Close-out! Close-out! Close-out! An Opco Boone Adventure
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The Adventures of Opco Boone, Legal Ace™
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Boone arrived just as the paramedics were dragging Dan Grade’s insensate form out of the office. The Chief Credit Officer was pale but, Boone thought, alive — though this may have been a reflection of the dancing firelight on his waxen face.
The huge Frenchman ushered them inside. The General Counsel first, her crack leadership team of ED commandos in formation behind her. They snapped to in front of the Head Trader. He shrugged in studied insouciance.
Fryer said, “At Ease, eagle squad.”
Bosanquet’s corner office, usually a model of masterful tranquillity, was in disarray. Toppled piles, deal toys and tombstones were strewn across the floor. A stack of Iron Mountain boxes wobbled next to a mahogany conference table. A pair of whimpering traders sat there, frantically punching tabulators and annotating a giant chart. The Bloomberg terminal winked & flashed angry red.
Across the city, the mechanical whine of ancient air raid sirens filled the air.
The office had a clear view across the Wharf at the Wickliffe Hampton tower. It billowed and burned.
“So, listen up.”
Bosanquet dropped a single sheet on his desk and eyed the lawyers. Boone scanned the doc. It was a list. He glommed the theme, fast.
WHAM Asia Investments Limited
WHAM Cayman Finance Limited
WHAM Group Limited
WHAM London Investments Limited
WHAM Mortgage Funding Limited
WHAM Pacific Mortgage Limited
WHAM Properties Limited
Wickliffe Funding (UK) Limited
Wickliffe Hampton Enterprises Limited
Wickliffe Hampton Europe Limited
Wickliffe Hampton Holdings Plc
Wickliffe Hampton International Europe
Wickliffe Hampton LBO Investments Limited
Wickliffe Hampton Limited
“Zeese names,” he said, gesturing at the inferno outside the window, “Zey are, ’ow say you, fouqued. We ’ave great exposure to zem. Eet is extremely volatile.”
One of the traders looked up and squeaked. Bosanquet barked in French. He got back to punching and scribbling.
“I need to know ’ow we can close zem out. Vitement. Comprendez-vous?”
Chip Fryer picked up the sheet, regarded it, and nodded confidently.
“Yes, Florian. We understand. This is a crack squad. They are the best ninjas in town. We will pull the docs and have a comprehensive answer for you in seventy-two hours. All right, team let’s —”
“— you say, seventy-two hours?”
“That’s right!” Chip beamed.
“Mais, I want to know in seventy-two seconds. We will be dead in seventy-two hours.”