He pondered.
Well, I guess its a fair proportion. It seems that youre really a good analyst. As for me, I hardly ever can work it all out, and my intuition can fail me, too. But I know more facts. He grinned.
How long have you been in financial analysis? he asked.
Six years.
Graduated from the financial university, right? And where did you work after graduation? I can see that you specialized in construction.
Yes, I did construction loans in Nina named an obscure bank which could not stand comparison with the smallest of Gradbanks branches.
Ah, yes, Sinitsin told me.
Nina was not at all eager to dwell on her old job. Trying to change the subject, she blurted out, May I ask why Sirius was declined?
The man raised his eyebrows. Gradbanks general director, who was routinely settling business issues with big bosses, seemed to be at a loss to handle a bold young employee.
I insisted, he said after a pause. You see, I just knew the man behind that project the one who had really devised that whole Sirius racket. In the old days, we were in the university together. He got me expelled from the Young Communist League. A rare bastard. I was sure that he wasnt to be dealt with. But thats just sentimental talk I needed some more solid arguments for the board. Of course, I would have my way anyway, but I admit that your report came in handy. So, thank you.
To Ninas surprise, she was pleased to receive acknowledgment from the man.
By the way, if you are interested Sirius got itself a loan elsewhere afterwards. Samsonov named a well-known credit bank. It all ended in a big scandal. He smiled wryly. The friend of my youth managed to transfer all the cash to an offshore bank and absconded. Hes still wanted. Thats the way it goes
The director was scrutinizing Nina openly. To make it easy for him, she rose her glass to her mouth and, with her eyes dropped, plunged her lips in the mineral water for a long while.
All right, enough of Sirius, said Samsonov. Ive got something else to discuss with you.
The director walked to a safe in the wall, clicked his key repeatedly in the slot, opened the massive door and extracted a folder a huge, hard, tightly fastened monster.
Thats whats really important, he said, banging the folder down on the table. What do you know about the project, ZaryadjeXXI?
Almost nothing, Nina admitted honestly.
She had heard on the TV and read in the papers that plans were afoot to build a huge business center not somewhere on the outskirts, but right in the historical heart of the city. Protectors of architectural heritage voiced their protests, but those voices were few and sounded muffled a sure sign that the city authorities were in support of the project and kept the situation under a tight control.
So that you understand weve never before been involved in such a big project. If we make it, Gradbank will be rated among the top five investment banks in the country. And if we mess it up Then, with luck, well be selling hot dogs in the street.
I wasnt even aware that Gradbank had anything to do with it, said Nina.
A request for tenders is going to be announced tomorrow, and were officially among the tenderers, so its no longer a secret. But, mind you, everything else about it is a secret. Top secret, and I mean it.
I understand, Nina assured him. But I dont know anything.
You are going to. I want you to study the materials on Zaryadje absolutely everything, every goddamn detail. You study it all and write your conclusion.
Nina caught her breath. She had suspected that she was in for some kind of assignment, but that was beyond her wildest expectations. If she had been after a career in Gradbank, she would have been triumphant. What a chance! But Nina had not come to this bank to make a career, and instead of triumph, she felt cold anger the same kind of anger that always filled her on the tennis court.
Do you want me to find arguments in favor of the project? Or the other way?
Neither. Im not going to suggest answers to you. As for me, Im stuck in this business too deep now to see the big picture. So, your job will be to take an outsiders look and tell me what you think. There are two questions, basically. One, whether weve done everything possible to win the contract. And the other, whether its a good idea for us to win it.
He looked at her intently. Despite the easy, almost friendly tone that he took with her, it was obvious that he was talking of a matter that was very important to him.
So? Are you in?
I am. That is, Ill try. Thank you for giving me such credit. Only What if I fail?
He made a gesture of resignation.
If you fail, Ill send you back to Ariadna Petrovna, thats all. She didnt want to let you go, by the way.
He patted on the folder. Start with this, heres the main stuff. Klara Fedorovna will help you with the rest. Have you made her acquaintance yet? Its my assistant shes sitting here, in the reception. Now listen: youll be working alone, in a room close by, on this same floor. Klara will show you. You must not discuss anything with anyone besides me. You must not take any papers out. Klara and Sinitsin will fill you in on everything that concerns the computer passwords, data bases and the like. Is that clear?
Nina nodded.
All right then, go ahead. Get to work, the director said with a satisfied look on his face.
Nina tucked the heavy folder under her arm, picked up her box and moved towards the door, but after a few steps, she dropped both the folder and the box on the floor.
Hey, no, that wont do. Samsonov came out from behind his table and bent down his massive torso to pick up the folder. Let me walk you there.
Ignoring her protests, he grabbed her box along with the folder and strode out of the office. Nina could barely keep pace with him.
In the reception, at the sight of them, the older woman jumped to her feet, came running up to Nina and held out a key. This is to your room. I am Klara Fedorovna. Welcome.
Marina did not say a word but, as Nina was going out the door, she felt Marinas glare on her back. If a look had been able to kill, Nina would have been writhing in mortal agony. As it was, she was just amused. I really feel for you, my dear, she addressed the beautiful secretary in her mind. Lifes not fair, is it? See? Ive just arrived here, and the boss is carrying boxes for me already! All right, relax, Im not going to plot against you. Im not planning on sticking here for much longer, anyway.
They walked down to the end of the hallway where there was only one door. Samsonov nodded, Open it.
She opened the door, and they went in. The room was quite small, containing a table, a couple of chairs, a file cabinet, and a safe in the corner. On the table was a computer with a web of cables running from it into the wall. Everything was empty and tidy, but Nina noticed a thin film of dust on the table apparently, the room had been out of use for some time.
Here, make yourself at home, said the director, dumping his burden onto the table. Whatevers up, be sure to call me Marina will be putting you through. Ill be coming round myself, anyway.
He held out his hand and her narrow palm got lost in his paw a huge, hard one, with perceptible corns of the kind that come from weight-lifting. Apparently, t'ai chi was not the only practice Samsonov was into.
Gradbanks fate is in your hands now. He smiled broadly, looking her straight in the eye. And my fate is, too.
Again, despite his facetious tone, Nina felt that he was not really in a joking mood.
The director left. Nina sat at her new desk and buried her face in her hands. It had happened. Her vengeful plot the one for which she had come to that hateful bank was working itself out in the most incredible way. She had occupied a super-advantageous strategic position and was now only one step from her objective.
Chapter 2
That night Nina had a celebration, all by herself in her one-room apartment. For the celebration, she had two causes. First, she had every reason to congratulate herself on a major breakthrough in her subversive plans against Gradbank. The other cause was not a worthy one in her eyes the day happened to be her twenty-seventh birthday.
She was sitting, with her legs tucked under her, in her favorite armchair. A standard lamp was casting around a soft, cozy light. On a small table by the armchair was a one-third empty bottle of Merlot and a plate with some cheese and cookies. What else does a single businesswoman need to celebrate her special occasions? In addition, there was the twinkling of the TV set in the corner from an old habit Nina kept it turned on, but with sound off. The flashing of silent pictures helped her relax by keeping her eyes thoughtlessly occupied.
Her father had called to wish her a happy birthday. His voice on the phone struck her as tense and coarse. Could it be that he was drinking again? Her heart ached at the thought.
Also, her two girl friends had called the only two she had left from her university years. Both were steadily married, with children. They updated Nina on their family life and chided her for living like an oyster. Its a crime were not seeing each other more often. Lets get together! Nina agreed but no real gathering was ever arranged. In recent years, her girl friends had been trying hard to fix her up so that Nina had even reduced her visits to them in the fear of having to maintain an agonizing conversation with yet another colleague of my husband or friend of ours who chanced to drop by. Quite possibly, those eligible bachelors were not all that bad, but the problem was that Nina was horrified by the mere thought of having any relationship with them.
On the screen, the president of the country was delivering a mute speech, gesticulating vigorously. Thats who Id like to meet, Nina said aloud to the TV set. Im sure hes not anything like those characters Ive known. Thats me give me the president, Im not going for less. She refilled her glass and clinked it against the bottle. All right, first lady, happy birthday to you once again!
The wine took effect the TV picture became fuzzy, and her mind wandered. As always in such cases, she remembered her mother and her school days.
Nina was born into a good, city family. Her father, Yevgeniy Borisovich, was a builder, chief engineer in a construction syndicate, her mother a French teacher in a college. They lived in a spacious three-room apartment which was considered enviable at the time.
An able girl, Nina was breezing through her school studies. Mathematics was her favorite. Thats my genes working, her father would say complacently. He taught Nina how to play chess and for some time, the two of them had a game every evening. However, her father soon ceased to enjoy their chess sessions as Nina began winning, and he had a hard time even making a draw. Her father planned to sign her up for serious chess lessons but her mother vetoed the idea. What kind of occupation is that for a girl? I wont let Nina become a bluestocking! Instead, Nina was offered to choose between figure skating and tennis. Nina picked out tennis.
The choice was a fortunate one the game came easily to Nina, and she was running to her tennis classes eagerly. Very thin, with a figure like a grasshoppers, she was darting around the court almost always getting in the right place at the right moment. The coach took notice of her, and she was entered into the regional junior tournament. It soon became apparent what made her different from the others she played a calculated game, figuring it out two strokes ahead and often baffling those obviously stronger than her.
Ninas tennis career came to an end abruptly. Accidentally, she overheard a conversation between two girls one of whom she had just smashed up on the court. They were talking about her, Nina. Thats what I call crazy, breaking her neck so! said the defeated one. Who wants that stupid cup, anyway? Me, I didnt come to tennis for any cups. They giggled. Nina guessed vaguely why the other girls played tennis. On the court, there were always boys around, and tennis provided lots of opportunities for gluing, as boys called it, and some girls did, too. The one whom Nina had overheard was pretty, her neat legs under a short white skirt acted like a magnet, and she was a constant object of gluing not only by boys of her age but older guys, too. Yet nobody had tried to glue Nina. Ever. Well, what do you expect of a freak like that? heard Nina. Winning cups, thats all she has. Who will ever look at her? Did you see her knees? Horrible!
They left, and Nina was still sitting, dumbfounded, trying to take in what she had just heard. That was true, she was a freak. She went up to a mirror and inspected her knees. On her disproportionately long, skin-and-bone legs, her knees looked huge, alien. Horrible, indeed. On her way home, she hurled her tennis racket into the nearest garbage can. At home, she told her parents, without giving any reasons, that she was not going to play tennis ever again.
And she did not, not for over ten years. Then, after her graduation from the university, she once found herself near a stadium and heard familiar noises the thumping of tennis balls and players voices coming to her through the green hedge. On impulse, she went in, hired a racket and practiced some strokes at the wall. Since then, she came regularly to the court where she played with accidental partners. Surprisingly, her hand and body had not forgotten the tennis lessons she had received in her school years. Her figure had improved since her early teens it was no longer scraggy or angular, and nobody would think of laughing at her knees. From time to time, men approached her trying to strike up an acquaintance but, faced with blunt indifference on her part, they retreated. However, she had no problems getting taken into a game as she played well in a committed, concentrated, and powerful way. Rather like a man.
When Nina finished school, the country was being swept by the reforms. Her father said, Honestly, Ninok, I dont know what advice to give you. In the former times, I would say, Go into science, youre totally cut out for that, but who wants science now? Nina applied to the financial university which boasted a huge competition for entry and got admitted without pulling any strings or bribing.
Her university studies were a childs play to her. Her concerns lay in a totally different area. The problem was, she had never had anyone. No specimen of the male race had ever asked her out for a walk, let alone anything bigger. Meanwhile, girls of her age were dating like crazy and actually getting married. The most advanced ones had even got divorced already. Her mother, who was aware of Ninas problem, was reassuring her, Dont you worry, Ninusya, youre not missing anything, believe me. Just wait, your time will come. Nina waited, but her time did not show any signs of coming.