Part 25 (1/2)
Unfazed, homosoto rose slowly and started for the door
”Where do you think you're going? Hey, I asked you where you're going? I'm not finished with you yet Hey, fuck the deal I don't want the Goddamned money We'll stay private and wait for so just as loudly with hand, arestures were obscene, there was no doubt about their ently aive you some time to think about it” With that, he left and shut the door in Pierre's bright red face
Three days later DGI stock would be officially unleashed upon the public Actually institutional buyers had already co precious little for the s Pierre was looking for Max They had a few lastpress conferences They had to prepare two types of statements One if the stock purchase went as expected, sold out al price, and another to explain the financial bloodbath if the stock didn't sell Unlikely, but their media advisors forced the ”Pierre, Mike Fields here” Fields was DGI's financial media consultant He worked for the underwriters and had a strong vested interest in the outcome He didn't sound like a happy camper
”Yes, Mike All ready for tomorrow? I'm so excited I could burst,” Pierre pretended
”Yes, so aht of homosoto ”What kind of problem, Mike?” Pierre asked suspiciously
”Uh, Max, Pierre, it's Max”
”What about Max?”
”Pierre, Max is dead He died in a car crash last night I just found out a few ather you didn't know?”
Of all the possible pieces of bad news that Mike Fields could have brought him, this was the farthest from his mind Max dead?
Not possible Why, he ith hiht
”Max, dead? No way What happened? I don't believe it This is soht?”
”Pierre, I'm afraid I'm all too serious, unless CHiPs is in on it They found a car, pretty well burned up, at the bottoh a barrier and down the, wellI”
”I get the idea, Mike Who?” Pierre stuttered
”It was an accident, Pierre One of those dumb stupid accidents
He may have had a blow out, fallen asleep at the wheel, ohit could be a s Pierre, I auys h”
”Mike, I have to go,” Pierre whispered The tears elling up in his eyes
”Wait, Pierre,” Mike said gingerly ”Of course we're gonna put off the offering until”
”No Don't” Pierre said emphatically
”Pierre, your best friend and partner just died and you want to go through with thisat least wait a weekWall Street will be kind on this”
”I'll call you later No changes None” Pierre hung up He hung his head on his desk, shattered with conflicting ereat ie Kne to do the schtick Suck up to the press, tell a few stories, stretch a few truths, all in the na, of course
But without Max, Max understood hirief vacillated fronored the first 7 rings Maybe they would go away The caller persisted
”Yes,” he breathed into the phone