Wall Street Paytime -

Marcus smiled for the first time all day. Not because of the money—$1.26 million was still $1.26 million, after all. But because for the first time in years, he realized that the number on the paper wasn’t the only thing that mattered.

At 10:00 sharp, a chime sounded over the floor speakers. “All hands to the conference center on 44.”

“You said Sterling might not exist in six months,” Marcus said. “If that’s true, I need to know who’s buying us. Or who’s building a team elsewhere.” wall street paytime

The silence that followed was the loudest thing Marcus had ever heard. Then the chaos began. Shouting. Accusations. A managing director from equities threw a water bottle at the wall. Someone started crying—not quietly, but wailing. Tommy, the crying analyst from earlier, simply sat down on the floor and put his head in his hands.

Wall Street had had its paytime. And Marcus Deane had gotten exactly what he needed: a wake-up call wrapped in a bonus letter. Marcus smiled for the first time all day

Marcus nodded. He knew the revenue number. What he didn’t know was the multiplier—the percentage of revenue that would become his bonus. Last year it had been 12%. A good year. This year, rumors were flying that the pool was up 30%.

Julian leaned back. “I thought you might.” At 10:00 sharp, a chime sounded over the floor speakers

“Come in.”