Two Announcements

Business stayed steady for the next two months, with constant money flowing in from one rathole or another, thanks to Brad. Jordan made maybe 50 grand a day. Brandi was only his assistant but she was making so much money, she was overwhelmed. It was even worse for Jordan. He was pulling in cash in sums big enough to buy houses and he didn't know what to do to spend his earnings in a way he thought really mattered.

What do you do, he thought, when you have more money than you know what to do with?

And just like that, it came to him. He went to Tiffany's one afternoon and bought the most expensive ring in the store. Jordan took Naomi to dinner and right after, he led her outside near a pond. The flowers were in bloom and a sweet smell hovered above their heads.

"Will you marry me?" He said, opening the little velvet box. The most beautiful ring she had ever seen sat inside it. Glistening sliver and a perfectly cut diamond with other gems she was too excited to focus on.

"Oh, my God," she cried.

He grinned. "Is that a yes?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure."

Naomi screamed into her hands and kissed Jordan.

"Oh, my God! Baby!"

Jordan hugged Naomi.

That next Friday day at work, Jordan stood at the almost stage-like area at the front and called everyone's attention.

"Everyone, please, gather 'round. I have a few announcements!"

The brokers crowded around their boss, eager to listen. Brandi looked at him curiously.

"I'm getting married." He grinned. Everyone in the office started to scream and clap. Even though Brandi was surprised Jordan hadn't told her before, she was still happy for him.

"As for the other announcement; I'd like to celebrate the 28.7 million in gross commissions we've made just this month in pink sheets!" The men roared their applause.

"And as for our weekly act of debauchery, I have offered our lovely sales assistant, Danielle Harrison here, 10 thousand dollars TO SHAVE HER FUCKING HEAD!"

A woman with long blonde hair sat in a swivel chair, grinning nervously. One of the brokers stood behind her with an electric shaver.

"Let's scalp her," Jordan shouted. "LET THE SCALPING BEGIN!"

The man (who's name was Toby apparently) started shaving away tufts of Danielle's hair that fluttered all over the floor.

"FYI, men, Danielle has promised to use this 10 grand for breast implants. She's already got C-cups - BUT NOW SHE WANTS FUCKING DOUBLE-D's!" The crowd let out another scream among a flurry of clapping and Brandi watched in amazement as Danielle's hair completely disappeared and the animal reaction everyone had. A red-headed woman from accounting ran over to her and hugged her. Brandi later found out that she was her girlfriend.

Jordan extended his arms as if he could physically receive praise from everyone in front of him. "IS THIS A GREAT FUCKING COMPANY OR WHAT?"

The room went berserk and some men stood on the desks, pounding their feet.

"IS THIS THE GREATEST COMPANY IN THE WORLD?" Jordan screamed.

"Donnie!" Jordan pointed at him with the microphone. "Blow the roof off this motherfucker!" Donnie kicked open a door.

A herd of men in tuxedos waltzed in carrying champagne flutes.

"SEND IN THE STRIPEES!" Jordan threw the mic down.

A marching band composed of young shirtless men in tiny gray shorts and conductor's hats marched in, playing a symphony of percussion that once again rattled the room. Right behind them, strippers and naked women with blond, fanned up bangs and hair like Madonna ran in excitedly and clashed with the men. Brandi was absolutely enthralled in the insanity. The room smelled of pure liquor and testosterone.

Jordan escaped the madness to his office, Donnie and Brandi following close behind. They grinned at him.

"Congrats on getting married, man. You are one lucky guy." Donnie slapped his shoulder. Jordan grinned.

Brandi hugged him. "I'm really happy for you, Jordan."

Jordan looked at Donnie, the man who had been through everything with him and to this day, they stood in this building, not among the rich and famous - they were the rich and famous. And Brandi - organizing all of Jordan's wild ideas and making them all possible. Getting them out of trouble all the time, picking Jordan up from a bender and driving him home the next day with coffee.

"I want all of you at my wedding. Donnie, you're gonna be my best man. And Brandi, Naomi asked if you would be one of her bridesmaids." Donnie looked prouder than he'd ever been in his whole life.

She smiled. "Of course."

Outside the glass walls, the men were going absolutely crazy. They were having sex out in the open and fighting each other over the women. Some college kid smashed Chester's head with a telephone receiver and Chester kneed him in the balls so hard he passed out. It was honestly a very impressive performance and even amongst this chaos, Brandi was grateful to be under Jordan's wing. She loved Stratton Oakmont with all of her being. It was funny. At that moment, her pager buzzed. It was Lenny.

Have lunch w/me. Call.

Lenny probably really needed to talk to her. But Jordan had already spilled a vial of coke on the glass table and started to chop it up. She looked at the white dust. It might as well have beckoned her. So Brandi did what she really wanted to do. She tossed the pager aside and sat down next to the men. An injured Chester walked in, with Rugrat and Otter right behind them.

They all sat down and got high together. Jordan was getting married, Brandi thought. For some reason it bothered her. But she was right here, right now. So she ignored the slight hollow in her stomach and snorted up powder, throwing her head back with each hit. She could feel it coarse through her veins. And it felt delicious.