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presence
there. He was determined to change that soon.
    “ Andrew, my boy. How are
things in Hogtown these days?” White’s supercilious British accent
was particularly grating to Chase. “I was wondering if you have
come to a decision yet on my latest offer for the
Express.”
    “ Well Rupert, I’m still
thinking it over and reviewing my other options,” replied
Chase.
    “ What other options, my
boy? I am sure things are not getting much better for your paper.
You had better strike while the iron is hot. This offer is not
unlimited. You had better consider what is in your best future
financial interests. Would you rather face bankruptcy or a few
million more dollars going into your bank account?”
    “ It is a very generous
offer, Rupert. One I am very seriously considering, but I need some
time. This paper was a dream of mine. I find it difficult to
consider letting it go. There is also a matter of the hundreds of
employees. I feel a responsibility to them and their
jobs.”
    “ Bullshit! Your first
responsibility is to yourself and your reputation, Andrew. And you
know as well as I that your paper is going down the tubes. You
don’t need to be the Captain of the Titanic and go down with the
ship. My pockets are far deeper than yours. I can sustain the
losses temporarily and build that paper into a competitor that will
give the Globe and the Star a run for their money. That will also
be in the best interests of your employees in the long
term.”
    Chase paused momentarily. What a
condescending prick!
    Chase knew full well Rupert White’s
track record with new acquisitions. The ink on the agreement would
hardly be dry before the pink slips would start going
out.
    White would gut the paper and replace
most of the existing staff with others from his vast media empire.
He would put in place a skeleton staff drawing on the resources of
his other papers. The newspaper would be filled with canned
stories, lots of wire copy, printing at a centralized plant, and
reductions in local reporter coverage.
    White was internationally renowned for
running a lean, mean moneymaking media machine.
    “ Like I said, Rupert. I
need more time to consider this,” said Chase. “I’ll get back to you
as soon as possible.”
    There was a pause at the other end of
the line.
    “ You have 24 hours,
Andrew,” replied White. “My offer will expire at midnight tomorrow
your time. Come to your senses, boy and do the right
thing.”
    The line suddenly
disconnected.
    “ What an Asshole! I’d like
to tell him right now where he could shove his offer, Andrew
thought. But $450 million was nothing to take lightly. Andrew knew
he had to consider White’s offer to purchase.
    It was time for him to make a
decision.

Chapter 5
    Toronto Daily Express
Thursday 12:25 AM
    “ IT’S A WRAP. The presses
are rolling,” said managing editor Braden Young. “Who wants a
nightcap at Paddy’s? Drinks are on me!”
    The Irish bar was located only a few
steps away from the Daily Express building. It was a favorite
watering hole for its reporters and editors. Paddy’s was a second
home to many of them. They frequented its premises far more than
was good for them. But it was a place to ease stress and let off
steam.
    “ Sounds good. I’ll take
you up on that offer,” replied Paul O’Connor. “I never say no to a
Guinness – the mother’s milk of us Irish.”
    “ Thanks, boss, but I’ll
take a rain check if you don’t mind,” said Cannon. “I’m beat. I
want nothing more than a good hot shower and to hit the
sheets.”
    I’d like nothing better than to join
you, thought Young. Then he pushed his lusty thoughts aside. Shame
on me. She’s almost the same age as my daughter.
    Young rarely saw his daughter Megan
who now lived in New Jersey with her boyfriend, a television
anchorman at a local station in New York.
    Young didn’t have much love of
television journalists – pretty boys and girls with their blown dry
hair and makeup. Few of them were