decisions.”
“Sometimes distancing yourself is a good way to see things more clearly.”
Jeremy was surprised how well Bud understood him. If only his father had tried a little harder. “Well, it’s helped me,” Jeremy said. “And, of course, with my parents gone— obviously, there’s been a big shift in my priorities.”
“Tell me how I can help you, Jeremy.”
“I’d like to work here— at PCM,” Jeremy said. “I was majoring in accounting at NYU.”
“I recall your mama telling me you were an A student.” Bud picked up a thick pen and rolled it between his fingers. His shirt cuffs were monogrammed and held closed with gold cufflinks. “I think she was hoping you’d join the firm one day.”
“I’d very much like that opportunity now. I feel that if I’m going to be Elise’s guardian, I need to start behaving more responsibly.”
Bud had the intelligent, understanding demeanor of a clergyman. The desk phone bringed softly. “Hold my calls, please, Gladys,” he said into the speaker box. He looked at Jeremy, waiting for him to continue.
“I was hoping you’d consider hiring me as an intern or an assistant auditor. Until I graduate, of course, and can sit for the CPA exam.
Bud put the pen down and brought his fingers to a steeple in front of his face. He had big, strong hands covered with freckles and golden hairs. “And how do you plan on graduating?” Bud said finally.
“I thought I’d take a couple of evening courses at Miami Intercontinental,” Jeremy said. “That is, unless you think it might interfere with my work here.” His mother had once told him if you want something, give the impression you already have it.
“Of course you know we want to do everything to help out you and Elise.” Bud let his chair snap forward, signaling that the meeting was over.
“I’d really appreciate it,” Jeremy hesitated a split second, “Bud. My mother often spoke about how much she admired you.”
Bud’s mouth twitched, as though he was containing a smile. “Did she, now?”
“She once said a gifted salesman could sell ice to Eskimos, but only Bud McNally could turn a company that sells ice to Eskimos into one of the hottest stocks on Wall Street.”
Bud let out a full-bodied laugh. “Your mama really said that?”
“She did.” Jeremy picked up the pawn he had been holding earlier.
“You play?” Bud said, still smiling.
“Excuse me?”
“Chess.”
“Oh, yeah. My dad taught me.”
“Take a move.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Go ahead. I always have a game in progress, but I’m usually playing both sides. It’s nice to deal with a fresh move from time to time.” Bud nodded toward the board. “Go ahead.”
About half the pieces had already been taken. A black rook was exposed to Jeremy’s bishop, but if he took it, he’d lose his bishop to Bud’s queen. But that would give him a shot at the black king. Jeremy took the rook.
“Interesting,” Bud said. He took Jeremy’s bishop, as though he’d been anticipating the move. “Thank you, Jeremy. That changes the direction of the game.”
Jeremy wasn’t certain whether he had done something right or wrong, or whether Bud expected him to take another move. But Bud leaned back in his chair. He was smiling, fatherly. A bond had been established.
“Tell you what,” Bud said. “Go out and buy yourself a few new suits, shirts, and a pair of wingtips. If you want to be an auditor, you’ll need to look like an auditor.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“And get your butt over to Miami Intercontinental. You’re going to finish getting your degree, and when the time comes for you to sit for the CPA exam, I expect you to get the highest grades in the state. Y’ hear?”
Jeremy nodded.
“We owe that to your mama,” Bud said.
Chapter 8
Jeremy stood outside the registrar’s building with his class schedule. He had come here directly from Bud’s office, changing into jeans and a tee shirt in the car so he wouldn’t
“Sometimes distancing yourself is a good way to see things more clearly.”
Jeremy was surprised how well Bud understood him. If only his father had tried a little harder. “Well, it’s helped me,” Jeremy said. “And, of course, with my parents gone— obviously, there’s been a big shift in my priorities.”
“Tell me how I can help you, Jeremy.”
“I’d like to work here— at PCM,” Jeremy said. “I was majoring in accounting at NYU.”
“I recall your mama telling me you were an A student.” Bud picked up a thick pen and rolled it between his fingers. His shirt cuffs were monogrammed and held closed with gold cufflinks. “I think she was hoping you’d join the firm one day.”
“I’d very much like that opportunity now. I feel that if I’m going to be Elise’s guardian, I need to start behaving more responsibly.”
Bud had the intelligent, understanding demeanor of a clergyman. The desk phone bringed softly. “Hold my calls, please, Gladys,” he said into the speaker box. He looked at Jeremy, waiting for him to continue.
“I was hoping you’d consider hiring me as an intern or an assistant auditor. Until I graduate, of course, and can sit for the CPA exam.
Bud put the pen down and brought his fingers to a steeple in front of his face. He had big, strong hands covered with freckles and golden hairs. “And how do you plan on graduating?” Bud said finally.
“I thought I’d take a couple of evening courses at Miami Intercontinental,” Jeremy said. “That is, unless you think it might interfere with my work here.” His mother had once told him if you want something, give the impression you already have it.
“Of course you know we want to do everything to help out you and Elise.” Bud let his chair snap forward, signaling that the meeting was over.
“I’d really appreciate it,” Jeremy hesitated a split second, “Bud. My mother often spoke about how much she admired you.”
Bud’s mouth twitched, as though he was containing a smile. “Did she, now?”
“She once said a gifted salesman could sell ice to Eskimos, but only Bud McNally could turn a company that sells ice to Eskimos into one of the hottest stocks on Wall Street.”
Bud let out a full-bodied laugh. “Your mama really said that?”
“She did.” Jeremy picked up the pawn he had been holding earlier.
“You play?” Bud said, still smiling.
“Excuse me?”
“Chess.”
“Oh, yeah. My dad taught me.”
“Take a move.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Go ahead. I always have a game in progress, but I’m usually playing both sides. It’s nice to deal with a fresh move from time to time.” Bud nodded toward the board. “Go ahead.”
About half the pieces had already been taken. A black rook was exposed to Jeremy’s bishop, but if he took it, he’d lose his bishop to Bud’s queen. But that would give him a shot at the black king. Jeremy took the rook.
“Interesting,” Bud said. He took Jeremy’s bishop, as though he’d been anticipating the move. “Thank you, Jeremy. That changes the direction of the game.”
Jeremy wasn’t certain whether he had done something right or wrong, or whether Bud expected him to take another move. But Bud leaned back in his chair. He was smiling, fatherly. A bond had been established.
“Tell you what,” Bud said. “Go out and buy yourself a few new suits, shirts, and a pair of wingtips. If you want to be an auditor, you’ll need to look like an auditor.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“And get your butt over to Miami Intercontinental. You’re going to finish getting your degree, and when the time comes for you to sit for the CPA exam, I expect you to get the highest grades in the state. Y’ hear?”
Jeremy nodded.
“We owe that to your mama,” Bud said.
Chapter 8
Jeremy stood outside the registrar’s building with his class schedule. He had come here directly from Bud’s office, changing into jeans and a tee shirt in the car so he wouldn’t
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