by JT Kalnay
"Will they be able to make more trades?" Bill Beck had asked.
Jay studied the floor, zeroing in on a trader, monitoring the action involved in several trades. "If there’s more trades to be made then I would think probably 25% to 33% more trades,” he finally said.
"Why?"
"Because of the one or two minutes that it looks like it takes to complete a trade, the paperwork takes 30 to 40 seconds. If we can cut the paperwork by 15 to 20 seconds… You figure it out.”
Bill answered, "Let me run it by the big boys.” Later in the week, Bill Beck walked into Jay's office. "You've got four months, $1.2 million in budget, 4 slots for programmers and 2 slots for electrical and radio engineers to get this thing done,”
Bill announced. His face showed respect for Jay's ability and foresight, but human concern for his own job and the rapid rise of Jay's star. Although Bill was in on the backroom dealings at MacKenzie Lazarus, he'd never figured to see his new hire do so well so quickly. Sometimes he felt the beginnings of the pangs of guilt for what he was involved in with the unsuspecting kid from the Midwest. He hadn’t wanted to like the kid.
"Bill?" Jay asked.
"Yes?"
"Bill. I can't do this alone. I'm not ready.”
"What are you…?"
Jay cut him off. "I can design it and build it and make it work, but we both know that ain't enough around here.” Bill nodded his head. He knew it was true. He wanted to hear the rest of what Jay had to say.
"Bill, you just have to be the guy in charge of this. I'll make it work. I promise. But you've got to provide the leadership for the programmers and engineers. You're the one who knows how to get things done around here. You're the one who can get this damn thing installed, deal with the unions, deal with the traders, deal with the other programmers who'll be angry they didn't think it up.
"Bill. Be, my, friend. Get on board. We can do it together. I won't let you down.”
Coming from someone else it might have sounded like shameless brownnosing, or abject fear at being put in charge of a multi-million dollar project after simply wondering out loud about how something worked. Bill knew that coming from Jay, however, it was a genuine plea for help from one person who respects another. Bill accepted the offer, the challenge. He really really hadn’t wanted to like the kid this much.
That night, at church, Bill had confessed to the priest that he'd committed a terrible sin. He couldn't tell what it was but he'd asked for a serious penance. The priest had not agreed.
"If you cannot confess the full nature of your sin, my son, then for that sin you are not truly sorry and cannot be forgiven," the priest had explained.
Now, four months later, Bill and Jay's creation was almost live on the trading floor. Trader wannabes and trainees had been running a mock system in parallel with the old system for two weeks. A few bugs had appeared and been dealt with. This afternoon, ML was going to run full speed with only the new system, no paper backup.
At first, the traders had resisted the changes. They didn't want to learn the latest hardware and software. But Bill Beck had trained them and held their hands and shown them that 25% more trades a day meant 25% more commissions. Their eyes had lit up at the prospect of more commissions. Also, the prospect of ‘beating’ their brethren at other firms appealed to the distinctly Type A personalities of the traders.
The whole group, with Jay and Bill at the front was now headed for the trading floor for the big system test. They were going to sweat out the afternoon session with the test system. The programmers knew that their careers were on the line.
The floor was as frantic as any other day. The MacKenzie Lazarus traders could be distinguished as always by their trademark bright green, baggy jackets. Today you could also spot them by the radio terminals strapped to their belts and the headgear supporting the microphones for the voice-activated parts of the "paperless trading system.” Jay had dubbed it the PT109 because it was supposed to be paperless and it had cost $1.09 million of the $1.2 million they had been budgeted to get the job done.
By the end of the day it was clear that the system had not broken down. MacKenzie Lazarus business had continued unabated, though no-one was certain what the overall impact was. The final trade figures would be required to find out how well it had gone. At first, trade execution time had actually been slower. But then, throughout the day it had picked up and near the height of the trading their real time monitoring had been showing a 20 to 25% faster trade execution time, and a corresponding 20% increase in total trades. They waited anxiously for the final bell.
A tall man in an Armani suit appeared with an entourage of three or four other "suits”. The handsome man made his way towards Bill, speaking first, as was his wont.
"Bill Beck. Good to see you again. Any word yet?"
"Nothing official. But our tracking through the day looks good. We’ll have the final numbers in a few minutes Mr. MacKenzie.”
At the sound of his name heads snapped around and ties were straightened. Everyone on the team knew the man's name but none of them had ever seen him in person. They'd only seen his name on their checks and seen his picture in the Wall St. Journal. Rumored to be worth $1.2 billion, he was the MacKenzie of MacKenzie Lazarus. The importance of the system they'd worked on was brought into powerful focus by his very presence.
The bell sounded to signal the end of the trading for the day. The traders, accustomed to spending up to an hour reconciling their paper trail for the day, instead worked their way over to where Bill and Jay Calloway were waiting with Mr. MacKenzie.
"Jay. Go through the tally sequence with them would you?" Bill asked. All eyes were on him. Jay quickly reviewed the tally process with the traders. It was a few simple voice commands to their terminals. In seconds printouts were spitting out of the high speed printers installed for the tally sheets.
"Yes. YES. Oh sweet JESUS YES,” a burly trader screamed. One then another trader started giving high fives and pumping fists as the paper traders from the other firms looked on dispiritedly.
One of the traders came over to Jay and wrapped him up in a bear hug, lifting him off the ground, achieving some amateur chiropractic adjustment on Jay's spine. Before he knew it Jay was surrounded by the traders like a home run hitter in a come-from-behind World Series victory.
Mr. MacKenzie smiled an approving look in Bill's direction and spoke quickly with him and then with several of the traders. Mr. MacKenzie moved towards Jay. As he did, the traders and programmers parted ahead of him like the waters of the Red Sea. Angus MacKenzie looked Jay directly in the eye, shook hands solemnly with him, and then was off. Bill and Jay Calloway basked in the glow of their success, lingering with the exultant traders and programmers. Later they walked back to their offices.
"Good show old man,” Bill said in an English accent. It was the first time Jay could remember hearing Bill goof around. He looked over and wrinkled an eyebrow.
"Meet me tomorrow for golf, and bring that young man,” Bill continued in the accent.
"Beggin' your pardon guv'nuh,” Jay started in a London guttural, then quickly switched to down and dirty Brooklynese, "But what de hell you talkin' 'bout?” Bill stopped and smiled at Jay, taking his shoulders in his hands and holding him firmly.
"Mr. MacKenzie has requested the pleasure of our company at his club tomorrow morning at ten for breakfast and then golf.
"Holy shit.”
"Holy shit indeed.”
"But I have a date for Saturday morning,” Jay protested.
"Not anymore you don't,” Bill answered. An hour later they had directions to the Laurel Hollow Country Club on the North Shore of Long Island. Because of the concentration of wealth there, many call it the 'Gold Coast' of Long Island.
Bill made discreet inquiries into the dress code at the club and some of the do's and don'ts when around the CEO of the 2nd largest investment firm on Wall St. Both men decided to stay overnight at the East Norwich Inn, near Laurel Hollow, so as not to
be late for their big date with the boss.
When Jay got home he called Tonia at her work number. She wasn't in so he left her a message on her voice mail. "I can't meet you until five tomorrow afternoon. Maybe we can run to the sunset this time? Mr. MacKenzie, THE Mr. MacKenzie, of MacKenzie Lazarus, asked me to play golf with him tomorrow at the Laurel Hollow Country Club. So I've got to go. I'm really sorry. Call me? Okay? I'll be staying over at the East Norwich Inn on Route 106 on Long Island. You could surprise me…"
Jay said a silent prayer that Tonia Taggert would get the message and not be left waiting for him in the out of the way place they were supposed to meet. In the most fantastic of his fantastical dreams he imagined she would find him at the hotel.
“Yeah she’s going to surprise him alright!” the one man said.
The short man in the room next to Jay Calloway's turned off the telephone taping system. "This oughta be great!" he chuckled. "He's worried about standing her up tomorrow. About noon that poor boy's gonna shit his pants!” The man and the woman in the room fought to keep from bursting out in laughter that might betray their surveillance.
Chapter
"Bill, Jay, good to see you,” Angus MacKenzie said, looking each man in the eye in turn. “Glad you could make it on such short notice,” Angus greeted the two men as they entered the exclusive dining room at the Laurel Hollow Country Club. His Oxford accent swept them into the cherry paneled chamber that was resplendent in the early morning sunlight.
"My wife sends along her apologies for not meeting us for breakfast, she's out running somewhere. Likes running at sunrise for some reason,” Angus explained. "However, she has promised to join us for the back nine.” Angus dominated the conversation between the men. Jay and Bill said little as they ate. Bill Beck sensed his own star rising along with that of his recently hired scientist.
The breakfast was simple and elegant, befitting the earned riches of the members who cared more for quality and substance than pretentious glamour. It was a special point of pride that the club members had earned their money. Inherited or stolen or drug monies were not welcome here. There were other clubs on Long Island for “old money” and “drug money”.
After breakfast the three men headed for the golf course. Jay Calloway spoke up for the first time as the group passed the golf course's practice area. "Hey. Aren't we going to warm up before we play? You know, putt, chip, hit a couple of shots with every other club? It'll only take a few minutes.” Bill looked over at him, unsure what to say or do. Angus MacKenzie studied him.
"Fine idea, Jay. I could use the practice,” Angus said.
"I just like to get loosened up before I play you know,” Jay explained apologetically. I want to get ready for the game. I enjoy it more that way. I tend to suck less when I warm up,” Jay added. The threesome made a game out of the putting and chipping practice. Jay and Bill ended up owing Angus MacKenzie money from the game. “I’ll just take it out of your paychecks,” Angus joked.
"Nice shot sir,” Jay praised as he watched the CEO's shot bore down the fairway. The big man could hit big. Bill pulled his drive into the left rough and Jay sliced his into the right rough. The three men and their caddies started down the fairway on foot.
"Walking is the only way to play golf,” Angus MacKenzie pontificated.
“Amen brother,” Jay agreed.
Angus looked over at the slightly irreverent programmer and chuckled quietly to himself.
The mildly out of shape Bill wasn't so sure, he was already huffing after only half a hole. He silently hoped there weren't any big hills on the course. As they walked up the fairway Jay and Angus exchanged opinions on the course, the weather, the next shot. Both Jay and Angus hit their second shots up onto the fringe of the green. Bill knocked his ball into the sand behind the green. The three men approached the green together. Angus and Bill were chatting. Jay was concentrating on the lay of the putting green, which way the grass was growing, which direction the water would drain. Playing a new course for the first time he figured he'd need every bit of help he could get.
"Caddie!" Angus MacKenzie called. He pulled a five iron and chipped the ball up near the hole. Jay consulted with his caddie.
"I see it going left to right and diving down at the end. What do you think?” Jay asked.
"Well sir. Left to right but straightening out at the end,” the caddie answered.
They looked again at the shot, the caddie pointing over Jay's shoulder as he crouched, lining up the shot. Jay used a 7 iron and chipped it along their mutually chosen line, leaving it inches from the cup. Bill and Angus were both impressed.
"Thanks,” Jay said to his caddie, "and lose the ‘sir’ alright? We’re in this together, and you’re my only hope of getting out of this alive."
“Gotcha,” the veteran caddie answered.
“Anybody ever beat him?” Jay asked.
“Nobody whose paycheck he signs,” the caddie joked.
And so it went for the first 9 holes. Bill hit his shots kind of all over the place. Angus MacKenzie hit long and straight but was neither patient enough nor skilled enough near the hole. And, Angus refused to seek out the counsel of the caddie. Jay was in trouble off the tees but used his perception and his caddie's local knowledge to stay only 1 shot back of Angus MacKenzie, 14 up on Bill.
"Son you're pushing me,” Angus MacKenzie scowled at Jay as they finished the 9th hole. Jay didn't know whether he was being scolded, teased or praised. So he decided to treat Mr. Angus MacKenzie as ‘one of the guys’.
"Hey I enjoy playing a hell-of-a-lot more when I shoot 40 a side instead of 50 a side. And I play better when someone's pushing me and playing good too. I'll bet you do too,” Jay said.
Angus MacKenzie looked at the precocious little programmer for the second time that morning. His face broke into a wide grin and Bill sweated out a sigh of relief.
"I do son,” Angus MacKenzie laughed. "Quite right.” Angus put his big beefy arm around Jay's slight shoulders and pulled him toward the arts and crafts style halfway house between the 9th green and the 10th tee. They sat down in deeply cushioned Adirondack chairs for finger food and sodas.
"Tony ought to be joining us in 5 or ten minutes,” Angus said. They let the group behind them make the turn and play through while they waited for Mrs. MacKenzie. Jay added up his score and those of his partners. He didn't see Angus MacKenzie's wife approach with her caddie.
"Ready?" she chirped, the sun glancing off her long blonde hair, the morning's warmth flushing her cheeks. Jay looked up. His knees went weak, his mouth went dry. He had to will himself to keep his mouth from flopping open. His head swam and he felt faint, suddenly he couldn't add to finish the tallying.
Tonia “Tony” Taggert stood on tip toe and planted a soft smack on Angus MacKenzie's cheek.
"Are you playing well honey?" she asked.
Jay was beyond disbelief. This couldn't be happening. Tonia looked at Bill and Jay. Her face held no hint of recognition. "Who are your friends honey?" she asked.
Introductions were made all round and when Tonia took Jay's hand to shake it, his hand was cold, sweaty and trembling. Jay couldn't speak. Luckily Angus MacKenzie and Bill were busy checking their own scores for the front 9 or they would have seen Jay gasping. He felt like his whole life was caving in around him.
Tonia. The new found love of his life. The woman who'd taught him to feel and hope and love was standing before him, the wife of the CEO of his company.
The next nine holes passed in a blur for Jay. He had to focus every thought on golf to keep from divulging his crushed love. Nervous as he was, hurt as he was, Jay played understandably horrible. Every time he saw Tonia speak to Angus or touch his hand Jay felt daggers pushed ever deeper into his heart. Tonia avoided being alone with Jay. Finally, mercifully, the round came to an end with Angus ahead of Jay by nine shots and Bill, well Bill had stopped keeping score. Angus MacKenzie tipped each of their caddies $100. Jay added $50 to his caddie's tip.
&n
bsp; “Thanks,” Jay said to the caddie.
“My pleasure. And his,” he said, tipping his chin at Angus. “Good job.”
Jay turned back to Angus and Bill and Tonia.
"How about a drink?" Angus offered.
"Sure.”
"Why not?"
After a drink in the clubhouse and another in the dining room, Angus MacKenzie rose to excuse himself to deal with some urgent business. When he returned, he looked distracted.
"Why don't you stay on and have an early dinner on me? I've really got to run. I'm sorry dear, sorry gentlemen,” Angus apologized. "Would you be so kind as to entertain my guests?” Angus asked Tonia as he left.
"Glad to honey,” she answered. She pecked him on the cheek. After another round of drinks, Bill spoke up. "That's enough for me.” That's more fresh air and exercise in one day than I've had in the last six months.” The country club staff discreetly sent Bill back to his motel in a cab.
Tonia and Jay were alone. They were sitting at Angus’ table, eating on his tab. Jay was almost overcome by the absurdity of it all. He'd never felt so out of place or used or hurt in his entire life. He wished he could call Rick and ask for advice.
"I got your message,” Tonia said. "About playing golf with THE Mr. MacKenzie.” She smiled a devilishly wicked smile at him and tossed him a conspiratorial wink.
Jay started. "I didn't know about..."
Tonia cut him off.
"I know. But I thought it was time you found out.”
"It explains a lot.”
"Yes it does.”
"Do you love him?"
"I used to. He picked me up from nothing. Taught me about the world. About never settling for second best.” She was only partly lying. Angus MacKenzie had indeed elevated her, given her opportunities she'd never have had otherwise. But it hadn't been for love.
