Big Top Billionaire

Buying The Circus

AMARI

I arrived at Freddie’s circus, excited to see my old friend and as I stepped out of the cab, I could see his staff running back and forth, putting the equipment away. The driver grabbed my bag from the trunk and handed it to me before I gave him the fare and a very generous tip.

“Oh. Thank you, sir. It has been a pleasure driving you here. Have a great vacation,” he said before getting in the cab and driving away. 

As soon as I had stepped in, he had recognized me. Of course, I was the most famous business man in the country, and my face was in almost every magazine and newspaper. 

I walked towards the trailer where I was sure his office was. He hadn’t changed anything about him or his place and I felt right at home. 

I knocked on the door, and waited for a minute. There was no answer, so I tried again before I looked through his window to see if he was there. 

“Can I help you?” I heard a female voice talk behind me and I turned around to see who it was coming from.

“Oh, yes. I’m looking for Freddie Gaelick. My name is Amari Doulkas, an old friend of his,” I introduced myself, extending my hand to shake hers. She was an older woman, probably in her mid 50s with salt and pepper hair, blue eyes and a kind smile. 

“My name is Sue Jones. Freddie’s in the hospital, visiting one of the performers who had an accident last night,” she replied, making me curious. Was that the girl that lost her husband last night? 

“Thank you very much. I’ll just call him on his cell phone,” I said as I grabbed my phone from my suit pocket, “Is it okay if I wait for him here?” 

“Actually, you can wait for him inside. I can open the trailer for you, just give me a minute while I get the keys.”

She walked away as I called Freddie. Luckily, he answered at the first ring and after letting him know I was here waiting for him, the lady walked back and opened the trailer for me. I decided to get comfortable while I waited for him. After I put the bags down on a small couch he had at the end, I explored around a bit. 

He had old pictures of him cutting the ribbon when he opened the circus and different entertainers over the years. But there was one that stood out for me, our picture together when I recently started working here. It brought great memories and for a moment, I felt nostalgic. 

Helping myself to some coffee that he probably brewed this morning, I sat down and worked on my phone while I waited. A text from Clyde came in and I opened it to see what he wanted.

Clyde: You seriously need to come back home, dude. This is crazy.

I laughed. His paranoia always amused me. He just needed to get laid and leave me alone.

Me: I need to do this. Now, why don’t you get your job as my partner done and I’ll see you in a few days….Make that a few weeks.

Clyde: Are you crazy!?! The company won’t survive without you!

Me: You’ll do well. Tory can help you. I have to go, my friend is here. See you, dude.

I heard a car approaching the trailer as I put the phone back in my pocket, getting off the couch and peeking through the ripped curtain in his little kitchen. A smile crept up my face as it had been years since I last saw him.

Opening the door, I surprised him by standing at his stairs with my arms extended to the sides.

“There he is!” I shouted, jogging towards him before taking him in a brotherly hug.

“Hey, buddy. So glad to see you after all these years!” he patted my back, excitedly while we walked back in the trailer, catching up on things as we made it inside. He grabbed a soda from his fridge, leaning against the kitchen counter while he opened the fizzy drink and took a sip of it. 

“So, what brings you here?” he asked, curiously.

“I saw the news, not a pretty situation to find yourself in, are you?” 

I sat back on the couch and sat one leg over my knee, raising an eyebrow as I studied him. He blew out a deep breath, sitting in the chair opposite to me with his elbows on his knees.

“John’s family is suing me for everything I have, including the circus. He’s the man that died last night while doing his air acrobats,” he sighed, “his wife is in the hospital right now recovering from a broken ankle. She should be getting discharged today, hopefully.”

He was deep in trouble and I was not going to hesitate in helping him. I didn’t care what Clyde said, this was my problem, not his. We both stayed in a comfortable silence, and I was thinking on what to do so he didn’t lose the place.

“Sell me the circus,” I offered, making him choke on his drink while looking at me in shock. 

“Are you crazy? Why would you want to buy it?” he frowned. I leaned forward with my elbows on my knees while I rubbed my hands together and looked at him with a tilted smile. 

“How much do you want for it?” I asked. 

“Amari, you don’t have to do this.”

“I want to. How much?” 

He looked around, thinking long and hard while I pulled my phone and checked the value of the circus, plus texted my lawyer who quickly came with the amount the family wants. 

“I have to be honest, Fred,” I said, calling him by his real name, “I think it's ridiculous that they’re suing you when their son just died. They could be a bit more….I don’t know.”

“You don’t know that family.  They’re the devil.”

As I calculated, the amount that Freddie needed was way too high, but it was not impossible for me to get the money for it.

“Okay, I will offer you a million dollars,” I said, catching him off guard, his mouth wide open. I chuckled as I texted my accountant at the building to make sure I had that money available, but to keep it a secret, especially from Clyde. 

“It’s too much. The circus at most it’s worth three hundred thousand dollars. It’s just trash now,” Freddie mentioned, sadness taking over his facial features. 

“I will buy the circus at the price I said. It should cover the lawsuit, your employees wages and the deed. So, I want you to talk to your lawyer and prepare it. I will be the new owner, but no one needs to know that.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means I’ll be back home, my friend. You’ll still be the owner in your employees’ eyes, and I will act as, let’s say... the cleaning guy.”

I knew it sounded crazy, but I wanted to come back here and being the cleaning guy would be the perfect way. Away from the stress of my business and the public eye. 

As I looked at Freddie, who seemed to be lost in thoughts, I couldn’t help but laugh. 

“It will be like old times, my friend. And I can’t wait.”