Page 150 of 12 Years
‘I found it amusing.’
‘You’ve called me at midnight. It can’t just be for something amusing.’
‘I hope you take it that way as well.’
‘Okay, now cut the suspense and tell me.’
‘I got the list of people who’re coming to do the due diligence. Had to arrange their access cards and cubicles, right?’
‘Yeah? So?’
‘There are two of Max’s analysts. Two people from CloudX’s finance team. Two directors from EY. And there’s one MD and one VP from Blackwater.’
‘Okay, that’s quite an army, but it’s fine. What’s so amusing here?’
‘That MD from Blackwater …’ Mudit trailed off.
‘Yeah?’
‘It’s someone we know. Rather, someone we used to know.’
‘Who?’ I said, a little concerned now. ‘Wait, no way. Are you messing with me?’
‘I wish I was, but I’m not. It’s our madam, Payal Jain. Now MD at Blackwater India.’
‘Holy fuck,’ I said. The phone almost slipped out of my hand.
‘You there, bro?’
I gripped the phone tighter. ‘Yes, yes,’ I said. ‘Did you say Payal is part of the due-diligence team? She’ll be working out of our office?’
‘Yes,’ Mudit said. ‘Isn’t it funny though?’
‘No,’ I said in a serious voice. ‘What the hell, Mudit. You got me into this.’
‘Relax, bro. Let’s meet up and discuss how to handle it.’
‘Now?’
‘Yes. Let’s go to BDP. I’ll pick you up.’
The whole world may be asleep at midnight, but not Dubai. And definitely not the people at Bar Du Port, or BDP. Located at the Dubai Harbour, the buzzing nightclub and restaurant originally hails from Lebanon. We had come on a Wednesday, BDP’s famous ladies’ night. The entire outdoor terrace was jam-packed with beautiful women and rich men.
Mudit ordered a bottle of champagne to celebrate signing the term sheet and poured me a glass.
‘Now, tell me, how didIget you into this, bro?’ Mudit said.
‘I never wanted to sell in the first place. I even raised concerns about Payal working at Blackwater right after we heard about them.’
‘Okay, fine. But should we say no to a four-billion-dollar buyout offer because your ex-girlfriend from ten or twelve years ago works there?’
I remained silent.
‘Bro, you know markets can turn bad, and we may not even be able to do an IPO next year. And here we have a one-shot confirmed deal.’
‘It’s a good deal, yes,’ I said.
‘So, it’s the deal that matters, not one little member of the due-diligence team that will be in our office for the next three weeks.’
