Let me guess. You watched some YouTube videos about investing and now you think you're Warren Buffett. Colombia, Felicia said quietly. MBA class of 2019, top 5%. Silence. [ __ ], Garrett said.
Call them. Before Garrett could respond, a voice came from across the restaurant. She's not lying. Harold Brennan rose slowly from his corner table. His presence immediately commanded attention.
There was something about his bearing that signaled authority. Who the hell are you? Garrett snapped. Harold Brennan, former chair of the finance department at NYU Stern, consultant to the Federal Reserve from 2008 to 2015. He walked toward Garrett's table with measured steps.
I've trained hundreds of analysts in my career. I can count on one hand the number who truly understood markets at an intuitive level. He stopped beside Felicia. She's one of them. Murmurss rippled through the restaurant.
People recognized the name. Harold Brennan was legendary in financial circles. Garrett's face twisted. I don't care if she has a PhD from Harvard. One degree doesn't mean she knows anything about my business.
You're right, Felicia said. So, let me tell you about your business specifically. She pulled out another sheet of paper. You've appeared on CNBC 17 times in the past year to promote Nexus Technologies. Each appearance, the stock jumps, and each time within 48 hours, Whitmore Capital sells shares.
She held up the paper. March 15th, CNBC appearance, stock jumps 4%. March 17th, Whitmore Capital sells 200,000 shares. April 3rd, another appearance. Stock jumps 3%.
April 5, another 150,000 shares sold. She looked at him. The pattern repeats seven times. That's not analysis, Mr. Whitmore.
That's pump and dump. Garrett's face went white. Those are normal rebalancing transactions, he said quickly. Standard portfolio management. Rebalancing means buying and selling, Felicia replied.
You've only sold $52 million worth in 8 months. While telling everyone else to buy, Caroline had returned from her phone call. She stood frozen near the entrance, staring at Garrett with a new expression, not discomfort anymore. Horror. Is this true?
She asked. Garrett, tell me this isn't true. It's slander. Garrett snarled. She's making it up.
I'll sue her into oblivion. For what? Felicia asked, reading public SEC filings out loud. Another diner, a man in his 60s who'd been listening intently, stood up. I bought Nexus because of your recommendation, he said, his voice shaking.