The following is a work of gay fiction. If the subject matter is offensive to you, or you are too young, please exit now. This story is the property of the author and may not be reproduced without permission. JETjt@aol.com
EMPIRE
Chapter Forty-four
3:45 PM, Wildman Casino job parking lot.
Carl unlocked the door to the Honda and pressed the button on the armrest of the driver's door releasing the other doors before reaching over the front seatback and depositing his lunch cooler on the rear seat.
"I really appreciate your giving me a lift home all the time," David said as he opened the passenger side front door and climbed into the small vehicle.
"It's no problem Dave," Carl said smiling. "It's on the way home. If you'd like I'll start picking you up too. That way you won't have to ride the bus."
"That would be really great," David said with a smile. "With the bus I have to be at the bus stop at 5:45 in order to be here before 7:00."
"I'll pick you up at 6:30 then," Carl promised.
Placing the key in the ignition, he had just turned on the engine when his cell phone began to ring.
"Hello," Carl said after grabbing the phone from its holder and flipping it open.
"Hey Carl," Ron said on the other end.
"What's up?" Carl asked.
"Are you still with David?" Ron asked instead of answering directly.
"Yep. We're just leaving the job on our way home," Carl answered.
"Please tell him that we're scheduled to go through the Stratosphere on Monday when you guys get off work."
"He'll be glad to hear that," Carl said smiling and looking over at David. "Are we all going to get to go?"
"Anyone that wants to," Ron informed his ward. "We'll get more details later. Just let David know."
"Thanks, Dad," Carl said with a grateful smile, before saying goodbye.
"That was Mr. Turner?" David asked, still uncomfortable calling Ron by his first name.
"Yeah. He said that the Stratosphere tour is a done deal!"
4:15 PM, David's apartment
Opening the door to his apartment, David was surprised that the door was again unlocked. Anticipating the visitor he dreaded seeing, he pushed the door open. As expected, Achmed was seated on the sofa.
"I hadn't heard from you in a few days" the large man said accusingly. "What do you have to report on your assignment?"
"We just got a call from Carl's dad on the way home from work," David said defensively. "The tour through the tower is scheduled for next Monday."
"Good," Achmed responded. "The explosives we need are arriving in small shipments daily. We need to finalize our plans very soon. Having been by the site many times, I think it would be best if we could knock out the tower leg next to the hotel. Not only would the impact of the falling tower be in the Casino around the legs, but also there would be a good chance of collapsing about 1500 rooms or more down onto the casino floor underneath them. With a little luck we could kill more infidels than died in the World Trade Center triumph."
"I can only tell you what I find," David replied. "I'm not an explosives expert."
"Well we'll meet the next night, Tuesday, after your tour. Take pictures. Time's running out. Oh, and another thing, I don't like you spending so much time with those American bastards."
"Hey, if I hadn't there would be no tour of the target building. If I stop seeing them now they might get suspicious. You know people from the Middle East are already suspect, especially after 9/11."
"I guess you're right," Achmed conceded. "We'll meet then Tuesday at our normal rendezvous location at 7 PM. Don't be late."
"Okay," David said to the figure that moved to the door without another word, exiting into the closing dusk.
David sat down on the sofa, feeling relief from the tension of Achmed's visit, but riddled mentally with self-doubt and inner conflict about the terrorist operation with which he'd allied himself. The more he thought, the more torn he became.
Two hours later, Ron and Matt's Ratt's nest
Ron and Matt stepped from the elevator connecting their third floor suite to the main living area of the house. They had arrived home around 5:30 PM and had showered and dressed in more casual clothing in anticipation of the arrival of their dinner guests. Ron had sent their limousine to pick up their guests at their hotel, planning for its return around 6:30. When they entered the family area they found that Tyler and Dan along with their two boys Jerry and Zack had already arrived. The two boys joined Ron and Matt's boys, including Eddie in the game room as the older guys congregated at the bar serving the family room.
"What little you've had time to tell us about our guests sounds absolutely fantastic," Tyler said enthusiastically.
"Yes, it's hard to believe," Ron agreed. "If hydrogen can be produced cheaply and in quantity, the fossil-fuel needs of the world can drop drastically. In addition, if salt water can be converted to drinking quality water economically, vast areas of the country and the world can be converted from desert or at best, arid farming to high yield agricultural production. While neither of these will ever replace birth control as the primary tool for over- population, it will provide a means that second and third world countries can use to join the industrial world in a high standard of living without exhausting the world's fossil fuel supplies or its limited supply of fresh water. The men you'll meet tonight have developed processes that have the potential to do both. Not only that, we'll be on the ground floor and over the next few decades stand to make trillions of dollars!"
"That's mind boggling," Matt joined in. "I thought that a billion dollars was a lot of money. I mean no private person has yet broken the 100 billion mark in personal wealth. A trillion dollars is a thousand billion!"
"Wow!" exclaimed Dan. "What could you do with a trillion dollars?"
"Ask the government," Ron said with a note of sarcasm. "They think a billion dollars is lunch money and can spend 100 billion without blinking an eye or even blushing. Even with the Tegano purchase, the four of us together may be worth 7 or 8 billion dollars in the next couple of years. That is a LOT of money by most people's standards, and will put us will within the top 1/100th percent of all the people in this country, the wealthiest country in the world. Yet in the bigger scheme of things 7 billion dollars is chump change."
"I hate to break up your conversation, Mr. Ron," Parker said entering the room from the kitchen, "but the limo has just passed through the estate's front gates. Would you like me to greet your guests?"
"No thank you Parker," Ron replied. "Please just wait by the front door to take their coats. The four of us will go out to the entry and welcome them."
"Very good sir," Parker responded as the four men put their drinks aside and moved toward the front entry. Descending the grand staircase leading to ground level, Ron led the way out the eight foot high doors and over the bridge to the porte cochere where the large white vehicle was just pulling to a stop.
Rob, the Ratt's Nest driver, jumped out of the driver's seat, first opening the rear door on the driver's side, then circling around the rear of the car to open the opposite rear door. Once the four passengers were gathered opposite the four men from the house, Ron began the introductions.
"Gentlemen," he said addressing the newcomers, "I'd like you to meet my life partner Matt Davidson, my brother Tyler Turner and his life partner Dan Barnes. Guys," he said switching to whom he was speaking, "this is my college roommate Chet McDonald, and his clients, Luke Sanders, Damon Peabody and Bill Rogers."
"Just call me Buck," Bill said as the parties exchanged handshakes. "I must say," Buck continued, "this is one impressive house."
"Thanks Buck," Ron replied. "Tyler and Dan have one nearby that is quite different, but equally impressive. If you'll accompany us inside, I'm sure we can find a cocktail and get to know each other," Ron said.
Ron turned toward the house and with Chet by his side began walking back over the bridge toward the front doors. Matt paired up with Luke, and Tyler and Dan did likewise with the other two guests. Upon entering through the portal Ron introduced the new group to Parker who in turn took their coats, hanging them in a nearby cloakroom. Ascending the grand staircase from the entry foyer the group moved to the living room where they settled in the luxurious seating, then Parker again joined them, taking their drink orders.
"This house is truly magnificent," Luke remarked. "It reminds me of the famous house called `Falling Waters' by Frank Lloyd Wright back home."
"You're from Pennsylvania?" Matt asked.
"Yes, that's where I grew up, but really nearer Philly than Pittsburgh." answered their guest."
"I commissioned the design of the house from Taliesin Associates," Ron replied. "That's Frank Lloyd Wright's design studio in Scottsdale, Arizona. They also did our offices and Tyler and Dan's house. Each is in a different style made famous by Frank Lloyd Wright."
"I'm somewhat a Wright fan myself," Luke admitted. "I'd like our research lab to be in the style of the Marin County building in northern California."
"I'm familiar with that complex," Ron said. "I don't see why it can't be done. Where do you want the lab to be built?"
"We were thinking it might be somewhere near where we live now," Buck replied. "Both Damon and I currently work for Dupont in Delaware. Luke works in New York."
"You pick the place," Ron said. "I have real estate and construction specialists that can help when you decide. Of course, our construction company will build it. What are you working on now?"
"We're still exploring the hydrogen/ water ideas." Damon answered, "though Luke is working on an application that I'm sure would interest you, but Buck and I have a new idea that could cut production costs of hydrogen by another 40%, however it's still very experimental. If it works it should cut the costs of water desalinization too. Of course once the first power plant is underway we'll be working on the hydrogen plant that will feed it. Hopefully by then our research can be used to cut production costs."
"That sounds great," Ron agreed. "I also think though that we need to make sure the plant we build is the optimum size, both for our hydrogen facility, and for the production of electric power. If anything, the hydrogen facility should be larger. We could start out with all hydrogen-powered vehicles. I'm sure that we could start our own vehicular market. What are you working on Luke?"
"I'm working on the design of a hydrogen powered jet engine. I have a friend from MIT who works for G.E. in the jet engine design department. He seems to think that with hydrogen we can slightly improve fuel consumption of jet airliners with minor alterations to engines currently in use and up to 20% with new engines and we can produce the fuel 25% cheaper than the cost of kerosene. It could save the airline business because we wouldn't have to manufacture all new engines. He feels we can modify existing engines to accept the fuel and as needed, build new engines that are much more efficient than the modified ones. It would be a win-win situation for both the airlines and G.E. who we'd license it to."
"There's our market!" Ron declared.
"How many plants can we build in the beginning?" Matt asked.
"Assuming that the optimum size is of the million gallons a day size, I'd guess that we could start 10 in rapid succession," Ron replied. "It would be a capital investment of about 900 million dollars, but I'm sure we could borrow it all if we have the customers lined up. I think that 10 million gallons a day would make a big dent in the airline consumption. It's important that we start our first pilot plant though as soon as possible. We have sufficient cash to do the first plant or two without borrowing, but not enough for 10 all at once."
"What if we can't get the airlines to buy?" Tyler asked.
"Easy," Ron said smiling. "We'll buy an airline and kill the competition."
"Aren't they publicly held?" countered Tyler.
"Sure but a couple are on the brink of bankruptcy. I'm sure we could buy out the stockholders for pennies on the dollar. Of course we'd pick up an immense amount of debt, and we'd have to convert the engines too, but I'm sure that G.E. would finance the engine conversions."
"You sure don't think small," Chet chuckled.
"What are you laughing for Chet?" asked Ron grinning. "You're going to make it all happen."
"WHAT?"
"Hey, you can't expect us to do all the work," Ron told him. "If we make an agreement with your friends, you're going to have to come to work for us."
"Heck Ron, if this deal comes off, I won't need to work."
"Look at the four of us, my friend," Ron said. "Do you think any of us need to work?"
"I get your point Roomie," Chet responded. "There goes my kicking back on my heels in the Bahamas," he said feigning disgust.
"Not really," grinned Ron. "We've got a boat!"
Tyler, Matt and Dan all laughed at Ron's referral to the PT II as a boat.
"What's so funny?" Luke asked.
"Our boat, as Ron refers to it, is over 180 feet long, has a crew of 11 and handles 16 guests in comfort and luxury."
"Wow!" Buck replied. "I vote that we have our next meeting on your boat!"
"Which one?" Tyler asked. "We have another nearly as large in San Diego."
"I like you guys!" Damon said. "Luke, Buck, I think we have some new partners."
"I hope so," Ron commented. "If we end up making a deal with you, we plan on betting the bank. I hope you guys realize though that even with almost unlimited money, we can't do it all. We'll have to do a lot of licensing. For instance, we can't manufacture cars or jet engines or distribute power, nor are we big enough take on the whole world at once in producing hydrogen. If we spent 100 billion dollars in building plants, I suspect that the demand would outstrip the supply very quickly. I foresee an explosion in the world's economy. Gentlemen, we're sitting on dynamite under our rocket. We have to plan our strategies very carefully. I'm certain that money to finance whatever we want to do is available, as long as we develop the market along with our production. Nevertheless, I have no intention of working myself to death to become a trillionaire. What's the point? This whole thing better be fun or someone else can do it."
"Ron, you've convinced me," Luke said grinning. "I expected to come here and have a knock down fight over the terms of our deal. I can see now that the whole experience will be good for us all. Heck, we're just scientists. We wanna play in our labs and let someone else tend to the business of making us rich."
"I'm convinced along with Damon and Luke," Buck stated. "I'm ready to sign."
"Funny you mentioned that," Ron said laughing. "I happened to bring copies of a preliminary agreement home with me. Before we all sign, however, I'd like you all to read it, including Matt, Tyler and Dan. If any of you don't agree with what's proposed, or if any of you don't want to do the deal, it's dead."
He reached in a small folder and extracted copies of the agreement that he brought along home from the office, handing a copy to each of the seven men.
"I think that you'll find all the pertinent details included," Ron said. "It's a simple agreement of only two pages, but it covers all the salient points of our discussion earlier today. While you're reading it, who'd like a drink?"
Eight hands went up in the air, which Parker noted, appearing mysteriously in the doorway. Having already anticipated the answer and duplicating the earlier orders, the older man entered the room and deposited the appropriate drinks before each man.
"That's what I call service," Chet said as the drinks were set down.
"Thank you sir," Parker said smiling, then with a wink toward the Las Vegas guys added, "we aim to please."
Five minutes later, Chet looked up and watched the eyes of his `customer friends' as they concluded their reading.
"What's the verdict?" he asked.
"Looks good to me," Luke responded first.
"Me too," both of the other men agreed.
Ron looked at Tyler, Matt & Dan who all nodded `yes'.
"I have two originals here," Ron said. "I've already signed it for us. If each of you will sign it, we can get on with our socializing."
Chet rose, picked up the documents from Ron, signed them and then handed them around to the other three men.
"Who is Turner Holdings?" Luke asked as he signed the documents.
"It's our holding company that owns all our operating and investment companies," Ron explained. "I'm sure we'll create several operating companies out of this deal, and collectively you'll have the same 32% ownership in them that you have in the original deal. It's explained in the 4th paragraph on the second page but in general terms. Understand that this preliminary agreement is not the full agreement. The final agreement will probably be 30 pages long and will go into a lot of detail. We'll be happy to work with you and with Chet on it to make sure that your interests are not diluted."
"I don't like all the fine print," Luke stated. "I know we have to go through all the legal mumbo-jumbo, but I trust you, and if your word is no good, then neither are all the papers."
"I couldn't agree with you more Luke," Ron agreed. "We'll try to make it as painless as possible, yet cover all the contingencies. For example, are you guys partners collectively or individually, and what happens if we want to do something that's not covered in the contract? If one of you doesn't want to do it, is the deal dead, or does the majority rule on your side of the fence? It's that kind of crap we have to wade through."
I never thought it would be this complicated," Luke commented.
"I'm sorry to say it is," Ron responded. "We have to think of everything possible that could happen both in developing and running the businesses, and also what happens between us. Then we have to agree on how we handle something we haven't thought of nor covered in our agreement. It's a lot of work but worth the effort in the long run . In the old west men made agreements by handshakes. They often solved their later disagreements with a gun. None of us want to resort to that kind of issue resolution.
"What's this `discovery period'?" Buck asked.
"That's a 30 day period where we get to see if your claims are true. If you're not able to do what you claim we can back out of the deal."
"I'm not worried about that," Buck replied. "We've done our homework."
"Then it should be a `no brainer'," Ron said smiling.
"Do we have to wait for 30 days to get our initial money?" Damon asked.
"No," responded Ron as he reached back into his folder, "I have your checks here."
All four men looked up in surprise.
"Hey guys, we either trust each other or we might as well hang it up right now," Ron said as he handed the checks to Chet in exchange for one of the original signed documents.
"I really like the way you work, Roomie," Chet said with a grin.
"Thanks Chet. I'm sure this will be one really good relationship."
Ronnie entered the room and approached Ron.
"Uh, sorry to interrupt," he said, "but when are we gonna eat!"
Ron laughed. "Right away Ronnie. Guys, this is our son Ronnie. Ronnie this is Mr. McDonald, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Peabody and Mr. Rogers."
"Nice to meet you all," Ronnie said offering his hand to the four men who shook it.
"Nice to meet you too," Chet said for the group. "Ron and Matt, I didn't know you had a son. You're so full of surprises."
"Actually we have four," Matt answered. "Tyler and Dan only have two, so far."
"I know this sounds stupid, Ron" Luke said, "but it's obvious that you're gay. That's not so unusual, but to have four sons really is."
"Yes," Matt and I are quadrupley blessed," Ron said. "In other circumstances I'd not mention this, but you're family now. All our boys are gay too."
"Wow! That's astounding," Chet replied. "I, of course knew you were gay from when we were in college, but as I said before, I kinda lost track of you."
"I hope your wives won't be upset that you guys are in business with a bunch of gays," Ron remarked.
"I doubt it's possible," Buck said. "We have no wives. We're all gay. Damon and I are life partners, but Luke and Chet are `available'."
The four Las Vegas men grinned as they looked at each other.
"Dinner is served," Parker announced from the doorway.
"There's your answer Ronnie," Matt said. "Get the boys."
"Yes sir," Ronnie said running toward the game room.
"What a charmer," Buck commented.
"Thanks, they all are," Matt replied.
Two hours later
Ron, Matt, Tyler and Dan watched and waved as the limo pulled away and started down the long drive to the front gate of the large estate.
"Nice guys," Dan remarked.
"Yes they are," Ron agreed as they headed back into the house. "I think that we'll get along fine. They really don't want to be involved with the business end of their discoveries, but simply want to continue to do research and enjoy life."
"I'm sure that even without us they could become mega-millionaires just off of licensing their patents. We're very fortunate to be in on the ground floor."
"Can we really handle the kind of expenditures that this kind of construction will demand?" Tyler asked.
"No," Ron confirmed, "but we can license what we can't do ourselves. It's a win-win situation. Even if we could capture the whole market ourselves we'd have to face anti-trust charges from the government. It's not worth it just to make more money. In a way it's like Dupont. They were a successful gunpowder producer clear back well before the Civil War. However, it wasn't until the Second World War when their chemical labs went to work with nylon, synthetic rubber and a host of new products that they became huge. It's the brain trust that these guys bring to the table that's the most valuable commodity in this deal."
"I wondered why the lab they want interested you so much," Matt commented.
"Yes, the hydrogen and water discoveries are immense beyond imagination, but they are not the last thing these guys will bring to us. No matter how big we get or how much money we make, we can never ignore these guys. They and people like them, are the key to our future, and quite honestly, perhaps even the world."
The four men climbed the grand entry staircase to find the six boys waiting at the top.
"I've been elected spokesman," Ronnie said smiling. "We think we need to have a family meeting."
"Yes sir," Ron said winking at the other three men. "Would now be too soon?"
"Duh!" Ronnie replied, eliciting a laugh from the four older men.
"Where would you like to meet, Mr. Chairman," Ron asked.
"The family room would be nice. That way we could get you guys all liquored-up," Ronnie said with a mad grin and a wink.
"Lead on MacDuff," Ron said with a wave of his hand.
Ronnie looked at his dad with a strange look on his face, then headed for the family room content not to ask the question that was on his mind.
Ron smiled then accompanied the three other men to the room where the other 5 youths had already settled in. After taking seats that had purposely been left empty by the young guys, the men looked at Ronnie as Ron said, "Okay guys, what's on your minds?"
"Two things," Ronnie responded. "It was nice meeting your friend and those other guys, but what was that all about? Every one of you older guys seemed so excited, but we're in the dark."
"I'll keep this brief but give you a quick outline," Ron said beginning his explanation. "First you have to understand that what I'm about to tell you is a business secret. You can't tell anyone. If you can't agree with that then we're finished before we start.
"We promise," Ronnie said as all the other youths agreed.
"Good. Two of the most pressing problems our world currently faces, are the future scarcity of oil and the scarcity of potable water. With the growth of the third world nations and the population growth, we'll most likely run out of oil in our lifetime and not be able to feed the world because of the scarcity of fresh water. The three men who were with my friend Chet are research scientists. They have discovered a way to make hydrogen cheaply, which can be used as fuel, and as a byproduct, this process enables them to take the salt out of the plentiful seawater. They have offered their discoveries to us and will be our partners in developing their discoveries. Long before we've reached the immense potential of this venture, you will be adults, and those of you who choose to be part of our businesses will be affected."
"Wow! That's great!" Ronnie gushed. "We get to help save the world!"
"Yes," Ron agreed, "and make a lot of money while we're at it. Now what was your second item?"
"Uh... well, you know that Nathan and Carl have jobs. The rest of us want to work too."
"What about school?" Matt asked.
"Oh, we'll still go to school and to college and stuff," Jerry interjected. "We'd just like to work a few hours a week each and maybe full time in the summer when school's out."
"Do you mind if I ask what brought all this about?" Ron asked.
"Sure. We all got to talking when we were on our trip to San Diego about how interesting all the things are that you guys do. We decided that we want to be part of it."
"I think the four of us need to talk between us before we respond to your request," Ron replied. "I believe I speak for all of us in saying that we're pleased that you want to help and be involved, but we also want you to enjoy your youth and the freedom that goes with it."
"That's nice and we appreciate it," Jerry said, "but we don't want to be just a family of spoiled rich kids. We already take some shit.... Uh...I mean kidding... about it at school."
"Let us adults talk about it together," Matt said. "Have each of you decided what you want to do?"
"Not definitely," Jerry answered. "We knew you'd ask though so we wrote down our interests and thought you might take those and see if you could work us into something we'd each like."
"I see you've been thinking quite a lot about this," Ron complimented. "We'll talk about it and get back to you soon. Is there anything else?"
"Nope, that's it," Ronnie said. "Thanks for talking with us."
"You're welcome. Okay guys, I think it's time to think about going to bed. You guys have work and school tomorrow," Matt reminded the youths.
The 6 young men got up and said their goodnights. While Jerry and Zack were exchanging hugs with Tyler and Dan, Jerry said, "Uh Dads, Zack and I will take one of the golf carts home. That way you guys can talk about the jobs."
"Pushy little devils, aren't you? Tyler said with a grin. "Okay, take off. We'll be home soon."
Thanks dad," both boys said at once, and scampered toward the door.
When the room was empty of the youngsters, Tyler turned to Ron.
"Well bro, what do you think of that?"
"I think they're growing up too fast," Ron replied.
"Probably so," Matt agreed, "but I think we should do something."
"I do too," Dan joined in last. "My only concern is that they don't take on too much."
"I think for now maybe three hours, twice a week would be doable," Matt suggested, "like Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. In the summer it could be more, except I think we should have two or three weeks of vacation where none of us work."
"That sounds like the beginning of a plan," Ron said. "This coming weekend, let's `interview' each of the boys after we think of what might be available according to their lists. It might vary for each kid though. Some may want to be more involved with school activities, especially Zack and Eddie who are the youngest."
"I've been meaning to ask you Matt," Ron said changing the subject a bit, "how's Nathan working out in `Trusts'?"
"He's taking to it like a duck takes to water," Matt replied. "He has those three `arts specialists' eating out of his hand. I know that George Bowles really appreciates him working with those three prima donnas."
"Do you think that's his niche?" asked Ron.
"I'm not sure. I'll talk to him about it. I just know that he does a great job. I'm not sure it's the job that he likes or if he just is naturally gifted and motivated."
"Yes, please talk to him. If he wants we could rotate him elsewhere to broaden his experience base."
"I'll do that Ron," Matt promised.
"I have one more thing that we need to discuss or at least think about."
"What's that Ron?" Tyler asked.
"This new energy/water thing has the potential to be 100 times bigger than all we're currently doing. Who's going to run it?"
"I think you should do it, Ron," Tyler suggested.
"What do you think Babe?" Ron asked Matt.
"I know I don't want the job. I love what I do already and that thing is going to be a monster. I think you running it would probably be best, but I'd hate to lose you from all the things that you currently oversee."
"What about you Dan?"
"I vote for you. We can all work to take up the slack."
"I can't disagree that me running it would work," Ron replied. "but I'll tell you what I'm thinking. I'll say this first though. I'll not push this on you all, but I want you to think about it. First, I think that Dan is underutilized. He's very good at what he does but he needs a major responsibility, not just to be a Regional Manager for Construction Leasing. Second, I think that Tyler has some immensely capable people who could handle Aztec-Turner now that the major external expansion is complete. My thought is that Tyler and Dan take over the energy/water development and management. It's dangerous to a relationship for two partners to work that closely all the time though, so I'd suggest that Tyler handles the energy side of things and Dan handles the water."
"Whew!" Tyler said shaking his head in surprise. "I'm not sure that I know that much about science stuff."
"You're an excellent manager," Ron countered. "That's what's important. Dan is too. Chet can handle the marketing aspects for one or both of you, but I'd also like to suggest that we bring the whiz kids, Jeff Thompson and Phil Davis, back from Chicago as Vice Presidents to help you, to keep you from getting bogged down with the organizational details. I know that they're happy where they are, so we'll have to make it very attractive to them. If you need more help we could bring Lonnie and Jack back from New York too. I also know though that the first thing they all did in setting up those offices of Turner Consulting was to hire some very bright people, people who are capable of taking over for them."
"What you're suggesting is mind-boggling!" Dan exclaimed.
"That's what I do," Ron responded with a grin. "I boggle minds."
"Do you mind if I ask why you don't want to do it?" Tyler asked. "You have the most experience."
"My thought for myself is to move Will into my current job, and to move myself up a notch to Chairman of Everything. I think we need to be able to utilize all our resources and I can do that best by removing myself from all the day-to-day activities of the Turner companies. I'd like to move Matt's Trust operations up with me though rather than have his operations subordinate to Will. One of my great loves is to work with Matt in our charitable operations. If our new venture is as successful as I expect, our charities will be dealing with $100 billion or more, not $1 billion. We have the opportunity to do an unprecedented amount of good."
"Dan and I will talk about your proposal," Tyler committed. "Right now I'm overwhelmed."
"That's all I can ask," replied Ron. "I just want you to know how much confidence I have in both of you."
"Thanks Bro. That means more to me than I can express," Tyler said, still in shock.
"I feel the same way Ron," Dan agreed.
"Where are we going to put all the people we're going to need?" the ever practical Matt asked.
"Well..." Ron said with a grin, "Frank Lloyd Wright designed a mile-high skyscraper."