CHAPTER 61: FIRST DAY (3)

Hearing Andrew’s report the manager Kim also looked at Adam with a little worry. He had seen the numbers. He knew they were good.

But he also knew what they meant.

Adam just smiled a calm confident smile. "Whatever happened on the first day is much bigger than we thought," he said his voice steady.

"Although as you are saying on the first day we did not get any big businessmen or even any small businesses coming to us. But this is also a good thing. At least we have understood the true scale of this business now. We know the level of demand among the common people."

The manager looked at Adam with a little worry again. "But it is very important for the businessmen to come to us Adam," he said his voice filled with a sense of urgency.

"If you want to build your influence the way you talked about then you cannot keep that influence only with the common people. You need the support of the business community."

Hearing this Adam just raised his hand. He put it on the manager’s shoulder in a reassuring gesture. "Don’t worry Kim," he said smilingly.

"The businessmen will definitely come to us. If they don’t come today then they will definitely come tomorrow. They are just being cautious. They are waiting to see what happens. But when they see the success of our bank when they see the power of our financial model they will come. They will have no other choice."

Hearing this the manager Kim also just shook his head. He was not completely convinced. But he trusted Adam. He had to.

Adam then looked at Andrew. His expression became a little more serious. "Now you should get going," he said. "You know that Maria will be waiting for you in Solo City. You have a lot of work to do there."

Andrew took a deep breath. "I’ll be gone for a few days," he said looking at both Kim and Smith who was still quietly working in the corner.

"Till the time I am not here you all take care of all these things. And if any problem arises then definitely call me. I’ll be available 24/7." Hearing this both the manager Kim and Adam smiled.

They knew they could count on him.

Andrew left Adam’s apartment with a new sense of purpose. He had his mission. He would not fail.

After he was gone Kim the manager looked at Adam. "What should we do now?" he asked. "Should I focus on this new oil venture or should I focus on the problem that has arisen at the bank? The lack of business clients."

Adam just put his hand on the table. He was exhausted. He had not slept properly in days. He actually fell asleep for a few moments right there at the table. After sleeping for a while Adam opened his eyes. He told Kim that he had to focus on the new oil work.

"We did not have any real fundamentals in the beginning," he said his voice a little groggy. "But now I don’t think we need to make so much effort to attract big businesses. Our initial success with the common people will be enough to create a buzz. Smith will be enough to find the right bank staff to handle the operations."

The manager was a little surprised to hear this. He thought Adam was being a little too complacent. But Adam just told him not to worry.

Adam looked at the manager again his eyes now clear and focused. "Now you have to focus on the oil," he said.

Hearing this the manager Kim looked at Adam. His expression was serious. "This plan of yours Adam it seems very dangerous," he said.

"If we don’t do this work soon then many people will start to notice our bank," Adam said his voice low and intense.

"And I think they must have noticed it by now. We need to move fast. We need to diversify our assets. We need to build a power base outside the financial sector."

Hearing this the manager also got very surprised. He took a deep breath. "Okay then," he said his voice now filled with a new resolve. "I am ready to do as you said."

Let’s go back to a short time ago. When Andrew was still on his way coming towards Adam’s house. At that time the manager Kim had just got up from his short nap in Adam’s bedroom. Adam was also outside the apartment in the small common area doing some work on his phone. The same manager seeing Adam came out.

"Adam I am ready," he said. He had made his decision. He was all in.

Adam smiled a small secret smile after hearing this from the manager. "Okay then," he said. "Listen to my next plan." Only then the manager Kim sat down on the floor with Adam. Adam then handed over a thick stack of papers to the manager.

The manager Kim was a little surprised to see the thick stack of papers Adam had handed him.

Adam just said "All these are individuals. Some are institutions. And some are non-profit organizations that are listed in these papers."

The manager was listening to Adam. He started reading the lines of the top document. He saw a list of names. Some he recognized. Some he did not.

Then Adam said "All these have information about those who are in some way or the other related to our country. That is the country of Viper City. They are the middlemen. The brokers. The fundraisers for both the major political parties. The ones who provide the real funding to them. Although this information is not official I have somehow managed to find out about all these people."

As soon as Adam finished his statement the manager’s face became completely surprised.

"What?" he asked his voice a little shaky. He could not understand why Adam was getting involved in the dangerous world of political parties. They should be staying away from all these things.

They should be focused on their business. He looked at Adam with a worried expression. "I don’t understand your actions Adam," he said. "And most of your actions have proved to be correct so far. But this new decision of yours seems very wrong to me. Very dangerous."

Adam did not get angry at all after listening to the manager. He just looked at him seriously.

"In the direction we are moving Kim we will have to deal with these political parties sooner or later," he said his voice now cold and pragmatic.

"Whether we like it or not. I also don’t have any personal interest in wasting my time on them. But if we don’t take preemptive action soon then a lot of action can be taken against us. And you know it. And I also know it. We both know just how many loopholes we have in our current paperwork that these people can use against us if they want to. We are vulnerable. And we need to protect ourselves."

After listening to Adam’s explanation the manager understood his intention. He just nodded his head slowly. "Okay I understand," he said his voice now filled with a new sense of dread. "But if even a small thing goes wrong in this then all our hard work till now will be spoiled. We will lose everything."

Adam just smiled a calm and reassuring smile. "Don’t worry," he said. "You just have to trust me again."