This crisis could not have come at a worse time from Bradford’s personal standpoint. He had reached the semi finals of the Club Championship and if he won Saturday, he was in the finals. The 36-hole final started the week the casino audit would be completed and Zurich would decide to fund the remainder of the project. He told himself not to allow the golf tournament to influence business decisions, but it was difficult not to think about it. He wanted so much to win the tournament.
Dave and Ken got in a practice round Friday morning, before his semi final match. He shot 77 with two birdies. The round could have been better if he had not missed several 8-foot putts. Most golfers can say this after they complete a round. Amateurs, or pros, seldom make them all.
Saturday Dave’s semi-final opponent was Tom Osteen, a 2-handicap player that usually was a captain in the Friday game. Tom had picked Bradford for his team a couple times, but the two men had never played together in the same foursome. It was a tight semi match, with neither player able to take control. Dave chipped in on 17 for birdie and was 1-up heading to the 18th, a Par 5 with water protecting the front of the green. Both players hit good drives. Dave hit first and played it safe, hitting a 5-iron in front of the water, about 120 yards from the hole. Tom was 1-down in the match and felt he needed birdie to win the hole. He decided to go for the green with a 3-wood and almost succeeded. The ball cleared the water, but caught the bank and rolled back into the hazard. Dave’s pitching wedge stopped 10 feet from the hole and Tom conceded when his par-chip rolled 30’ past the hole. Bradford was in the finals
Chris left for Cabo San Lucas Sunday, where she would spend the week working with the Zurich audit team. Dave and Ken were in the office Monday putting the finishing touches on an alternative financing plan just in case. They were armed with a commitment from a California pension fund. Interest rates were a couple points higher than the Zurich terms, but there was no equity participation. The team’s negotiating position had improved significantly in two years with one project complete, and three others started. They were no longer considered a high-risk, startup company.
The kicker was that Zurich had an option on the six projects. Dave’s attorney advised him that they would be free to go with another lender if Zurich chose to stop funding. However, Bradford guessed that Sven’s attorneys were telling them that they could stop him, especially if they discovered fraud on the Cabo casino project. Dave hoped the audit would be clean and Zurich would release the remaining funds, otherwise, it would get messy.
Dave and Ken flew down to Miami Tuesday to meet with Mario and discuss their options. They had been unable to find anyone that would lend the $200M in two weeks. Hard money lenders were the only lenders that can move that fast and they want hard collateral that can easily be converted to cash if the deal goes bad. These projects did not have any. They needed Zurich or Mario would lose his $40M deposit.
“Mario, what would you be willing to give up if Sven provided you the money and the $3.2 Billion for the other six projects. Are you willing to increase their equity percentage? If not, our only option is to play hardball with Zurich and threaten to obtain the funds from the other lenders. Ken can say we have arranged for the $80 Million from a hard-money lender. It’s a bluff, but it might work.”
“Dave, anything’s on the table,” said Mario. “I can’t give more than 49%. I have associates that would not allow me to lose control. You’ve met Romano. He appeared to be a reasonable person, didn’t he? Believe me, he isn’t. There will be hell to pay if he loses his $40 Million.”
The cards were now on the table. Bradford knew for sure where the money had come from and Mario left no doubt as to the consequences of default.
“Mario, this will come to a head this weekend. Chris called from Cabo and said that the Zurich audit team will be finished by Friday. It’s probably no surprise to you, but they have found several things that they don’t like. If it’s serious, their attorneys can probably hold up funding of the six Phase II projects. You need to meet with Sven. Can you make a meeting this weekend?”
“I’ll be there, Dave, there’s nothing more important.”
Ken and Dave said their goodbyes and headed for the airport. Ken was to catch a flight to Zurich to meet with Sven. Dave was to return to Tampa to prepare for his golf match.
“Good luck, Ken, there is a lot riding on this visit.”
“Good luck Saturday, Dave. Remember what I’ve told you. Don’t get caught up playing against your opponent. Play your own game. It’s just you and the golf course.”
“Thanks, Ken. I won’t let you down.”
During Dave’s flight home he considered his decision not to join Ken on the trip to Zurich. They had decided Ken might be able to get a better deal if he were alone. This would allow him to negotiate first with his friend, Dag, rather than have Dave talking directly to Sven. Dag would be more sympathetic to their plight. This reasoning sounded good, but Bradford knew the decision was colored slightly by Saturday’s golf match. Dave’s opponent in the finals was his old friend, Buzz Peters. He wasn’t particularly looking forward to that match-up. They were no longer friends.
The relationship between Mary and Dave had not been the same since that night in Cabo. Mary hardly spoke to him the next two weeks. Dave didn’t blame her. His feelings alternated between remorse, guilt and depression. He apologized daily and more than once, got down on his knees to beg her forgiveness. Nothing worked. He finally talked her into a long weekend trip to Aruba. It didn’t help.
They attended a church couple’s retreat and were encouraged to talk about their relationship. It seemed to help. They rediscovered the things that had brought them together and made them fall in love. They talked about reasons for Dave’s infidelity and Dave finally admitted that his gambling could be an addiction. It helped to mingle with other couples that were struggling through problems of their own. The theme of the retreat was “communication.” Tell your loved one what’s in your heart. On the second evening, Dave and Mary opened their hearts to each other.
“Dave, I don’t know if I can ever forgive you. I can’t help it. At night I close my eyes and images of you and that woman flash through my mind.”
“Mary, I love you more now than when I proposed to you. My heart skips when I see you playing tennis at the club or when I see you in a crowd. I want you more now than ever.”
“I’m sorry, Dave; I just can’t put it behind me. I try.”
“No, Mary; I’m the one that is sorry. Someday, I will make it up to you.”
The weekend retreat was a positive step, but not a panacea. They seemed to be getting back to normal when their relationship suffered another shock. Bradford returned a day early from a business trip to New York. The kids said Mary had gone somewhere with Jill so he called Buzz to see where they went. It was still early and maybe they could catch up with the women. He was surprised when Jill answered the phone. “Jill, hi, this is Dave. Is Mary there?”
“No, I haven’t seen her. In fact, I thought you and Buzz were playing poker tonight. Did you change your plans?”
“I just got in from the airport, Jill. I haven’t talked to Buzz in several days.” There was silence on both ends of the call.
“Okay, there must have been a mix-up somewhere. Good night, Jill.” They both knew there was no mix-up.
Mary came home at 4:00 AM disheveled and guilty. Her clothes smelled of alcohol and cologne, and something else. The relationship was back to square one.
Thank God for king sized beds. Dave lay awake the entire night wondering how their relationship had gotten to this point. Everything he had worked for and held dear was in danger of being lost. He thought of Buzz and Mary together and blood rushed to his head. He was angry. An affair was one thing, but to do it with a friend is even worse. How would he face his friends at the club? Dave’s ego and self-esteem had taken a beating, and he knew he was feeling sorry for himself.
Around 6:00 AM Dave’s thoughts began to take a different path. He re
cognized that nothing was important without Mary and the kids. He could bury himself in his work, but what would be the point. He had a choice to make. What was done was done; the question was what to do about it. Dave made a decision to go forward. The first step was to close the distance and hold her in his arms while she slept.
Dave must have fallen asleep because it was 9:00 AM when Mary gently shook him and said breakfast was ready. He was still trying to focus when she thanked him for snuggling with her last night, and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Breakfast in five minutes,” Mary announced as she headed back to the kitchen. “The kids have already eaten and gone to school.”
Cold water on his face brought Dave back to reality. As he brushed his teeth, he remembered the decision that he had made earlier.
Coffee and fruit topped with strawberry yogurt were on the table. “Looks, good,” Dave said as he sat down at the table.
Mary came over and put her hand on Dave’s shoulder. “Dave, I am so …”
Dave didn’t give her a chance to finish. “Mary, before you say anything there is something I need you to know.” He pulled her down on his knee so their faces were inches apart. This was the most important moment of Dave’s life and he wanted her to look into his eyes and feel his sincerity.
“Mary, I love you so much and I can’t envision life without you. I realize now how much I have hurt you, and promise to never hurt you again. Starting this morning, I’m going to work as hard as I can to make our relationship better. I know I don’t deserve you, but can you forgive me?”
Mary’s eyes were a gateway to her mind and Bradford could see her emotions flowing within; surprise, relief, happiness and love; mostly love. Tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to speak, but nothing came out other than tears and sobs of happiness. They hugged for several minutes until she stopped crying.
“Me too,” she said and started crying again.
Dave’s coffee was cold so he picked her up and carried her back to the bedroom. Every day since then, Dave reminds himself of his promise to her and tries to do the little things that make their relationship special. It must be working because he has never been happier.
“Me too”, she says without prompting.
Buzz apologized profusely the next day and claimed it had been a one-time mistake. There was a social event that he was committed to, and Mary offered to go along as a friend. One thing had led to another.
Bradford heard him, but wasn’t listening. Maybe it was ego, but he couldn’t forgive him; friends don’t do that. From that point on Dave was civil to Buzz, but could not be his friend. There would be no more Friday golf games.
The 18th was a great finishing hole and Bradford was determined to finish strong after the bogey on seventeen. The fairway was 70 yards wide in the landing area, but narrowed to only 30 yards at the 250-yard marker where several bunkers cut into the right side of the fairway. Dave hit driver and still was 20 yards short of the bunkers.
Buzz got greedy off the tee, and paid the penalty, catching one of the large, deep bunkers. He was 30 yards past Dave’s drive, but would have to get lucky and catch a good lie. Unfortunately for Buzz his ball had rolled to the front of the bunker and left him under the lip where he needed to get the ball up quickly. All he could do was advance the ball 40 yards with a lob wedge, leaving him 210 yards from a green protected by water in the front. Bradford hit five-wood to 90 yards and was in perfect position.
Chris followed Ken to the lounge. She wasn’t sure this was a good idea. “Ken, let’s be careful. I suggest we keep a clear head and see what Alberto and Pedro have to say. They might have more bad news. There will be plenty of time to celebrate later.”
“Double-scotch and water, bartender, and a glass of chardonnay for the lady. We’ll be at the table in the corner.” Ken wasn’t listening. He had just arrived in Cabo San Lucas after three days in Zurich.
Ken pulled a two-page outline from his briefcase as they waited for the waitress to bring their drinks. “Chris, relax; there is nothing to worry about. Take a look at this. Our friends in Zurich have given us everything we asked for, and more. Mario will be ecstatic when he sees this.”
Chris looked over Ken’s re-cap of his meetings with Dagfin and Sven. She couldn’t believe what she was reading. Chris had come with bad news, The Zurich audit team had indeed, found a number of discrepancies in the books that could be classified as fraud. She asked Alberto and Pedro to dinner to update Ken, and discuss a strategy for tomorrow’s meeting. “Ken, I’m telling you. Dag’s audit team thinks there is fraud and is recommending that Sven stop all funding until they find out the details.”“It doesn’t matter,” said Ken, “don’t worry about it. We have the funding, all of it. Sven doesn’t care. The $350M will be wire-transferred Tuesday. Let’s order some good wine and celebrate.”
“Alberto and Pedro can present the offer to Mario before tomorrow’s 2:00 PM meeting. In fact, speak of the devil, here they are now.”
“Alberto, Pedro, buenas noches amigos. It’s great to see you again.”
“Your Spanish still needs a little work Ken, but as long as you bring the beautiful Senorita with you, we don’t mind. They shook hands and gave Chris a warm hug.
The hostess appeared and informed them their table was ready. Chris was fond of both Alberto and Pedro, but was still apprehensive as they walked to the table.
It had been a funny evening. It should have been a celebration, but Ken was in a strange mood and was drinking too much. Chris finally got an opportunity to talk with Ken privately. “Ken, what’s bothering you? There is something you’re not telling us, isn’t there?”
“We got the funding, Chris, so don’t worry about that. Something happened at the Zurich airport that I’m still trying to sort out. Let’s talk tomorrow morning.” Alberto and Pedro came back from the restroom and were getting ready to order another drink.
“I don’t know about the rest of you,” said Chris, “but I’m tired. It will be a long day tomorrow if I don’t get some sleep.” Pedro and Alberto agreed, and the small party headed for the elevators.
“Go ahead without me,” Ken said. “I’m going to have a nightcap on the balcony. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Ken didn’t keep his promise.
Buzz was on his sixth beer when he hit 5-wood from 215 yards, over water, to the back of the green. Buzz looked at Dave and gloated. “Top that.”
Bradford tried, but his wedge still came up 15 feet short. Not bad, but not what he had hoped for. Buzz almost holed his long putt, but settled for a great par.
Dave wanted this birdie badly. It would be a tremendous advantage going into next weekend 1-up rather than even. His putt was on line, but seemed to hit a wall as it neared the hole. It hung on the lip for an instant, and dropped.
Bradford was 1-up with 18 to play.
Book Two
The Long Week
Saturday
Tragedy in Cabo