Travel had never been so intense; traveling had never caused such unease. Four months of meetings with different firms, where every single operation seemed to shift from one side to the other, complementing each other like fingers on a hand—a way of life where, if the work was done right, one could earn a fortune, and if that fortune was wisely invested, it would secure the automotive industry's monopoly. Billy was already planning a massive market takeover, luring away workers laid off by Detroit's collapse.
Raimon, beside him, breathed deeply. Though they had chartered a private jet for fifty passengers—one resembling a presidential aircraft—he was tense about the upcoming meeting. Tennessee had one of the most business-friendly governments for industrial development: land was ridiculously cheap, and the tax incentives stretched for 20 to 30 years. Yet Billy wanted to push that to 50 years of exemptions, with additional incentives that seemed born from one of his boldest wagers for the world of sales.
Billy knew the game of sales came from all angles, and he wanted to create a dazzling complex, full of a kind of magic that would turn Tennessee into the future—the beginning and the end of everything he needed—using the state as his central hub, while pressuring San Jose so that mayors, governors, and economic boards would take his vision seriously. If they did, the mere threat of him leaving—or even the bluff of doing so—would triple or quadruple the benefits he sought. Like Bill Gates in Seattle, all it required was ambition and the ability to convince others that your business was a multibillion-dollar venture with the allure of something almost mythic.
—My armpits hurt —Raimon said, almost paranoid.
—You've spoken with great magnates, you've presented my company as the future in factories across Vietnam, and you've fought anyone trying to take a single penny from me… You negotiated with the Tolkien family for six months —Billy replied.
—I know, but back then it was something I enjoyed, or had studied so hard that I nearly burned my eyelashes off. But now, I fear you planned this meeting in just two days because you spoke with someone who knew the governor of Tennessee, and when he replied, you simply said you had a massive project you'd been working on for months—which is a lie. It makes me hate you and want to tell Anne everything, because you're one of the most exasperating people I've ever known. I never believed Anne when she said you acted on impulse, but for the past two days, I've thought you're just firing shots into the air and dragging us to the most desperate situations —Raimon retorted.
Billy laughed.
—My friend, we'll make a fortune. As much as you've already made with me. Your commission was a million—that was incredible. You bought that Lamborghini and painted it with Star Wars scenes, something most people wouldn't even allow —Billy said, shaking his head with amusement.
—Princess Leia would die to ride in it. I think she and Han Solo would do a great job taking your baby out for a spin, while you sit in the backseat, enjoying two legends clashing in the air. And when it happens, I won't warn you—it'll be instant, almost like a blow landing on your shoulder. That's how the game is played: you ask big —Billy added.
—I'll ask for 50 years of tax exemptions, cheap land negotiated with major landowners, tax relief for employees trained by the state with the help of universities and free public courses. A plan that leaves them completely blind —Billy concluded.
Raimon swallowed hard, almost wanting to slam his head against the wall. Being the reluctant partner he was, he had only a minimal grasp of the reasons driving such bold moves. Yet Billy's energy lit a fire in his soul, giving him a shred of confidence to become a better version of himself—someone willing to speak his mind without fear of rejection. The spark of admiration burned in his eyes because Billy was everything he was not.
—Seems like we just have to show up and do it —Raimon said, hyperventilating as he tried to gather himself. It was a fact that their Microsoft-made slides, downloaded and put together in eight hours, were based on a four-year-old program, filled with fabricated data on investments, and supplemented by figures taken from their own companies.
—I've been telling you since yesterday that you're making a complete scene —Billy replied, ignoring Raimon's cowardly burst of bravery, which fizzled out as the words left his mouth, as if everything he said slipped away with his emotions, both in mind and in time.
A stroke of luck.
***
Anne received Billy's memo requesting a full financial overview, explaining every detail and aspect of his new negotiations in the state of Tennessee.
—I just need a reservation at the most expensive and ostentatious place in town for seven people —Billy said.
—Done.
—I also need a luxury hotel and data on all the companies —Billy added.
Eccentric and unconcerned about timing, he moved as slowly as he pleased. He didn't care to hurry or worry about missed opportunities. Billy sent the cover sheets to Anne so she could organize the data.
—What's your idea? —Anne asked.
—Nothing relevant… or stupid —Billy whispered. —They're not the ones truly making the decisions. The game is different from what we expect. —
Everything was set in motion by William Dommer, who had the foresight and shared Billy's vision of leveraging influence. The old man awaited them at the luxury hotel, already pulling strings with the precision that came from decades of experience. Curiously, he owned large swaths of land in Tennessee and had been maneuvering his assets for at least thirty months. Billy, meanwhile, was simply trying to do whatever he could.
—Where did you get the information that Tennessee is the best place? —Anne sighed, reluctant to ask. She knew it was safer not to know, suspecting that Billy always had access to information he probably shouldn't. It was just his way—his vision. Something about it never seemed to go away.
—Plenty of benefits, Anne. I'll send them to you by email once we finish negotiations. At the very least, they're far better than what Nevada offers. It's practically candy compared to the feast Tennessee is willing to give us. We'll reach out to Stanford and Berkeley to strengthen their programs—promoting education is always something that captures attention —Billy replied.
...