It's Yours

“So this is it, right?”

“I’d say.”

“That many figures in one night?”

“When the smoke settles and dust clears.”

“You’ll be the first.”

“The first.”

“Not in the city of Newark. Not in the state of Delaware. Not in the United States. Not in the world.”

“The first. Full stop.”

“I’m wondering how I can be like you.”

“No one’s like me. I’m one out of one. None before me, none to come.”

“You earned it.”

“I earned it.”

“You didn’t steal it….”

“No.”

“You didn’t coerce anyone….”

“No.”

“You didn’t get it through grift nor grift….”

“Not at all.”

“That many figures.”

“And the first.”

“Since when? What period?”

“In the modern era.”

“You mean kings?”

“Yes.”

“Did they guess close enough?”

“Close enough.”

“You can tell me. How much?”

“Nope. Not yet.”

“I won’t tell a soul.”

“It’s already been printed.”

“So what do you say you split it with me….”

“Not at all.”

“I helped to build this company.”

“You did. But you don’t rate.”

“You’re ranking?”

“I’m telling the truth.”

“What if I poison the well?”

“You can’t.”

“I’ll tell the press.”

“Tell them.”

“Your marriage was annulled.”

“Yes.”

“That’ll spoil everything.”

“Will it?”

“They may have reported it, but they skipped some details.”

“Let them know. Please.”

“You know it’s as much mine as it is yours.”

“No. It is mine.”

“I put the cornerstone in this building.”

“You did.”

“I built this from the bottom.”

“You had a hand.”

“I had! .…I had more than a hand.”

“What do you want…applause?”

“I want what’s mine.”

“You’re not included with this announcement. You may feel some type of way about that but facts remain.”

“I’ve done most of the work.”

“You’re doing the most right now.”

“I’ll do more!”

“Do what you must.”

“You see this?”

“What of it?”

“I can make a call and all of your financial dreams will be crushed.”

“It’s your world.”

“We’ve known each other for twenty years.”

“Yes….”

“We’re brothers.”

“We’re not.”

“At least let me get a percentage.”

“No. Not of my money.”

“So you just soak up all the spotlight?”

“If that’s what it is….”

“It is, goddamnit!”

“Must you?”

“I must. I’m going after what’s mine.”

“What’s mine is mine through my mind.”

“Is it you who has spoken all of this? You just brought all of this into existence? You’re the one who did it all?”

“Yes. I appreciate all your help, but that’s where it stops.”

“It doesn’t have to stop.”

“This conversation does.”

“Whoa! Wait! Sit back down for a moment. Sit. Sit.”

“We can talk.”

“We've been talking for two decades.”

“I’ve changed. I'm not chasing skirts or boozing.”

“I know. I was the one who introduced you to Celeste. I got you into a program.”

“Thanks for that. Thank you, truly. But I’ve gotta have a cut.”

“No, you don’t. Not my money.”

“Your father told you to build this business.”

“My father told you to build this company. If you recall the facts, you failed. I stepped in to create this firm.”

“You’re beyond reproach.”

“I’m running short on patience.”

“You’re nothing. I won’t be celebrated in magazines and books. You’re going to be elevated….”

“Elevated to what?”

“Genius.”

“I’ll have no control over what they say or print.”

“But you want it. You want the adoration. You want the spectacle and the clink of champagne glasses and all the trimmings.”

“If that’s how you feel….”

“Don’t get up, please! Just sit with me, will you? I still admire you. You’re that older brother I never had.”

“I’m running late.”

“Look, you get the fame. I just want the money.”

“How about you keep what you’ve earned by owning a piece of this company?”

“I want more.”

“Build your own empire.”

“I can’t. I–lack the power you possess.”

“That’s not my problem.”

“Twenty years.”

“Twenty years.”

“Does that mean nothing to you?”

“It means everything.”

“You don’t think I deserve at least twenty percent?”

“I think you should reevaluate your last few quarters. What did you produce? How long did I have to hold your hand these past two decades?”

“I’ve been through hard times since the divorce. I wanted to keep custody of the kids. They still love Uncle Noland.”

“I love them.”

“Wouldn’t you want them to get a piece of your payout?”

“I want you to know this has nothing to do with them.”

“If you want to help them, do so.”

“I’ve already said it. This has everything to do with you claiming something you didn’t earn.”

“‘The Great Noland Jeffries. the Jeffries Cistern CEO who refused to share his wealth with his business partner.’ Do you want those headlines to run along with the history-making news?”

“They can print whatever they wish.”

“You fail to see….If you don’t give me the money, I’ll take it up with my lawyer.”

“Do what you must. Please. The law courts are open to you.”

“You’re not getting it. You’re not seeing it. You’re going to be richer than Mansa Musa.”

“If I believed in such a fantastic ideal, I would agree with you. I’m glad I don’t.”

“You’re just rationally self-interested!”

“Oh, it finally comes out in your veiled irony. You’re saying I’m selfish. You’ve known this for years. Why does it reveal itself now? Is it because of what will happen in the next thirty-four minutes?”

“I just don’t get you. You’re so full of yourself. You’re the giant of it all but my name is still on the front of this building and on the documents.”

“That’s right, Garvey Cistern has been left for dead. He’s been forsaken and belittled for too long….”

“Hey, now.”

“I’m just pointing out your position, your role in this company. You feel as if you’ve been wronged somehow. Let the journalists know. Bring it to their attention. Acknowledge how a multi-millionaire like yourself is going to suffer being a billionaire.”

“You mean––I’m going to get an increase with your dollar flow?”

“That’s how the infusion of funds works, or did you not realize that as the COO of the largest financial firm on Earth?”

“I…feel like a fool. I mean I wondered if you would be trading cash but every executive will be given increased monies. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. Remember how you put together the contracts for the Goulding account?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“That yielded us one of the largest deals in this company’s history.”

“I knew we made a bundle off of that transaction but never––what is your goal?”

I’ll tell you in eleven minutes.”

“I didn’t want to give the impression that I––”

“Never mind it, Garvey. Just enjoy the moment.”

“I can’t thank you enough, though. I mean I came in here like a charging ram ready to take off your head.”

“I had to guide you to this place of excellence. When I showed you that first check decades ago, I told you that I would be the one to lead this company and you’d be second in command.”

“And now I’m here.”

“That’s the beauty of this country.”

“Just remember the reality of all of this.”

“I know the reality. You won’t be on the covers of Internet ‘zines. You might be a footnote in this company’s history. But you’ve been able to hold your own as the one who took seriously the importance of our firm. Though you struggled, you never embezzled or embarrassed this company. For that you deserve to be a billionaire.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, recognize your own efforts and the ability to direct amounts for various individuals.”

“I mean, my kids’ kids’ kids will appreciate this. Most people think a million dollars is a lot of money. And it is, in context. A billion is even more. But that’s nothing to some heads of companies. Fifty trillion dollars is in another realm altogether.”

“Just know the money is just a wrench.”

“A what?”

“It’s an instrument of offering and accepting. But you’re responsible for how to use it properly.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, we’ve got about two minutes left.”

“I can feel it.”

“If you’re going to be here for the foreseeable future, I want you to take my spot as CEO.”

“You’re just going to take your trillions and run?”

“I’ve got the beach house in Bethany. I want to take Clorinda and the kids down there and just rest up.”

“You won’t be able to do that. Your work is going to call you.”

“I know. I’ll still be connected to the company, though.”

“The timing couldn’t have been better. I’ll have enough money to sell the house and get something even bigger in Greenville.”

“It’s midnight.”

“Now, we’ll look at this like a blessing.”

“I’ll just consider it a matter of justice.”

“If you wanted to surprise me, you’ve done so.”

“Don’t even look at it that way. Simply say who’s world it is.”