Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Jack nodded without comment. He hoped he’d be able to convince Will to stick with what he’d selected, since they’d already placed the order at the home-improvement warehouse. He followed the younger man into the living room and sat across from him at a card table where Will had placed the blueprints and design notes.
He noted the two cups of coffee and the bagels set on a plate and smiled. Will really was a very nice guy. All too often, especially in neighborhoods like this one, Jack was treated like the hired help he was, sometimes instructed to use only the back entrance, and to speak only with the maid if he needed something. Not that he particularly minded—he came to do a job and he didn’t care what door he used to get there.
Will began to talk about the cabinets, pointing and gesturing at the various styles in the catalogue. Slowly and calmly Jack talked him down, relieved when Will finally agreed what they’d ordered was the best fit for the kitchen.
Will passed the plate of bagels toward Jack. “They were still warm when I bought them. I hope you like bagels. I could toast one if you want.”
“No, this is fine. Thanks very much. It’s very nice of you to keep feeding me like this.” Jack reached for a bagel and spread some cream cheese on it. He was mildly amused to see Will watching him anxiously, as if he’d baked the bread himself and was waiting for Jack’s approval.
Jack ate the bagel quickly and slurped some of the coffee, though by now he’d already had three cups before this one. “I’ve got some stuff out in the truck. I’ll just get to work.”
“Wait.”
Jack looked at him expectantly, trying to hide his minor irritation, as he was eager to get on with it. Will stared at him, his face working, and Jack had the impression he was trying to come up with something to say. “We were going to talk about the handles. The handles and knobs for the cabinet doors and the drawers.”
Jack stood. “Plenty of time for that. The cabinets won’t even be delivered for a week. I’ll pick up some samples and we’ll be able to make a more informed decision then. Okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah, sure. I’ll be in my den working, if you need me.”
Because he had been curious, Jack took the opportunity from this segue. “What is it you do, anyway, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“I’m a trader. A day trader. At least that’s what I’m doing now. I work for an investment bank in the city. Right now I’m on leave. A sabbatical you might say. I was burning out—the pace can be very intense and the stakes are so high—it can about kill you. It did kill my boss.”
“No kidding.”
“Yeah. He dropped dead of a massive coronary right in the middle of screaming at a subordinate for making a serious error on a trade. It could just as easily have been me who had cost the firm several million dollars. I think that’s what really made it hit home. I realized I was badly in need of some downtime. I decided to take a break and figure out what the hell I want out of the rest of my life.”
“A worthy goal,” Jack said, nodding. “What does a day trader do exactly?”
“Well, simply put, a day trader is a stock trader who holds positions for a very short time, never keeping positions overnight. They utilize high amounts of leverage and short-term trading strategies to capitalize on small price movements in highly liquid stocks or currencies. There are several different strategies you can use including swing trading and arbitrage. It’s a risky business if you don’t know what you’re doing.” He laughed. “Even if you do. But I love it.”
Though Jack had almost no idea what Will was talking about, he couldn’t help but smile at Will’s obvious enthusiasm. His whole face became animated when he spoke about his passion. He reminded Jack of someone, though for the life of him he couldn’t think who at just that moment.
“I could show you a few trades on my computer if you want.”
Will must be lonely, no matter what he said about needing “downtime”. Still, it wasn’t his job to provide company—he had been hired to work.
“No, no. That’s okay. I’m really behind today. I have another job I have to stop by later this afternoon. I was hoping to get the rest of the wall pulled down and the debris out to the dumpster before I go.”
Will nodded, the smile on his face falsely bright. “Of course. You get to work. Let me know if you need anything.”
~*~
“Would you look at that.” Jack, perched on a ladder in the middle of the decimated kitchen, had just removed several of the old drop-ceiling tiles to see what lay beneath.