Christopher Golde

           Chapter forty

               The Offer

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs
coming out of the mouth of the dragon,
out of the mouth of the beast
and out of the false prophet.”


JOHN:                   Revelation  16: 13 

Date:           31st December 1999                    Location:    New York, USA




           “Well, where are they,” said Gatwick, showing his frustration.

              “I was told that they would be here at two o’clock,” replied John Costello, his assistant, “it is only five past two Bill.”

              Gatwick just glared at him. He knew it was not the fact they were late, it was because they were even coming and disrupting all his well-placed plans.

              “Where’s Fujimo anyway,” Gatwick cursed?

              “Gone to the bathroom, that’s all,” answered John, “settle Bill, and don’t let em see you're on edge.”

              “Don’t you tell me what to do, if you had been doing your job properly John, it wouldn’t have come to this. Now go out and see if he’s here yet.”

              John could see it was pointless to continue, so he left the room without saying another word.

              Gatwick was about to slam a book down on the teak finish of his boardroom table when the door at the end of the room was opened by one of his suited security personnel. The guard entered and ushered into the room a sharply dressed, well-built man with short blond hair. Gatwick recognized him immediately.

              “Mr Harper, what an unexpected pleasure,” said Gatwick, somewhat puzzled and forgetting momentarily his anger at the forthcoming meeting, “is Pietta with you, and how did you get in?” Gatwick looked past him at the security guard that was looking totally confused.

              The tall blond-haired man walked towards the billionaire with his hand outstretched, a slight smile of amusement, or even sheepish embarrassment on his face.

              “No Mr Gatwick, unfortunately, she couldn’t make this trip,” he apologized, as they shook hands.

              The last time they had met, he and Pietta Chong had come to the States to warn Gatwick of the murderous intent of Ieko Fujimo. The irony of his intentions to amalgamate the three of them this time did not escape him.

              Bill Gatwick’s somewhat confused smile began to fade as he sensed that this new guest was about to tell him something he would not find amusing.

              “Your timing Mr Harper is somewhat unfortunate,” Gatwick continued, releasing the hand of the mysterious Australian, “I am about to have a very important meeting and probably won’t be able to entertain you at all today. Perhaps tomorrow, if that is convenient for you?”

              The Australian continued to smile and looked around the room.

              “Well, about that meeting, and as a matter of explanation, about even the last meeting we had,” said the Australian, looking back to Gatwick and meeting squarely with the intense stare of the software billionaires bright blue eyes, “I should really clear up exactly who I am.”

              Gatwick’s smile had completely dissipated and now was replaced by an expression Jason could only describe as heading towards annoyance.

              “Maybe you better Mr Harper, or whoever you are.”

              “Well, that’s just it,” continued the Aussie, “I probably should have explained last time we met, but I thought it was probably not necessary at that time. I have been known as Shane Harper, so it wasn’t exactly a lie, but I am more often called Jason King.”

              Gatwick was shocked. How could his intelligence people have let this get past them?

              “It truly was not meant with any disrespect,” continued Jason, “you of all people would understand the necessity to remain anonymous for security reasons, and if you remember, last time we met, it was to assist you. My name would have meant nothing to you then, I am sure.”

              Gatwick settled a bit and considered what the Australian was saying. It was true, it would not have made any difference then and they did come to him as an ally.

              “Yes, you did,” replied Gatwick, at last, and moving away from Jason towards the end of the room as he spoke, where a large screen was slowly lowering from the roof, “you and Pietta did help and I am grateful for that, and I do understand security issues for people such as ourselves. I guess I am just a little shocked, as you can surely understand.”

              Jason said nothing. He knew that Gatwick would still be suspicious of his motives, especially considering the nature of today’s meeting and the fact that Jason had called it.

              Gatwick stood behind a chair at the end of the table, a contemplative look on his face. Jason guessed that he was deciding what exactly his next move should be, especially taking into consideration the new set of circumstances. Now that Gatwick knew that his mystery competitor was not so much of a mystery and that he had a relationship with Pietta Chong, it could change his whole game plan.

              Jason finally broke the silence.

              “Where is Fujimo?”

              Gatwick looked up, an absent expression on his face betraying just how deep in thought he had been.

              “Bathroom I am told,” he answered, not even thinking about why Jason would ask.

              As that was said, the door that Jason had entered through opened and in walked a stylishly dressed, young, Japanese male Jason knew to be Ieko Fujimo. He walked directly past Jason without so much as a cursory glance, probably assuming Jason was one of the guards. Jason knew he had met Fujimo briefly in Sydney but he was guessing that he would not remember him.

              “So Gatwick San,” began the Japanese businessman, obviously annoyed, “why have you called me here?”

              Gatwick just looked at him wryly; Jason thought he noticed the slightest hint of satisfaction on his face at Fujimo’s irritation.

              “I didn’t call you here; he answered pulling out a swivel chair from the table and sitting down.

              “Well, then who…”

              “I did,” interrupted Jason.

              At that, the Japanese swung about and looked again at Jason, a puzzled expression betraying his normally stony features.

              “And who are you and why would you involve yourself in our business,” Fujimo almost spat, before spinning back to Gatwick? “What is going on here Gatwick San?”

              Jason saw the half-smile on Gatwick’s face growing and now knew he was beginning to enjoy what before had annoyed him.

              “Well perhaps if you sit down, Mr King will be good enough to explain it to you.”

              Fujimo looked back towards Jason, a look of sudden recognition and disbelief on his stony features.

              “Jason King,” is all he could get out.

              He half dropped his head as if to bow and looked quickly back toward Gatwick. He said nothing else and then obviously decided the only way forward was to sit down and listen. He pulled out a chair so that it slid away from the table much more than was needed and sat.

              “Mr King, the floor is yours and my time is precious,” said Fujimo arrogantly to Jason.

              ‘If he’s mad now, he isn’t going to like what I’m about to tell him,’ thought Jason.

              “Well Mr Fujimo, it’s like this,” began Jason, trying not to sound too smug, “My company is aware that your company and Mr Gatwick’s company, are about to join forces in a new venture to build a super chip and to put it bluntly Mr Fujimo, my company would like to be included in the negotiations.”

              Jason paused, waiting for the calculated response. Fujimo started laughing. Gatwick just smiled. Jason knew what he was about to tell Fujimo was probably not new news for the software boss.

              “What makes you think we need your involvement,” said Fujimo smugly, barely keeping his formal composure intact.

              Jason paused for effect. He always enjoyed these little corporate surprises, which his company was renowned for in the world of technology, ‘with the exception of Japan most likely’, he thought.

              “With respect Fujimo San,” continued Jason, “my company is a privately owned company, and yours and Mr Gatwick’s, are both public companies.”

              Jason noticed the smile quickly disappear from Fujimo’s face, as he was sure he was already sensing what Jason was about to tell them.

              “My company, over the last twelve months, has purchased enough shares in all of your chip manufacturing plants in Asia, to make us a major decision-maker. So much so that the minute your companies merge, the stocks we own in Macram added to the stocks we own in Futuretronics, will make my Trade.com a major and probably equal shareholder with both yourself and Mr Gatwick.”

              Jason stopped to gauge their reaction before continuing. Ieko Fujimo did not know what to say; he had been outmanoeuvred by a predator even greater than himself. Gatwick, though not at all impressed by what had happened right under their scheming noses, could not help but smile at the bewildered Fujimo.

              Gatwick was the first to speak.

              “So Mr King, what is it you want?”

              “It's is really quite simple Bill,” replied Jason reasonably, “you two will control the production and distribution, we will all share in the wealth, and my company controls everything on the Internet.”

              Even Gatwick was shocked, though he probably should have expected it. He knew that Jason’s company was now one of the largest global Internet traders. At the time of this meeting, he knew that Jason’s company probably controlled a bit less than five percent of the world market. With the new Superchip, they could end up controlling more like fifty percent. From that position, Jason King would almost effectively control the ebb and flow of world trade.

              “Why that is preposterous,” said Gatwick, almost spitting it out.

              “What choice do we have,” said Fujimo, almost too easy for Jason’s liking.

              Gatwick looked from one man to the other despairingly. He could see his dream of world domination going out the window rapidly.

              “You have no choice, said Jason coldly, “or we block the merger and there is no chip.”