that.”
“It’s a good thing one of us did,” my father said. “Business is business, after all. Any event where your sponsors aren’t happy is destined to be a doomed event.”
“Thank you for pointing that out to me,” Dakota said, a bit uneasily. “Thank you so much.”
Now I really started to question where this was all headed. My father was running them right out of the race!
“I’m sure you would have thought that through eventually,” my father said.
“That’s most gracious of you, Mr. Hyatt, most gracious.”
“Not at all, son. You were placed in this very important position for a reason. I’m sure the organizers were most impressed with your previous experience and expertise.”
“Yes. My father said he couldn’t think of anybody better suited to run the event.”
“Your father?” my father said.
Dakota looked as though he’d been caught saying something he hadn’t meant to tell us.
“Yes, my father was one of the partnership team that provided the start-up money for this event,” he explained reluctantly.
“Then obviously he and
all
the partnership team have the greatest faith in you. I’m sure you’ll make your father proud.” My father paused. “Especially in light of how we’re going to resolve this potentiallyexplosive and damaging situation regarding your refusal to allow our friends to participate.”
Dakota now looked completely confused. Welcome to the club!
“But … but … I thought we’d agreed they couldn’t run,” he stammered.
“I never agreed to that. I was simply helping to explain the difficult situation. You’re in a very bad situation. It would be most unfortunate if we had to sue the marathon.”
“Sue? What would you sue us for?” Dakota demanded.
“Well, for starters, breach of contract.”
“We don’t have a contract!”
“Yes, we do. You took the money and gave these men their registration packages.” He turned to me. “You do have those packages, don’t you?”
I held them up.
“And they are signed by the registration officer, are they not?” my father asked.
“Yes, he signed them,” I said.
“But he wasn’t
supposed
to sign them!” Dakota protested.
“But he
did
, and he is your sanctioned employee, so what he does is in the name of the marathon,” my father said. “Money was taken and a product provided. That is a fully executed contract.”
“But that can’t be right.”
“It is. Please feel free to contact your lawyer … or your father. In fact, you might want to do that immediately, because I’m going to be contacting my lawyer toask him to go before the courts to request an injunction to stop the marathon from taking place.”
“An injunction?” he gasped. “I don’t understand what that means.”
“Basically an injunction is a temporary restraining order ensuring that while the matter is being reviewed by the courts,
nobody
will be allowed to compete. The race will not take place.”
“You can’t do that!” Dakota snapped.
“Oh yes, I can. Getting an injunction is a certainty.” My father sounded completely confident. That didn’t mean he was—only that he needed to sound that way.
“You don’t really think you could win a lawsuit, do you?”
“I don’t know if I can or can’t,” my father replied. “What I know is that I can tie the whole thing up in the courts long enough to make sure that the race is put into jeopardy. Even if I can’t win, I can guarantee you a prolonged legal fight that will cost you time and a considerable amount of money.”
“But surely
you
don’t want to go through a lengthy trial,” Dakota said.
“Me? I won’t be going through anything. I have lawyers on retainer. I’ll just sic them on you like little legal pit bulls. They’ll enjoy going after you, and for me, the money doesn’t mean anything. All that matters is making my little girl happy.” He turned to me again. “Would suing him make you happy, angel?”
I smiled. “That would
“It’s a good thing one of us did,” my father said. “Business is business, after all. Any event where your sponsors aren’t happy is destined to be a doomed event.”
“Thank you for pointing that out to me,” Dakota said, a bit uneasily. “Thank you so much.”
Now I really started to question where this was all headed. My father was running them right out of the race!
“I’m sure you would have thought that through eventually,” my father said.
“That’s most gracious of you, Mr. Hyatt, most gracious.”
“Not at all, son. You were placed in this very important position for a reason. I’m sure the organizers were most impressed with your previous experience and expertise.”
“Yes. My father said he couldn’t think of anybody better suited to run the event.”
“Your father?” my father said.
Dakota looked as though he’d been caught saying something he hadn’t meant to tell us.
“Yes, my father was one of the partnership team that provided the start-up money for this event,” he explained reluctantly.
“Then obviously he and
all
the partnership team have the greatest faith in you. I’m sure you’ll make your father proud.” My father paused. “Especially in light of how we’re going to resolve this potentiallyexplosive and damaging situation regarding your refusal to allow our friends to participate.”
Dakota now looked completely confused. Welcome to the club!
“But … but … I thought we’d agreed they couldn’t run,” he stammered.
“I never agreed to that. I was simply helping to explain the difficult situation. You’re in a very bad situation. It would be most unfortunate if we had to sue the marathon.”
“Sue? What would you sue us for?” Dakota demanded.
“Well, for starters, breach of contract.”
“We don’t have a contract!”
“Yes, we do. You took the money and gave these men their registration packages.” He turned to me. “You do have those packages, don’t you?”
I held them up.
“And they are signed by the registration officer, are they not?” my father asked.
“Yes, he signed them,” I said.
“But he wasn’t
supposed
to sign them!” Dakota protested.
“But he
did
, and he is your sanctioned employee, so what he does is in the name of the marathon,” my father said. “Money was taken and a product provided. That is a fully executed contract.”
“But that can’t be right.”
“It is. Please feel free to contact your lawyer … or your father. In fact, you might want to do that immediately, because I’m going to be contacting my lawyer toask him to go before the courts to request an injunction to stop the marathon from taking place.”
“An injunction?” he gasped. “I don’t understand what that means.”
“Basically an injunction is a temporary restraining order ensuring that while the matter is being reviewed by the courts,
nobody
will be allowed to compete. The race will not take place.”
“You can’t do that!” Dakota snapped.
“Oh yes, I can. Getting an injunction is a certainty.” My father sounded completely confident. That didn’t mean he was—only that he needed to sound that way.
“You don’t really think you could win a lawsuit, do you?”
“I don’t know if I can or can’t,” my father replied. “What I know is that I can tie the whole thing up in the courts long enough to make sure that the race is put into jeopardy. Even if I can’t win, I can guarantee you a prolonged legal fight that will cost you time and a considerable amount of money.”
“But surely
you
don’t want to go through a lengthy trial,” Dakota said.
“Me? I won’t be going through anything. I have lawyers on retainer. I’ll just sic them on you like little legal pit bulls. They’ll enjoy going after you, and for me, the money doesn’t mean anything. All that matters is making my little girl happy.” He turned to me again. “Would suing him make you happy, angel?”
I smiled. “That would
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