Hostile Takeover

By Stan Yocum

What if you came up with an incredibly brilliant idea? And then you developed your idea into a one-of-kind product and founded a very successful company around it. But then a high-powered individual comes along and says he wants to buy your company and you had better sell, or else!

Meet Jason Chappell, a young engineer who has designed a revolutionary electric car that could save America from financial chaos caused from the inflation of crude oil prices beyond levels ever experienced. However, Ethan Gantry, the infamous King of Takeovers and a billionaire many times over, wants Jasons company, in addition to owning the next President of the United States, all in an attempt to inflate his substantial wealth. And Gantry is willing to do whatever it takes to attain both a president and Jasons company. The presidential hopeful is more than willing to go along with Gantrys strategies to attain the oval office. Jason, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with Gantry and fights the mega mogul to save his company - and his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781491793251

Stan Yocum

Stan Yocum is a writer who has written suspense/thriller novels, and also general fiction and love novels. He also raises assistance dogs to help physically disabled adults, children and veterans. He is married, has two daughters, two grandchildren, and resides in Palos Verdes California. Other novels by Stan Yocum: The Price of Admission Unrelenting Nightmare Without You Hostile Takeover Corporate Spy Reflection of a Hero Please visit: www.stanyocum.com

Book preview

ONE

THE late afternoon calm was suddenly disrupted by the tortured sound of a revving car engine. A moment later, a white Lincoln Town Car appeared as it sped up the dirt road toward what the local town folks called Webster's Peak. Gravel spewed from under the tires each time the car maneuvered through a tight turn. The four-door sedan looked conspicuously out of place, obviously more suitable for touring city streets and highways than negotiating rural, twisting, mountain roads.

Inside, the driver squinted through the front windshield, trying to block the glare of the late afternoon sun. He forced the sedan around another tight bend, tires spinning, dust and gravel spraying out from the rear of the car. Perspiration dripped from the driver's forehead. His knuckles were ash white from the death grip he held on the steering wheel.

The right front tire suddenly slammed hard into a pothole, causing the car to shudder violently and veer off course. The driver let out a horrified scream as he slammed on the brakes. The sedan skidded to an abrupt halt, and a billowing cloud of dust temporarily shrouded the vehicle.

The shaken driver looked around for a second, and then lowered his head onto the steering wheel and began to laugh. This is almost comical, he thought. Was he actually frightened of dying? Yes, yes he was. Then wasn't what he was considering a bit absurd? The answer to that question was greatly influenced by the fact that his background was old school, and in his family one wasn't ... well, one just wasn't. Tears began to fall and the driver wept uncontrollably for more than a minute.

After regaining his composure, he let off the brake and slowly, cautiously proceeded to the top of Webster's Peak. After all, a chance still existed, didn't it? A slim chance, but a chance nonetheless.

TWO

THE driver of the Lincoln Town Car, which was now atop Webster's Peak, was William Bennett, known to his close friends and associates as Billy B. He was sixth generation Bennett, the family having migrated to the United States in the mid 1800s, and the fifth male in a distinguished line of Bennett's to hold the reigns of Bennett Consolidated. Founded by his great, great grandfather in 1894, Bennett Consolidated was a diversified corporation that started business as a small paper mill. Over the next 100 plus years the company grew and branched out into a variety of other businesses that included a pet food manufacturing company, a chain of grocery stores, a real estate development and property management company, and the crown jewel of the Bennett empire, a sprawling plantation that supplied the textile industry with some of the finest cotton the south had to offer.

When Billy B was thirty-one, and still serving his apprenticeship at Bennett Consolidated, his father suffered a debilitating stroke. It was tradition at Bennett Consolidated, that the reigns of the company automatically pass from father to son, and so it was with Billy B. Unfortunately, his premature advancement to the top slot in the company immediately taxed Billy's skill level. Even though he had received a master's degree in business administration from Princeton, it did little to prepare Billy for the rigors of running a multi-billion dollar company.

Billy B took hold of the reigns of authority, and tried as best he could to manage the vagaries of the exalted position he now held. Very quickly, however, Billy B's inexperience started to show and people began to notice, especially the stockholders, who were angry when their dividend checks began to shrink.

Over the next few years, Bennett Consolidated tried desperately to survive Billy B's learning curve.

*     *     *     *     *

SIX months prior to Billy B's frantic rush to the top of Webster's Peak, Ethan Owen Gantry first decided what action he would take against Bennett Consolidated. A tall, distinguished looking man in his early 60s, with thinning, immaculately groomed hair that was starting to turn gray, Ethan Gantry was a feared business tycoon who owned and ran Gantry Enterprises.

Gantry leaned back after reading the Takeover Strategy Report on Bennett Consolidated, which had been painstakingly prepared for him by his staff. He swiveled around in his soft leather, executive chair and propped his feet up on a long, slender table he used as a credenza. The credenza was a marvelous piece of furniture---hand crafted by Amish woodworkers at the turn of the 19th century. It mated nicely with his equally magnificent Spanish oak desk, reported to have made the crossing in 1767.

Gantry sat stoically for a moment, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows that took up two walls of his splendidly appointed office. From the 55th floor of a downtown New York City high-rise, the view was absolutely stunning.

Glancing back over his shoulder, Gantry carefully reached for a priceless antique China cup he used specifically for his morning coffee. He took a sip, and then thoughtfully tapped his finger on the arm of his chair. Yes indeed, Bennett Consolidated was ripe for the taking.

The sole mission of Gantry Enterprises was to raid other poor, unsuspecting companies. Gantry Enterprises, under the skilled direction of its founder, would take over ownership, usually orchestrated through a hostile takeover effort, and then set in motion what Ethan Gantry had become famous for. First, he'd drastically trim back the work force of the besieged company, typically through layoffs, in order to cut operating expenses. Then he'd begin the process of inflating the company's reported profits. This was accomplished through accounting techniques and by outright financial data manipulation. He also arranged special sales agreements with other companies that Gantry Enterprises owned. If appropriate, he would spin off portions of the company and sell them individually. Finally, when Gantry had squeezed every last easy dollar out of the company, he would sell whatever remained to an interested buyer. When the process was finally complete, Ethan Gantry always netted a hefty profit.

This repeated process accumulated vast amounts of money for Gantry. An expert and very shrewd at what he did, Ethan Gantry had been ranked by Forbes as one of the richest men in America. It was reported that his net worth was in excess of eight billion dollars. And contrary to the holdings of many of the other individuals in Forbes' annual ranking, whose estimated wealth was subject to the whims of the stock market---up $500 million one day and down the next---a large portion of Ethan Gantry's net worth was in cash, or some other form of quick liquidity. To say the least, Ethan Owen Gantry was one very rich son-of-a-bitch.

His mind made up, Gantry pressed the intercom button on his telephone and said curtly, Tell Duncan I want to see him.

Yes, Mr. Gantry, came his secretary's reply.

Less than two minutes later, Gantry heard the distinctive four knocks at his office door.

Come on in, Duncan.

The door swung open and in strolled Duncan Kane, Ethan Gantry's most trusted and loyal employee---also his most ruthless. Dressed in a custom fitted Armani suit, his jet black hair expertly slicked back, he quickly traversed the expansive office and took a seat directly across the desk from Gantry.

I've just finished reading this, Gantry said, sliding the Takeover Strategy Report on Bennett Consolidated toward Duncan.

And? Duncan inquired, picking up the report and fanning through the pages.

"And I think we should talk to Bennett Consolidated. Problem is, I won't be able to accompany you to the meeting. So, you'll have to handle Bennett alone. I need to be in Milwaukee talking to Prycor, trying to convince its management they need to sell their company to us. I honestly believe Bennett will make us a nice return, if we can get it for the right price. Prycor, on the other hand, there we can make an absolute killing. That's why I need to be involved in that effort. It's too big and I think it needs my full attention.

I understand. So how do you want me to approach Bennett Consolidated?

Well, I agree with the report's summary, so make them a lowball offer. Who knows, they may actually take it. I doubt it, but you never know. Things are bad there and certainly appear to be getting worse. Management knows how much trouble the company is in, they just haven't seen fit to inform the stockholders. We can use that little slip-up to our advantage. But I don't want you to spend any time negotiating. Make that clear to them. If they decline our offer, we'll do a fast and dirty takeover. We've got everything we need on the company. Oh, were you able to get what you wanted on William Bennett?

Duncan smiled and nodded as he gently stroked his fingers down his thin styled goatee.

Good, Gantry said. By the way, is he really referred to as Billy B?

Duncan nodded once again.

Southerners and their stupid double names. Bobby Joe and Connie Sue. How can you do serious business with someone named Billy B?

That's just what they do down there.

I know, but it sounds stupid.

Duncan gave a half shrug.

We need to move on this, Gantry reemphasized. Make it happen one way or the other. The individual companies under Bennett Consolidated are still worth something right now, but if good ole Billy B is allowed to spend too much more time running things, their individual worth may diminish quickly.

The two men spent the next twenty minutes reviewing the speculated value of Bennett Consolidated, as calculated in the Takeover Strategy Report. The staff members who had compiled the report had drawn on private and confidential information in performing their calculations---information that was not available to anyone other than the key executives at Bennett Consolidated. This posed an interesting, and often recurring question in the business world. How did Gantry Enterprises always seem to get its hands on critical, publicly unavailable information? No one seemed to have an appropriate answer.

Gantry confidently told Duncan to proceed, convinced that everything vital to a successful raid on Bennett Consolidated had been adequately considered. Let me know the results of your meeting with Bennett as soon as you talk to them, he instructed. But I expect to have the entire process of acquiring and then selling all of the Bennett Consolidated subsidiaries within five months, understood?

Duncan stood. I'll take care of it, he assured his boss with a crafty smile. Should be fun.

*     *     *     *     *

THREE days later, Duncan Kane and another Gantry Enterprises' associate knocked on the door of Bennett Consolidated and asked if they might sit down and have a talk with Billy B. They had an offer they wanted to discuss with him.

At one point in the arranged meeting, Brian Sterns, corporate chief operating officer of Bennett Consolidated, shouted out angrily, That is absolutely ludicrous, his thick southern accent penetrating the conference room walls for all those outside to hear. He stared furiously into the penetrating, yet unnervingly calm, slate blue eyes of Duncan Kane, who sat on the opposite side of the conference table. You waltz in here and insultingly offer us a little more than four billion dollars when we have a profit margin of thirty-eight percent on generated revenue of over six billion dollars a year. The going markup in the industry typically ranges between three to five times the profit or net value of the company being sold. Don't you think your offer is a little offensive, especially considering that we're not even interested in selling?

Mr. Sterns, Duncan said, leaning forward. You and I both know that Bennett Consolidated does not generate that much revenue. And your profit margin is nowhere near thirty-eight percent. Duncan opened a folder that was handed to him by the Gantry associate. Revenue falls in at just over five point two billion, and a profit margin of twenty-three percent would be more accurate.

Brian Sterns gave a stunned glance over at Donald Ray Drummond, who was Bennett's corporate chief financial officer.

Drummond, a slightly built man in his mid-fifties, straightened his glasses and sat up more erect in his chair. Uh, I'm afraid you've got the wrong financial data about Bennett Consolidated, Mr. Kane. Take a look at our annual report, and you'll see that the audited financial numbers shows our gross revenue to---

I'm not interested in what the annual report says your gross revenue is. Although, I'd be interested in knowing how you were able to conceal from your auditors that Bennett Consolidated sold twenty-five hundred harvested acres of insect infested cotton to Uganda at a fourth of the normal selling price, but somehow the sale showed up at full value on your financial records.

Drummond jumped to his feet. Are you insinuating that we falsify our accounting records?

No insinuation at all, Mr. Drummond. Gantry Enterprises knows for a fact that you are, and I commend you on your ability to hide it from your auditors. We are also aware of the product substitution used in your grocery stores under your generic label, as well as the required material used in your shopping mall development projects, which happens to be at less than code. A number of other things exist that we're also aware of, all done in an effort to keep Bennett profit margins at acceptable levels. I'd be more than willing to share them with you, if you'd like. What I'm absolutely sure of, though, is the IRS and the SEC would be more than interested in learning about these ... little transgressions. Therefore, that's the reason behind our offer being less than the typical markup that you alluded to.

Of all the unmitigated gall, Drummond shouted, his face strained, veins visibly protruding from his thin neck.

Calm yourself, Donald Ray, Billy B soothingly interjected, who had been sitting quietly at the head of the table, pensively taking in the exchange between his executives and Duncan Kane. I'm sure Mr. Kane has a good reason for enlightening us about his ability to uncover information he's accusing us of hiding, don't you, Mr. Kane?

Drummond slowly lowered himself back into his chair. As he did, he loosened his tie and undid the top button of his shirt as small rivulets of sweat appeared on his temples.

The six gentlemen assembled around the conference table fell silent for a moment. The tic-tock from the clock in the corner of the room was the only audible sound. Finally, Billy B leaned forward and looked directly at Duncan Kane.

Exactly what are you telling us, Mr. Kane?

Duncan purposefully repositioned himself in his seat and crossed his legs. It's simple. Gantry Enterprises wants to buy your company, Mr. Bennett. The amount we offered will be our only offer. If you decide not to accept our offer, we will initiate a takeover. You gentlemen are probably well aware of Gantry Enterprises' reputation in that area. If not, I strongly urge you to look into it. The reason I shared what we have uncovered on Bennett Consolidated should be self-evident; to demonstrate the kind of damaging information we've been able to dig up on your company. But just in case any lingering doubts still exist, I will also share this with you, Mr. Bennett.

The Gantry associate handed Duncan a large manila envelope, which Duncan then slid across the table to Billy B.

Billy stared at the envelope for a moment and then opened it. He didn't extract the contents, but his eyes grew noticeably wider when he peeked inside. He quickly closed the envelope. Get out, Mr. Kane, and tell Mr. Gantry to go fuck himself, if he thinks I'll succumb to this kind of tactic.

Duncan immediately stood, as did the associate, and started for the door. As Duncan passed by Billy B, he paused, leaned over and whispered in Billy B's ear so no one else could hear. No, I won't do that. But I'm sure you'd like to offer him that personal touch, wouldn't you, Mr. Bennett?

Duncan straightened and continued for the door. Once there, he turned back to face the three men still seated at the table. You have forty-eight hours to reconsider our offer, gentlemen. Do yourselves a favor, accept it and prevent the humiliation of us exposing the ineptness of your management team and all the nasty goings-on this company has to hide. If you choose not to accept the offer, Gantry Enterprises will initiate a hostile takeover. And let me assure you, we will succeed. Good day.

*     *     *     *     *

BILLY B now sat atop Webster's Peak, looking down at Edmondville; the town he was born in, the town he had grown up in, and the town that housed the headquarters of Bennett Consolidated since the company's inception.

Billy B closed his eyes and wondered for the umpteenth time how Gantry Enterprises had been able to uncover all the information it had on Bennett Consolidated? Information that was confidential and was thought to be well concealed, and was never intended to be made public. Thinking back over the preceding six months, he realized that it had been a losing battle from the moment Gantry Enterprises initiated hostel takeover activities. Try as they might, as soon as Bennett management was able to squelch one rumor circulating through the stockholder ranks, another one would surface and send the management team frantically searching for the source, but more importantly, a valid response.

Billy glanced at his watch, knowing it wouldn't be much longer. Then he leaned his head back against the Town Car's plush leather headrest and closed his eyes. Please, God, he said in a pleading voice. Please help me.

EARLIER that afternoon, Bennett Consolidated management had called to order a special meeting of the stockholders in an effort to thwart Gantry Enterprises' takeover attempt. Management hoped to answer questions from the stockholders, before they voted on the fate of the company. A solemn Billy B, dressed in a pinstriped suit that did little to hide his expanding midsection, plus the inevitable sweater vest that he always seemed to wear, took the podium and began fielding questions from the angered crowd. He had explained that he alone was responsible for any wrong doings and announced that he had all ready stepped down as CEO. When done with accounting for the misbehaviors of management, he'd taken the last few minutes to explain what would happen to Bennett Consolidated if the stockholders accepted Gantry Enterprises' offer. On this issue, Billy B had done his homework.

"I don't think all of you are aware of the unscrupulous manner in which Gantry Enterprises deals with companies they have raided. Let me give you some examples. Gantry Enterprises acquired Belmoth Communications through a hostile takeover effort. Less than sixteen months later, all of Belmoth's key contracts had been conveniently diverted to a competing company, which just so happened to be owned by Gantry Enterprises. This was done in order to bolster the competing company's bottom line. Belmoth Communications was later sold for scrap.

"Tidewater Oil, a Louisiana oil company, also succumbed to Gantry Enterprises' hostile efforts. When its offshore wells were depleted of every last ounce of fossil fuel, the drilling operations were shut down. No efforts were made to locate new drilling opportunities, and close to fifteen hundred people were out of work.

"Probably the epitome of the manner in which Gantry Enterprises conducts business is represented in what it did with TrueCare, a company that owned a chain of hospitals throughout the Midwest. After a successful takeover, Gantry Enterprises was later accused of Medicare fraud and abuse for purposefully and knowingly overcharging Medicare for procedures either not performed or performed unnecessarily. Charges against Gantry Enterprises were ultimately settled out-of-court, but not before seventeen hospitals were forced to close their doors and over thirty-five thousand people lost their jobs.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the list goes on. Gantry Enterprises was not good for Belmoth Communication, or Tidewater Oil, or TrueCare, and I'm telling you here today, Gantry Enterprises is not good for Bennett Consolidated. I grant you, the management of Bennett Consolidated has made some mistakes. But those mistakes hurt no one and were never done for anyone's personal gain. Given the chance, I promise you, management will return this company to its prior station in the business world. Please, for a moment, look past the short-term monetary gain Gantry Enterprises has offered you. Let me try and help you see what lies ahead for Bennett Consolidated, not only for the thousands of people who are employed at the company, but also for you. And I might add, I base this scenario on the standard method of operation that Gantry Enterprises has demonstrated in many of its hostile takeovers.

"First, Bennett Consolidated will be leaned out, cutting corporate fat as Gantry Enterprises likes to call it. This will cost hundreds, if not thousands, of people to lose their jobs, but from Gantry Enterprises' perspective, who cares? It will have an immediate positive impact on the bottom line. Next comes a return to core business strategy. What this really means, is selling off all the subsidiaries of Bennett Consolidated whose bottom lines have been improved for the short-term by the employee layoffs. What will then be left is the paper mill my great, great grandfather started over one hundred years ago. How long that remaining piece of Bennett Consolidated will last before Gantry Enterprises sells it, is anybody's guess. Personally, I doubt it will be very long.

Please think about what I have said before you vote. The offer Gantry Enterprises has made to you and their promise of greater wealth is a veil---a veil to cover the real purpose they have in mind for Bennett Consolidated. There will indeed be profits, but I seriously doubt if sharing any of it with you is part of their long-term strategy plan.

Billy B paused and then added, I am truly sorry for what I have done. I just hope you see it in your hearts to give the management team of this company and the new CEO another chance. I know they can return this company to greatness. Thank you and God bless.

Billy B had then quickly exited the stage. It was then time for the stockholders to meet in private and cast their votes. As Billy B was about to leave the auditorium, Duncan Kane had cornered him in the foyer.

Nice speech, Mr. Bennett. Do you really think it will do any good?

We'll have to wait and see, won't we?

Duncan had chuckled softly. I wouldn't wait around too long if I were you, Billy B, he'd said, using a pretentious southern drawl. You most likely won't want to read what the lead story in tomorrow's Daily Press says about a prominent figure in these here parts.

IT was now a quarter past five in the afternoon, and Billy B waited for the call that would let him know the results of the stockholders vote. He hadn't been sure what he was going to do if the vote was in favor of Gantry Enterprises' takeover offer. Not sure, that was, until Duncan Kane alluded to what was going to appear in the next day's newspaper. That comment had prompted Billy B's mad dash up to the top of Webster's Peak.

What Billy assumed would appear in the lead story pertained to the manila envelope that Mr. Kane had presented to him at their first meeting. Inside that envelope was evidence that exposed a dark little secret that Billy B had kept hidden for so many years. When he was presented the envelope in front of Brian Stearns and Donald Drummond, he simply chose to let them speculate on the probability that it was pictures of him with another woman. But no, that was not the case; it related to a much more secret part of his life---a secret involving his homosexual lover, Daryl Freeman.

Billy first met Daryl at Princeton, but because they'd both came from respected, influential families, they felt compelled to keep their homosexual tendencies to themselves. And they did, for years. Finally, due to increasing pressure from his father, Billy married Nancy Forester, who came from another prominent, southern family. The lovely couple soon had two children, and Billy played the part of the devoted husband to perfection. But on the sly, Billy had kept his relationship with Daryl alive. The out-of-town business trips, the mandatory conventions, always presented opportunities for them to be together.

Daryl, on the other hand, never married for show, as Billy had done. This caused many quarrels between the two of them. The last time they'd been together, which had been four months earlier, Daryl had demanded that Billy venture from the closet or he would refuse to see him anymore. Billy had reluctantly resigned himself to the loss, convinced it was probably for the better. To be honest, the lies and the pretenses had been weighing on him for a long time.

Billy B's cell phone suddenly emitted a soft ring. He froze, and his breathing stopped as he let it ring once more, and then a third time. On the fourth ring, he slowly reached down and picked up the cell phone from the console. Yes.

Billy B listened and then pressed the end button without responding. Tears immediately welled up in his eyes and began falling freely. He continued looking out the windshield at the town below, and could see the Bennett Consolidated corporate building in the distance. Billy B blinked back the tears, and then softly spoke out loud.

I am so sorry, Dad, and grandpa. I'm sorry I failed you and the Bennett family name. If I'd been smarter, none of this would have happened. I thought what I was doing was right, I really did, I swear. But obviously it wasn't. Bennett Consolidated is gone because of me. God, why did it have to be because of me?

On the seat next to him was a picture of Nancy and the kids. Through blurry eyes he glanced down at them. Oh God, how he loved his children. And also Nancy, although not the way she probably thought or deserved. What would she and his children think when they found out?

A picture of Daryl Freeman was also there. It didn't matter anymore. Tomorrow, everyone would know.

William Bennett swiped his hand across his eyes once more, and then leaned over and opened the glove box. He hesitated for an instant, and then reached inside. He looked at the pictures one last time, then placed the handgun he had removed into his mouth and pulled the trigger.

THREE

ETHAN Gantry breezed through the mahogany paneled double doors leading into the corporate office lobby. Displayed directly behind the receptionist's counter was a smoked glass mirror that took up the entire wall. Gold swirl inlays gave it a rich, antique look. Etched deep into the glass were the words Gantry Enterprises, the beveled edges picking up the subtle lighting from the recessed spotlights overhead.

Good morning, Mr. Gantry, greeted the young receptionist.

Gantry gave her a curt smile and a pleasant, Good morning, as he passed by. He didn't acknowledge her name, though, since he had no idea what it was.

When he entered the executive suite, he called over to his personal secretary, Is everyone in the conference room?

Yes, Mr. Gantry, they're all waiting.

Go in and get Duncan. I want to see him in my office before I begin the meeting.

I'm right here.

Gantry turned and saw Duncan entering the suite. He gave his lieutenant a stern look.

Good morning ladies, Duncan said to the four secretaries assigned to the executive suite as he followed Gantry into his office.

Gantry closed the door and then removed his coat and hung it on a brass coat rack. Duncan had already taken his customary position in one of the two matching chairs that fronted Gantry's desk. Gantry stood for a moment and frowned at Duncan, who was busy cleaning his fingernails with a penknife.

You said you had the goods on this Billy B character, Gantry said as he took a seat behind his desk. Exactly what was it?

Duncan gave a slight shrug. Nothing much.

Then explain why the man would kill himself. I mean, I assume you've heard about that.

I heard.

Now, I could be wrong, but I doubt he would take such drastic measures just because he lost his company. What was it you found out?

A little personal problem the man had. It's not important. I guess the guy took me seriously when I told him I was going to expose his little secret in the local paper.

Fine, don't tell me. It's just that we may get some bad press from Billy B's sudden demise. Apparently, the people in that town are taking his death extremely hard from what I can gather. Doesn't sound like they're all that excited about us taking over Bennett Consolidated either.

People usually aren't when we raid a company. But that's life. They need to learn to move on.

I just want to make sure Billy B's death can in no way be tied to us.

Duncan folded up his penknife and stuffed it into his pocket. Don't worry. It was entirely silly Billy B's choice to do himself in.

Good. That's all I wanted to know. Gantry stood. Let's go get this meeting started.

Duncan followed Gantry down the hall and into the executive conference room. Much like everything else in Ethan Gantry's corporate palace, as well as his personal world, the executive conference room emanated a sense of wealth and opulence. Gantry took his seat at the head of the table. Five top senior vice presidents within the company were already seated. Duncan remained standing in the corner by the window.

All right, everyone, Gantry said, effectively starting the meeting. As I'm sure you're all aware, the Bennett Consolidated offer was accepted, and by this time next week, we will own ourselves a new company.

Smiles were shared around the table.

Gantry continued. I want to start spinning off the subsidiaries as soon as possible. Where do we stand on everything?

Al Goodman, who was an extremely large man with an ample girth to match, was first to speak. Tasty Vittles has already expressed an interest in buying the pet food company. They're willing to pay nearly three times the value of the company, just to eliminate it as a source of competition.

Take Dennis Wheeler with you to help close that deal ASAP. Gantry instructed.

Al nodded.

I've been involved in negotiating sessions with both FoodCo and Ryan Bros., piped in Brian Wright, a thirty-year employee of Gantry Enterprises, who, for some reason, still cherished the look and feel of three-piece suits. Both companies are salivating over the prospect of acquiring Bennett's grocery store chain. Pairing them in a bidding war against one another has really helped drive the price up. Just last week, FoodCo upped their offer to over two billion dollars. Ryan Bros. may or may not counter; I don't know. Anyway, now that the takeover is complete, and unless Ryan Bros. comes back with a better offer, I think I can finalize the sale within a couple of weeks.

Gary Price, who always seemed to speak with rapid-fire execution, was next to comment. As for me, I'll be talking to Prime Properties next week about the property development company. I've already thrown out a ballpark figure, and they said they were very interested. I have to meet with their attorneys, so they can go over everything, but I think I should be able to wrap up the deal by the end of next month. The month after that at the latest.

Gantry turned to Sue Kellerman, who, like Brian Wright, had been with Gantry Enterprises for years. She had a charming personality and was extremely nice looking. This caused most people to like her immediately, and added tremendously to her ability to sell anything to anyone.

Sue, Gantry said, I want you to personally go down to Atlanta this week, and talk to the Rushmore family about buying the cotton fields. I've done some checking around and, apparently, if they acquire Bennett's cotton fields, it will make them the largest cotton developer in the south; bump them right up to the top. I've found out that's extremely important to the family. So turn on your charm, and I think you'll be able to squeeze them into accepting a purchase price that's also right up there.

Sue jotted something on a notepad. I'll take care of it, she said, punctuated with one of her picture-perfect smiles.

People, Gantry then announced, once all these negotiations are taken care of, it will leave us with only the paper mill. If we can sell it, fine. If not, we'll scrap it. I'm not interested in owning some stupid paper mill. But if we can nail these deals down quickly, we may be out from under Bennett Consolidated in less time than it took to buy the damn company.

Everyone at the table chuckled.

Quick and dirty. That's the way we like it at Gantry Enterprises, Al Goodman offered.

This time genuine laughter broke out.

I've penciled it all out, Gantry added, and if we can unload everything at or near what we're asking, we'll make two times what we paid for the company. Gantry gave everyone a big smile. "Just goes to prove my own personal theory---The whole is never as valuable as the sum of its individual parts."

Gantry leaned back in his chair, and gave a pleased grin.

THE meeting soon broke up and all the senior VPs hurried off to their assigned tasks. The ever-faithful Duncan Kane, however, followed Gantry back to his office, mainly because, unlike everyone else, he hadn't been dismissed.

Would you care for some coffee? Gantry asked when they entered his office.

Sure.

Gantry called his secretary and had her prepare two cups. Duncan's coffee was served in a standard mug. Gantry's, of course, in his priceless China cup, which his secretary handled with the utmost care. The two men moved over to a large raw silk Italian sofa and drank their morning brew, the New York skyline outside the windows presenting a picturesque backdrop.

Duncan finally leaned forward and placed his mug on the coffee table. You know, this Bennett deal has been one of the easiest takeovers that I can recall.

Just goes to show you what a little insider information will do for you.

So all the stuff the boys were able to dig up on Bennett Consolidated came from the EGO Data location in Nashville?

Gantry snickered. No. Surprisingly, Bennett Consolidated chose the Pittsburg site. I think it had something to do with Pittsburg being more centrally located to their overall operations, and because that's where Bennett originally had its internal data center.

Well, I'm just glad they chose to compute with EGO.

The phrase---Compute with EGO---was the marketing slogan for EGO Data. A little known fact in the business world, however, was that Ethan Gantry owned the data processing and storage centers located throughout America.

Two hours later, the two men were still sitting on the Italian sofa, their coffee long gone. They'd just finished discussing yet another company Gantry Enterprises was considering raiding, when Gantry broached a subject matter that he'd been giving a great deal of thought to lately.

Duncan, I want to own a president.

Duncan gave Gantry a puzzled look. Say again.

I want to own a president.

Uh, okay. A president of what?

Of the United States!

Duncan chuckled softly. I think that might be a little difficult, even for you.

No, not really. I've been mulling over the idea for some time now. I actually have a certain individual in mind. The way I see it, he, like all the others, is just a politician. And all politicians can be bought. I mean, really, do you think J.P. Morgan and Carnegie and Rockefeller and Vanderbilt accomplished what they did merely by being in the right place at the right time? No! They also had influential politicians, high up in government, greasing the skids for them. You don't make the kind of money they made back then just by being an astute businessman. No way, they had help---lot's of it. And it's my guess, their help might have gone all the way to the top.

Who knows? You might be right.

Damn right, I'm right. I just feel it. And that's the kind of help I want.

Why?

Why? Gantry answered contemptuously.

Yeah. Hell, you already have so much money you could never spend it in a hundred lifetimes.

Gantry pointed a shaking finger at Duncan. You can never have too much money. Don't you ever forget that. Today's good fortunes can turn against you in a minute.

If you say so.

I know so. I've seen it happen too many times.

Gantry turned his gaze toward the windows, as his mind slipped back to a plan he had designed that would allow him to accomplish his present interest. A plan that would require him to do things that most other people would never consider.

After a long moment, Duncan asked, So, how are you going to get yourself a president?

What? Gantry said, drawn back by the question.

I said, how are you going to go about getting yourself a president?

Gantry stood and walked over to the enormous windows and looked outside. I want you and your staff to start an in-depth research into the life of the person I have in mind. He turned back to Duncan. As to getting him elected, I have some ideas. The only problem is I need help in a specific area.

And what area is that?

Access to people who are willing to do things that aren't very nice.

You do. You've got me.

I know you've personally taken care of situations in the past that, well, took a certain special touch. Like making Mr. Burt Stemson conveniently disappear. But this is bigger. Much bigger.

The gentleman Gantry was referring to was going to testify against Gantry Enterprises during the Medicare fraud and abuse trial of TrueCare. The case was conveniently settled out of court, when the prosecution suddenly lost its key witness.

Duncan held his hands apart. "How do you know it's too big for me? Tell me what you want done, and I'll tell you if