Hardball
AN: Quick update I'm traveling over the weekend so there will be no chapters, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Posting will resume Tuesday and thank you all the recent support and engagement on the novel, I hope you're enjoying it!
--
"We've arrived," The driver announced as they pulled up in front of the hospital with two other SUVs right behind them, each containing security details and acting as decoys in case anything had happened on the ride over.
"Alright, start sweeping the building and-"
"Madison," Harry interrupted firmly with a faint frown, making his displeasure known, "While I'm grateful that you're making my safety such a priority, this is a hospital. I'm not going to have my people swarm the place checking for bombs and assassins. It will only cause panic in an already stressful, chaotic environment. I came here to help people, not make their lives more difficult."
"But-" Madison started only for Harry to raise his hand, "No, buts this is a PR event and optics matter, this is the first time I'm stepping out into the public eye since my first speech. People are going to be looking to confirm their fears or hopes about Ascend, and I don't need to give my naysayers an easy target to latch onto. Keep security out of sight and get them to maintain a low profile."
Madison wanted to argue, but the look in Harry's eyes left no room for negotiation. "Very well, I'll pass your instructions along to the security team."
"Thank you, now let's get out there and change some lives, shall we?" Without waiting for a response, Harry stepped out of the car and looked towards the front doors of the hospital as they opened to reveal a small group of smartly dressed people in suits with practiced beaming smiles across their faces.
"Mr. Osborn, so glad we're finally meeting you in person," A man with slicked back salt and pepper hair in a pinstriped suit stepped forward holding out his hand for Harry to shake, "The board and I have been so eager to discuss your proposition."
"You must be Chet Brant, Chair of the Governing Board for Mercy Hospital," Harry replied as he shook the man's hand, "I saw your name quite a bit when researching what hospitals Ascend might want to partner with."
Chet smiled, thought it was far from natural, "Yes, I won't pretend to be modest, I hold advisory positions in almost all of Brooklyn's public hospitals."
"And some of the private as well," Harry added, making Chet's smile stiffen but only for a moment, "Yes, well, the industry has been very fortunate to me, now why don't we move inside so we can discuss your Agency's proposition?"
"Right after you," Harry replied as Madison fell into step behind him and they walked into the building.
Entering the lobby, Harry looked over at the waiting area and took in the crowded, almost claustrophobic setting, as people waited to receive medical attention. Some were even forced to stand due to the lack of available seating.
"Right this way, Mr. Osborn, the offices are on the third floor," Chet called out, pulling Harry's attention away from the scene as they all stepped onto an elevator, but not before Harry sent Madison a knowing look.
---
"Now, Mr. Osborn, when you first contacted Mercy Hospital, you alluded to various initiatives that you claimed would ensure the best treatment of our clients," Chet started as he sat down at the head of the table with three governing board members to either side of him, "But refused to clarify precisely what these intitativse entailed."
"Please forgive me, I didn't wish to be secretive or seem as if I was holding back information," Harry apologized as he sat up in his chair at the far end of the table, "But now that we are in person, I am more than happy to fully outline what Ascend Agencies is offering."
Taking that as her cue, Madison started to hand out leather folders to each of the board members, who wasted no time opening them and reading the contents inside. "While Ascend Agencies' primary goal is bioengineering, our research and development have a large overlap with pharmaceutical and medical engineering. We have made a number of significant advancements that could make life a great deal easier for medical practitioners and stakeholders in general. Of course, there is direct funding as well, with even the possibility of opening insurance policies."
Harry watched the board members' reactions as they flipped through the pages and listened to him speak. At first, their eyes were static, practically glowing. But as they flipped through the pages, the enthusiasm slowly vanished from their eyes.
"Mr. Osborn, I hate to assume, but I believe there's been some kind of mistake," Chet said cautiously as he looked up from the binder at Harry.
"Then you must be, because I checked over the documents myself, I assure you, everything is as it should be," Harry replied with an amicable smile.
"B-but, these prices are dirt cheap, they're less than 75% of the market standard," One of the board members exclaimed, unable to control their outburst.
"Yes, that is the figure we used when calculating our desired profit margins," Harry replied with a nod, "You have to understand that most of the medicines and drugs included in that list are essentially by-products, as we've discovered far cheaper means of producing during our refinement of gene editing therapy. Such as creating a strand of bacteria that produces a complete insulin molecule without any need for refinement or combination of amino acid chains, which is the most expensive step of modern synthetic insulin production."
"But insulin hardly costs anything to make to begin with," Chet replied as his smile started to fracture, "Even if you reduce the production cost to a dollar, your profit margins compared to your competitors are...nonexistent, you would be losing money."
"Perhaps I wasn't very clear," Harry started as he leaned forward, "Ascend isn't looking to make money with the pharmaceuticals we produce, our main goal is public relations and infrastructure. We want people to see our products, our seal of approval on your hospital, and feel safe."
Chet's face strained as the cracks across his smiling facade spread, "That is certainly a noble cause; however, there's no need to fully sacrifice your company's well-being. If I may suggest, while our clients here at Mercy Hospital may not be the target audience, I have several recommendations with clientele that would be far more suitable and grateful for even the slightest discount, allowing you to broaden those profit margins while still building that public standing."
Staring at Chet Harry let out a long sigh as he turned and glanced at Madison, "I swear it's like I'm speaking another lanauge. How many times have I said it's not about the money?"
"Three times, including just now, Mr. Osborn," Madison replied without pause, causing the board members to recoil as if they had just been forced to swallow a lemon, "Perhaps they're hard of hearing, though if they joined our standard insurance policy, they could get corrective surgery with hardly any copay."
"Are you mocking us?" Another one of the board members scoffed in outrage as they glared at Madison.
"I suggest you fix your face and correct your attitude, Mr. Adams," Harry spoke up, his voice rolling like thunder through the room, and he smiled at the shocked look that flashed across the man's face, "Yes I know your name, I know all your names and the little scheme you have going on. Getting on the boards of public hospitals in low-income areas to steal and redirect funding and opportunities like the one I've laid before you to other hospitals in higher-income areas where you also happen to be investors or board members."
The figurative temperature in the room plummeted as Harry's impassive gaze swept across those seated, "Not illegal, but certainly underhanded and definitely calls into question the ethics of it all."
"You never came here looking to negotiate," Chet muttered, his smile gone as he glared at Harry with pure venom in his eyes, "Why are you here? Do you plan to blackmail us?"
"No, not blackmail, I've just laid out some terms, so you all can make a fully informed decision, to the best of your abilities," Harry replied with a smile.
Chet turned red in the face, "If you think we will stand for this-"
"Look bottom line is," Harry interrupted with a sigh, "Either you roll over and take a loss here and continue with your scheme elsewhere, or you try and play hardball, and risk losing everything you've built while my father turns you into another campaigning point....so what will it be?"