Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford Read Free Book Online Page A

Charlotte said. “Pres, can you get Ev a little something-something?”
    â€œFor fuck’s sake, Hillary, he’s not the man I want to be.” Evelyn had forgotten about Nick’s moniker for Charlotte—Hillary, after Clinton.
    â€œWhatever. Matter of time. Scot’s much adored at Morgan Stanley, Ev—a protégé of David Greenbaum—so Nick thought he’d take him to see the sporting life for the weekend,” Charlotte said, then made exaggerated kissing noises.
    â€œWho’s David Greenbaum?” Evelyn said.
    â€œThe head of the media group, which Nick has been trying to get into. Greenbaum’s probably going to be the next chairman of Morgan Stanley and then the next Treasury secretary someday.”
    â€œYou want to do media?” Evelyn said to Nick.
    â€œI want to do power,” Nick said.
    Evelyn widened her eyes at Charlotte. This was why she generally avoided seeing Nick.
    â€œThe kid’s from, like, Arizona and presumably has never seen a lake. I thought it might be nice. A little Fresh Air Fund,” Nick said.
    â€œI don’t think a VP at Morgan Stanley is in need of your Fresh Air Fund, Nick,” Charlotte muttered.
    â€œNo one asked you, Hill. So you’ve been hiding from the social life, Evelyn. What’s new?”
    Evelyn hated answering this question, since she rarely had much new to report—would he like to discuss whether she should get the Crate & Barrel couch in the sand or in the snow fabric? This time, though, she was prepared. “I just got a new job, actually,” she said.
    â€œOh, yeah? Too bad, I was going to give you a book idea. You wanna hear it? It’s on why Bernanke sucks.”
    â€œRight,” Evelyn said. She had worked in marketing at a textbook publisher, doing research on market trends and creating presentations for buyers, but no matter how many times she had told that to Nick, whenever she saw him he offered lame ideas for business books. “The site is pretty interesting. We’re in stealth mode, so I can’t say too much.” She had heard Arun refer to the site as being in stealth mode and had thought it sounded absurd but predicted, correctly, that this would pique Nick’s interest.
    â€œStealth mode?” he said. “Do tell.”
    â€œWell, I have to be careful about what I say—our backer is high profile—but think a super elite Facebook. It’s pretty restrictive in terms of membership, though—oh, excuse me for a second, would you?” Evelyn walked off, hoping she’d left Nick wanting more. Charlotte had gone to the bar, standing on her tiptoes and talking to Preston, and Evelyn joined them.
    â€œBeer? We have Ubu, though be warned it has the alcohol level of straight liquor,” Preston said.
    â€œGin and tonic,” Evelyn said.
    â€œGin and tonic?” Preston repeated, surprised.
    â€œYes.” Evelyn could see Charlotte’s questioning look but ignored it. They then heard a crash, as Scot had apparently tripped and caught himself on the screen door. His face was deep red as he clung to the flimsy wood-and-screen frame.
    â€œWhat’s his story?” Evelyn asked Charlotte quietly, as Preston cut into a lime and the rest of the group pretended, kindly, not to have seen anything amiss.
    â€œScot? I don’t really know him, but he’s really smart. Graystone would hire him in a second. Undergrad somewhere random, HBS a couple years before me, where he met Greenbaum through some professor. I can’t remember the story, but Greenbaum recruited him and made him a VP in a hot second. Single, obviously. He’s brilliant on deal analysis, apparently. Nick can’t stand him, though—Scot’s a level above him now—but he’s smart enough to get Scot on his side. Blatant suck-up-ery.”
    â€œHmm.” Evelyn turned to Preston. “Pres, could you make that two G and Ts?” She