Corporate Capital of the World

The highway sign featured a large marigold. The white background contrasted with the flower’s burst of yellow color. The yellow was intense, like the blast of fire from a firework, zooming from its green stem into the air. Above the flower, in huge letters, the sign read, “Watch your money grow with Tagetis.”

Millard “Mill” Polk stood below the sign as the workers unveiled it. An imposing presence at 6’5” and black as a wonderberry, he became interim CEO of Tegetis Capital Credit Cards, the largest credit card company in Wilmington, Delaware a few months prior.

The spring of 1995 proved to be a period of massive growth for credit card companies in the tiny state. Polk wanted to transform the entire business with his company. His only concern for his competition was that he crushed them in as civil a manner as possible.

Polk spoke into his flip cell phone.

“We did it just like we said. There’s no problem in how we proceed to be the best. I know. I know that. There’s so much more to it than that, though. The sign will just attract more attention from the thousands who enter the city every day. Okay. Alright. Ciao.”

“Why is Delaware America’s Corporate CAPITAL?”

With the call ended, Polk entered the back of a sedan limousine for the drive back to the office. Once there, he used a remote control to open his window so he could better take in the view from the 13th floor of the Thomas West Building. His spacious office was suddenly bathed in natural light.

His secretary, Felipa Azul, buzzed him just as he sat down.

“Sir, you have the Chairman of Gallant Credit Cards waiting out here.”

Goddammit! I haven’t even been here for five minutes, and this guy wants to run his mouth, Polk thought.

“Send him in,” Polk said.

Yasin Stackhouse walked through the door with a gait more suitable to a man taller than his 5’8” frame. He possessed the complexion of a peanut.

“What’s the deal, Stackhouse?”

“I think we both know the answer.”

“I’m not a mind reader.”

“Don’t give me that. There’s a 14′ x 48′ monstrosity overlooking the stretch of highway and it’s now covering what was, until this morning, Gallant Credit Card’s signage. Does that jog your memory?” Stackhouse asked, his voice rose slightly and wavered a bit. Polk had been sitting behind his desk. He rose to his feet and buttoned his suit jacket.

“Scotch?” Polk asked while standing at his minibar.

“I’m fine,” Stackhouse said.

“I like to have a bit of juice around this time.” He quickly switched gears. “This business is about the sign?”

“Yes, Polk.”

“What’s the problem, again?”

“You know goddamn well what I’m here to discuss,” Stackhouse kept his voice low and icy now.

Polk sipped his libation. “I saw the space was there, and that your contract was up. So we moved in and made it ours. You can check the records. We have receipts.”

“Minutes, though?! You didn’t waste time snatching our ad off there and putting your mess up there.”

“That ‘mess’ is the number one card in the Corporate Capital of the World. No matter how you want to put it, we didn’t want to be the ones to worry about competition. We went straight to the advertiser and billboard manager. We created a campaign and scheduled the time perfectly, I must say.”

“What the hell, Polk? How could you be so selfish?”

“How could you not be selfish?”

“I’m going to have more lawyers on your back so expect to be deposed soon,” Stackhouse said.

“Get all the attorneys available. You don’t think that we can lawyer up, too, do you? Did you know I don’t even have to do that. You can call the advertising company and they’ll tell you we're right.”

“I’m not done with you, Polk. You’ll be hearing from my legal team.”

“Let me hear from them. In a suit, I will not lose. You may leave now.”