RECKLESS AUDACITY

Main Street, San Francisco, May 2011 Alice Walters smiled. She slowly put the handset back onto the cradle and leaned back on the leather chair. Everything has now fallen perfectly into place. She switched on the 60’ plasma television that hung in her 80 square foot office, and caught the middle part of President Obama’s address to the nation on the death of Osama bin Laden, "We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice". She switched off the TV and sat in silence, allowing the President’s words to play over and over again until finally the words metamorphosed into her own. “I am also united in thought in my resolve to protect my body and to bring those who committed this vicious attack on me to justice. She likened her plan of revenge to pregnancy, except that normal pregnancies lasted only 40 weeks. Her plan had lasted 18 years. The first trimester lasted 8 years and was conceived in Little Creek Beach, Norfolk, Virginia, through the second semester, which lasted 6 years mostly in Seattle, and the final 4 years in New York. She is now about to give birth by design in San Francisco. She got up and glided over to the wide windows that covered the east side of her 34th office floor in the imposing Sterling Capital building located at 108 Main Street, right in the middle of San Francisco’s Financial District. Etched on the door of her lavishly furnished corner office were the words - Deputy CEO. Life had handed her lemons, but she had squeezed out a lemonade. And that sweet-tasting lemonade had been Sir George Walters, the 72-year-old founder of Sterling Capital. She looked across the city, for somewhere, just outside the Financial District, were two men, whose lives were about to change forever. She was a strikingly beautiful woman with long, lustrous brunette hair that cascaded down her back in loose waves. She stood tall at 5'11", with a model-esque physique, which, at 37 years, she carried with effortless grace and poise. Her beauty was undeniable, with sharp, defined features that were both elegant and alluring. Beneath the pristine beauty lies a steel will and a cunning intelligence that has crushed many unguarded foes. For beneath the steely surface lies a girl who was still trapped by the trauma she suffered at the hands of someone she had had a crush on in her first year in college. This hurt had been perfectly camouflaged when she went under the knife ten years ago, and came out with a new identity, a new name thrown in. She took in a deep breath and walked purposefully back to her broad desk. She picked up the bulky red binder she had been skimming through earlier. It contained all the hurt, the pain, and the anguish, as well as the elaborate plan she had put in place to correct that wrong, and to ensure that she was never hurt again. She tossed the binder onto the table, and looked at her dainty hands - despite the storm that was building up in her, her hands were not shaking. She felt icy cool. She picked up the binder again, its weight causing the muscles in her arms to contract, and walked calmly to the shredder which she had ordered to be installed that morning. She pulled out the sheets of paper and slowly fed the churning beast with every one of them. She then emptied the contents of the shredder into the fire that warmed the office and watched as every shred of paper fizzled away. There was to be no trace, no backlinks, nothing - once the button was pushed. The finality of the plan will be realised next year - on the 11th of August 2012, exactly on the 25th anniversary of the beach tragedy. She walked back to her desk, lifted the telephone handset and issued an instruction to her secretary, Mary. Mission Street, May 2011 What they needed was a miracle! Edward stood by the not-so-clean window of the tiny office overlooking the street, the financial report for the second quarter in his right hand. “If this trend continues we might have to give up this place and find a cheaper place,” he sighed, not looking at his partner, Frank, who was slumped on the tiny sofa in the far corner, the only luxurious item in the office. Edward is a striking man, standing at an impressive 6' tall with broad shoulders and a muscular build that hinted at his strength. His dark hair was neatly trimmed and styled, complementing his chiselled jawline and intense brown eyes that seemed to penetrate right through you. There was a hint of mischief in his eyes that hinted at a playful, adventurous side, but at the same time, there was an air of mystery that surrounded him, making him all the more intriguing. Despite being in his late 30s, Frank had a youthful energy about him, evident in the way he carried himself with confidence and ease. Frank, on the other hand, stood at 6’2”, and his presence commanded attention. He had a strong, stocky build that hinted at his physical strength and a balding head. But his piercing blue eyes were the first thing people noticed about him, with a gaze that could be both intense and unnerving. Unlike Edward, Frank had a mean streak about him that was evident in the way he carried himself. He was often quick to anger and had a tendency to lash out at those who crossed him, making him a formidable opponent in any situation. Those close to them have described their relationship as a Jekyll and Hyde union, because of their seemingly opposite personalities. But they have used their differences to their advantage - whether in naughty pursuits or in solving complex problems. They had bonded when they first met in High School, and had gone from there to college and then to Yale, where they were roommates. Their small firm, Summit Securities, located on 212 Mission Street, just outside the Financial District of San Francisco, was struggling, and the monthly rent of fifteen thousand dollars, cheap by San Francisco standards, was beginning to bite hard. They were averaging only about eighty grand a month, which, minus the salaries of six employees, including themselves, rent, and overheads, meant they were perpetually in the red. They contemplated diversifying the services they rendered to include investment advice, instead of strictly specialising in investment research. “We need one major breakthrough to put us on the map,” Frank said. He got up to stretch his 6’ frame. As if on cue, the telephone in the outer office buzzed. Lizzy, the secretary who currently also doubles as the accountant, put the call through. “A Mister Ethan from Silvergate Investment is on the line” That was when the invitation to submit a proposal came through. For the next twenty-one days they toiled, day and night, to put together a proposal. Inside sources, mostly friends from college and Yale, warned them that the competition was keen, especially in these times when most firms were struggling to get on their feet after the 2007 meltdown. Three weeks went by and still no reply! It was now two months since their last presentation to the evaluation team at Sterling Capital. In all, they made four presentations to the team. From the first, where there were eleven shortlisted firms, including some heavyweights like Phoenix Wealth and Elite Wealth, to the fourth, where Summit was sandwiched between Phoenix and Elite. Even their friends had been surprised, encouraging them to keep the faith. “If you have come this far, then you must have laid something on the table that has caused Sterling to notice you.” They had been on tenterhooks for the past month since the final presentations. They had been subjected to a barrage of questions and background scrutiny. For three hours, they faced experts who grilled them. Every letter in their proposal was questioned, every strategy torn apart to reveal its bare bones. This was a 15 million dollar contract, not big in comparison to the billions that flowed through Sterling. But by associating with any firm, even if it's for a short-term contract, Sterling was putting its image and reputation - it's a hard-fought brand - on the line. And so they had every right to place every firm under the microscope, especially a “non-entity” like Summit. They were biting into a burger when the call finally came through. A secretary had put them through Mrs. Adams, secretary to the Director of Contracts, who had put them through to a Mr. Rogers, who had broken the good news to them. After the congratulatory statement, he enquired, “Will you be available to join the management of Silvergate Investments on the 9th through the 11th of July at the Jade Mountain Resort in Saint Lucia for our half-year review meeting? That would afford you the opportunity to know your bearings and how your contract will fit into the overall strategy.” When the call ended, they dumped the oily packaging and half-eaten burgers into the bin. Their appetites and hunger were gone. Wide-eyed, they stared at each other. Then they started shouting and jumping, hugging each other and their employees. Their proposal to undertake risk assessment research for Silvergate Investments, a subsidiary of the investment giant Sterling Capital, had the highest evaluation score. "We did it, Edward! Can you believe it? The highest score!" he exclaimed. Edward was equally ecstatic, but his mind was racing. This was it. Their hard work was finally paying off, and they were about to embark on a new chapter in their lives. When they finally calmed down, they held a quick staff meeting, where they spent the next few hours discussing their next steps, formulating a plan to take advantage of this incredible opportunity. They knew that Silvergate would be expecting the best, and they were determined to deliver nothing but the best. The news of their success spread quickly, and before they knew it, their phones were buzzing with congratulatory messages from friends and family. Even as they jubilated, they mulled over the changes they would have to make - new staff, especially analysts and legal associates, and new offices to accommodate them. A week after they received the most important call of their lives, Frank and Edward walked into the offices of Silvergate Investments to sign the contract. That evening, a reception was hosted by Silvergate for all their new contractors. Frank cornered Luke Rhal, seeking an answer to the question that had been nagging them ever since the first call. “Who recommended Summit to Silvergate?” “I don’t actually recollect. But someone had mentioned some work that you had done for Vanguard Investment or so, and said we should invite you to submit a proposal. And we are glad we did, for you brought on a new perspective we had not before considered. Congrats” As Frank walked away he was summarily surprised, because what they did for Vanguard was a paltry 150 grand job, nothing to bleep on the radar of any major investment firm. When the reception was over, Edward and Frank stormed off to the Embarcadero and into the Barrel Room, where their wives, Mardy and Carla, were waiting. It was time to celebrate with the women who had stood behind them in good times and in bad times. The night reminded them of their college days when they would party all night and stumble into lectures in the morning. The lively atmosphere of the pub was contagious, and they were soon caught in the energy. They grabbed a couple of pints and found a cosy spot by the fireplace.