For Louis Wiseman, today was to be a momentous one, even more momentous than an ordinary day working for one of the worlds richest and most powerful financial institutions the illustrious Madoff Stearns.
Louis felt a shiver and pulled the collar of his $5000 dollar cashmere coat closer, it's soft touch reminding him of the comfort blanket from his childhood.
Louis entered the building and got into the only lift that allowed access to the hallowed executive suite.
They should have known better than to recruit him in the first place. Moral Philosophy, business ethics, these were not subtle warning signs.
In the end they just couldn't resist his allure. Top of his class at Harvard, the highest score on their aptitude test ever recorded, an IQ off the charts. No, there was never any doubt, they wanted Louis, he was there man right from the get go.
Louis got out of the lift and strode purposefully through the inch thick plushness..
'Hi Monica, how's it going'
He tried to sound jaunty, not a care in the world but somehow the timbre of his voice was a little too high, a little too forced.
'you are late, they are all waiting for you, I hope you have something special up your sleeve, otherwise....'
Monica left the word hanging provocatively, dangling there teasingly, she smiled like a pro, dropped her expertly made up eyes and went back to the all absorbing job of painting her nails.
An image flashed through Louis's brain, the face of a snake, a leering snake wearing eye makeup.
The executive reception room had the atmosphere and character of a gentleman's club, comfortable leather easy chairs, extravagant antique drinks cabinet, the hint of Havana cigars.
The door to the board room was open, there was no need for additional security here, if an enemy had got this far no mere door would stop them.
The six of them were sitting there waiting for him. As he walked in the room Robert Clavell, the Chairman of the board greeted him with a warm smile, all conversation ceased and there was an almost undetectable pause.
'welcome, Louis, welcome, it's good to see you, come and sit down'
Robert was using his best 'genial Uncle voice' it was a true masterpiece, layered with warm spiced cider and mom's apple pie.
'I'd rather stand if you don't mind 'Mr Clavell'
Louis's use of the formal stood the hairs on Robert Clavells neck to attention. He had not clawed himself up from the gutter without good instincts and his instincts were sending him a warning.
Louis tried to collect himself, he could feel the adrenaline surging through his body, he knew that his voice would quiver, his hands were already starting to shake, he leaned forward and spread them on the ancient teak table top.
'gentlemen, I'm afraid I have some bad news'
He paused to catch his breath.
Six well fed faces stared up at him.
'I will try to keep this brief and simple. As you know, this meeting was meant to be about my paper on Virtual Derivatives and to celebrate the successful pilot which made $60million in three days'.
He paused again, the atmosphere turned dark, if he was going to deliver the message, it had to be now.
'I designed Virtual Derivatives as the most virulent money making machine ever devised but if you really understood them you would know that using them is theft. I have told The New York Times everything, they have checked it all out, they run the story tomorrow. Oh, one more thing, the Feds are involved, they have the relevant papers, so it's too late for shredding'
The horror on their faces showed they all 'got it'
'you bastard' Robert Clavell growled out the words
'I'll see you in hell you bastard'
As he walked through reception Monica was still doing her nails, she looked up smiling her snake smile, any residual doubt Louis may have had withered before her gaze.
Two weeks later Lois lay reclined in his sun bed in Barbados, he was reading a copy of the New York Times, the headline read
'VD catches Bankers'
Following the exposé the share price of the firm plummeted from $300 to 30 cents, chapter 11 bankruptcy was the inevitable end game.
Louis closed out his position when the price hit one Dollar, he'd made five billion dollars and pulled off the biggest financial hatchet job in history.
They should have read the conclusion to his dissertation on morality and ethics.
"morality is a mere construct born of expediency, ethics are the tools of the elite, used to justify their position of dominance"
Louis only had one golden rule in business, 'he who has the gold makes the rules'
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