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Cynthia quietly.
    Sammy glanced at her. Cynthia was a third-year analyst, up for promotion to associate at her next review. Originally from London, she had an MBA from Northwestern and had been in the States for six years. The rumor in the bullpen was that Cynthia had been lucky to survive her last review a few months back and needed a great review this time around, or it would be her last.
    “Who’s this ‘shark’ he kept talking about?” asked Rob.
    “That’s what Phil likes to call himself,” said Sammy.
    Rob looked at him in disbelief.
    Sammy nodded. Deadpan.
    “He’s going to fucking murder us,” murmured Cynthia again.
    Rob was inclined to agree with her.
    “Don’t worry about Phil,” said Sammy. “All he cares about is the work gets done. Do that and you’ll hardly have to talk to him. That’s my job.”
    “This is a big deal, right?” said Rob.
    “Sounds like it. That doesn’t matter. What we have to do is the same whether it’s eleven billion or eleven million. Just treat it like a regular deal.”
    “What was that stuff Phil was talking about when he said there’s more?”
    Sammy shrugged. “That’s just Phil blowing off.”
    “You think there’s stuff we don’t know about this deal?”
    “There’s always stuff you don’t know about a deal. Listen, Rob, this is your first project, right? This should be a big learning experience for you. It’s part of my job to help you get that. As a team, our job is to do a great job for the client, but personally, your goal is to get a good review. Get a bad review, and no one will want you on their team. Your life at Dyson Whitney will be nasty, brutish, and short.”
    “Very short,” said Cynthia.
    “All anyone wants to see from a first-year analyst is that you can do the work you’re given. That’s it. That’s how you get your utilization. Focus on that and leave the rest to me. All I ask is that you let me know early if you’re getting into trouble so I can help you out and keep everything on schedule. Don’t be a hero. If you’re not sure, ask. Okay? Ask.”
    Rob nodded.
    “It’s going to be intense. For however long this takes, you’re going to be working your butt off. That’s the deal, but you know that already, right?”
    “Sure.” Rob smiled. “That’s what I’m here for.”
    Sammy hoisted himself onto a desk. “Tell me a little about yourself.”
    Rob frowned, wondering where to start. “I just got my MBA.”
    “Where from?”
    “Cornell.”
    “Before that?”
    “I was at a law firm. Roller, Waite and Livingstone.”
    Sammy nodded. “You didn’t like working there?”
    Rob smiled. “I didn’t like sitting across the table from you guys. I worked on a couple of deals. Smaller deals, not like this one. I thought, I want to be on the other side of the table.”
    “Why?”
    “Looked like you were having all the fun.”
    Cynthia snorted.
    Sammy ignored her. “What else? You married?”
    “Not exactly.”
    “Girlfriend?” He paused for an instant. “Boyfriend?”
    “Girlfriend,” said Rob. “She’s an editor at a publishing house. Lascelle Press. It’s kind of a small imprint. You probably haven’t heard of it.”
    “I lived on a Lascelles Avenue once,” said Cynthia.
    “What do they publish?” asked Sammy.
    “Fiction, mostly. The Great American Novel.” Rob grinned. “You got one in your drawer? They’re always looking for it.”
    “She got a name?” asked Sammy. “Your girlfriend?”
    “Emmy,” said Rob.
    “Is she ready for this?”
    “What?”
    “For what you’re about to go through.”
    “Why not?”
    “Why not?” said Cynthia. She smiled knowingly. “I just hope Emmy’s got a picture to remember you by.”
    *   *   *
    “The meeting with Leopard’s on Monday,” said Sammy to Rob when they were together again in the war room at seven o’clock the next morning. “That gives you three days to come up with a valuation. Here’s how you do it. Day one, you select companies