Julia O’Connell was sitting at her desk, sure now that meeting with Betty had been a bad mistake, especially in lieu of what was going to happen first thing in the morning.
Her phone rang, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. It was Reid’s cell. “Yes.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Reid shouted. “Meeting with Betty Ladd?”
She said nothing.
“What did you two talk about? Now of all times; for Christ’s sake, Julia.”
“It was her idea. She wanted to meet outside of our offices. Said it was important.”
“What was important?”
“You had me followed. Why?”
“It was Butch’s call,” Reid said. “And how the hell does a computer jock know the president of the exchange?”
“I met her years ago at a technology conference here in New York,” Julia lied. “She was there to mentor newcomers, and she picked me along with a few others.”
“And you’ve been pals ever since?”
“She’s checked on me from time to time. But mostly it was years ago, ever since your … the incident between the two of you.”
Reid was silent for a beat or two. “You know what’s at stake.”
“Of course I do. I can’t get it out of my mind.”
“What did she want?”
“She knew that you and I met for breakfast with Clyde and Spence, and she wanted to know what that was all about.”
“And?”
“I told her that it was really none of her business. And then she wanted to know why all of us were on the floor, and I told her we were supporting our new IPO, and you wanted to have a chat with Seymour.”
“And?” Reid demanded, relentless.
Julia felt as if she were being pounded into the ground, and her voice rose. “She wanted to know if it was true that we were going all cash. I told her that I didn’t know, and even if I did, it wouldn’t be any of her business.”
“Ladd is like a fucking cobra, and she hates me, you know it,” Reid said, his voice notching up a pitch again. “Why didn’t you tell me or Clyde the instant she called you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Listen to me, you stupid fool. We’re on the brink of the greatest financial coup in history. For the next twenty-four hours I don’t want you going to the women’s room without letting me or Clyde know.”
Julia was mad. “I don’t have to take this.”
“You want out, then get out. But keep your fucking mouth shut, or I’ll have one of Butch’s pals pay you a visit. And believe me, you won’t like it.”
Julia was about to shout back, but Reid had hung up.
She slowly put her phone down and sat back, not an idea in the world what she could or should do next.