The Moose Paradox by Antti Tuomainen

Author:Antti Tuomainen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orenda Books
Published: 2022-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

We sit down at the table, and I see that Juhani has gone to a lot of trouble to set up our impromptu coffee meeting. The table has been moved slightly further away from the others to ensure we can talk in relative peace and quiet, and the delicacies Juhani mentioned have been laid out in front of us. Johanna has excelled herself – doubtless at Juhani’s behest. The muffins are large, chocolatey and fresh from the oven. The straws in our glasses of cordial are the long, bendy kind and the coolness of the ice cubes and the juicy slices of lime crown the beverage beautifully. There are coffee cups on the table too in case anyone would like some coffee, which has been provided in a steel Thermos. Kuisma Lohi is sitting opposite me and doesn’t seem to have blinked once since we met.

‘If I introduce you two to each other,’ Juhani begins, ‘then perhaps we can—’

‘How about I introduce myself?’ says Kuisma Lohi.

‘That’s an excellent idea,’ says Juhani.

Kuisma Lohi appears to spend about a second and a half thinking through everything he wants to say one more time, analyses it for any potential flaws (but naturally doesn’t find any), double-checks the order of events, then begins.

‘I’m an investor,’ he says, ‘and I’m actively looking for investment opportunities in areas where I see the potential for growth – opportunities that are currently under-resourced and underperforming. The Finnish adventure-park market is a good example. I’ve been looking for a way to break into this market for some time now, and I believe YouMeFun could be at the forefront of new developments in the field, in reshaping the market, as it were.’

Kuisma Lohi pauses briefly. My mouth feels dry. The Captain’s Cordial tastes so concentrated that I can almost feel the taste of pear right through my body.

‘Another factor making YouMeFun such an attractive proposal is its management structure,’ says Lohi. ‘An actuary serving both as owner and CEO. Interesting. I’ve looked at the numbers and done my own research. Everything seems to be in order. What’s more, you’re considered a meticulous man whose word is his bond. From an investor’s perspective, this is all very fascinating and compelling.’

I understand from Kuisma Lohi’s words that he is trying to flatter me, though his expression doesn’t tell quite the same story. His expression still doesn’t tell me anything at all.

‘When we take all the aforementioned elements together,’ he continues, ‘that is to say, the current underperforming of the adventure-park sector in general, the vast amounts of untapped potential both with regard to growing footfall and more effective leadership, and how YouMeFun might serve as a pilot scheme, a laboratory for how to create consistent success in the future, it’s only natural that I’d want to make an offer.’

The Captain’s Cordial feels cold in my hand. I quickly glance at Juhani. Not quickly enough, however, that Kuisma Lohi doesn’t notice.

‘When he contacted me, your brother stressed that you’re the one who makes the decisions round here,’ says Lohi.

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