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“Blake, hi,” he says as he picks up on the first ring. “It’s been a blood bath.”
“Yeah, I know.” I cut straight to the chase. “I’m calling to renew my offer to buy you out.”
“Yeah, yeah. I still have your offer on my desk; I’ll get my lawyers to give it back to you signed.”
“That was yesterday’s offer. My lawyers have rescinded it a few hours ago. You should’ve seen the notification in your inbox.”
“What are you proposing, then?”
“To buy your shares at half the premium I was offering yesterday, but the transaction must be concluded right away.”
Silence stretches on the line. “Why aren’t you low-balling me more? You must know I’d accept your offer at no premium today. Heck, I’d take it at less than the initial offering value.”
“You were my first investor, Tom. I wouldn’t be sitting here without you. I’m giving you what I can afford and what I feel is right. Do we have a deal?”
“Even after the way I was ready to drop you yesterday?”
“I understand business, Tom, your decision wasn’t personal.”
“Well, Blake, what can I say? It’s been a pleasure doing business with you. If you ever need a favor, count on me.”
“Thank you, Tom.”
“Whatever, and Blake?”
“Yes?”
“For what it’s worth, I hope you make it out of today alive.”
“You and me both.”
I hang up, wait for the legal team to confirm that we now control Cheney’s stocks, and call Marissa. “Hey.”
“Ready to pull the trigger?” she asks me instead of hello.
“Yes, tell all your users to buy, now.”
“Done.”
“Thank you, Mari. I will owe you one for the rest of my life.”
“Careful there, I might collect one day,” she replies playfully.
“I hope you do. I have to go now.”
“Go, save your company. We’ll talk later.”
Almost at once after we hang up, the stock switches trend and begins to rise. I’ve checked with the legal team a thousand times before giving the go-ahead. We didn’t share any privileged information. Or make up false or misleading data about Bloominghale. I’m not trading any of my stocks, so I won’t be liable for insider trading or market manipulation. I bought Cheney out at a considerable loss. So I’m not liable for any crime.
Those accusations, if anything, should befall Justin and his company for driving the price up and down so quickly.
Soon, as the price keeps driving up, other investors smell a good deal and start buying. By market closure, the stock has recovered a healthy and fair value of 15.65 dollars a share—what it should’ve been yesterday without Justin’s interference.
He will have lost a lot of money.
And so will Gabriel.
Five minutes after the closing bell, he texts me.
