The Third Floor | Regretfully Yours, pt. 2 (63.02)

[mragland]

11.24.2062 – Athens, Greece

Grant answered his phone on the second ring. He had been lying on the couch eating some leftover shawarma and guzzling mineral water. “Hey, Molly, done already?” It has been just three hours since they last spoke.

“Yeah, you sitting down?”

“More or less.”

“Okay. The guy you talked to is named Taj Mahmud Adel. He doesn't work for any club, but he does work for a company called IIC, International Investments Company. It's a holding company based in Abu Dhabi. IIC is a closely held enterprise whose primary owner and CEO is Yahyah Talal. Among the IIC's diverse holdings is the London Monarchs Baseball Club of the GBC.”

“London, shit,” said Grant, reaching for his laptop.

“So, as far as your status with them is concerned, it is a little murky. Mr. Adel may have overstepped his remit when he offered you a job last night, but he apparently found you personable and well-informed with respect to the GBC. Talal has not yet responded to the news of your hire, so he hasn't yet signed off. If you want to try and wriggle out of this, it looks like you have time.”

“No, no, I think I can make this work.” Grant was already looking over the Monarchs' roster.

“There's more, but maybe not important. Talal is closely connected to the royal family in Abu Dhabi and IIC is apparently flush with cash. Petrodollars finding their way to British sports clubs isn't exactly news anymore, but this company isn't exactly the model of transparency. I didn't linger in their systems any longer than I needed to, so that's all I have to say about that. Just food for thought. You can research them on your own. There are a few articles out there that might be worth a read.”

“Sure, I'll check them out,” said Grant. “Oh, man. Their primary shortstop had an OPS+ of 33 last season...”

Molly sighed on the other end of the line. “Alright. Let me know how your talk with Jenny goes. Also, you owe me big.”

“I'll try and make it up to you, Molly.”

“Sure you will.”

Grant ended the call and tossed his phone onto the coffee table.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC2WpBcdM_A

[Jwalk100]

I refused to click the link in fear of being Rick Rolled.

[mragland]

Now I wish I thought of that.