Trader Jack -The Story of Jack Miner (The Story of Jack Miner Series)

by Neil Behrmann

  'Both sons out of the firm! Must be a big letdown for Leash.'

  'Death is awful, but it makes you reassess your life.'

  'Is that why you are leaving the firm?'

  'Yes. There's more to life than money.'

  'That's if you have enough of it. Your father is obviously upset that you're leaving.'

  'If he is, he hasn't told me. We've never really got on,' said Cy, sadly. 'He likes you Jack.'

  'He keeps giving me lots of advice.'

  'Leash likes controlling people. Not just being a boss. Changing them; moulding them.'

  'You argue a lot with him, don't you?'

  'Yes. My father's a strange mix. He has some good points but there are lots of things I dislike. He made Max's life a misery. Max is shy and sensitive and Leash can't accept his way of life.'

  'He found out at he's gay?'

  'He must have always known. Just didn't let on.'

  'And you?'

  'You've heard all the rows Jack. I stand up to Leash, or I think I do. But he likes belittling me. He seems to enjoy that.'

  'You've worked for him for a long time. How many years? Ten?'

  Cy didn't reply. We walked silently for a few hundred yards. Compared with Bridlington and Filey, the beach was wide, with steep embankments at the end and few houses in sight.

  After a while, Cy told me his story for the first time. He and Max were sons of Leash's first wife, Adele. They lived in New York when Leash was a stockbroker. He travelled a lot and had lots of affairs. Cy and Max first realised this when they were small and heard their mother and father having a row. When Cy was eight and Max six, Adele decided to get divorced. The divorce became very bitter because of arguments about money. Leash tried to force Adele to accept a less favourable settlement. She refused. In an attempt to avoid lawyers, he came home one evening and made an offer. When Adele still didn't give in, he lost his temper. Frightened that he was going to hit her, the boys ran in and stood between him and their mother.

  He tried to turn them against Adele, but he failed. From that time, Leash's attitude to Cy and Max changed. Adele never got remarried and she and the boys continued to live in Manhattan, where they went to school. After about three years, Leash moved to Florida, got married again and had two girls. When Leash came to New York on business, he would see the boys. Once the boys went to Leash's home in Florida, but Leash's second wife didn't get on with them. That didn't matter, as Leash soon divorced her and a few years later married a model about twenty years younger than him. As the boys got older, they saw less and less of their father, but he was making a lot of money. He paid for their college education and they were never short.

  By now, Leash had started a fund management business and had moved back to New York. He first offered Cy a job and later, Max. He was depressed and lonely at the time, as the model had left him for a younger man. Leash told the boys that he wanted to get closer to them. He had given the boys everything materially, but his psychoanalyst had told him that there wasn't an emotional bond.

  'I want to get close to you,' Leash would say continuously, but he would blame Cy and Max, rather than himself for the distance between them. He made the brothers feel guilty, so instead of looking for other jobs, they joined him. They could easily have found good jobs, as both of them went to Yale.

  We had walked for a fairly long time by now and were feeling fairly hot. So we ran into the water and had a quick dip. The dog tried to follow but retreated when the waves hit her.

  We turned back towards the house again. Cy, stroking his wet hair, looked at me directly: 'Leash sees a lot of himself in you, Jack.'

  'I can understand why you and Max are bitter, but he's been pretty good to me.'

  'He's domineering Jack. Be careful! If you're constantly with someone like that, you can become like him. You and I have gotten to know each other. You've seen me get nasty sometimes, but I always regretted it afterwards. I reckon that my bad side comes from Leash. Like it or not he's influenced me.'

  By now the sun was beating down, swiftly drying the water off our shoulders and backs. There had been a drought that summer. My mind wandered and I absently thought it could be a good time to buy wheat and corn. Cy, a little impatient with me, broke the silence again.

  'Leash takes to you because you also come from a poor family and you're self-made, Jack.'

  'Guess you're right. He's taught me a lot.'

  'That money gives you the power to control people, right Jack!'

  I nodded my head and told him how Leash had told me to handle Uncle Martin. Cy's laugh was bitter.

  'My father could write a thesis on Schadenfreude.'

  'Schadenfreude?'

  'Getting a kick out of someone else's misfortune.'

  'Did you experience that?'

  'When I first started working for Leash, he told me that I should be hard,' said Cy. 'A friend of mine lost a lot of money and needed a loan. I got him to pour out his heart to me. Gave him the impression that I was going to help, but did nothing. At first I felt the power, but afterwards I didn't feel good.'

  He bent down and stroked the now soaking Polly.

  'I guess I felt the same when my uncle left,' I said.

  'Good! There's hope for you. The problem with my father is that he doesn't have a conscience. If he does something bad to someone, he forgets about it. He puts it behind him. When he sees them again, he carries on as if nothing has ever happened.'

  'But isn't that because of his quick temper?'

  'No, much more than that. I can't recall the last time he hugged me, put his arm on my shoulder, made me feel warm. He didn't even do that at Adele's funeral. He lacks emotion; lacks warmth.'

  I didn't show it, but I was beginning to get annoyed with Cy. He was wealthy because of his Dad. He had nothing to worry about. Whether Cy liked it or not, money had given him the power to control his life. That's why he could leave the business and do what he liked; the same with Max. I thought that I would stick up for Leash.

  'Come on Cy, your father isn't all bad. You shouldn't knock him. He's done a lot for you guys.'

  'You're quite right, Jack. Leash has some good in him. He gives to charities. Yes, he makes sure that everyone knows about it, but he still gives. He keeps in contact with old people; went to my mother's funeral, even though he couldn't stand her. I'm just trying to help you, Jack. You're a nice guy and I'm worried that Leash will influence you. Try and make you become like him. Money mad.'

  'Money mad? Not with Sandy around!'

  'Good. She's a lovely girl; watched her do yoga on the beach. Stick to her! She seems to love you and she'll help you keep things in perspective. Money dominates Leash's life. It is everything to him. He's got so much that it has become meaningless. He has become a big art collector. Not out of love of art, but because he wants to show off his wealth. Meet important people. There are genuine art collectors out there who can't stand hedge fund managers.'

  'He's entitled to spend his money and enjoy art. What's wrong with that?'

  Cy looked at me and shook his head. He was realising that I was getting tired of hearing all this personal stuff; the outpouring of emotion. On the other hand, his mother had just died and I could understand that he needed someone to talk to.

  'Sorry Jack, I can tell what you're thinking. All I'm saying is don't end up like my father. Yes, I've got "stuff you money". I don't have to grovel to employers or anyone else. Enough to keep my family going without working again, I can do what I like. I can travel, teach, become a writer, run a charity.'

  'Yes, but give Leash his due. It's because of him.'

  'I appreciate that. But Leash and others like him can't stop. For them, money's an obsession. They think that they're in control, but their money controls them. They have multi millions but if the market falls by 10 per cent, they fret. They fall out over business deals. Fight over divorces, over wills, over money that doesn't make the slightest difference to their lives.'

  'That's exactly what
Sandy says.'

  'You're lucky to have her, Jack. My Dad was rich, seriously rich, when he divorced my mother. It would have made no difference to him if he had settled for another million or two. But she was taking his money. That's how he saw it. He lost all sense of proportion. Didn't realise or care that the fight was damaging his little boys. That Adele had been good to him for years, gave him children, looked after him when he was sick, supported him when he was down. The threat of losing money totally coloured his judgement. He even fell out with his brother and sister. He was totally obsessed with money then and he's totally obsessed by money now. Don't become like him, Jack. Don't!'

  He patted me on my back and we walked back to our towels, had another swim and joined the girls. Later we all cycled to Edgartown, wandered through the quaint streets and had crab and lobster at a tasty seafood restaurant. That afternoon, a children's author was reading his book in the garden of Edgartown's bookstore. Lucy sat on Sandy's lap and Nikki and I licked our ice cream cones. Elaine and Cy held hands and looked on with pleasure. A lovely family. The big question: Should I marry Sandy? Were we too young?

  Much later when she was snuggling against me on the flight back home, Sandy broached the subject. 'It's great to have a family, Jack.'

  'Yes, they are close aren't they.'

  'Cy and Elaine have got the right idea. Escape from the rats and do your own thing.'

  'I'm not ready to drop out, Pear . . . It's not just money. I like what I'm doing.'

  'You were about to call me Pearl! You still think of her, don't you?' snapped Sandy, sitting upright in her seat. 'You miss the celebrity circuit, don't you, Jack? The buzz, the fame.'

  'No I don't Sandy, promise.'

  'I've heard you call her in your sleep. I'm asking you again. Come to Perth and meet my family. My Dad and Mum would love to see you. Same with my brother and sister. We'll ask my cousin, Mike Swann, to come around. You love cricket. Australia is playing England in Perth in December. Mike could get you a ticket.'

  'Next year, Sandy. It's inconvenient now. Aquarium is beginning to take off.'

  Sandy was right. As much as I was fond of her and loved her company, I couldn't get Pearl out of my mind.

  * * *

  Back in London, I did something underhand, I broke Cy's confidence. Curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to hear Leash's side of the story. He seemed to know exactly how Cy and Max felt. There must have been some awful rows with all the resentment coming out.

  'My ex-wife was by no means an angel,' Leash responded. 'Adele turned the boys against me even though I made sure that they were never short. Yes, I'm not the "love you", touchy, feely type. But that doesn't mean that I don't care for Cy and Max. I gave them an expensive, outstanding education and brought them into my business. They've never had to worry about money.'

  I listened silently, not knowing what to think. There were, as usual, two sides of the story.

  'When we separated, Adele - God rest her soul - proved to be a greedy bitch,' continued Leash. 'Be careful of women, Jack. They'll clean you out. I should know. I've been through divorce three times. What's the worst investment in the world, Jack?'

  'Divorce?'

  Leash laughed: 'You're learning. Don't let that girl push you into marriage! You'll regret it.'

  * * *

  A few days later, not long after my nineteenth birthday, I had some awful luck. Sandy decided to go on a Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare Tour and see a production of Anthony and Cleopatra. After all the travelling, I preferred to relax and stay in London.

  Whether it was telepathy or not, I don't know, but that Saturday at about 11pm, Pearl buzzed the intercom: 'Jack, I have to see you. Please! If I don't see a friend now, I might do something to myself.'

  'Take it easy Pearl. Stop the histrionics. You're not the type.'

  'Please Jack, let me in, I'm feeling terrible. I need you.'

  When I opened the door, she looked an absolute wreck. She had lost weight, looked pale and her nose looked odd. Evidently her promise to stop taking cocaine was just that.

  'Pearl what the . . .?'

  'Jack, do you think I'm manic?'

  'Bipolar? I'm not a therapist, Pearl. I've noticed you get depressed sometimes. But that happens to most people.'

  'Yevgeny says I'm a manic depressive,' she cried. 'He's left me.'

  'He's married, Pearl. You can now move on. You should be glad, not depressed.'

  'He was going to leave Katya. We were going to get married.'

  'Don't most married guys say that?'

  'Hold me Jack . . . please,' she murmured as she threw her arms around me. 'I should never have left you.'

  'But you did, Pearl. Was it for Faramazov?'

  'No Jack, I tried to leave Yevgeny for you. Believe me Jack. You grew on me. I loved you.'

  'Are you saying that you were Yevgeny's lover before you met me?'

  'Yes! I've been with him for more than five years. Before and after he was married.'

  'And me on the side in between. Did he know?'

  'Yes, he accepted it.'

  'Why don't you have something to eat,' I sighed.

  Pearl struggled to swallow some carrot soup that Sandy had made and picked at some bread and cheese. 'Are you still with that pretty Australian?'

  'Yes. She's in Stratford-upon-Avon. Loves the theatre.'

  'Can I sleep here tonight?'

  'Better not, Pearl. What would I say to Sandy?'

  'Please Jack, she'll never know. I feel desperate. I don't want to be by myself.'

  I was really worried that she might do something stupid. So I let her stay. She had a shower, climbed into our bed and was soon asleep. I watched TV and then went to the bathroom. I heard the door open. Fearing an intruder, I crept towards the phone in the bedroom to set off the response alarm. The bedroom light went on, just as I was leaning over the bed.

  It was Sandy, her expression, a mixture of shock, grief and anger.

  'Sandy what are you doing here?'

  'That's a question I should be asking,' she shouted,throwing her bag at me and then pummelling me on my chest. 'How come you're back so early?'

  'I missed you. Wanted to be here, you bastard. The play finished early and I felt lonely, so I came home.'

  'Hey what's going on?' shouted Pearl, who had just woken up. 'It's not what you think.'

  That was the worst thing Pearl could have said. Sandy was out of the door. I went searching for her, but it was a waste of time. She probably found a taxi and went to some hotel. The next morning I made sure that Pearl was soon out of the flat, changed the sheets, cleaned up the place and went to the various hotels in the area to find Sandy. Nothing. When I returned later I found a note on the bed with a box full of the jewellery and gifts that I had given her.

  Dear Jack,

  We've both known for some time that it's not working. Good luck with Pearl. I've decided to go back home to finish Uni.

  Take care

  Love

  Sandy

  That's all it said. I opened the cupboards and drawers. Her clothes were gone. Dazed, I phoned the airport about flights to Perth, but couldn't trace her. Maybe it would be a good idea to get in a taxi and rush to the airport. We would kiss and make up. I went to the fridge, opened a bottle of beer and thought about it. I would do nothing. That would put Sandy off guard. Make her regret that she had left me. She would probably phone me. I waited for her call for a couple of hours and phoned the airport. Then at last I tried her mobile but there was no response. So I went to a movie on my own and a pub later. She would be home when I returned. That's how deluded I was.

  * * *

  Dr Klugheim is pacing up and down his room when I come in. I haven't seen him for months. He's lean, with a flat tummy and a thinner face. Also has a very short haircut. Makes him look younger. He's pensive, as he pages through my manuscript: 'Leash Grobnick. What do you really think about him?

  'He was a sociopath.'

  'Beware of labelling
people, Jack.'

  'I'm not saying that he's a psychopath who injures or kills people, without any conscience . I've come across plenty of those guys in this place. He didn't beat people up. Far too cunning for that. He sought and found weaknesses in people and played on them.'

  'That doesn't necessarily mean he's a sociopath,' says Klugheim, half smiling. Personalities are far more complex than that.'

  'From what I understand, sociopaths are superficially charming, until you annoy or anger them, or are of no use to them.' I respond, getting carried away. 'They enjoy the power to control and humiliate people. Some are exponents of "Schadenfreude". They gloat when people are in trouble. Take pleasure in people's misery.'

  'Aren't you really talking about a bully, Jack? Wasn't Leash a corporate bully? Many bosses are like that.'

  'He didn't have any empathy; didn't care about anyone or have genuine feelings. He was cold and contemptuous. The more money he made, the worse he became.'

  'From what you wrote Leash wasn't all bad. He genuinely wanted to help his children.'

  'OK, nobody is all bad,' I say, standing up and looking outside the window.' Do you see any parallels with me?'

  'I'm not sure, Jack. Is this something you would like to talk about?'

  'Let me tell you what happened. . .'

  20 - PERFORATED PRIDE

  It was a virtual car show. Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porches, Aston Martins, Daimlers and convertible Mercedes, drove into the circular entrance of London's Dorchester hotel. Hotel drivers took the keys and went off to park the cars.

  The hedge fund crowd flowed into the foyer and shuffled down the passage to a huge, ornate room where cocktails were served. Later they moved into the ballroom and took their places around the tables. The stock and commodities boom was in full swing. This was the Hedge Fund Autumn Awards evening.

  Each firm paid £100,000 for a round table and the money would go to charity. The biggest hedge fund managers had several tables and the smaller ones, such as ours, one. I had booked a room at the hotel, so that I could have as many drinks as I wanted. Jane Lazenby-Faulks, a daughter of one of our clients, was with me. She was a lingerie model and wore a tight black cocktail dress that showed off her curves. She towered over me and everyone stared at her. The organisers of the event had found a brilliant band and I looked forward to dancing with Jane until the early hours. It was our second date and she had already indicated that she would spend the night with me.