Beg, Borrow, Loot
Mr. Francis relaxed in his chair, with
a satisfied smile on his face. He had just invested in Bradley Corporation, one
of the biggest corporations in the real estate industry.
It was a lucky day when I had betrayed my friend, George, and acquired that printing office.
A year and a half later:
“What’s this? Where have you brought me?” Mr. Francis was seated on a sofa, with two men guarding behind.
“You are at my house, Mr. Francis and you are our welcomed guest”. A man walked in and sat in front of Mr. Francis. He looked…. rich
“Who are you?”
“You don’t recognize me? ... Funny... Because I spent the last 15 years memorizing your face… still No? No problem, you will know in time…” He said with a smile. “Now, let’s finalize my deal before you go and disappear, shall we?”
“Disappear?”
“Well, your bar was seized, wasn't it?”
“There’s been a misunderstanding. I don’t deal drugs.”
“Well, the police seem to think otherwise. Moreover, seeing that your company went bankrupt recently, the police don’t need a reason to prove, you were dealing drugs”
“My company’s not bankrupt. It’s been running successfully for the past 15 years”.
An evil smile spread across the hosts face.
“So you think. Your company suffered loss for the past 8 months, it had the least Sensex points… and to top all that, your CFO was looting you……” the host sat back on his seat. “But I promise to bring it back, don’t worry”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean….I bought your company. Thanks to your co-partner”
“This is ridiculous”, said Mr. Francis shouted anger apparent on his face.
“Calm down, Mr. Francis. Have a Cigarette… No? Good….Now, let’s finalize that deal. You handover your bar to me, in return, I’ll let you keep your house”
“My house?”
“Well, we had to clear out the debts of your company. Since, you lost all your shares in Bradley Corporation; we couldn't find any other way”
Mr. Francis burned with anger. He jumped at his host, but was soon held down by the guards.
“The deal…. Mr. Francis”
Mr. Francis spat on the floor.
The host’s jaw tightened.
“Fine…” He turned to one of his guards and said, “Inform Roy to go ahead with his work please”. Turning back, he smiled at Mr. Francis.
Minutes passed. A phone rang. The host put the phone on speaker.
“Mr. Francis!! Looks like people at the casino have suddenly become lucky. Everybody’s winning Sir… “
Mr. Francis looked at his host with wide eyes.
“Computers can do wonders….”
“Shut it down…now….” Mr. Francis shouted into the speaker.
Just then another phone rang. The host listened to the voice and smiled.
“Bad news Mr. Francis, but looks like you’ve lost 36 billion dollars in one night…” he put a face of utter surprise.
“Now, if you don’t want to lose anything else, can we close this deal please?”
The host took out a document and placed it on the table.
“Sign please”, he said. “It’s a document that states, ‘I, Lionel Francis, am willingly handing over the Francis Bar to George Raymond and his family. I will not interfere in the proceedings of this business from now on or forever’….”
Mr. Francis looked up with surprise….. George Raymond….
“George……. Raymond….” , whispered Mr. Francis. He could see the anger in his host’s eyes.
“How-…. Who are you?”
“George Raymond was my Father”
It was a lucky day when I had betrayed my friend, George, and acquired that printing office.
A year and a half later:
“What’s this? Where have you brought me?” Mr. Francis was seated on a sofa, with two men guarding behind.
“You are at my house, Mr. Francis and you are our welcomed guest”. A man walked in and sat in front of Mr. Francis. He looked…. rich
“Who are you?”
“You don’t recognize me? ... Funny... Because I spent the last 15 years memorizing your face… still No? No problem, you will know in time…” He said with a smile. “Now, let’s finalize my deal before you go and disappear, shall we?”
“Disappear?”
“Well, your bar was seized, wasn't it?”
“There’s been a misunderstanding. I don’t deal drugs.”
“Well, the police seem to think otherwise. Moreover, seeing that your company went bankrupt recently, the police don’t need a reason to prove, you were dealing drugs”
“My company’s not bankrupt. It’s been running successfully for the past 15 years”.
An evil smile spread across the hosts face.
“So you think. Your company suffered loss for the past 8 months, it had the least Sensex points… and to top all that, your CFO was looting you……” the host sat back on his seat. “But I promise to bring it back, don’t worry”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean….I bought your company. Thanks to your co-partner”
“This is ridiculous”, said Mr. Francis shouted anger apparent on his face.
“Calm down, Mr. Francis. Have a Cigarette… No? Good….Now, let’s finalize that deal. You handover your bar to me, in return, I’ll let you keep your house”
“My house?”
“Well, we had to clear out the debts of your company. Since, you lost all your shares in Bradley Corporation; we couldn't find any other way”
Mr. Francis burned with anger. He jumped at his host, but was soon held down by the guards.
“The deal…. Mr. Francis”
Mr. Francis spat on the floor.
The host’s jaw tightened.
“Fine…” He turned to one of his guards and said, “Inform Roy to go ahead with his work please”. Turning back, he smiled at Mr. Francis.
Minutes passed. A phone rang. The host put the phone on speaker.
“Mr. Francis!! Looks like people at the casino have suddenly become lucky. Everybody’s winning Sir… “
Mr. Francis looked at his host with wide eyes.
“Computers can do wonders….”
“Shut it down…now….” Mr. Francis shouted into the speaker.
Just then another phone rang. The host listened to the voice and smiled.
“Bad news Mr. Francis, but looks like you’ve lost 36 billion dollars in one night…” he put a face of utter surprise.
“Now, if you don’t want to lose anything else, can we close this deal please?”
The host took out a document and placed it on the table.
“Sign please”, he said. “It’s a document that states, ‘I, Lionel Francis, am willingly handing over the Francis Bar to George Raymond and his family. I will not interfere in the proceedings of this business from now on or forever’….”
Mr. Francis looked up with surprise….. George Raymond….
“George……. Raymond….” , whispered Mr. Francis. He could see the anger in his host’s eyes.
“How-…. Who are you?”
“George Raymond was my Father”
~*~
Few years later:
George Raymond And Family Printing Corporation created history from a place where a bar had once stood.
