Free Magnate by Joanna Shupe Page A

Selfish and cold. If you knew some of the things he’d done in order to get ahead . . .” Will shook his head. “And the parade of women . . . Dear God. Stay away from him. I do not want you anywhere near Emmett Cavanaugh.”
    He opened her door. “I can only be thankful you two ate in the main dining room. If he’d taken you to a private dining suite, I would’ve had to kill him.” Will closed the door, and his footsteps echoed down the hall.
    Lizzie drummed her fingers on the table. She was more determined than ever to win her bet with Cavanaugh. Winning meant starting her own firm, and when she began turning a profit, she could help Will keep Northeast Railroad afloat as well as assume some of the household expenses. And with Cavanaugh as her backer, other investors would soon follow, she was sure of it.
    Reaching beneath her dressing table, she withdrew her notes. She needed a plan for investing Emmett’s money. Less than three weeks was hardly enough time to double a large sum. A heavy dose of luck would be crucial.
    And she could not afford to fail.
    * * *
    A few days later, as fierce early January winds pummeled Wall Street, Lizzie watched as a young, auburn-haired man exited the restaurant located in the Mills Building. The man was Robbie, one of the traders Will used on the exchange. Lizzie planned to convince Robbie to make her trades as well.
    Pulling her coat tighter, she hurried after him. “Robbie?”
    He spun around and placed his hat on his head. “Yes?”
    â€œI am Miss Sloane, William Sloane’s sister.” She thrust out her hand, which he shook reluctantly. “May we sit in my brougham and speak?”
    â€œI suppose. Is Mr. Sloane there?” He glanced hopefully to the carriage waiting at the curb.
    â€œNot today. I would just like a moment of your time.” Without giving him a chance to refuse, she linked her arm with his and began pulling him toward the busy street.
    Once they were settled, she said, “My brother has been quite pleased with your firm, and I’m wondering if you would be willing to assist me with a small matter.”
    â€œA small matter?”
    â€œYes, you see I have a large sum of money that I need to invest on the exchange. I know you usually deal with my brother, but I’m hopeful that you will be amenable to dealing with me as well.”
    â€œYou need me to place an order for you?”
    â€œYes. Obviously, I cannot do it myself.”
    He scratched his square jaw, his gaze wary. “Why not go through your brother, if you don’t mind my asking? Wall Street’s no place for a proper lady, miss.”
    The tips of her ears warmed, and she fought her anger, struggling to remain calm. “Are you unwilling to take my money, merely because I am a woman?”
    â€œTaking money from a woman isn’t a problem for me, Miss Sloane. I just don’t want to do nothing to upset your brother.”
    She could understand his concern, as Will had recently fired his previous investment firm. But Lizzie had no intention of letting Will learn of this transaction—at least not yet. “Let me worry about my brother.”
    He tapped his fingers on his knees. “So how much do you have to play with?”
    â€œTen thousand.”
    â€œThat’s a nice chunk of greenbacks. I’m thinking one of the oil companies like Pacific Coast. They’ve been making steady gains. Your brother—”
    â€œPardon me, but I don’t have time for steady gains. I need to double this money in less than three weeks.”
    â€œLess than three weeks!” He jerked back, mouth agape. “You need a miracle, Miss Sloane.”
    â€œI was thinking a short sale. Remember the Regional Telegraph rumor in November?”
    He chuckled. “Of course. I pocketed almost a thousand dollars off that one.”
    â€œI can imagine. Must have been a wild day on the floor.” She would have