Chapter 13: Loopholes

~~ November - Week 47 ~~

The three dads, the von Holton’s, Henry, Captain Clark and Vincent, were sitting in Lee’s old room when they took the cover off.

“Hi, Kids, were back, did you have fun while we were jabbering?” Robert asked.

“Yep Lee and I were discussing how to make absent dads miserable. But then Sean went and spoiled it by reminding me, I was going to be a dad real soon too,” Kyle said as he grinned at the cringes made by Pete and Antonio.

“I assume that discussion is best left until another day,” Lee said. “So, what have you gentlemen and Vanesa got for us?”

“Well,” said the Captain. “I gave your charter to your fathers to read, and we have been discussing it with the others present here. They have a few questions to ask you, and I hope you don’t mind, but I believe we can trust the people in this room,” the Captain finished.

Sean, Kyle and Lee looked at each other and mentally agreed. “Ask away,” Lee said.

“Just a quick side question, Sean, you know that little business you asked us to do, well we have run into a problem,” Robert said.

“How so?” said Sean.

“Well, we now have thirty-three percent of the company. But apparently, we were not the only buyers out there. My broker has had to do some serious digging because whoever they are, they didn’t want anyone to know what they were up too, and they have been doing it for a while as well.”

“The closest we have been able to get to is a shell company called, Physic In Ink. They now own the controlling share of thirty-seven percent.”

“How the company let so much of their stock get out of their hands is beyond me. But we can’t contact the other shareholders to find out if they are in our camp or the oppositions,” Robert finished.

He was wondering why Lee and Kyle were grinning at him. Then Pete said, “You little buggers, how bloody long have you been buying up GB & JK’s shares?”

Kyle said, “Nearly four years. Lee and I were supposed to be on the first ship, which went to Delta Pavonis.”

“I assume it was when Lee heard about the probe coming back. She asked me if I wanted to invest in a company that was going to make a lot of money.”

“So, we set up the shell companies dumped a heap of money in several accounts and got our brokers to buy the shares as they become available. So, we own thirty-seven percent now, did you say?”

Antonio looked at his son, “Where on Earth did you two come up with that sort of money?”

“Hey, I’m not just a pretty face, Pop. Lee and I have a couple of patents, which have been doing well. Plus, I’ve been investing mum’s money since I was fourteen.”

Pete and Robert shook their heads and grinned. “Looks like he really is a chip off the ol’ block Antonio,” Robert said.

“Damn, I wish she had told me about you, my son. I would have married her, you know. I spent two bloody years looking for her.”

“But she kept moving, and finally I decided that she didn’t love me after all and gave up. Sorry to let you down boy.”

Kyle looked at Sean and Lee, and they both smiled gently at him. He replied, “I think it was because she loved you. We had a big argument when I was twelve about you, and she said she should have sent me to you.”

“When I asked why she didn’t, she broke down and cried. She said she had burnt those bridges and the pain of losing us both was too much. I never asked about you again.”

“I’m going to be on this ship when it leaves Earth, son, come hell or high water.”

Kyle nodded. He was too choked up to speak. Lee and Sean both hugged him tight, and everyone gave them a minute to settle down.

Sean sat back and grinned, “Well, the question is, are you two going to vote with us for the take over?”

“In a bloody heartbeat, Bro,” Kyle said.

Robert smiled, “Well, that sorts that out. You guys now effectively own the Fortune so you can do whatever you like with it.”

Lee looked at Robert “How so?”

“Well, we own half of the ship through our company. When we make the bid to the board of directors’ tomorrow, we all will own the other half. So, it’s your ship. As you three are the heirs and also shareholders to our company.”

“But don’t you have other kid’s, dad?” Kyle asked.

“No son, just you and I’m perfectly happy having you as my heir.”

“Good,” said Robert. “Now, all we have to do is get the countries to agree to your charter, Lee. They are going to bitch and whinge about your rules, my girl. That has to be one of the tightest bloody documents I’ve ever seen. There not a lot of wiggle room.”

“There wasn’t supposed to be any,” Lee said.

“Well, you haven’t supplied a definition of what is environmentally friendly,” Mark said.

“That’s easy,” came back, Lee. “Add in these four words, ‘as is, where is’, that should do.”

There were confused looks around the table. Then Vanesa laughed, “That is priceless Lee, they will piss themselves trying to work that out.”

“I don’t understand,” Henry said. Suddenly, he realised his job was just getting harder. He was just glad the other three men were on the UN Council with him, he had a feeling they would help a lot.

“Well, the legal definition is: ‘In the condition, it presently exists or as found on inspection immediately prior to purchase, even if damaged or defective without modification and without any express or implied warranties.’ In other words, they have to do their best to preserve it as they find it.”