Page 82 of Analysing Her Assets

A Breath Like A Stale Rag

(36 days to end of year finish line, 10 days to new position)

40. Tamar

The big unveiling of the special brokerage-research department collaboration turned out to be a minor affair. To Tamar’s dismay, Shay, the head of brokerage, wasn’t present for the presentation they had worked so hard on, just Danny and Nir.

“So, Tamar, you’re leading the competition again this month. I was right to bet on you,” Danny announced first thing and smirked.

“Yes,” Tamar recollected herself. Up to now, she hoped he was joking about his betting. “Good for you.”

“Yeah,” Danny growled. “I have fifty on you.”

“Fifty shekels?” Yelena asked.

“We don’t mess with small sums, fifty K,” Danny said.

Yelena gasped. Tamar hoped her face was slightly amused. She didn’t want to anger Danny, that louse. Shay wasn’t here, which meant that if Danny didn’t push their project forward in the brokerage, then all their hard work was for nothing, and her chances at the job drastically reduced.

“Why, thank you, Danny, for believing in me.”

She was bad at this. She really should stop talking. Danny smiled wolfishly at her.

“Relax, we’re pulling your legs. No one is placing bets. We’re straight shooters here.”

Straight shooters her ass. But if she wanted this meeting to succeed, she had to put aside her suspicions. When she was the chief analyst she could work at making Peaks a ‘straightshooter’ place.

“Yalla,” Danny said. “Let’s have the big reveal. I’ve only seen bits and pieces so far.”

“Okay,” Tamar started. “We designed it to merge the research department valuations with the brokerage’s trading systems. You guys gave us a list of your clients’ risk preferences, size, past trades, etc. We prepared for you different options for different clients. Say, for the conservative bunch, you can point out the top five shares, Strong Buy, with the lowest volatility. Then, for the more daring clients, or those who pointed out they wanted fast growth companies, we have different names.”

The demonstration went on. Danny asked intelligent questions and Nir contributed dumb remarks. After twenty minutes and live experimenting, it was clear both of them were very pleased with the system.

“Good work, Yelena!” Danny said, and squeezed her shoulder, smiling down at her. Yelena smiled back and gave an excited thumbs-up to Tamar.

“Tamar is the brains,” Yelena said expansively. It was Tamar who formed the key features, but it was Yelena who did all the tech work. Danny beamed at Tamar.

“Yelena was indispensable,” Tamar said and hugged her shoulders. “It was teamwork.”

Everyone filed out of the meeting room to an eerily silent trading floor.

“It’s Thanksgiving, Wall Street is closed,” Danny explained.

“I need to go,” Yelena said. “I told you Danny, it’s my mother’s birthday.”

Tamar and Nir said together, “Me too.”

“Wait Tamar, just a few more questions,” Danny said. It was already seven pm, and she was due to meet Gideon at her home at nine.

“Yes, but make it quick? I have to walk my dog soon.”

“Oh, do you live nearby?” She nodded, her head already computing walk time and taking Giddy for a quick stroll.

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