Rohan’s business transition was surprisingly smooth. Within weeks of it being placed on the market, a large entertainment company purchased his bar. They planned to put a mechanical bull in the middle of the floor, convert the upstairs apartment into a lounge and turn it into a bar for gringos. Casa Libertad would become the sole Colombian location of the Cowgirl Saloon series of bars owned by a Hong Kong real estate magnate. Rohan laughed when mulling the twist of fate that had befallen his baby.
His last contact with Gavin had been a couple weeks ago when they met in the Caymans to set up the General Partner feeder fund, the vehicle through which the executives would all invest their own small fortunes. Without hesitation, they both decided on Viktory Capital Group for the title, in honor of their friend. They stuck with the name Legion Financial for the hedge fund itself. They were able to keep the structure simple because they didn’t plan to take on any American investors, a headache all in its own.
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act was looming, and there was still no clear indication from the IRS how it would impact alternative investment funds’ reporting standards. Gavin and Rohan figured, to hell with it, there was enough money outside of the States.
The fund was finally ready for the first press release in the waning weeks of summer. The timing could not be more perfect, with money managers returning refreshed from their August vacations, looking for novel opportunities. Austin hadn’t done this sort of work in years, but Rohan didn’t know who else to call. Since he had left Austin at the altar on the first day of the book tour, they had hardly exchanged a few words. He informed Rohan of the latest sales numbers by email, and provided some tidbits about his attempts to chase down new clients, which ended invariably in failure. Publishing houses, it appeared, felt they couldn’t rely on an agent who couldn’t keep his writer under control, and writers didn’t want to work with an agent who they felt wasn’t in the good graces of publishers. It was the common knowledge game again. The responsibility weighed on Rohan, so he was surprised to hear an upbeat Austin on the other end when he called.
“Hey buddy, been a while! How’s coke country?”
Rohan let out a laugh of relief.
“Are you taking antidepressants again? I better have a talk with that nurse you were banging.”
“Very funny dickhead, anyway, what’re ya callin’ about?”
Rohan replied with faux disappointment, “I can’t just call on my old pal to chat?”
“Course you can, I just know you better than that. So, am I gonna hafta drag it outta ya or what?”
“The agency still stuck with one client?”
Again, to Rohan’s surprise Austin was upbeat. “Thanks to you, yes. Still at one. Just a matter of time though.”
“Austin, shut that bitch down and come work for us. You can run PR and investor relations, do what you went to college for. Fuck being someone’s errand boy.”
For the first time in the conversation Austin was irritated, and he let it show. “That’s what you think I was? Rohan, after all I fucking did for you?”
“Shit, shit, sorry man, I didn’t mean it like that,” Rohan knew he’d gone a little too far and backtracked, “I just meant you’re better than this. As my agent you were my best friend and my trusted advisor, but you and I both know if you land Stephen Baxter or some shit, you’re going to be his bitch. Now listen, I’m offering you an executive position at the fund. Director of Investor Relations, how’s that sound? Let’s get the gang back together.”
Austin sighed, he knew what Rohan said was true, landing the big fish would be a gift and a curse. It would lend the agency legitimacy, but in the near term he’d become an overpaid assistant. Rohan waited patiently, while Austin thought it over.
“You got the other guys to buy in? I can’t believe Eric’s leaving his gig, the dude’s raking it in. Jason though, I could see him ditch. He looks like he’s aged 10 years in the past two.”
“Eric’s signing the offer sheet soon, actually. Turns out running the show was too much for him to resist. Jason, you’re right, came through pretty easy. So, you ready to come out to Malta?”
Austin did a double take, “Malta?”
“Yeah, beautiful island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean.”
“I know where fucking Malta is, asshole, but why?”
“Does it matter? Not like you’ve got anything keeping you out there. Think of it as a really well paid vacation.”
“Yeah, you’ve got a point. So, what’s the company called?”
Rohan knew as he said it, that Austin would be pleased.
“Legion Financial.”
“My Name is Legion,” Austin laughed, “I knew you’d like that fucking book.”