Read Online The Devil's Analyst by Dennis Frahmann - Free Book Online Page A

Colby a third-rate hanger-on when it came to the tech investment community. But he had inherited money and the right kind of friends. Knowing the money man wouldn’t ask too many questions, Josh persuaded Colby early on to bring big money into Premios. Truth was, with the proceeds from the sale of InnerEatz to AOL, Danny and Josh could have funded the first and second stages of financing themselves. But why put their money at risk? Josh believed in letting others share that excitement.
    Admittedly there was more to getting an outside investor involved than playing it safe. Over the years, Danny had given Josh a lot of himself, and that had made Josh’s life fuller and more meaningful. He shouldn’t risk Danny’s share of money on something that was really Josh’s dream. He owed Danny more than that.
    God, success was so tantalizingly close. Internet companies were going public left and right at huge valuations and making their founders rich beyond sensibility. Who could say what something was worth in this new world? Maybe some claimed it was all a bubble, but bubbles could float high and far. One just had to escape the bubble before it burst.
    Tonight he had gathered everything needed to fan a little hot air that would raise the Premios bubble ever so gently, ever so higher. Financiers like Colby, analysts like Barbara, celebrities like Jesus and Francesca—just tinder to his fire of expansion.
    Standing on the small musician’s balcony that bridged a view of the entry and the large living room, Josh realized he had removed himself too long from the main action of the party in the room below. In the original architectural plans filed with the city, the living room was labeled a ballroom. Whatever its function, tonight it was aglow with people and stemware. It was time to join them. As he reached the bottom of the steep staircase from the balcony, Orleans walked up. “Have you told Danny yet?” she wanted to know.
    “About Jesus? Yes, I have. And next time he asks questions, just give him direct answers.”
    “That’s not what I meant. Have you told him the real source of Colby Endicott’s money?”
    Josh shut her down with a single look. “He doesn’t need to know. I’ll take care of it.”
    Danny was so pleased to hear Francesca Petroff laugh. Frankly, it gave him goose bumps to hear such unrestrained joy. Lately she had been far too depressed, but that’s why people had friends—to help one another laugh.
    Even if they were secreted away in the mansion’s kitchen gossiping among the din of the catering staff, Danny was happy to be with his friends. At least Stephen and Wally could claim a reason to be in the room. Technically the serving staff reported to them and all of the food came from their restaurant’s kitchen. For a typical Hollywood catering job, the restaurant would have sent out a lead. Neither Wally nor Stephen would have been anywhere in sight. On the other hand, the two of them would never have been on the invitation list.
    Not only were they here at his party, but they also brought Francesca with them, which Danny knew made Josh happy. But Danny was also happy. Francesca needed to get out of her house and away from depressing thoughts. What she really needed was the presence of good friends, although the music and glitter might also help.
    Josh tried to explain why this party was so important, but now Danny found that he couldn’t even recall the reasons. Somehow Josh saw the event as critical to taking the company public. How having a bunch of strangers drink fancy wine and eat expensive canapés could affect decision makers on Wall Street was a mystery to Danny. He regretted uttering aloud that fleeting thought about a New Year’s resolution to better understand the business. He really didn’t care to understand the company. All he needed were his friends.
    They were important to him. Years ago, Wally had taken a chance on Danny when he gave him a job as a busboy at his restaurant in