The Ego Makers by Donald Everett Axinn

Author:Donald Everett Axinn [Axinn, Donald Everett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781611456325
Publisher: Arcade
Published: 2012-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

18

GOING to the meeting with MacDougall two days later was a little like being dragged handcuffed into court by a sadistic sheriff and hearing the judge hand down a sentence of ten years at hard labor. Maybe I exaggerate a whit. Let’s say it was no fun.

Steve wanted to join Cal Ostreicher and me. I couldn’t think of any reason why not. Cal met us in Garden City, and we drove together to Federated’s Long Island office in Melville. I wore my bank outfit, a double-breasted, midnight blue pinstriped suit, an azure blue monogrammed shirt with pure white French cuffs and collar, a crimson solid silk tie, and a white H.S.M. handkerchief in my breast pocket. Charles held the doors of the limousine as we stepped in. Steve and I sat in the backseat, with Cal facing us.

“I would strongly suggest,” Cal began, “that you listen to what they have to say first. Then, let me do the talking.” He glanced at me for a reaction.

“Fine with me," I said. “Keep me from losing my temper and saying something I'll regret.”

“Won’t be the first time, little brother,” Steve threw in. “I remember several times when you —”

“All right, Steve,” I shook my head. “Not now. I said I was going to keep quiet.”

“I’ve heard that one before,” Steve mumbled.

“Knock it off,” I said, ‘We’re trying to deal with the bank, save your ‘get Henry’ tirade for some other time.”

“Remember,” Cal said, “what their gunslinger, as you called him, Henry, is there for. He’s their workout person. His role is to create the perception that you’re the bad guys and have to pay the penalty for all the evil you’ve done.”

“Wait just a minute,” I said, “We haven’t defaulted on the building loan. Not yet, anyway. Even if they don’t extend it, they’re better off working it out with us.”

“True,” Cal said. “But they’ll press for collateral and a big reduction. They know from your statements you have other assets.”

“I’m not letting them get their little hands on those,” I swore. “We set up our real estate so a loss there wouldn’t domino the rest. Plus we need whatever liquid assets we have to protect our other properties.”

“I can see you getting into one big fight with them, Henry,” Steve whined. “Our whole portfolio could be endangered.” He was beginning to go into high gear. “You had to stick your spire up onto the New York skyline for the whole world to see. Henry Martin, the biggest dick of them all.”

“Steve! I’ve had about enough of your fucking sniping.”

“Look, you two,” Cal cut in. “Play sibling rivalry when I’m not around. Okay?”

We managed to remain silent until we arrived at the Federated building. We had been told the meeting was scheduled in their largest conference room, on the third floor. We cooled our heels in the entrance foyer for twenty minutes.

When we were finally ushered in, MacDougall was seated. He rose to greet us. He was cordial but formal. “This is J.

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