He said, “That’s another great perk of being an entrepreneur. You can be as eccentric as your clients allow you to be. And ultimately, that makes you more interesting.”

Ivan responded, “As long as you’re making money with it. Because if it stops you from making money, then it stops you from being interesting.”

Eddie told him, “Well, you don’t have to worry about not making money, my friend. Because if that’s the only way that I get paid, then it’s definitely gonna happen.”

“And the more money you make, the more money we make,” Jeff added with a chuckle.

“Let’s all drink to that,” Paul commented.

They all toasted with their glasses of nonalcoholic drinks.

RAYMOND’S HOT SPOT LOUNGE on the southeast side still owed Ivan a few more events for the door and 25 percent of the bar. Ivan called them up with a new idea to host Monday Night Football parties with the Chargers, the Padres, and Lucina’s girls.

Ivan said, “We kick it off with strong radio promotions, and we’ll have ten weeks left of Monday Night Football. Then we can host the playoffs and the Super Bowl for four more weeks.”

He continued, “And all I want is the door and ten percent of the bar. And you know how those athletes can drink when they get excited, man.”

Raymond said, “I didn’t promise you that many events with bar money, especially not now, because I’m no longer getting the discounts that I got two months ago.”

Oh, so that’s why he gave me that deal, Ivan thought to himself. He was getting his own damn deal.

Ivan argued, “But Raymond, I’m only asking you for ten percent now.”

“Yeah, but ten percent for fourteen weeks. That’s one hundred and forty percent,” Raymond calculated.

“But look at it this way,” Ivan told him. “We’re also going to be marketing your bar for the next fifteen weeks over the radio and on our website. That’s not worth ten percent a night, Raymond? With what I’m bringing you, you can get new deals. We might even pick up a liquor sponsor after a couple of weeks. In fact…”

Ivan stopped himself. He felt that he was overpitching his idea. He wanted to keep the sponsor possibilities to himself. So he backed up and took another angle.

He said, “Look, Raymond, I’m even willing to pay for a large projection TV screen. So ten percent is a very small fee of everything I’ll be bringing to the table here. I mean, think about it. I’m bringing the Chargers and the Padres to your lounge every Monday night.”

Raymond went silent for a spell. The reality of the deal was sinking in.

“Let me talk to my wife and think about it.”