‘You may have caught me with my pants down Jack or Joseph; either Crawford makes no difference. By the end of the day you may be a shareholder in Knight Industries; but when it comes to the voting stock; that will forever be out of your gasping paws. Oh and good luck trying to wrest control of Crawford Computers, I’ve made sure that will forever be out of your reach. And one more thing as of now you are expelled from the were-panther pride here in Moon Lake; since you failed to show up for the last gathering your membership is revoked.’
Jack Crawford throws the phone clear across the room; shattering in several pieces. After listening to the message, he couldn’t help but feel anger and rage building within him. Jack was certain he would remain anonymous during these maneuvers he carefully planned throughout the weekend; to have Benton out him and possibly scuttle his plans before he could see them come to fruition, galled him. Grabbing anther phone with his paw; the were-panther gets up to place a phone call to one of the proxy buyers in New York. The news was grim; the buyer relayed that he was able to secure shares in regards to Knight Industries. But as for the voting stock; the proxy buyer was unable to purchase due to the fact that it was already sold to Benton minutes ago. Jack hangs up; he is about to throw his second phone when his butler enters.
“Sir, your father is on the house phone.” The butler handing Jack a cordless and leaving; Jack getting out of bed and putting on a bathrobe as he shifts out of his fursona and heads to his desk.
“Dad,” Jack answers; “It’s nice to hear from you.”
“Really,” Joseph answers; “Usually you’re trying to beg me off when I call. What’s changed?”
“Love,” Jack looking at a photo of Kenya in her fursona on his desk; “I met the right one for me. I proposed to her and she sort of said yes.”
“Sort of said yes,” Joseph answering; “what are you not telling me?”
“Her name is Kenya Adaeze and she is a were-panther,” Jack responds; “but she is all emotional what with a bad breakup with her werewolf boyfriend back in Moon Lake.”
“How come I’ve never heard of her,” Joseph asking.
“Because she works at Moon Lake’s bank as a teller, but has a side business where she is an escort for select clients here in Seattle.” Jack getting up to look out the window giving him a view of the Space Needle; “I was one of her clients.”
“Well be that as it may,” Joseph speaking up; “I want to meet her. But that is not why I called you.”
“What is it then,” Jack heading back to his bedroom.
“Anton and Esmerelda Knight have left the island over here and are heading to Moon Lake,” Joseph states; “apparently the mole I had in their household staff told me that he overheard Anton telling Esmerelda that their son Benton was just diagnosed as Bi-polar.”
“oooh,” Jack thinking of the implications this could benefit him; “that is good to know.”
“How so,” Joseph asking.
“I’m trying to take back the company that Benton forced us out of dad,” Jack answering; “If the board gets wind of Benton’s mental instability, they will look to a new CEO.”
“Do you have any voting stock then son,” Joseph speaking up; “how do you intend to contact them?”
“I’m working on it dad,” Jack answering; “I just have to deal with a few roadblocks Benton just laid down.”
“Be careful then son,” Joseph responding; “Benton is not to be trifled with, more so if he truly is bipolar.” Joseph Crawford hangs up leaving Jack to ponder his next move.
“How am I going to get any voting stock if Benton is making those willing to sell, sell it to him?” Jack was about to make a call when his phone rings; seeing the caller is Kenya his mood lightens and immediately answers.
“Kenya,” Jack answers; “how are you.”
“Not good,” Kenya sobbing; “Nate won’t talk to me; he won’t even listen to me.”
“Then perhaps it’s time to leave Moon Lake and come to me my love,” Jack doing his best to console her; “I’ll have my driver pick you up and we’ll talk in person in a few hours okay?”
“Okay,” Kenya sobbing; “please have him meet me at my house.” Kenya hangs up leaving jack once again with a dead line.
“Won’t talk to me; he won’t even listen to me;” Jack pondering those words. “That’s it,” Jack shouts while snapping his fingers. Calling his agent in New York he asks him to get him a list of every employee in Knight Industries, current and former. Focusing on those who have an axe to grind against Benton; and those who would be willing to do business with a Crawford instead, Instructing him to see if any still have voting shares that they themselves would be willing to sell to him. Hanging up Jack smiles as he pages his driver; instructing him to head over to moon lake and pick up Kenya, Jack then heads to his master bath to have a shower and begin his day anew.