CHAPTER 8
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Liam bought coffee at the entrance to Central Park and headed for one of the benches. It was a good time not to run into any of his acquaintances. He slipped out of the office to relax and think of something to help his business plan.
An idea that involved a large investment that consisted of a hostile takeover of FINANCIAL GROUP, a publicly traded company that he knew if it entered HARLOCK INVESTMENT GROUP's portfolio of assets would earn him the votes he needed to become CEO.
He was sure that no one had ever come up with an idea as aggressive as his, but the FINANCIAL board was resisting him because other offers were being made and he had to fight on several fronts to get that coveted deal done.
Besides, he had to take it for granted that his future father-in-law Michael Foreman would surprise him. He had never met such a sneaky and treacherous fellow.
Anna Foreman was a necessary evil to win his votes in a public way, but he was sure that on the down low he would do whatever was necessary to hurt him.
Along with the coffee he had bought a FORBES and began to browse through it.
To his chagrin on page 10 they were talking about the power struggle in his company and that the so-called Prince of Manhattan was trying to seize complete control of it.
But was this Wharton graduate, best known for his partying and running around with women, really fit to become CEO?
Reading those annoying lines made him mouth pucker. He would get his revenge on those sleazy journalists.
“You shouldn't believe everything you read in the magazines, you know?”
The voice of a child sitting next to him broke him out of his reverie.
A little boy, apparently about ten years old, was sitting next to him, fiddling with a notebook.
Liam was amused by the boy's fearlessness.
"And how do you know I believed what I read in a magazine?"
"Because of the way you purse your lips when you read. My mother says people do that when they read something they don't like".
“Well, your mother is very wise....”
“Never mind, she must be at work right now”
“And you came to the park alone?”
The little boy smiled.
"No, I came with Miss Lisa, who leaves me here while she goes to make out with a janitor here. She doesn't think I know about it, but I do."
The boy's comment gave Liam a chuckle.
He was an adorable little boy with dark hair and blue eyes. So wide-awake and lively, that Liam immediately felt identified and transported back to his own childhood.
“And what is your name?”
“My name is Tanner and I'm going to the fifth grade soon. I imagine you've already finished school”
“I studied business at Wharton, what do you think?” Liam replied, as he found it very empathetic to talk to such an alert boy.
He didn't usually chat with brats, but this one seemed special to him, with the air of a know-it-all kid.
The little boy sighed.
“One day I'll go to business school, too, and be a great businessman”
“I don't doubt it,” Liam replied amused. “Had you heard of Wharton?”
“Of course, I'm not sure how I'm going to pay for that tuition, but I swear I'll go someday”
Liam was surprised, the boy was no ordinary one. From the way he expressed himself it was obvious he was gifted or something.
“And how old are you, Tanner?”
“I'm ten, but believe me I know the rule about not talking to strangers, but what could you do to me in a public place?”
“You're a smart boy...”
“Yes I am and it's a problem because I have to go to a specialized school but we don't have the money to do it and I have to make do where I go. But one day I'll be a big businessman and I can help my mother”
Liam was touched to hear that, that the little boy was so mindful of his mother and blamed the educational policies of this country for not being able to take care of kids like Tanner and exploit their true abilities.
“And what is your name?” asked the boy.
“My name is Liam,” he replied, preferring to omit his last name, as he was embarrassed that the smartass would google him and the first thing he would see were his amorous wanderings for which he was most famous.
"I came to the park to solve a virtual math game while Miss Lisa falls in love. People come to the park all the time to solve problems, so what's yours?"
Liam opened his eyes how huge they were.
The boy had him eating out of his hand.
He decided to get defiant since he wasn't just any kid.
“It's just that I have to solve a purchase”
“Tell me about it, I'm good at exact sciences, but I'll charge you for the service”
Liam laughed. It was true that he was facing a future Wall Street bull.
“I'm stuck with a purchase that won't go through, the owners who are several voted together and most of them are not willing to sell it to me. And I need to make that deal or I'll be lost “Liam told him with those words his problem with FINANCIAL.
Sometimes it was good to get it off his chest, even if it was with a little kid he didn't know.
Tanner listened attentively and curved his eyes as if he was thinking about it.
The noise of a group of screaming children and a singing man waiting for coins for tips were all the sound they had in the background.
“And why don't you negotiate with every vendor,” Tanner's childish voice appeared again.
Liam looked at the boy, dumbfounded at the overwhelming logic that had just given him a genius idea to bend those FINANCIAL wretches and show them who was boss.
The public offer given to the board would not work, so he would go straight to private purchase, negotiating with each shareholder. He was sure that he and William would be able to individually twist these fools around.
He sprung to his feet from the bench.
Tanner was also surprised at the businessman's attitude.
Liam removed a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and handed it to the little boy who looked at the bill almost frightened.
“You earned it, kid”
Tanner seemed reluctant to take it.
“Are you going to pay me that for counseling?”
“Take it, you deserve it,” insisted Liam, who took the opportunity to look at the boy. No doubt he was at a sensitive stage because he saw the little boy and he saw himself in an irremediable way. And even more so because the little boy's features were the same as his own.
“If I had been a lively boy, maybe my father wouldn't have been so strict,” the man thought to himself.
Tanner took the bill. His eyes were shining.
“I must go on business. Take care of yourself, kid,” Liam threw the magazine in the trash can along with the coffee and hurried out.
“Goodbye, Mr. Liam!” was the last childish he heard from behind him.
It had been a very good coincidence, but the chance meeting with the little boy had given him a great idea.
He had to get back to the office as soon as possible to put the new plan he was wielding into action.
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“Today I helped a businessman and earned my first bill,” said the boy, showing Lisa his hundred-dollar bill.
The young girl, who was drinking an iced tea and had just come to sit next to Tanner, spit the drink out of her mouth.
"What did you do...? your mother is going to kill me. How can you even think of talking to strangers, Tanner?"
“You usually make out with strangers and nothing happens,” the boy winked, making poor Lisa blush. “He was one of those Wall Street businessmen looking for ideas and I gave him one,” Tanner smiled. “The solution was so simple; any kid could come up with it”
Lisa squinted her eyes.
“Anyway, you better not tell your mother or she'll worry, you know what I mean? Lisa sighed, because she still wasn't getting used to that little boy's vivid intelligence. Would you like some ice cream?”
Tanner stood up, closing his laptop, happy to hear that.
“I'm buying, today I've earned more money than you,” patting his pocket with affection. Tanner sighed.
“What is it, Tanner?”
“It's just that the Wall Street guy I helped...he had such a familiar yet unfamiliar face. He looked so familiar”
“f he's a rich Wall Street guy, maybe you saw him on television....”
Tanner wasn't sure about that.
Lisa took his hand.
"If he was such a rich guy, you would have asked him to pay more money…”
It was Lisa's day off, so both of them, with huge smiles on their faces, went to get the delicious ice cream from Magnolia Bakery .
Today they could afford it.