Chương 56: Seeds of Expansion VI

Arc 5 – Seeds of Expansion Epilogue – Seeds Beneath the Surface April 21, 1971 — Wednesday Apartment 4B, East Street, Manhattan The morning sunlight streamed through the apartment windows, illuminating the breakfast table where Enzo had prepared fresh scrambled eggs, toasted Italian bread, and coffee for himself, while James drank a glass of orange juice. Claire, the housekeeper, had already cleaned the apartment before quietly leaving earlier that morning. The atmosphere was peaceful.

A stark contrast to the whirlwind of business meetings that had filled the previous two weeks. Enzo folded his newspaper before looking at his grandson.

"So..."

"What is occupying that brilliant mind today?" James smiled.

"There is something." Enzo laughed.

"I knew it." Anthony, who had arrived a few minutes earlier to review several legal documents, looked amused.

"Whenever James starts with 'there is something,' I already know it's going to cost us money." Marcus chuckled from the opposite side of the table. James laughed.

"Actually..."

"It'll make us money." That immediately caught everyone's attention. Enzo crossed his arms.

"I'm listening." James became serious.

"Our betting operations have worked exactly as planned."

"No unnecessary attention."

"No legal issues."

"No mistakes." Anthony nodded.

"The procedures have been very disciplined." James continued.

"But if we're going to continue..."

"... we need to expand carefully." Marcus leaned forward.

"What do you have in mind?" James looked toward Enzo.

"I think it's time to create another operation." Enzo raised an eyebrow.

"Go on."

"This one will involve both Las Vegas..."

"... and Kentucky." Anthony immediately understood.

"The Kentucky Derby." James nodded.

"Exactly."

"The race is on May first." Marcus slowly rubbed his chin.

"You'll need more people."

"I know." James nodded.

"The current teams already have experience."

"But Kentucky requires different logistics." Anthony thought quietly for a moment.

"We'll need trustworthy employees."

"People capable of following instructions without improvising." Enzo looked thoughtful.

"No shortcuts."

"No unnecessary conversations." Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"No attention." James nodded.

"The procedure remains exactly the same."

"Business first."

"The wager afterward."

"They'll place wagers separately."

"Different windows."

"Different times."

"When the race is over..."

"They'll collect individually."

"And every dollar eventually returns through Empire National Bank before being transferred into Vendetta Investments." Anthony smiled.

"It's becoming almost routine." Enzo shook his head.

"No." He looked directly at everyone.

"It must never become routine." The room fell silent.

"When people become comfortable..."

"... they become careless." His words lingered. Marcus slowly nodded.

"Understood." Anthony agreed.

"We'll select two additional employees this week." James smiled inwardly.

"Grandpa never lets success become arrogance."

April 22, 1971 — Thursday Thompson Manufacturing Chairman's Office Richard Walsh's name sat neatly written across Anthony's notepad. Senior Investment Broker. Hamilton & Pierce Securities. James placed another financial newspaper beside Enzo.

"I think it's time." Enzo adjusted his glasses.

"For the stock market?" James nodded.

"We've accumulated enough liquidity."

"We should begin building a long-term investment portfolio." Anthony smiled.

"Vendetta Investments was created for exactly this purpose." James pointed toward the figures he had written.

"I'd like thirty thousand dollars transferred."

"From Vendetta Investments?"

"Yes."

"To Vendetta's brokerage account at Hamilton & Pierce." Enzo studied him.

"You already know what we're buying?" James smiled faintly.

"I have one company in mind."

"But I'd like Mr. Walsh's opinion before placing the order." Enzo nodded approvingly.

"Good."

"I never trust anyone who refuses professional advice." Anthony picked up the telephone.

"I'll prepare the transfer authorization." Within the hour... The necessary banking instructions had been transmitted. Thirty thousand dollars would soon arrive at Vendetta Investments' brokerage account. Waiting. For the right opportunity.

April 23, 1971 — Friday Empire National Bank Manhattan Richard Bennett, Senior Commercial Accounts Manager, reviewed the latest deposit confirmations. Another international wire. Proper documentation. Everything in order. He signed the paperwork before handing it to the clerk. Minutes later... Inside Thompson Manufacturing... The telephone rang. Leslie Carter answered immediately.

"Chairman's Office." A smile slowly appeared.

"Thank you." She gently knocked before entering.

"Mr. Lombardi." Enzo looked up.

"The international transfer has arrived." Anthony immediately reached for his calculator.

"Amount?" Leslie checked the document.

"After taxes..."

"... and after the agreed employee bonuses..."

"... three hundred thousand dollars." Marcus let out a low whistle. James quietly smiled. Another successful operation. Another carefully planted seed.

Vendetta Investments Previous Balance: $622, 000 London Operation Profit: +$300, 000 New Balance: $922, 000 Enzo quietly looked at James.

"The fund continues growing." James nodded.

"And we're only getting started."

April 24, 1971 — Saturday The television inside Apartment 4B showed scenes from across America. Thousands... Then tens of thousands... Then, seemingly endless crowds. The news anchor spoke solemnly.

"Approximately half a million demonstrators gathered today in Washington, D. C., while another one hundred twenty-five thousand marched through San Francisco in opposition to the ongoing Vietnam conflict." Images filled the screen. College students. Veterans. Families. Religious leaders. Protest signs stretched for blocks. Marcus quietly watched.

"The country's changing." Anthony nodded.

"It feels like every month brings another defining moment." Enzo remained thoughtful.

"A nation grows through difficult conversations." James silently watched the broadcast.

"History is unfolding exactly as I remember..."

"But my own future..."

"Is no longer following the same road."

April 26, 1971 — Monday Inside Anthony Russo's office... Two Thompson Manufacturing employees quietly signed confidentiality agreements. Anthony placed each document inside separate folders.

"You already understand the procedure." Both men nodded. One would travel to Las Vegas. The other... Kentucky. Neither knew about the other operation. Only Enzo. Anthony. James. Marcus understood the complete picture. Enzo stood.

"The Kentucky Derby takes place on May first."

"You'll complete your business responsibilities first."

"The wager comes afterward."

"Remain professional."

"Remain disciplined."

"And return home safely."

"Yes, Mr. Lombardi." The operation quietly began.

April 28, 1971 — Wednesday Beaverton, Oregon The final legal agreements were signed. Anthony completed the last signatures on behalf of Vendetta Investments. Patrick Keller smiled broadly.

"Gentlemen..."

"I believe this officially begins a new chapter." Hands were shaken. Photographs were taken. Months of uncertainty had finally become certainty.

Later that evening... The founders gathered once again inside their small office. The conversation had shifted. No longer about investment. No longer about contracts. Now... They discussed identity. Michael Donovan leaned back in his chair.

"We've agreed the company needs a new name." Everyone nodded. Sheets of paper covered the conference table. Dozens of rejected names. Some serious. Some ridiculous. None felt right. Eventually... The meeting ended. Still undecided.

Shortly After Midnight Michael Donovan suddenly opened his eyes. His heart raced. He sat upright in bed. One word echoed inside his mind. Not Summit. Not Blue Ribbon. Something entirely different. Victory. The word refused to leave. By sunrise... He had already telephoned Patrick.

"I think I have it."

That afternoon... The founders gathered once more. Michael wrote a single name across the chalkboard. Victory Athletics Silence filled the room. Patrick slowly smiled. Daniel nodded.

"It sounds like ambition." Edward quietly repeated it.

"Victory Athletics..." Robert smiled.

"I like it." Within minutes... Everyone agreed. The company would officially become... Victory Athletics.

Only one problem remained. The logo. Patrick remembered a recommendation from a professor. A talented graphic design student. Emily Carter. She had occasionally completed freelance design work for university students. She accepted the assignment. Two dollars per hour. Several sketches later... She quietly slid one final drawing across the desk. It was simple. Elegant. A single sweeping forward arc. It resembled a flowing wing in motion. A mark suggests speed. Momentum. Progress. No words were necessary.

Patrick looked at it for nearly a minute. Then smiled.

"I think..."

"... this is the one." The founders silently agreed. Beginning in the first week of May... Victory Athletics would officially introduce its new name. It's a new emblem. And together with Thompson Manufacturing... Production of their new athletic apparel line would begin. Far away... In Manhattan... James smiled as he imagined the future beginning to change once again.

April 29, 1971 — Thursday Chairman's Office Thompson Manufacturing Enzo picked up the telephone. After several rings... A familiar voice answered.

"Hamilton & Pierce Securities."

"Richard Walsh speaking."

"Good afternoon, Richard."

"Mr. Lombardi."

"A pleasure as always." Enzo glanced toward James before continuing.

"We're ready to begin." Walsh reached for his notepad.

"What would you like to purchase?" Enzo spoke calmly.

"I'd like to acquire twenty thousand dollars' worth of shares in Jefferson Retail Stores." Walsh immediately recognized the company. Recently listed on the public market. Still relatively unknown to most institutional investors.

"A very interesting choice." Enzo smiled slightly.

"I've heard promising things." Walsh made several quick calculations.

"At today's market price..."

"... that will purchase approximately four hundred twenty-five shares."

"Proceed."

"It will be completed before market close."

"Excellent." After hanging up... Enzo looked toward James.

"Another investment." James smiled.

"Another one of many more to come" Vendetta Investments Previous Balance: $922, 000 Transfer to Hamilton & Pierce Brokerage: –$30, 000 New Cash Balance: $892, 000 Brokerage Holdings: Jefferson Retail Stores: 425 shares James stood beside the office window overlooking Brooklyn's industrial district. Factories stretched toward the horizon. Smoke rose from distant chimneys. Trucks entered and exited Thompson Manufacturing's loading docks. Only six months earlier... His greatest goal had been saving one company. Now...

Without fully realizing it... He and Enzo had begun influencing industries. Outdoor equipment. Real estate. Athletic apparel. Private investments. And perhaps... Soon... Much more. A faint smile crossed James's face.

But somewhere... Far beyond New York... Events neither he nor Enzo could yet foresee had already begun moving into place. The next chapter of their journey was approaching. And it would test everything they had built. End of Arc 5 – Seeds of Expansion.