"This is an unexpected pleasure Mr Grey"
"As I said in my e-mail, I have been thinking a little more about your team but I have some conditions that would have to be agreed before anything is signed"
"Ok, what are your terms?"
"I would like to buy 50% of Steele Racing; I estimate that to be $40 million although I will defer to your knowledge and if you agree, please could you provide me with the precise figure. I would need quarterly income vs expenditure reports. I would require the team name to be changed to Grey Steele Racing or GSR. I will also initially sponsor the team fully but the search for new sponsors must continue. I would have unlimited access to the team in practice or on race days, I will give you advance notice of our intention to attend and if it is for whatever reason inconvenient I would expect you to tell me so but the overall running and decision making will stay with you, I have no experience running a NASCAR team and I don't really want to, to be blunt. One last thing which would be totally at your discretion, my brother Elliot is rather keen about NASCAR and he would be absolutely indebted to you if he could have a ride around the circuit once in a while"
"Well, err, I, err don't know what to say Mr Grey" Ray looks stunned.
"Obviously you will need to think about this particularly as I have sprung this on you suddenly" I smile.
"Yes, err thank you, when would you like an answer by?" he asks.
"When you are ready Mr Steele"
"Thank you Mr Grey" he stands and offers his hand and I shake it and he leaves the office.
I feel a little tingle of hope that I shall meet Ana again even if she is under a car in dirty oil covered overalls, her beauty will shine through all that, in fact I find it kind of sexy.
I am very distracted for the rest of the day and I keep checking my cell and computer for any reply from Ray but it doesn't come, not that I should be surprised, I did spring it on him rather suddenly and it's a hell of a lot to think about. I am sure he has team lawyer and the team will need an input too, it's a huge proposal to contemplate.
I lay in bed that evening trying to picture Elliot face when I hopefully tell him Ray and I have struck a deal to be partner's in NASCAR racing, it will be priceless and if Ray agrees to Elliot getting a ride on occasions I think Elliot will implode-literally!
The next morning a message comes through that Ray would like to discuss my proposal with his lawyer and my department the following day at 10am. I reply back in agreement and proceed to tell Andrea to cancel anything between 10am and 2pm to allow enough time to talk and with any luck, finalize a contract. I call the head of my legal department to my office so I can brief him on what has been discussed so far. My team are quite used to me springing random projects on them but even Chris, the head of the legal department looks surprised when I tell him my proposal. He disappears after about half an hour of me telling him what I think and I have asked him to come back to me by 6pm this evening with a plan.
I am clock watching all day, driving myself nuts. I have never been like this about a deal before and I think the only reason is because of Ana, the long and short of it is I want to see her again, not that buying into a racing team is the only way to meet her again but it gives me lots of opportunities to visit the garage and follow the team around the country. Oh boy I am going to be a wreck by the end of the day, a 'scotch on the rocks' would go down very smoothly right now but I have to remain clear headed.
Chris comes back to the office at 5.30pm with a bundle of papers and I decide to take them home to review. I ask Chris to meet me in the office at 9am with any other relevant members of staff to iron out any creases before Mr Steele arrives at 10am. Chris leaves and I head home, Gail has cooked a delicious pot roast, I eat it while flicking through the documents but I don't really taste it, I am too distracted. Chris has put together a good contract with all the necessary details and I feel optimistic that good things will happen tomorrow.
After a restless few hours, I get up and play my piano, Mom taught me to play when I was 8 years old and I picked it up very easily. It soothes my soul, calms my temper, after about an hour of playing I go back to bed and sleep until the alarm blasts the morning radio show music at me, ugh, must have switched it to radio instead of to buzz. My eyes snap open though, todays the day, I could be part owner of a NASCAR team!
The team are waiting for me when I arrive this morning and it is straight down to business, all looks good and very few items are flagged for discussion. A knock at the door signals Ray arrival, he is accompanied by 2 people, a lawyer and I don't know who the other is.
I stand up to welcome Ray with a hand shake and he introduces his lawyer Dennis and the other man, Martin is responsible for promoting the team, finding sponsors and any other marketing that is needed. I offer seats for them and introduce the various members of my team.
As soon as the introductions are over the lawyers dive in, it all seems quite heated but I just sit back, listen and wait for a pause to interject if I feel the need too. The main issue seems to be how much I would be willing to sponsor
"I am happy to sponsor the team until other sponsors are found however if only say 25% is found I will continue with the other 75%. If you find sponsorship for 100% that is fine by me, if I am making an investment in this team I will not see it fail for the sake of a percentage shortfall"
"So you will sponsor the remaining shortfall if that occurs" Dennis confirms.
"Yes I will" a little more chatter goes around the table.
"Mr Grey, would you be kind enough to give us a moment alone?" Ray asks
"Of course Mr Steele" my team and I leave the room, Chris in a low voice feels the deal will not proceed but I am optimistic. After about fifteen minutes, Martin opens the door and we file back in.
"Have you made a decision Mr Steele?" I ask somewhat tentatively.
"Yes we have and we accept the terms of your proposal Mr Grey"
Ray looks visibly relieved that the process is over and that he will be able to concentrate on developing the team and its drivers.
"Thank you Mr Steele, I look forward to a lucrative business partnership" I offer my hand again and Ray shakes it with a little more enthusiasm now.
"I suppose the first thing I will do is forward some new logos for the team; I'd like Grey Steele Racing to be the main with GSR for smaller areas, maybe fresh start, fresh colours? You must come down to the track again soon, see if we can't get you taking a lap around in the car" he laughs like the weight of the world has been lifted from his shoulders.
"That sounds like a good place to start. I would appreciate a list of all scheduled practice sessions and when and where the racing is happening this season. I think Elliot maybe interested in attending some, where his work allows him too and perhaps I will join him from time to time but any other queries or help you need, please don't hesitate to call"
So with the paperwork signed, the lawyers checking and double checking I am now officially part owner of a NASCAR team. Once Ray and the others have left I almost skip back to my office, Andrea looks at me as if I am one can short of a six pack, the goofy grin must be giving me away as I don't smile like that very often.
"Please can you get my brother on the line Andrea?"
"Of course Mr Grey" and I retreat into my office to await the call.
The phone indicates he is on the line…
"Elliot bro, how are you?" I say cheerfully
"Blimey, you hit the happy pills this morning, what's happened?" he says.
"You are always so cynical Elliot, it's a fine day to become part owner of a NASCAR team" I await the reaction.
"Ok so just another big deal you…you did what?!" I hear him coughing at the other end of the phone.
"I now own half of Steele racing" I proudly say and I hear coughing again.
"How?" Elliot croaks back.
"It's called a business deal Elliot" I laugh
"Oh ha-ha, so when did you get back in contact with Ray then?"
"Last week, I had been thinking about it since I said no and…"
"This is to do with his daughter isn't it?"
"Well I would be lying if I said that it wasn't" I hear him scoff "however Elliot, if you are a good boy you can have more rides around the circuits and we will follow the team around the country watching races if our schedules allow"
"Are you being serious Christian?" Elliot quietly asks.
"Very, it's agreed with Mr Steele and in the contract that has been signed today"
"No way! That is awesome bro, I don't know what to say but…here come the Grey brothers NASCAR, you had better watch out!" he laughs and I am glad he is in a better mood now.
"I would value your input regarding a new logo for the team, we have agreed on Grey Steele Racing or GSR for short but artistic design is much more up your street so I will let you know when the samples are over and we can look at them together" I ask him.
"Really, you want my input?" Elliot starts to cough again.
"Well it was you, who put me up to this project so only fair for you to be included as much as possible, if you want?"
"I am totally in bro, just let me know when and where and I will be there" he is absolutely thrilled.
"Will do Elliot, now I must go finish some work, catch you later"
"Bye"
I smile as I sigh, I think Elliot's enthusiasm is rubbing off on me and I am quite excited but the thought of seeing Ana again is at the forefront of my mind so I dial Ray's number and ask if I can come down to the track soon. He tells me the next practice session is tomorrow starting at 10am and I am more than welcome to come along. Fantastic I say to myself and I keep my fingers crossed that Ana will be there.
"Andrea, please move tomorrow's appointments, I will not be in the office all day"
"Yes Mr Grey"
I rub my hands together with glee, I message Taylor to let him know what is going on tomorrow and that I require him and Sawyer again. Should I get Ana some flowers? Or would that look too obvious? Hmm maybe not this time just in case she is not there…