Excerpt
Eteo started making a list of where the big chunks of Nostra shares should go, starting with Yannis, Angelo, Spiro and his brother Michael, Herbert, and then Eteo’s personal accounts, Ariana’s, Logan’s, and Mitch’s. George and Peter, whom Eteo had used as directors of his shell companies a couple of times, should also be there, and Peter, and Emmanuel, his old buddy from Crete … His pen stopped at that name. He called Logan to his office.
“It would be good to start working on our shareholders list for Nostra Ventures, Mario’s IPO,” he told him. “We should have it ready in a month or so. I’ve started with the regulars, and you should add your close people too before we go further out, okay? This could be as good as Platinum, so go at it.”
Logan looked at his father with curiosity written all over his face.
“You sound pretty certain, Dad.”
“Well, I’m as certain as one could be, I think. Mario is really positive about this one. He says the same people who’ve been taking Platinum are waiting for this one.” He added, “So let’s keep this quiet. No word to anyone, and I mean no one, understood?”
“Yes, of course, Dad. I’ll start working on the list right away. When I’m done, I’ll print two copies only, and I’ll keep you informed as I go along.” He paused and smiled, “But I do need to know how many shares we have?”
“A million and a half at fifty cents, and I had to promise some of them to the juniors here. But we work our clients first, and then we can allocate a few for each of the younger brokers.”
“Right, Dad. I’m on it.”
Logan walked back to his desk while Eteo looked for Walter Cooper’s number in his contacts book. He dialed the man’s mobile number.
“Hello Walter, this is Eteo. How have you been?”
“Well, well, a voice I haven’t heard for a while,” Walter replied with a laugh. “What’s made you remember me, Eteo?”
“We have a common interest in something.”
“We have? I’m not aware.”
“Golden Veins and their deep drill hole in Texas”
“Oh, I see. You have some shares, I guess.”
“Yes, and a few clients are getting worried. Do you know anything solid about how the drilling is going?”
“No, I don’t. What’s the problem?”
“The price of the shares stinks, for one thing. What have you heard from the operators?”
There was silence. The seconds ticked by. Eteo feared the worst.
“Are you telling me they lost the hole? That’s what I’m sensing. Richard has been calling them for a while, but no answer.”
“I didn’t tell you this, okay? They … didn’t do well. Let’s put it that way.”
“No wonder Richard can’t get anybody to talk to him,” Eteo said. “Well, thanks for that, Walter.”
Eteo put down the phone and called Logan. “They’ve lost the hole,” he told him. “We have to do what we can under the circumstances. The stock should drift downwards since there won’t be any takers other than 500 shares in each bid. Stay vigilant and whenever you see any buyers, sell.”
“Okay, Dad. Should I call any of the two clients who still have some stock?”
“I wouldn’t. After all, they didn’t sell when the stock was active. Just keep your eyes open that’s all.”
Logan left his father deep in thought. Should he call Richard or leave him out of it? Richard might know already and just not want to admit to it. Thank God, Eteo thought, that only two clients were still in it and that their holdings were small. His thoughts were interrupted by Frances Woodruff, who came in escorted by Logan. Without saying anything, Frances sat down across from Eteo and when Logan left them alone, she said, “A good little birdie told me about your new prospectus. How soon will you be working on it?”
“A good birdy, or a naughty one, Frances?”
“A very good one, Eteo, so talk to me.”
“It’s at least a month away. Do you want some of it?
“I want some of everything you do, Eteo,” she said in a flat voice, then added, with more of an edge. “Even things you do with other women …”
Eteo laughed. “Come on, Frances, you couldn’t be starving, could you?”
“I wouldn’t say starving,” she replied, stirring in her seat but looking steadily in Eteo’s eyes. “We could have had a lot of fun if you hadn’t rushed into something with someone else.”
“It’s my turn to say I wouldn’t say that, Frances”
“You mean…” she stopped in mid-sentence.
“I mean we could still have a lot of fun,” Eteo said, getting up and walking around his desk. She stood up too, as if waiting for his next move. He embraced her. Their lips locked. She was trembling, and he was soon fully aroused, but suddenly she stopped and pulled away. She looked in his eyes.
“Oh Eteo, why?” she asked.
“Tell me, sweet Frances, why, like most women, you want to ask something to which there is no answer?”
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