Wrath Chapter 12
A knock about five minutes before go-time with the distributor got me out of the bills. I called out for whomever it was to “Come in.”
The door opened, and in walked a somber Chains. Right behind him was a smiling Clark. Chains sat my drink on the desk, then took a seat. Clark came and leaned over my desk to shake my hand. I returned it and nodded.
“Hi, Clark, glad you could make it. Can we get you anything?” I could be cordial until it called for me not to be.
“No, I’m good. Maybe afterward. I had lunch not long ago. It’s good to see you, Wrath, and you, Chains. It’s been too long. How have things been for all of you?” He was still smiling as he took a seat. He appeared relaxed and in a good mood. Let’s see if he stayed that way.
“You know, some ups and downs, but overall, we can’t complain. What about you?” I asked.
“It’s been about the same. I keep slogging along, trying to keep the family happy. Hey, I heard a rumor a couple of days ago that I’ve got to tell you. You won’t believe it.” He chuckled.
“Oh yeah, what was it?” I asked.
“Someone said that you went and got yourself an old lady. And that she’s some princess in an outlaw club. I told the person who said it that they were full of it, but they swore they heard it from a reliable source, whoever that was.”
I opened my Dew and took a drink before answering him. “That has been circulating. Usually, I’d shut down talk like this, but not this time.”
“Why not?” He seemed puzzled.
“Because it’s the truth. I have an old lady. Her name is Jalisa. Her dad is Psycho, the enforcer for the Hell’s Fiends out of Athens. You may have heard of them. They aren’t exactly like us, but I’ve known worse.”
Clark’s mouth dropped open, and he stared at me in disbelief. God, I loved it when people did that. Were they that stunned that I settled down, or who I settled with? After several moments of silence, Chains spoke.
“He sure got himself a good one, Clark. Jae is smart, a handful, tough, and drop-dead gorgeous. He’s a lucky bastard.”
“Yes, I am.” I toasted him with my soda can.
“Hell, you shocked the shit out of me, Wrath. I thought you’d stay single forever. I know how much fun you guys have. Rage getting a woman, I can see, but you have years to play the field. But if you’re sure she’s the one, then congratulations. People are dying to meet her.”
“She’s absolutely the one. As for meeting her, they’ll get their chance. The car show is in two weeks. She’ll be there with us. Anyone who wants to see her or get introduced will have their chance,” I slipped in.
“I look forward to it.”
I gave him a chin lift and then got to business. “I wish we had all day to chat, but we don’t. Let’s go over the contract and then talk about a few things,” I suggested to get this rolling.
“Go for it,” Clark said.
I handed him a copy of the contract and one to Chains so they could follow along.
I went through it line by line. It was exactly as the past ones, except for an addition we slipped in.
It was the last item. After I read it, I saw Clark’s demeanor change.
He was trying not to frown, and his body was stiff.
“So, that’s the contract. Do you have any questions?” I asked casually.
“Uhm, yeah, I do. It seems the usual, except for the last thing. It says you’ll visit the warehouse quarterly to meet with the shipping and billing managers to review invoices and related items. What’s up with that?
You’ve never asked for that before. It’s been you and I dealing together, so you don’t have to waste time with the shipping manager or the billing department.
They’re enough to drive you insane.” He gave me a weak grin.
“No, you’re right. It wasn’t in the old ones. We added it since there have been issues with businesses in the area having their orders mispriced, missing inventory, etc. We don’t want that to happen to us. It’s good business practice anyway. Have you heard any others talking about those problems?”
I was part of a business owners’ group for Eatonton.
We met quarterly unless we felt it was necessary to discuss issues and concerns for our businesses more often.
This topic had come up at a meeting, but I was the one to raise it.
The answers from several other owners opened the door for this change and what was to come.
“No, no, I haven’t heard it. Where did you hear it? Are any of those complaining customers with my company?” There was a tiny edge of nervousness to his tone.
“I don’t recall who said it. However, I’m surprised that, as in touch as you are with your customers, no one has said anything.” I feigned puzzlement.
“Me, too. Well, uhm, Wrath, I’ll have to go back and talk to the bosses.
They give me the authority to renew the contracts as long as they’re on the same terms. I’m not sure they’ll go for this.
No one has ever asked for it. The only change I was authorized to speak to you about today was that they’d be initiating a price increase.
Everything is getting more expensive, and in order to keep up with demand and all that, they’ve been forced to increase prices.
I went to bat for you and argued that with the business you give us between here and what we supply for the bar at the clubhouse, we shouldn’t increase yours to the full amount.
They agreed. Instead of a ten percent increase, I was able to get you only seven,” Clark said proudly.
I leaned back in my chair, steepled my fingers, and studied him. The longer I stared without speaking, the more apprehensive he grew. He had sweat on his forehead by the time I broke the silence.
“Is that all you have to tell me, Clark? There’s nothing more?”
He perked up. “I can see if the bosses will drop the increase to only five percent if you remove that clause. There’s no need for it between us.
I understand doing it with other people, but we’ve had a good working relationship.
I can use it as a negotiating technique with the company.
I wouldn’t do it for everyone, but for you, I will. ”
I glanced over to Chains. “You know, he does talk a very convincing line of bullshit, doesn’t he? It’s a good thing he went into sales. However, he might have made a good actor, too. Or become a professional con man. Oops, wait, he already has.”
“You’re so right,” Chains agreed.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Clark snapped. He was no longer smiling.
“It means that the gig is up, Clark. We know what game you’ve been playing, and it’s about to stop. And before you pretend you don’t know, let me tell you because I’ve wasted enough time on you today.
“You’ve been scamming your customers. The incidents of wrong invoice amounts, the price fluctuations, and a variety of other things they’ve been encountering for at least a year all trace back to you.
While they’ve had to pay more or pay for replacements when shipments go missing in the shipping department, you’ve been pocketing it.
No one at corporate knew of these things.
And your ten percent increase is a lie, too.
There is no across-the-board increase. You decided to get greedier and up the amount you can skim. ”
He was sitting poker straight with an outraged expression as he blustered and tried to make me back down.
“I can’t believe you’re accusing me of such a thing!
I’ve been your trusted advocate for three years.
It hurts me that you’d say such a thing.
And to say the increase, which I negotiated down for you, is fake makes me want to go back and tell my bosses we shouldn’t do business with you.
If you’re throwing around allegations like this, I hope you can back them up.
You’ll find yourself sued for slander and defamation of character if you keep it up,” he threatened.
I laughed, and his eyes rounded. When I was done laughing, I stood and walked around my desk to lean on the front, right in front of him. Then, I leaned closer to Clark. My amusement changed to ire.
“Listen, you fucking weasel. Take me to court for defamation, slander, and anything else you want. Let’s see what they say when they see the proof I have of your embezzlement.
You’ve gotten rich. It’s been more than a year for your older customers.
You come in and keep things normal until you build their trust in you, and then you start with the sly stuff.
They believe your lies and that it’s someone else’s fault.
Meanwhile, you’re stealing their products and supplies and then selling them off for profit to others who need them and don’t care to know where you get them.
As long as it saves them money, they’ll do it. ”
“I’ve never done that. You claim to have proof, but I can show you my bank statements.
They’ll show that what you say isn’t true.
I’m not rich. I barely cover things for my family.
We live in a modest home, drive cars over five years old that aren’t luxury cars, and don’t go anywhere or do anything extravagant.
How is that proving I’ve gotten rich?” he asked indignantly.
“You’re right. If we looked at the bank accounts you and your wife have and your cars and house, all that is true.” I paused to allow him to relax before hitting him with the next part. I reached over and picked up a folder on the desk. I handed it to Clark. He automatically took it.
“What is this?” Clark asked. He didn’t open it.
“It’s the printouts of your secret bank accounts.
You know, the ones the mother of your children has no idea about.
The ones that show the expensive house you bought in Brookhaven, one of the most expensive suburbs of Atlanta.
The extravagant vacation you took last year and the year before.
And the luxury cars you and your other wife drive.
Does she know about the first wife and kids? ” Chains asked with a smirk.