go to Yao’s.’
Chris smiled. ‘Yao’s? How long is it since we’ve been there?’
Andrei shrugged. ‘Come on. For old times’ sake.’
They headed out of the office and down University. At Yao’s, Lopez was on shift. He hadn’t changed much since Andrei had first discovered the noodle restaurant as a student ten years earlier, only a little heavier and with a touch of grey in the hair. He grabbed Andrei and gave him a hug. Then he ran off to get Tony Yao from the kitchen. By now one of the diners had recognized Andrei and yelled out his name. Everyone looked around. Suddenly someone started whooping. A moment later people were on their feet, applauding.
‘Rock star,’ said Chris Hamer in his ear.
‘Maybe this wasn’t such a good—’
‘Andrei!’ yelled Tony Yao, coming out of the back with his apron around him. He grabbed Andrei’s hand. ‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’
‘It’s fine, Tony,’ said Andrei.
Tony kept thanking him.
‘We just want to eat,’ said Andrei.
‘Of course. Come with me.’ He took him to a table at the back and said something to Lopez. Lopez ran off and came back with a screen and set it up around them.
‘Private room!’ said Yao. ‘Private dining at Yao’s!’
Andrei and Chris sat.
‘You want usual?’ said Tony.
Andrei nodded.
‘Chris?’
‘Kung pao chicken, Tony. Don’t you remember?’
Tony laughed. ‘You sometimes changing, Chris. Andrei never change. You change.’ He stood beside Andrei again. ‘Thank you, Andrei.’
Andrei nodded. ‘Don’t mention it.’
‘Meal on house.’
‘No, Tony.’
‘All meals always on house!’
Lopez came over and poured water as Tony went out to cook their food. ‘Can I get you a drink?’
‘Just water, Lopez.’
‘I think water’s what I need,’ said Chris, smiling ruefully.
Lopez grinned and left them the jug.
Chris asked why Tony had been thanking him like that.
‘He got some shares,’ said Andrei.
‘How many?’
Andrei told him.
‘Good for him,’ said Chris. ‘And Lopez too?’
Andrei nodded. ‘And the other old-timers.’
‘Hey, Lopez,’ Chris called out as he glimpsed Lopez going past with plates for another table. Lopez put his head around the edge of the screen. ‘Why are you still working? Why aren’t you out spending some of that cool dinero?’
‘I haven’t sold any shares. I’m not sure what to do yet.’
‘Very wise. Got any plans? You could go home.’
‘This is my home, Chris. I’m a citizen.’
Chris stared for a moment, then laughed. ‘Sure you are. And you know what? Hold those shares, understand? This company’s worth twice what they are.’
Lopez grinned and then disappeared again.
‘You shouldn’t say things like that,’ said Andrei.
‘Why not? I don’t think the SEC’s listening.’ Chris sat back and breathed out long and slow. ‘Monster of a party last night. What time did you leave?’
‘Around midnight.’
‘You were never much of a party guy, were you? So how does it feel, anyway? CEO of a two-hundred-billion-dollar company.’
‘Fine.’
‘Fine? That’s it?’
‘Ridiculous.’
Chris laughed. ‘There’s probably only … what? Ten of you, twenty of you, in the whole world. Cool club. The share price is still going up today, by the way.’
‘I know. I kind of wish it would stop.’
‘You know, Apple was the first company to five hundred billion dollars. How would it be to be the first to a trillion? That would be something, huh?’
Andrei shrugged. ‘It’s an arbitrary number, Chris. It wouldn’t mean anything to me.’
‘Not even as something to aim for?’
Andrei shook his head.
Chris watched him. ‘You don’t look too happy. I thought you’d be, like, heading down to buy yourself a fleet of Ferraris.’
Andrei raised an eyebrow.
‘No, I guess not. Come on, Andrei. Lighten up.’
‘Look,’ said Andrei. ‘I wanted to have a talk with you. I’m going to make some changes.’ He hesitated. ‘Chris, I’m going to ask you to be, like, more of an investor.’
Chris narrowed his eyes.
‘I don’t want you coming down to the office any more. Let’s have a more traditional CEO–investor relationship.’
‘I’ve only ever been an investor, Andrei. If you wanted my advice, it was there.’
‘Chris, we know that’s not true. You were like a member of the management team.’
‘Well, maybe you needed that.’
‘I’m not saying I didn’t. You did a lot of great things. Fishbowl wouldn’t be where it is today or anywhere near it without your contribution. But I think the time has come for that to change.’
‘How long have you been thinking that?’
‘A while.’
‘Since when?’
‘I don’t know. Does it matter? Tell me, did you give that leak to the Wall Street Journal? About the date of our supposed IPO?’
‘No.’
‘Just tell me the truth.’
‘No!’
‘Did your friend Billy at J.P. Morgan?’
‘How would I know? And he’s not my friend, I can