Ivan looked at the business cards spread out across the table and concluded, “We start by doing research to solicit every one of these businesses on the table. Because if we can break New York, then we can break any city.”

There was a sudden silence in the room. No one had anything to say. The plans were all thorough.

Jeff coughed up, “Jesus, Ivan, did you eat your bowl of business Wheaties this morning or what?” Everyone in the room laughed to break up the tension. Jeff added, “That trip to New York must have really made an impression on you.”

Ivan grinned and said, “It did. So, if anyone runs into any problems or needs explanations on the details, please let me know immediately and we’ll work it all out.”

When their meeting was adjourned, Eddie K. followed Ivan back to his head office and closed the door behind them so they could speak in private.

He said, “Those are all some wonderful plans you have, Ivan. Wonderful,” he repeated. “But am I, ah, correct in assuming that you may be looking into selling the company?”

Ivan had never shown that much interest in assessing the company’s national value before. Eddie wondered if that meant something. Had someone offered him a serious bid in New York?

Ivan explained, “Not necessarily. If we were gonna take the company public, or accept private investment offers, we would need to know the same information.”

Eddie asked him, “But we are looking to do something?”

Ivan read where his real concerns were. He told him, “Either way, I understand what I owe you and the guys, Eddie. You’re safe. My goal would be to protect all of our interests under any situation, including my own ideas for the company. Who’s gonna have more interests in where the company goes than me? It still has my initials on it.”

Eddie nodded and thought it over a bit more. There was nothing he could do about it but wait the process out and make sure he continued to do his job.

He said, “Okay. We’ll see where it all goes, then.”

WITH THE IDEA to travel more, while studying the people, places, products, and events of the nation and around the globe, Ivan began to delegate more of his San Diego interests to his teammates.

He told Chip Garrett, “I may need you to step in at some of these club locations and become a name and face for me. I need someone to keep his head in the place and make sure the numbers are adding up they way they’re supposed to. You think you’ll have enough time on your hands to do that?”

Chip said, “Come on, Ivan, you gotta stop doubting me like that, man. I’m still an accountant, you know. I know how to balance the spreadsheets.”