What Happens in Vegas …
stays in Vegas … unless you work on a trading floor. The trading floors of the old days, were much like a football locker room. A bunch of “macho” guys talking about what they did last night, what kind of car they drive, how much money they made on a trade, or what they did in Vegas.
Andy, was a sole proprietor, but a big vega trader. He liked risk and when he gambled, it was big. He always seemed to be up millions on the day or close to blowing out altogether. When I met Andy, I didn’t know what to think at first. He was always amped, talking a hundred miles and hour and very alert. Come to find out, he was sneaking to the bathroom or a local bar several times during the trading day for a date with The Candy Man.
Well, Andy, was actually very entertaining when you got to know him, but not attractive. At least I couldn’t see why women were attracted to him. He was tall and thin, kind of gangly, with a big nose and a pock-marked face. I actually thought based on the obnoxious orange and yellow button ups he loved to wear that he might even be gay. I was wrong though, he was married to an absolutely beautiful and accomplished Asian woman and they had children.
I always wondered if the wild ones left the floor after a crazy day of trading and could actually go home and mellow out in front of Sports Center, play with their kids, or take their wives out for a romantic meal. I guess maybe they could occasionally, but this was not the lifestyle they abided by. The addiction, risk, and wildness carried itself from the volatile markets to the night life.
I learned all about it when Andy returned from Las Vegas, white as a ghost and with the tremors. “Ah man, you should have seen the hookers,” he told me. What? Well, he explained that all the strippers were hookers. You just had to invite them back to your hotel after hours and they’d do anything for extra cash. Apparently they were doing lines off the hookers stomach. Then Andy and his friends took turns bending her over. As one man would pound her all the others would watch and cheer them on, stroking themselves and awaiting their turn.
I wondered if Andy’s wife had any idea what happens when he goes to Vegas. This is a trip Andy makes quite frequently. I still don’t know if she knew all the details, but he was caught cheating and they separated for a time from what I heard. I also head that she has tried to force him to rehab – apparently she found him passed out in bed covered in his own vomit one too many times!
