Free Irresistible Forces by Danielle Steel Page A

they had far more orders for shares than they had shares to sell. Their goal was always to be oversubscribed, by having more orders than they could meet, which would ensure a strong price in the aftermarket, if there were not enough shares to go around. In that case a “green shoe” of five to ten percent more shares, would have to be added to what was previously available, which would add some more shares, but not enough to supply all the orders. It was highly desirable to leave potential investors hungry for more, which would be a real victory for Callan's firm and the underwriters. And she was hoping that in this case, that would happen.
    “I hate to admit it,” Callan said sheepishly, sounding boyish, “I think I'm a little jittery. I feel like a virgin.”
    “You won't for long,” she laughed. “By the time we hit New York, you'll be a pro at this, and I guarantee you'll love it. It's addictive.”
    “If you say so.”
    She gave him the details of who would be there both at the breakfast and the lunch meetings the next day. And after lunch, they were flying to Minneapolis to do a dinner there, and breakfast again on Wednesday morning. And then, on to Los Angeles for another dinner, and a full day in L.A. on Thursday, and up to San Francisco after dinner, for yet another breakfast and lunch on Friday. He was going home then, and she was taking the red-eye back to New York, hopefully to see Steve for the weekend. She wouldn't have seen him for a week by then, and she was sure they would both be exhausted, but she wanted to be with him. But she had a lot of work to do in the meantime.
    “I'm worn out just listening to our schedule,” Callan said, sounding pleased about it. “If any of our flights are delayed, we may blow the whole deal,” he said, sounding worried.
    “I have backup arrangements for chartered jets in every city, if we need them. We'll see how it goes. But tomorrow is a quick hop from here to Minneapolis.” She sounded in full control, as always. She had thought of everything. She was used to this, and to handling all the most minute details. She had even found out from his secretary what he liked to drink, and there was a bottle of his favorite Chardonnay and the makings of a Sapphire martini in his room at the hotel, which was a little touch that he appreciated when he looked around his suite. She was quite a woman. “You'd better get lots of rest tonight, so you're fresh for our first show tomorrow,” she said, sounding like a house mother in a boys’ school, and he laughed at her.
    “Actually, I was hoping you'd have dinner with me. We can make it an early night, Meredith. But if I sit here by myself worrying about tomorrow, it'll drive me crazy.” She seemed to hesitate for a long moment. She had spent a quiet weekend at home, without Steve, and dinner appealed to her.
    “I'm not sure I should let you do that, but maybe if we make it early, Cal. I don't want you staying up late.” He laughed again and promised to go to his room immediately after dinner.
    “You sound like me with my kids. I'll be good. I promise. I'll just come back here and drink martinis till tomorrow morning.”
    “Oh great,” Meredith laughed. “Maybe I should take those bottles away. I think we may have to just give you a sleeping pill and knock you out. You're going to be fine, you know. You're going to be very proud of Dow Tech when this is all over. We all will be.”
    “I'm just so grateful to you for everything you've done for me, Meredith. You've been incredible.” He sounded sincere and very humble.
    “No more so than anyone else in the firm, Cal,” she said modestly. “There were a lot of people involved in this, and the analysts and the market makers have been very supportive, as have been my partners.”
    “Even the SEC has been pretty good to us,” he said, sounding pleased. The prospectus had been very straightforward, and so far, they seemed to like it. “Anyway, let's go have dinner and