THE PROPOSITION

Mr Francois notices him keep looking at the door thinking although he said I got his full attention, he was not paying attention to him.

Saying, "You got this all wrong Mr. Montgomery, it is what I can help you with to expand your business. You see I have this business proposition that may pique your interest which I am offering to businessmen while I am in town for a few days."

"A business proposition you say?" Observing his eyes never left the door.

"Yes!"

"And what does this deal entail, Sir?"

"Mr. Montgomery, this offer is only until Monday, you see when you invest fifty thousand after two years your money grows double."

"Sounds like a good investment, but who can I contact to verify that my investment is safe, and not a scam or fraudulence to steal people hard earn money?"

"Oh, Mr. Montgomery you are smarter than I had imagined, but a few years ago we did our first business transaction with a few people in town. And I am here to distribute cheques to these fortunate individuals, also to inform them that their investment has matured and their first cheque is being issued today."

"How do I know you are not lying?"

"Just see for yourself then you can decide."

Vince notices him open an envelope that he took out from his suitcase. "Look here, I have the cheque to deliver to all our first-time investors.

When he stretched his hand towards Vince to take a look, Vince flips through the cheque, reading the names glimpsing Sidney's Mom name, thinking, 'This is the deal Gilbert was speaking about. I wonder what will be her reaction when she sees this? And what caused me to say this morning she will visit my office?

It is the strangest feeling but we didn't even talk this morning and when I reaches home from practice last night, she was sound asleep.'

Wiping his face turning to face Mr. Francois who was looking at him. 'How could I be so stupid?' Saying to him, "Okay, hear what, I won't mind investing in your business, but I need to make sure those cheques don't bounce on these people."

"Fair enough, then I will be back here next Monday with the contract. After I deliver this cheque I will send their contact numbers, so you could either meet them or call, whichever one you feel comfortable with."

"Sounds fair enough, but why wait until Monday with the contract, give me it today and let me go through it, you see I can't invest unless my grandfather gives the okay.

It's his money and his Company and when you return Monday we will just finalize the deal, what do you say?"

Oh and since you are here, how about you write each name of these people's address and contact number. I need to verify if this contract is valid as you claimed. As you know there are many fraud investors out there promoting almost similar investments. I don't want to be caught in this web of easy money. I work hard and expect the same in return.

Now don't take it to heart by my words but I need to produce sound evidence for my grandfather, he can smell a bogus business deal from afar. I don't want him telling me about doing a background check.

You can give me the information with the persona's name, or address and save me having to wait. I am aware of businessmen paying people to say yes when they call. My grandfather is a hard nut to crack so I need proof to get him to accept this proposition."

When Sidney enters the room with the tray, looking at her as she serves the coffee first to the gentleman, assisting with the milk and sugar. Admiring her suit, the cream suit looks very business-like.

Hearing her saying, "Here you go, one strong cup of coffee, and I suppose you like your tea like this?" As she placed the cup of tea in front of Vince.

Sidney then sits at the gentleman's side with her cup sipping slowly. Vince notices she didn't take any sugar only milk which she seems to enjoy. Waiting when she rests down her cup, she seems satisfied, saying to her, "Honey, can you run through this contract and tell me if it's a good investment?"

Seeing her take the contract and walk by the window, notices as she read through the pages, then turns to the gentleman. Expecting her to reveal to him her investment but instead, she asks, "Can you tell me how many years this business has started?"

"I was just telling your husband, that two years ago we came with our first offer to some business people in this town."

"I see, and what has become with the money the people invested?"

"I am here to deliver the cheque to those people who invested."

"You are?" Vince seeing her excitement, "Do you have that cheque in your position right now?"

"Yes!"

"Can, I see it please?"

"Sure," anxiously looking on as she browses through when her hand covers her mouth but the squeal came, holding her mom's cheque in her hand.

"Mr. Francois, how soon will this cheque take to clear?"

"Within five working days my dear, by why do you ask?"

When she shouted, "Yippee, bye, I am going straight to the bank."

"Hello, you cannot take that cheque." Vince sees him reach out and took the cheque from her.

"Why, this cheque has my mom's name."

"It may have your mom's name, but she has to sign first, I can see that you are anxious but we have to go through the proper channel. First I have to see her Identification, then I have to give it to her directly."940

"Yeah boy, you are right then come with me to the bank, so when you issue her the cheque, we can deposit it, immediately."

"My dear, the bank is already close for the day."