Chase

 

It was a terrible day for a lengthy meeting. My brain was only working because the caffeine. Otherwise, I would have been yawning in the middle of Chesterfields long diatribe about investigation in Biometal X, the new Nano product developed by this relatively new company that was starting to make a huge name in the market. The way I see it they were going to be top dog in about ten to eighteen years on their own. But with our intervention, that time would greatly reduce to a few months or a year. “I don’t see what the big problem is,” I said to the room. “We’ve invested in innovative design before.”

Talking to a bunch of suits was never my favorite thing but it was part of the job and couldn’t be avoided. So, I did it. but there were people in this room who took sick pleasure in talking to the board, people like Gary DeKiray, the head of a hedge fund management firm, and owner of various smaller companies, and I could never understand it. I even had to prepare in advance, whereas DeKiray was born for this thing. The other people in the room were Frank Banks of Banks Inc. and Verna Belfast, CEO of Modern Tech. Other heads in the room consisted of more important people but the truth was that If these three went along with any idea, the whole room would respond accordingly. That wasn’t a secret. The others were lesser known company owners and receivers of parents’ fortunes, and we needed their money and their contacts. Everyone played a role in this machine to make it work. I played the role of the fresh new idea man who also had a shit load of money and market shares to back up his claims.

“The problem,” DeKiray said, fixing his tie for the fourth time. “Is the whole ethics issue regarding Biometal X. You realize that a substance that can store uranium, and other radioactive material is going to be used for unethical purposes.”

“It’s not the only thing Biometal X does,” I reminded him. “Why can’t we concentrate on the fact that introducing Biometal X into the tech industry will not only create more jobs, it will revolutionize the entire tech world! Phones will be faster, computers will become more efficient and don’t even get me started on the robotics industry!” I paused, and wondered if I had been able to get my point across. “This is the future people. I want you to be excited about this.”

“I think Chase is on to something here,” Verna said, and everyone was looking at her now. She saw all the attention and instead of backing away, she pushed a folder to DeKiray. “I’ve seen their projections. They look promising.”

“They have to be promising,” DeKiray said. “Those scientists need your funding.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Verna was clearly having trouble viewing DeKiray’s disinterest as bearable. “I didn’t see you complain when you came to me with some hotshot scientist who created the new Cialis! What was the name of the drug… Asertisel, wasn’t it? Or were you merely interested in that due to your personal needs?”

Everyone knew what that jab implied and there were snickers all around. I tried to maintain a straight face but it wasn’t easy.

“I’m in,” Frank said, and everyone turned their attention to him.

“Frank, you don’t even use computers,” DeKiray complained.

“I’m a business man, Gary. I don’t need to use a product to know that it’s effective.” I wondered if that was another jab at the Asertisel investment or just Frank’s way of letting everyone know that just because he was old didn’t mean he was dead. I had always looked at Frank as my mentor, but at that moment, I became his biggest fan.

DeKiray looked defeated. “Well, if you’re all in I guess that I’m in,” he said. “But if the ethics issue on this thing blows up in our faces, and we lose all our investment like I predicted we would, then I’m coming for my pound of flesh.”

DeKiray was always throwing these threats around, no one ever took him seriously. He was a self-made man and being someone who didn’t come from a rich family, I understood his general dislike of people. I didn’t like it, but I could empathize. He had seen a lot and suffered through a lot of betrayal to get where he was and no one helped him when he needed it. Now, he had developed a bad attitude about almost everyone. But Frank Banks was a lot older than DeKiray and he liked me enough to back me up on most of my projects. If it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be here. But I knew what had bothered DeKiray the most. Gary DeKiray was a misogynistic creep and if I could do without his money, I would. What bothered him more than anything was the fact that there were women like Verna on our board of directors who refused to take his shit. I was certain he was more pissed off at Verna than at me. His ex-wife left him for another man, and ever since Gary has had a kind of passive aggressive vendetta for all women. It was ridiculous to watch him still living in the past instead of moving on like a normal person. But despite Gary’s faults, he had never actually caused any real trouble so as far as I was concerned, Gary was a necessity.

Everyone started discussing various aspects of the contract, and I felt my phone vibrate inside my pocket. I took it was Carl. I excused myself and went out of the conference room to take the call. “This is not a good time, Carl…”

“I found her.”

The words landed on me like I’d been granted a wish by the world’s most unlikely genie. “And?”

Carl hesitated. That wasn’t good! He should have answered that right away. When he spoke up, he was talking in a low voice like he was hiding from someone. “Sir, she’s being chased by her fiancé. It doesn’t seem like she wants to go back.”

“Can you handle it?”

“She doesn’t know me,” he said. “It’s better if I remain in the shadows for now. I think you should go. She might need a friendly face.”

Carl was right. If she was in danger from that man, I had to help her. I walked back in and everyone was still busy with the terms of the contract. They were going to hate me but I had no choice. “Looks like you guys have it under control,” I said. “I have to be somewhere so just email me the details.”

“You’re leaving?” DeKiray said. “Nobody leaves a board of directors meeting, you’re making us look like chumps!”

I was quiet but Frank was quick to respond on my behalf. “We’re all grownups here. We can handle it without Chase’s presence.”

DeKiray was still not giving up and stood. “I guess I have some place to be as well.”

“Sit down, Gary.” Frank’s voice was light but we all heard the threat.

“One of these days,” Gary said. “Wonder boy here is going to drag you down with him and his overconfidence, and we’re all going to have to pay. Mark my words.”

He picked up his glass and finished his whiskey and stormed out of the room. I turned to Frank to try to explain, but he held up a hand. “Don’t worry about him,” he said. “Gary isn’t right in the head, I’m telling you. I’ve known him since he was assigned to me as an intern. I know him better than anyone. Don’t take what he says to heart. Go now, we still have some business to discuss before we can leave. We can meet up for drinks later. I’ll fill you in.”

If the matter wasn’t pressing, I wouldn’t have left. But with my reputation it was hard to make anyone believe me. I had been guilty of some irresponsible behavior in the past, but I’m not like them. I don’t always sit on my desk, or always do things right, I’m unpredictable. I think to them it was a threat. I couldn’t change myself in such a major way, but I could make them understand that despite my shortcomings, I knew what I was doing. That I had the brains and the talent to make things work in my favor. But despite all those years of doing business with them, I still feel like an outsider sometimes. Of course, there was Frank, who would always have my back. In return, I made it a point not to make him regret that trust he had in me.

“Thank you, Frank.” I was about to leave the room but Verna stood. “Do you have a minute, Chase?”

My brain could only think about her. Knowing Blayne could be in trouble, but I could tell Verna was anxious about something so I stepped outside and she followed. “Do you want to go grab a smoke?” she asked.

“I’m kind of in a hurry, Verna. What did you want to talk about?”

She looked at me with a blank expression. “What is so important that you can’t talk to me for two seconds?”

“I’m here, Verna. So, talk.”

“I hardly see you anymore.” I hoped this wasn’t about her being too involved in our little fling.

“Verna, I have more pressing matters than to make you feel better about cheating on your husband.”

“You’re such a dick!” she said. “I supported you in there and you’re going to talk to me like I’m some clingy one-night stand?”

“What about more pressing matters do you not understand?” I said calmly and watched her face shift from flirty to irate. I didn’t wait for her to give me another distraction and started walking toward the elevator bank.

“You better make sure you don’t fuck up,” I heard her saying as I pressed the button. “Frank’s good graces will only take you so far. DeKiray and I and the others, we’re the ones who matter. If this Biometal X thing goes sideways, if I so much as get the hint that you’re fucking up, Cooper, I’m coming for you.”

“DeKiray doesn’t even like you.”

“That won’t stop me,” she said. “If I can get your project approved, I can just as easily get it cancelled.”

“I don’t like threats, Verna.”

“This is not a threat. This is a warning.”

I shouldn’t have pissed her off. But I was in a hurry and she was being annoying. The elevator came and I walked in, shutting her out.