Ganado: a novel Page 4

  Santiesteban shifted uncomfortably in his seat as his eyes opened wide. “But Captain, I am trying to command the respect my position carries and the sergeant showed none. How can a force operate if structure and rank are not followed in an orderly manner?”

  “Lieutenant, I owe your uncle an awful lot and have promised him that I will look out for you. Therefore, you need to pay immediate attention to me and now I am pulling on my rank because I don’t think you understand at all. You will desist of any thoughts about rank and superiority.”

  Santiesteban edged forward in his seat. “But, Captain, my rank requires actions from…”

  An annoyed Captain stood up from his chair and called Santiesteban to attention. “Lieutenant, this is an order.”

  A cutoff Santiesteban jumped to attention setting his sight straightforward.

  “You will change out of your blue uniform, wear our khakis and become an official member of this force. You will go back and apologize to Sergeant Garcia for any misunderstanding and introduce yourself pleasantly. You will engage the men on this watch and meet them and let them get to know you. You will ask the sergeant for an assigned route and you will walk this beat until you earn your title and respect from the men.”

  Santiesteban remained still, but his vivid red cheeks betrayed his calmness.

  “Is there anything I have said that is not understood?”

  “No, sir,” The lieutenant responded quickly.

  “I recognize this doesn’t sit well with your mindset at this time, but you need to do this in order to do your job.”

  Santiesteban nodded.

  “Good!” The captain yelled through the door. “Ernesto! Please show Lieutenant Santiesteban to the changing room and provide him with his khakis.”

  Santiesteban turned military style and followed Ernesto out the door. They nodded at Luis, the Captain’s other aide as he stepped into the room.

  The Captain turned back and sat on his chair with a contemplative look on his face.

  Luis lowered the notebook he carried. “Is everything all right, Señor?”

  “Luis, I hope so. Please make sure we do not assign any weapons to Santiesteban until I say so. And when I say so, give him the nightstick. Do not issue him a gun.”

  “What about the squad of men I was assembling to report to him?”

  “That is a separate, but consequent problem. I don’t want men assigned to him until I am sure he will be fully incorporated.”

  “You realize he will be the one lieutenant without a squad. How do you think it will play with him and with the men?”

  “Luis, this is my responsibility, and order. Tell the men Santiesteban is on a special assignment for me.”

  “Anything else, Captain?”

  “Yes, go and talk to Sergeant Garcia and ask him for some leeway with Santiesteban and make sure he accepts the forthcoming apology. And that’s enough, Luis. Thank you for handling this matter.”

  Luis nodded and left the office. Captain Gonzalez thought a moment and took out his pad to write a letter to his friend in Barcelona. He needed to gather more information about the man he hired. He expected a disciplined and protocol-oriented individual with a sense of humility and fortune for being here. He did not expect the man to be elevated in any manner.

  Chapter 6

  Galo wore his friendly smile and spoke in his deep baritone voice, “Good morning, Señorita Vazquez, It’s a nice day, don’t you think?”

  “Why, Señor Bartolo, it’s a pleasure to see you again. Welcome! Señor Campos is expecting you, though you are a bit early,” responded the smiling young secretary to the President of the Ruiz & Estevez Bank.

  “I realize I’m a bit early, but it gives me a little more time to enjoy the warmth of your company.” Galo tilted his head slightly without ever losing his smile or the glow of his green eyes.

  Vazquez raised her left hand to show off her band. “Oh, Señor Bartolo, you embarrass me. Please remember I am now married.” She had long fine fingers ending in perfectly manicured nails painted a soft petal pink color. Her supple off-white skin that showed on her arms bristled and served as a prelude to the rest of her. Her brown eyes were alive with the invitation of youth.

  “Ah, yes, of course … The truth is I’m not jealous. I’m settled with the idea of sharing you, if it means a part of you.”

  Again, he never lost the smile or the flash, even if he did have to look up a little bit. She blushed, but laughed, giggled and smiled at the same time. Galo turned a serious shade on his face.

  “What, did I say something funny?”

  “You are such a jokester, Señor Bartolo. You are married with a cartload of children, and one recently born. A boy, I hear. You’re a successful businessman. What would you possibly want with an eighteen-year-old married secretary?”

  There was a pause that hung for what seemed like a long time. Galo took an elaborate deep breath raising his chest. A faraway melancholy look overtook his face.

  “Well, we’ll have to leave it to our imagination,” he sighed.

  “I think I’ll take you in to Señor Campos before the imagination creates any more images.”

  She led him through the main office door into the office of the bank president. Campos rose from his deeply cushioned chair behind his desk and walked towards Galo.

  “Don Galo, how are you my young friend? Other than waving at you a week ago when you came in to deposit, we haven’t talked. I’m glad you made this appointment, and more importantly, congratulations on the birth of your son.” A wider grin appreared.

  He shook Galo’s hand and led him to the leather sofa in the sitting area of the office before turning to his secretary. “Carmelita please bring in two cafes for us”

  Galo nodded his thanks and sat on the sofa, one knee up and his left arm falling between his legs. It was a comfortable pose, but one that also issued a sense of irreverence for the authority in the room. The banker’s office, adorned with dark oaks, European artwork, a Persian rug, and leather chairs and sofas would be intimidating to most. The odd thing was that it was in the tropics and the office should have been more airy.

  It did not matter if one sat on the chairs in front of the bureau or on the leather sofa; Campos’ chair sat an inch or two higher. Bartolo was conscious of his lack of height and in the early visits, his discomfort in the position was noticeable. This abated with experience and today he felt taller than ever.

  Despite his outward calm, underneath anxiety and nervousness ruled. This came with the responsibility of pressing forward on the plan his partners were counting on. He devised the plan and sold it to Elio. Despite Elio’s apprehensions, he felt the merit so long as the banker went along. Elio was also skeptical because he knew bankers avoided risk. When Galo explained his reliance on that avoidance of risk, Elio got curious. But Galo told him he didn’t want to get into the details. The ante rose when Elio had to prematurely enter into the agreement with Ortiz because of Alonso’s sass.

  “I am glad also, Campos. First, let me tell you what a wonderfully efficient and delightful secretary you have. You are the luckiest man in La Habana. Not only is she fine to look at, but she is organized, knows your clients, and keeps appointments on time for you.”

  The banker beamed ear to ear because he knew Galo to be right and because she helped keep depositors bringing in their cash.

  “On behalf of my partners and our company…”

  Campos interrupted, straightening his posture and pulling on the end of his shirtsleeve from underneath his suit.

  “And a fine company you have built, for I have seen it grow in revenues and in reputation for good sense and fairness.”

  “Thank you, Campos. It is a tough and gory business, but it is honest. I am pleased you have noticed, and clearly working with you and your bank, fairly, have assisted us in building a fine reputation with our suppliers. As I was saying, I am here on behalf of the company. We would like to enter a new phase of our business based on events that
are unfolding.”

  Campos leaned forward in his chair and towered over Galo. In the past, Galo would have hesitated, but today he merely leaned back in the sofa, kept his leg over the armrest, and comfortably hung his left arm between his legs.

  “We have an opportunity to secure a steady supply of beef cattle for a period of three years at a fixed priced. This is an important point which I cannot stress enough. As you are aware, the war in Europe is continuing. Shortages are bound to happen and prices are going to rise, but not the price of our acquisition.”

  Campos folded his hands and cracked his fingers. His face became inquisitive. “Don Galo, it sounds speculative. There were a lot of ifs in the statement.”

  “Not really. We have a strong belief the North Americans will get drawn into the war and meat will need to be exported.”

  The banker’s lips curled and his forehead wrinkled. “Are you talking about exporting beef cattle?”

  “Not at all. Along with the happenings, La Habana continues to grow as more people from Europe find their way to this tropical paradise. There will be a growing demand for beef, but the supply will be repressed because of the exports. We have fixed a price, so we will be in a position to gain greatly from the increase.”

  Carmelita appeared in the room carrying a silver tray with two cafes12 in small porcelain demitasses and a matching small bowl. She poured a spoonful of sugar from the bowl into each cup and handed each man his cup. Both men remained silent and observant during this process. Carmelita Vazquez was pretty and dressed professionally, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not hide her physical talents. Both men chorused, “Thank you.”

  Galo smiled his best for her. “I’m sure it is the best café I will have taken.”

  Both men held the cup in the saucer and sipped. Campos still contemplated the subject that Galo broached. “Don Galo, I must say if it all works out as you say, you and your partners will indeed make a fortune. You should feel confident, and I would like to make sure you state this unequivocally to your partners, this bank is the safest and most secure bank in La Habana to store and invest your cash as you make it.”

  “Señor Campos, by all means we truly believe so and you can count on our continued patronage.”

  To which Campos set his cup down and relaxed a bit by sitting back in his chair. “That is good to know. Well, this has been enlightening and again I thank you for coming in.”

  Campos pulled his sleeve back and looked at his watch. He began to call to Carmelita for his next appointment. Galo, having not moved an inch, now interrupted.

  “Truly this is the best café I’ve had. Thank you. If I may, Campos, I’d like to talk about how the bank can be of help to us in a square transaction.”

  Campos hesitated half way up from his chair he looked directly at Galo. “You mean there is more?”

  Galo, calmer than at any time in his visits to the bank, set his baritone voice at a warm setting. “Of course. I have not spoken of our proposition as yet.” He straightened on the sofa and maintained a friendly, but determined disposition.

  “To support our three-year price commitment, we would like the bank to back us with our purchases by providing a credit on our behalf. Our supplier will present an invoice with proof of delivery signed by me or one of my partners and a draft he would collect promptly here at the bank.”

  Campos produced a wide grin. “Don Galo, it sounds easier said than done. Three years is a long time and what would be our collateral? You don’t know how often I’ve had people sit right where you are and state similar situations.”

  “Campos, you are aware of our tracking. All our cash is with you and will continue to be. We will pay a fair fee for the bank’s involvement. What other collateral would you want?”

  Campos expressed a consoling face, leaning his head to one side and holding his hands together. “My friend, it doesn’t work like that. The bank has a board of directors who must approve all credit transactions, including this one. They would expect and require proper collateral for such a transaction. Your company, while doing fabulously, does not have the liquidity to put up the collateral needed.”

  Galo never lost his eye contact with the banker and nodded his head throughout the brief explanation. He now wanted to play upon his ego. He furrowed his brow and opened his palm outward. “Now Campos, are you not the chairman of this board? Do you not have sway over their vote? Has the board ever vetoed your strong support and recommendation?”

  Campos settled back in his seat a little uncomfortably. “Well yes, of course I am the chairman and the board does support my recommendations…”

  “There you have it! With your strong endorsement of our decisive and well developed plan, the board will approve our credit request.”

  Campos somewhat guffawed at the young man in front of him. He stood from his chair and pointed towards Bartolo. “Don Galo, I like your chispa13. I can now tell why you are succeeding. Look, I understand all that you want and the request for what you need. Irrespective, I will not expose myself to this risk with the board. It could open the door to other like situations with lesser capable people and we would all be in trouble.”

  The banker walked around the sitting area and settled in his chair behind his ornate desk. Galo noticed the ever-widening moat, a barrier between his asking and the banker. The not-so-subtle prophylactic did nothing to back Galo down. He followed him and stood as straight as possible in front of the desk. “Would it not be better for the board and your position to assert the strength of your dissemination of good from bad? By choosing to support us, you will be helping many clients of your bank. You know that many others supply our needs as well. As our business improves, so will theirs, and so would yours. And Campos, we would be willing to pay a fair rate. We are not trying to be greedy. Our deal will be a win, win, win.”

  Campos cleared his throat and seemed to mumble a bit. “In my experience, there are no such things. Speculation and risk taking is not a way for a banker to survive. I truly apologize for you having taken the trouble to come to the office today on this affair.”

  He reached to the side of his desk to check his agenda for his next appointment and once again checked his watch. Galo patiently waited a quiet moment as Campos wrote on his daily log. He then employed his baritone and became factual.

  “Before you arrive at a conclusion, I would like for you to reconsider the whole picture.”

  Looking up in disbelief that the young man would continue, Campos cut Galo off. “I do see the whole picture and there is nothing to reconsider!”

  “Campos, are you not a risk taker?”

  “I am to a certain extent, such as when I confirm I cannot lose.”

  Galo smiled and he placed his hands together providing the same consoling look he received earlier. “That doesn’t appear to be risk taking. But more importantly, you say you are not a risk taker. Can you help me reconcile how a person that takes no risk and is so concerned with exposure to the Board; a family man, a well-respected man in the most prestigious bank in La Habana happens to frequent a certain Valeria on San Fernando Street?”

  Campos froze and turned pale as he looked up at this young man who suddenly towered over his desk. He looked to the door and saw it closed. Galo was pleased with the reaction of the banker. He expected it and he lowered his voice to maintaining a firm resolve.

  “In business what kills the deal, any deal, is the lack of the assessment of risk. Once the risk is completely assessed, then one can act with confidence and contingencies. The risk with Valeria and the odd desires of a certain banker in my presence is careless at best. One wonders how the board, and perhaps others, would feel about the judgment of such an individual.”

  Campos blinked rapidly as a corner of his mouth twitched. “Galo, how in the hell would you know of anything having to do with me? This is a private matter that has nothing to do with business. For the love of God, do you realize what you are doing?” His voice quivered.

  Galo h
ad his prey in sight. He held the winning hand and would not let it pass. “Nothing to do with business? This office and the privileges it carries could all end, don’t you think? As to what I understand, I know plenty, because I make it my business to learn. As to what I do, I do know what I’m doing, Señor Campos. I am presenting, what did you say? … the collateral you were seeking.”

  The seat toppled back as Campos stood abruptly, “Why you insolent little son of a bitch!”

  “Keep calm Campos, don’t get your voice up. Nothing good will come out of it; and another thing, leave my mother out of this. This is a transaction in which you and the bank will make lots of money. My partners and I will make lots of money. Our suppliers will make assured money and the ranchers will make assured money. As I told you, it’s a win, win, win situation.”

  A more composed Campos picked up the chair, set it upright and sat back down. His breathing was getting better as was his color, but he was still brooding.

  “You need to consider that I am not threatening you in any way, nor do I seek to harm you or your family. I am also not trying to push a proposal for you to lose. I am merely making it clear that you will make money for your bank if you help us. Is it not better to win than to lose in a big way?”

  He continued. “Think for a moment. What if this information fell into the hands of a politician let’s say? I mean, can you imagine what he would do with this information? Can you picture yourself trying to explain your activities to the board? Would it not be better to implore them to support a transaction with an exciting, up and coming client, Matadero El Sol?”

  The banker held his head between his hands, turned a dark red and breathed heavily again. Galo reached to a decanter of fine añejo on the side of the desk and poured Campos a drink. He poured himself some water from a pitcher next to it. He handed Campos the drink and raised his glass. “Come on Campos, get over it. Everybody has weaknesses. You are just lucky it is me presenting you with a packaged resolution that would minimize any risk.”

  Campos took the glass of rum and shot it back in one swallow. He pressed his eyes shut and shook his head a bit. When he opened his eyes, they were red, but his face and his breathing were back in control. At the same time, Galo drank his water and quietly occupied the room for a minute or so.