Prologue
2 years after the events of 'Into that Good Night'
Sixth Street, or as it was referred to occasionally, the Avenue of the Americas was a crucial part of the most powerful nerve center of Finance in the world. It was home, and in the past, had been home to some of the largest and most powerful companies in the world. Now it was going to be home to the most valuable company in the world and it was going to be home to International and National General Broadcasting in a mammoth way. It was unprecedented and to some it was a flaunting of their position, but to others, it was something to respect immensely.
After two years of lobbying the very bureaucratic City of New York and $10.7 Billion Dollars spent in costs, INGB now controlled the entire avenue that ran through the Financial District. From all across the United States, the Company had moved all of its Headquarter Functions to that avenue and now roughly a quarter of all of its employees were now working in the avenue. It still had tens of thousands worldwide, but it was primarily controlled on the street. The dozens of skyscrapers that were on that avenue were now emblazoned with the INGB Logo, the sight was brilliant.
The Central Skyscraper, which would house both the CEO and the Board of Directors, was surrounded by crowds and photographers. In front of the entrance of the building, a red ribbon was tied in front of the doors and all that needed doing was for the ribbon to be cut, "I still don't agree with this Trevor, $10 Billion Dollars to buy this entire street."
"Fortune favors the bold," Trevor said through his smile for the photographers.
Jake had that same expression, he was forcing a smile and clapping as Trevor was, "It doesn't favor the stupid."
"You always wanted to do this," The younger man reminded him, "You're just jealous that I did it first."
Jake would have frowned if it were not for the cameras, "If it were not for me, you wouldn't be here, or alive."
"If I could fire you I would," Trevor gritted his smile.
This time Jake smirked, "But rest assured Trevor, I can remove you as CEO with a simple majority vote."
"You wouldn't do that," Trevor said, he was starting to get angry about it now.
For over twenty years, Jake had a slobbering love affair with the Media and he was sure that they wouldn't count it against him if he showed his child up. It had been two years since he had stepped down as CEO of INGB and took on the full duties as Chairman of the Board. He hadn't told Trevor this, but he had kept the option of removing Trevor from the position in the back of his mind for two whole years. Jake told himself that he was only going to consider it if Trevor did something manically stupid, and this was one of those moments, truth be told, he wasn't bluffing at all.
In these past two years, Jake and Trevor's relationship had been getting tenser and tenser with every decision that he had made that Jake didn't agree with. They had gotten so distant that the only times that they really ever socialized was at work. Jake could have sworn that his son looked at him with hate, but Jake knew that Trevor didn't understand his motives. He was looking out for both Trevor and this company. He thought that Trevor wasn't up to this task, and the decisions that he made were ultimately going to doom INGB, "Son, I do not bluff, I do not bluff about anything."
"You'd never get a majority vote," Trevor told him with a visible scowl.
Jake chuckled, "I already have one, and I have the document drafted, I've had it drafted for two years."
"If you wanted me gone so bad, why didn't you submit it?" Trevor demanded tensely.
"Because I thought that you'd clean up your act," Jake said, "I gave you your chance, you blew it."
Trevor shook his head, "So this is it, you're finally going to screw me over."
"You were never ready for this Trevor," Jake said, "And I'm not screwing you over, I'm helping you and INGB."
He would be dignified in being screwed over, he would hold his head up high and wade through the crap that his father had unleashed on him, "If that's what you want Dad, I'll step down, but I'll resign on my own, in fact this morning."
"Good," Jake said, "I have some contacts from Goldman Sachs that would be more than happy to hire you on."
Trevor scowled and shook his head, "No thanks Dad, I'm going to do this on my own."
"Fine," Jake said and motioned to the door, "Now go cut that ribbon, turn in your papers."
"What about you? Planning to take the reins again?" Trevor questioned bitterly.
He had intended on it, honestly he didn't want it, but until he could find someone who could properly take his role on properly. When he had rocketed Trevor to the top of the company, he assumed that with Trevor's education and with his inherit abilities, he would fit the mold, but there was that part of him that knew Trevor could never do it and today that part of him won, "Mom is going to eat you alive for doing this, you know that Dad, she is going to fillet you."
"I can handle your mother," Jake told him, "Now get over there and cut that ribbon and resign."
OOOOO
As much as it was a colossal risk to purchase $10 Billion in Real Estate and how risky it was to maintain it all, Jake admitted to himself that it was a magnificent sight. He had considered doing this once before, but his sense of doom that came with the thought of doing it was the only thing that had stopped him. Jake couldn't reverse this, the deal was in place, the buildings were already renovated and the staff had already moved in, these buildings were his now.
"Why did Trevor do this?" Maxwell Stoops asked, they had just received Trevor's letter of resignation.
Jake leaned back in his chair, "I told him that I was going to remove him, he decided to step down with dignity."
"You told him that you were going to remove him?" Maxwell exclaimed, he stood up from his end of the table.
The Board Room was empty, and the only people in there were Maxwell and Jake. They had been following up on business and this was the hottest topic on their annual discussion, "You were there when we discussed buying real estate on this street, the prices were astronomical back then. Back then, it cost $6 Billion Dollars, and another $1 Billion in permits, lobbyists, furniture, office supplies, hell carpeting for the office spaces. And at the time, it was projected to cost $3 Billion every year to maintain with the sheer amount of people and things on this entire street."
"I pushed for this Jake," Maxwell said, "I said that he'd have my support Jake, and as I recall, you didn't object."
Jake looked up, "If remember correctly, I didn't vote, I voted present, not a yes or no, I didn't like it then."
"This was a good move Jake," Maxwell reassured him.
"It was not a good move," Jake slammed his fist against the conference room table, "I would have been far more inclined to do this way back then to do this now. I thought that Trevor would be able to do it, be he wasn't, he's much better off going to a company were his many talents will be put to good use, but here, they fall a little short."
Maxwell shook his head, "You self-righteous son of a bitch, we both know why you did this, you want to get back in."
"For your information," Jake turned to him and glared, "I had this drafted two days after he took over, I had it in my desk drawer in the eventuality that he'd try to do something stupid. And after this, he's really done something stupid."
"He sold the old office building for $500 Million Dollars, in this Economy," Maxwell maintained, "And he used it to help pay for this."
Jake shook his head in incredulity, "Lip stick on a pig, LIP STICK ON A GODDAMN PIG! $10 Billion Dollars, $500 Million Dollars, a fraction of that number, it's barely a fraction. Now Maxwell, you've been with me for twenty five years, are going to finally leave after all this?"
Together, they had weathered so many storms. They had built an empire with their efforts, and somehow, Jake felt that it was all coming down to this, "You tried to reassert your authority over an inexperienced kid that you put in charge of the most powerful and valuable company in the world, personally, I thought it was a risk putting Trevor at the top, but you didn't object and I saw no reason to after that. If you come back, I will fully support you and I will fall back into my old role, because frankly I miss it, but I think that what you did to your son is very lousy. It will take me a little while to get that respect for you that I had back, but I'll come back full time if you return as CEO."
Jake looked at him, "That's all that I ask."
"Oh and by the way," Maxwell said, reaching for the pop-up note dispenser, pulled a sticky note out and wrote something down on it, "This is the address for the Investment Firm that he was going to apply for."
Maxwell stood up and walked around to Jake's side of the table and handed it to him, "He told me that's where he was going and that he didn't want you pulling the strings, but I suggest that you do."
Jake looked down at what Max had written on the note, and Jake smiled. That was where his son needed to be, he knew this firm and it was the right place for Trevor. Marcus and Associates was one of the most prosperous Investments firms in the world and DJ would do great things there. He had a strong acumen for Stocks when he was ten years old. Looking up, he saw that Maxwell had left the room, maybe he'd take Maxwell up on his suggest. He lean forward and grabbed the phone that was in front of him, he knew the number to the investment firm by heart. Dialing in the number, he held the phone up to his ear as he was connected, "Marcus and Associates Investment."
"Hi," Jake said as he looked down at the note, "This is Jacob Long over at International and National General Broadcasting Incorporated, can I speak with Mr. Marcus?"
The Secretary seemed pleasant, "Of course, I'll transfer you now."
OOOOO
"Jake," John Marcus smiled as he pressed the speaker function on his phone and leaned up on his desk, "I heard about the big shake up, back in control of that magnificent machine you've got over there, well I'm very pleased."
"I love my son, but this wasn't his place," Jake told his longtime friend.
John looked down at the folder on his desk, "I know, I just received a fax from Trevor, telling me of his intentions of interviewing for a Senior Investment Advising Position, he also included this note to not accept any sort of shall we say 'encouragement' from you, but I expected your call."
"He's a bit ticked," Jake sighed with a twinge of sad laughter.
"I would be too, but I have to agree, the only person who is fit to run that company is you," John nodded, "But can you tell me a little bit about Trevor's skills, because I'm seriously considering hiring him straight to that very coveted position for his last name alone, but what are the perks."
Jake chuckled, "Well, he could pick out 110% Percent Dividend stocks when he was ten. When he was fifteen, I allowed him to start investing stocks with his savings which was about fifteen grand, by the time he was 21, he had turned that fifteen grand into a tens of millions. Stocks are his real gift."
"Hell I might make him a partner," John joked.
"I would," Jake said seriously.
"But tell me this Jake, why did you force him out?" John asked.
Jake leaned back in his chair and contemplated that, sure, he knew why, but he wanted to think about it again, and he was silent before he finally gave the other man the answer that he wanted, "When I stepped down, I knew that he wasn't up to this, and he made stupid decisions. Buying all the buildings of Sixth Street and spending billions of dollars to do all of that."
"Perhaps it was rash, but it might turn out to be for the best," John said.
"Whatever the case, I felt that I needed to come back," Jake told his friend.
He was contemplative for a moment, when he received the fax from Trevor Long, he was pleasantly surprised. He was going to hire the boy for the simple fact of his last name, but with those little facts that Jake had told him and with Jake's approval, he was going to do it, "I think I'll give him what he wants. If he's as good as you say he is, I will not be all that disappointed."
"That's good to know," Jake nodded, "He doesn't really need to work, but he likes working and I think that he's going to do great things over at your firm."
OOOOO
"How could you do this? How could you be so completely and utterly stupid not to mention cruel to your own son!" Rose Long screamed into her cellphone, "I mean when he called me, I saw red, now you needed to tell me what the fuck you were thinking and sound it out you miserable little prick."
Jake bit his lip and looked out the large window of his office, "When I moved Trevor into this position, I knew that he would falter. I had this motion to the Board drafted for years for this eventuality, so shut the fuck up, what would you have done? Would you have let your kids do something so stupid?"
"I wouldn't have done my own kid like that!" Rose retorted.
"In this case, the actions of my kid would have an impact on the lives of millions of people and I can't allow him to fuck up so royally," Jake insisted, he was right and Rose knew it, "Trevor will be fine, he's going to Marcus and Associates where he's going to make his clients millions and be a success."
Rose sounded defeated, "What's that, investment firm?"
"Yeah," Jake nodded and sat down at his chair, "Really important one."
OOOOO
It had only been a few hours, but he was ready to move on from INGB and he was going to start at Marcus and Associates. It was one of the biggest investment firms in the world, $72 Billion Dollars of Capital were controlled through that building. Trevor himself had known John Marcus since he was eleven, his father and Marcus had been friends for years. The moment that he had submitted his letter of resignation to the Board of Directors, he knew that he was going to that firm. Those things were his passion, stocks and investments.
"Trevor," John greeted him as he stepped into the office, "It's really good to see you again."
Trevor smiled and returned the man's handshake, "You too John, it's been a long time."
"It has," John nodded and sat down behind his desk, "So, CEO of my biggest client, and now you come to me."
Trevor sighed and leaned back into the chair, "I'm sure that you'll find out the details soon enough, but suffice it to say, I needed a change and I thought that I could put my skills to use here, it seemed very logical."
"You thought right," John nodded, "But there is an issue, this is your first time in an investment firm and seeing as you want to jump straight to the top without being a partner, you need certain prerequisites."
Trevor hadn't thought about that, this had just happened a few hours ago. In order to make investments, you needed a Grade-7 Investment License. To be a partner in an investment firm and make trades and sells as a partner, you needed a Grade-9. A grade seven took a minimum of two years, a nine took four years. Trevor didn't know what to do, he needed to work to keep himself sane, short of finding some sort of exam to take, the only way he saw to get right in the game was to throw a few dollars around, "A Grade-9, is there any sort of way that I can try and get the license right away, a test? Or do I have to pay off an SEC Advisor?"
"There is an exam," John nodded and looked down DJ's resume on his desk, "But it will take some time, but I have an associate who would be willing to issue you a license for a poultry fee of course. It's not illegal technically."
Trevor shook his head, "That's bribery."
"To get a license to invest stocks," John finished, "The most that you could get it is a fine, and besides with your last name, you'd never be caught."
Trevor sighed, "It's that safe then?"
John Marcus looked secretive for a moment and when he looked back to the closed door, he turned and looked Trevor in his blue eyes, "What I'm about to tell you is not to leave this room, and if it does, I'll string you up kid."
'Imbecile…' Trevor noted, he'd string up Marcus at the first sign of something like that, and the old man would never see it coming, "What's so important?"
"I paid this same associate $500,000 Dollars after he issued me a license when I first started," John ran his hand through his hair, "He gave me a shot because I showed an aptitude for stocks and he told me to give him his fee after I made it, because I didn't have that kind of money to start out. But you do, you're the son of the fifth richest man on the planet and you're a millionaire in your own right, just give him the money, the license and I will give you the position that you requested. I have a good feeling about you."
Trevor had to look past John and out the window in contemplation. He had never done anything like this in his life. He had always followed things by the book, and nothing illegal. Even if it was about as illegal as a parking ticket in some cases, he still had nothing on his record, "How much will it cost me to get this license and to have this never, ever heard of again."
"I'll get in touch with him and he'll be here this afternoon, but I can sure you that the minimum will be somewhere around six figures," John said, leaning forward and scribbling down something on a notecard, "Until then, we'll consider you hired, and until you can get your licenses, this is orientation. We'll keep your hiring under wraps until we can get ahold of your license."
OOOOO
"What do you think is going on in INGB?" The lead anchor asked.
The financial program on CNN had been analyzing the reports coming out of INGB for the past hour and none of it was making sense. It was clear to Jake that unless they had the truth straight from the horse's mouth, all they talked with was complete and total bullshit, "This internal shake up to me, signals one of two things, either their Board lost faith in Trevor Long, or someone tried to force Trevor out and bowed out not-so gracefully."
"There is the matter of Jacob Long being CEO of INGB again," One said.
"If that's a sign of desperation or-…," Jake shut off the television as Maxwell opened the door to his new office and gave him the evilest eye that he could possibly manage. For a few moments, Maxwell stood there, just glaring at him and it began to make Jake feel uncomfortable, until he squirmed.
"What the fuck is a matter?" Jake asked him loudly.
"Nothing," His face lightened up and he set down on the corner of the desk rather lightly, "I'm just enjoying screwing with you, and you should know that John Marcus just called me and let me know that they hired Trevor, though he is a little reluctant to let this all out for the next few days."
Jake nodded and looked back to the television, "That's very good, what is the position that John gave him?"
"SIA, which is a bit fishy…" John began and immediately Jake caught on to what he was saying. That little fact of keeping Trevor's hire under wraps also sent alarm bells in Jake's mind. But again, he couldn't intercede for him.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Jake asked.
"Buying off an SEC Commissioner with a pile of cash to obtain a stockbroking license won't land him in a Federal Prison, but it won't be good for his career, he will be blackballed if he's caught," Maxwell said, sitting closer on the desk, "I would suggest having the lawyers on standby, just incase."
"You think that it'll come out?" Jake asked with a raised eyebrow.
Maxwell nodded, "If the new Attorney General is serious about cleaning house, there is a distinct possibility that it will go down. Now I'm not sure if John Marcus or that firm will go down, but it will ruin his reputation and all of the associates including Trevor. And quite possibly all of its many clients."
That sent a shock through Jake, INGB was Marcus and Associates biggest investor. He looked over at Maxwell, "$28 Billion Dollars investments and holdings, what do you suggest we do, yank it all out at once?"
"No," Maxwell shook his head, "In increments, I have a contact inside the Justice Department and the SEC, when I get word that they've finally turned their sights on Marcus, we take the final amount out."
Maxwell got off of the desk and reached for a piece of paper out of Jake's printer and grabbed a pen and wrote down the amount of cash that they had invested in Marcus and Associates, $28,000,000,000 even. He looked over at Jake to make sure that he had his attention, "$10,000,000 Dollars every month and place it in other firms and different accounts, and after the guns off of Marcus and Associates we put it back, or if it kills Marcus and A-…"
"If we wipe our accounts from that firm, it will attract attention," Jake said, picking up the remote and turning on the television, "Look at them, all of the fiscal talking heads already think that there's something stirring internally here! This move will give them an almost inexhaustible amount of fodder."
Maxwell shook his head, "We can afford to be caught up in this, $28 Billion Dollars in Capital, now imagine if INGB was a person, if we lost that cash, if the Government confiscated it, it would be like cutting off our leg."
"I know that, and there is my kid to think about," Jake said quietly.
"I'll need to find some roundabout way to do this without attracting an attention," Maxwell hopped off of the desk, "If that's what you need."
Jake nodded, "That's your specialty."
When Maxwell nodded and turned to leave his office, Jake cleared his throat and called for him again. Maxwell turned, "What is it?"
"You tell Wes MacDonald over at CNN to pull this shit from the air," Jake shook his head, "If our Shareholders get a hold of his, they're going to let the crap roll down hill and if that does tell Wes, he's going to get it first."
OOOOO
"1.5 Million," John Marcus said, pushing forward a piece of paper with the exact account information on it, "This is an offshore account that it needs to be put into, once he has it, he'll issue the license and you're home free."
Trevor leaned forward and took the piece of paper into his hands and read the contents. He was really going to do this, he was going to bribe an SEC Commissioner to get an Investment License. His career would be completely destroyed if this ever came out and not to mention the fact that his father would more than likely butcher him if he ever found out. Taking the paper into his hands, he folded it down the side and stuck it into his jacket pocket.
"I'll go wire the funds right now," Trevor said getting up from the table.
And little did he know, his fate was sealed.
OOOOO
Authors Note: Well, I have returned, so prepare for me dancing on my itty bity little soapbox: I am officially living in hotel room to hotel room for the next few months. I'm getting deeper and deeper into my new job, and I'm not sure if you follow American Presidential Elections but the campaign that I work for lost Iowa, but we won South Carolina and now we're moving on to other states. I won't be going back home for a few months, I've rented out my house and until Speaker Gingrich wins the nomination or drops out, I won't be settled down, so updates might be a little sparse depending on the Wi-Fi Connections of the various hotels that I'll be staying at.
Otherwise, I'm giving this well thought about sequel a chance.