want?”

“Now, you’re talking. You’re a smart dude after all.”

“Cut to the chase, Martin. What do you want?”

“Your position.”

“Not gonna happen.”

“What?”

“Divorce Morgan and let me marry her. Once I become the President of Sherwood Holdings, I’ll pay you an annual salary of 20 million dollars, and give you a mansion in Pearly Hills estate with two exotic cars of your choice. You’ll never be broke again as long as you live.”

Jake was stunned. “Seriously?”

“All you gotta do is say yes and we’ll sign the agreement papers right now. I’m a man of my word.”

“Are you?”

“Best believe it.”

Jake chuckled. “Wow… you must think that I’m a stupid guy. Why would I give up the cow in exchange for a glass of milk?”

Martin frowned. “I’m offering you an easy way out here. This is the best deal you’ll ever get from me.”

“I didn’t ask for it.”

“Look, I’m trying to do you a favour here. What do you know about running an empire? I’m sure you don’t even have a college degree. What makes you think you can handle the pressure that comes with being the president of a multinational empire?”

“Richard thought I could do it.”

“Richard was senile!”

“This meeting is over.”

“Not until I say it is. Listen to me, punk. You don’t want to go against me. Take my deal and get lost.”

“Thanks, but no, thanks.”

The veins in Martin’s head nearly popped through his skin. “Don’t test me, boy. I’m warning you.”

“Do what you must, Martin. But I’m not accepting your offer.”

“I know you’re just trying to play hard-to-get, so I’m gonna meet you halfway. You have three days to give me your final answer and you must do it in person. Meet me at the abandoned meat storage at midnight. Don’t be late.”

“Whatever.”

The drive back home wasn’t exciting for Jake. What would he tell Morgan and Linda? He’d turned down Martin’s offer because it was the smart thing to do, but what now?

He spent the next two days weighing all of his options. He wasn’t a coward but he may have to chicken out this time and fight another day.

“I’m not sure this is a good plan,” said Morgan after he told her what he planned to do.

“Do you have a better idea?” He asked her and she replied with a helpless shrug.

On the night of the meeting, he showed up at the venue on time as he’d been instructed.

“So?” Martin said smugly. “Do we have a deal?”

“Not yet. I want to make some changes to it first.”

“You’re not in the position to negotiate.”

“Then we don’t have a deal. I’m not a fool, Martin. I’m not just going to hand over Richard’s legacy to you in exchange for peanuts.”

“Fine. What do you want?”

Suddenly gunshots were sounding outside and people were screaming and running about.

“What’s going on?” Jake asked fearfully. “Did you invite me here to kill me?”

“Fuck no! What did you do? Who did you bring?”

“Only Rex.”

“Were you followed?”

“How would I know? I wasn’t checking!”

“You stupid amateur!”

“Freeze!”

Both of them immediately raised their hands in the air as cops burst into the underground meeting room, pointing their guns at them.

“Martin Klum, you’re under arrest for drug trafficking and money laundering,” said one of the cops.

“No!” He gasped and looked at Jake. “You son-of-a-bitch set me up.”

“I didn’t!”

“Who’s this?” Another cop asked, looking at Jake.

“I’m Jake Turner, President/CEO of Sherwood Holdings.”

“Oh, that’s right. Now I recognize you. What are you doing here with this criminal?”

“He invited me here.”

“Why?”

“Don’t say something you’ll regret,” Martin threatened him.

“I agree. Let’s continue this at the precinct, shall we?” Said a cop and they led the men outside.

Some of Martin’s henchmen were now in handcuffs while the others were groaning on the ground, nursing bullet wounds. Jake tried to remain calm but the sight of so much blood was making him uncomfortable.

A bunch of documents were recovered from the arrest scene and Jake prayed silently that there wasn’t anything there to incriminate Richard or Sherwood Holdings.

“I can help you, Mr Sherwood,” said a cop. “All you have to do is tell me the truth and what role you play in all of this.”

“It’s Mr Turner,” Jake replied curtly. “As I already said, Martin invited me to the old storage to make me an offer.”

“What kind of offer?”

“I don’t know. He said it would be worth my time but he never managed to get into it before you guys showed up.”

“How do you two know each other?”

“He used to date my wife and he seemed to have been briefly affiliated with my late father-in-law.”

“Well, that’s a pickle. It must have stung to have your wife’s ex still hanging around like a third wheel.”

“Am I under arrest too?” Jake asked dryly. He wasn’t interested in listening to this man’s commentary about his personal life.

“No. We just need to be sure that you’re not neck deep in this mess with Martin and just trying to throw him under the bus to help yourself.”

They interrogated him for hours before they finally let him go home. Meanwhile, Martin was detained while the police continued to investigate the documents recovered at the arrest scene.

Jake finally heaved a sigh of relief a few weeks later when he heard back from the police. He’d been cleared of any wrongdoing and Martin was being charged to court for his crime while he remains in detention.

“That’s a miracle!” Morgan rejoiced when she heard the news.

“But what about the documents?” Linda asked.

“They didn’t find any connections to Richard or Sherwood Holdings. The documents simply contained dates, figures and serial numbers of shipments. There were no names there,” Jake explained. “We’re cleared!”

Morgan hugged him and rained kisses on him. Linda did a little happy dance to celebrate and Jake felt like a hero.

Everything had worked out in his favour. He was back at the top where he belonged.

Later that evening, his phone rang. The caller ID was an unfamiliar number and his curiosity drove him to answer the call.

“I know you did this,” said the caller.

“Who’s this?” He asked.

“You know who it is, Jake. You think you’ve won, haven’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m coming for you. I’m coming for all of you!”