Lewis Lynch was widely known as the man who ran the most successful firm on Wall Street, but very few understood what was going on behind the scenes that got him that title. Indeed, the prosperity of the firm S. M. Atherton was primarily thanks to the insider trading between Lewis and his immense network of friends dispersed in all sectors throughout the business world. He would hit home runs on huge deals but managed to keep the Securities and Exchange Commission off his back by intentionally posting minor losses. It was thanks to these dirty processes that Desmond Carson’s life would be changed forever.

Desmond Carson was sitting in his office raking in the kind of money you’d only expect a seasoned doctor to make. At just 27 years old, he had begun working for S. M. Atherton, the largest and most profitable investment banking firm on Wall Street. While the hours were undoubtedly long and grueling and the work tedious, holding a six-figure salary was worth every inconvenience in life for an under-30 like Desmond, who had departed his seemingly inescapable hometown of Muncie, Indiana. He was truly a self-made young man who found a love for the ins and outs of economics at an early age after taking a course in high school, fascinated by the interrelated functions of politics and society surrounding the fundamental core of math and finance.

However, as a dysfunctional family living under the line of poverty, the Carsons were generally disinterested and sometimes even hostile towards Desmond, who was alienated from his kin due to his unprecedented ambitions and capacity. So it was unsurprising that once Desmond left for college, he never turned back. He attended Indiana University, where he performed exceptionally and eventually found his way to the prestigious Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. It was at Wharton that Desmond established an extensive network of friends in the business world, and was introduced to Lewis Lynch, the CEO of S. M. Atherton. Desmond was ecstatic to be offered an internship to the firm, and over the summers between semesters he battled 100-plus work weeks to chase his dream of working on Wall Street. After only a couple years in the field, he was awarded the position of senior director in recognition of his talents and dedication. Up to this point, Desmond Carson’s life was what anyone could call a Cinderella story.

On a day that seemed like any other, it all changed. Lewis called Desmond to his office at the top floor of the firm’s building. Expecting praise for his latest success with his portfolio, Desmond entered the room with confidence and sat down.

“Good looking out, Gordon. I’ll cash out tomorrow.” Lewis looked up, saw Desmond, and quickly put down the receiver.

“What’s up, Lew? You wanted to see me?” he greeted his boss as he played with the decorations on the desk.

With an irritated look on his face, Lewis replied without emotion. “Why didn’t you knock?”

Before Desmond could reply, Lewis continued, “Get your things and get out. Don’t ask any questions.”

This procured a laugh from Desmond, who took the words as a joke. “This has nothing to do with your failure to knock on my door. This is business. You’re terminated.”

Realizing his misinterpretation, Desmond froze and could only manage, “I… I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You’re fired. Close the door on your way out.”

-----

In his Manhattan apartment the next morning, Desmond sat on the edge of his bed with his face in his hands. “What on earth happened?” he thought to himself. “What had I done wrong?” Having not slept the past night, he had been thinking about his termination. He was consistently performing above his peers and all of a sudden he was canned. Was Wall Street really this ruthless? What was the reason for his dismissal? Not knowing what to do next, Desmond decided to think over his situation at the coffee shop downstairs.

Mulling over his drink, the young man was still in a daze about the events that had occurred in the past 24 hours. He sat motionlessly and stared at the wall. It wasn’t until someone came in to replace the daily paper on the shelves that Desmond changed his gaze. The day’s headline caught his attention and the words made him jump out of his seat: Wall Street Scandal at S. M. Atherton! He quickly ran over to the newspaper stand and nearly knocked the store employee over. Quickly apologizing, he grabbed a copy and skimmed through the column.

“S. M. Atherton was investigated over a possible case of insider trading… CEO Lewis Lynch believes director Desmond Carson was to blame… the young man’s ambition turned into greed… resulted in his immediate termination and compensation for losses… charges may be made against Carson for illegal business practices.”

Desmond could not believe his eyes. He quickly put two and two together and realized that his own boss had thrown him under the bus for an action Desmond did not commit, framing him as the villain engaging in a crooked deal and then axing him for seemingly no reason to cover up. He had heard rumors that Lewis employed an extensive espionage system planted in major businesses and rival firms and dismissed them as myths, but this news confirmed those stories. Rage consumed Desmond as he thought about the article.

“Where is the justice?” he muttered to himself. His reputation had been tarnished and his life was possibly over. But he knew he could not give up now; he had worked too hard, come too far in life to have it all end up like this. He vowed to reveal the truth about Lewis Lynch, no matter how difficult it might be.
Desmond went back to his seat and immediately began to brainstorm a plan, knowing that time was critical for his situation. For hours, he wracked his brain, tapping into his knowledge of Lewis, S. M. Atherton, Wall Street, economics, anything. How could he expose Lewis while proving his own innocence? He recalled the past few days’ events, meeting with Lewis in his office, and… Gordon. That was it. Gordon must have been one of Lewis’s informants that Desmond had unintentionally overheard when he was in the office, which caused his boss’s irritation and defensiveness. He finally had a plan. It was a long shot and he would have to risk everything he had, but at this point, there was no other choice.

-----

Sitting across from Desmond at the SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C. were the Manhattan District Attorney and the chairperson of the SEC. Desmond had submitted a tip about Lewis Lynch’s insider trading to the commission the day before, and seeing that the information came from a former S. M. Atherton director that was currently being investigated was real, the bigwigs wanted to interview him in person.

“So, Mr. Carson, you’re saying that you had no hand in this matter and that Mr. Lynch is the one who has been involved in questionable business practices? We have no evidence on this issue.” asked the chairperson.

Desmond promptly replied, “Yes, and I believe I can prove it. He doesn’t know that I have these suspicions, but I know they’re true. Give me a phone, and I will call Lewis and pretend to be one of his informants and tell him to pump and dump some obscure businesses. If he follows through with the false information-”

“And what if he doesn’t? This is extremely risky and you have no basis for doing this,” interrupted the District Attorney. “If this fails, you’re looking at living out the rest of your life in jail, son.”

Desmond took a deep breath before replying. It was all or nothing. If he failed, his life was over.

“Look, if you let Lewis Lynch run free, his greed will overrun Wall Street. How do you think he maintains his impeccable track record? Those margins he makes for S. M. Atherton are no mere coincidence. Let me do this; you won’t regret it. He’s not as careful as he thinks, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

The District Attorney and SEC chairperson looked at each other and without exchanging a word, got up and walked out of the room. Desmond’s heart sank as the door shut. They didn’t believe him.

Or so he thought.

The officials walked back in the room and handed Desmond a phone.

“It’s all you,” said the District Attorney. “Don’t disappoint.”

Desmond took the phone with trembling hands and dialed Lewis’s number.

“Lewis. Who’s this?”

“It’s Gordon, I have some new information…”

-----

The events that proceeded in the following hours resulted in chaos in Wall Street and made headlines across the nation. S. M. Atherton suspiciously bought an immense amount of shares of a relatively unknown corporation and rid its portfolios of another. The SEC quickly moved in and commenced an investigation into the firm’s procedures, and the years of dirty dealing under the direction of Lewis Lynch were revealed. The firm’s CEO was indicted on multiple counts of espionage, racketeering, bribery, and fraud. All charges against Desmond Carson were dropped.

“...and with this bizarre turn of events, the world of business has been turned upside down. The SEC will release an official statement tonight. Stay tuned at 11…”

Desmond turned the TV off and smiled. Against all odds, he brought justice to Wall Street. Against all odds, he had restored his future.