“The contract is worth two million dollars. You will sponsor it, then I will refund you later,” I enunciated shooting a cheerful smile at him.
“Uh… yeah!” he grinned, No problems. Two million dollars?” he dimmed his eyes thoughtfully, “OK, I can handle it. I will figure it out boss…. I , um,” he stuttered and shook his head to discourage his fear.
We smiled cheek to cheek and had a warm handshake together.
***
The entire staff of Hoffers Food stood in row outside as they welcomed the arrival of their boss. With dilated smiles they watched Hoffers alight form his Ferrari with his security flanked around him.
“You are welcome boss!”
They all greeted in unison with their heads slightly bowed and raised their gaze expectantly raised upon him.
“We won the contract!” Hoffers beamed and punched in the air in exaggerated joy, “Hoffers Food has finally earned the cooking contract for the banquet party of Mr. President.” He had barely resounded when his host of staffers opened a clapping ovation.
Heavy booing and clamoring hung over them as they chatted happily among themselves.
“Ladies and gentle men it is time to buckle up your shoes and join me as we satisfy the hungry gut of Mr. President and the entire Rio Hondo with our superb delicacy.” He shot lustrous smile across them, as he spoke on, “It is already an epic season for us and Mike Don, the world richest man has found us eligible to host the magnificent banquet of Mr. President.”
His shoulders sank in the web of confidence as he pocketed his chubby arms and addressed his staff. Once they okayed his decisions with a firm nod and gladdened faces, he gestured at his accountant.
“Could we have some minutes together in my office, dear,” he beckoned on the chubby, short-haired lady, whose smile pulled down her jaw like Hoffers.”
While the rest of his staff dispersed, Hoffers tucked away in his office with his accountant. “Do we have some substantial amount in the bank account currently, “Hope you haven’t forgotten our estimate still borders on one million dollars. After executing the contract we must have realized a profit of one million dollars.” He chuckled, and rubbed his palms, “Good business,” he added heartily.
“But boss,” the chubby’s face doubled in thickness when she scowled.
“Yes, yes,” his impatience replied as he stroked his hair and focused blue, anxious eyes on her, “What is the problem? “
“Why would you provide the capital for the execution of a project? I thought you were bluffing when you told me over the phone.” She nagged.
Hoffers’ shoulders sank in grievance. He almost lost his temper but saw reasons to explain to her. Although he knew he wasn’t answerable to her yet he found it pertinent to explain to her that it was a concrete agreement we had if he must be the one to execute the contract.
Hoffers’ gaze was roughened as he explained to the accountant whose eyes cocked in anxiety.
“Listen up, dear , we were almost on the verge of losing out in the contract. The world richest man almost awarded the contract to Charity Intercontinental, especially after he made a maddening revelation…”
The accountant upon hearing a ‘maddening revelation,’ cupped her face in her hands and interrupted him, “What maddening revelation, boss? We have never been victims of the food poisoning, so what maddening revelation did he make?”
Hoffers forced a chortle, his voice, the slightest bit unsteady ; he wondered how he was going to tell her the mike don that was celebrated all over the world today was once his delivery boy and he treated him as a piece of shit. His chortling came ringing yet again, pulling back his cheeks so much that she noticed his ugly dentition.
“Never mind dear. You wouldn’t want to know about it. But you must know that we narrowly escaped losing out of the contract. But today I am elated we won the contract after so much tussel. The condition is that we will foot the bills for the contract then after execution he will refund us two million dollars.”
She raised a distressed brow as she suspected mischief, “But, boss, why give us such condition. Mike Don is involve here . What stops him from paying straight away? Why would he put up such horrendous condition? Mike Don is radically rich. I don’t think it is lack of money that is inspiring such decision.” Her voice clamored.
Hoffers squeezed his lips in curiosity; stupidly blinking at his accountant and arguing within himself if she was in a skeptical way insinuating that I was into some form of mischief.
He dared to clear his throat before saying what just jumped into his mind, “dear mike don is a business tycoon, a mogul with expertise up his sleeves. I am also a mogul. We run business like this most times despite having such capital in our net worth…”
The lady interposed almost bluntly, “But that is the issue here boss. The only money in the company’s account right now is one million dollars, and you must recall you saved it for tax payment and salary in few weeks. That is our capital base boss.” She counted on her chubby, short fingers, “number one, the outbreak of food poisoning ate deep into our purse so we can’t afford to lose money, number two virtually most companies are struggling to operate and so giving out such amount of money …”
hoffers interrupted, “Hey, hey, there is nothing to worry about, dear. You use money to get money. Besides isn’t it a thing of joy if we execute a contract with a million and gain a million extra.” He leaned forward to her as though to emphasize on his message, “Get me the money. I need to execute the contract. Mike Don is involved here. There is no need to fear.”
She bowed slightly, “Okay , boss if you insist . I will raise a memo and get you the necessary trustee documents to sign before I wire you the one million.” Her voice was bleak.
“That is the language I want to be hearing…” he let a firm nod and smiled on
Tension ahead….