Mike Offit: Nothing Personal: A Novel of Wall Street

A work of fiction is no different than a good joke—there is an element of the truth in it that makes you laugh, or if poorly told, uncomfortable. In that regard, the truth is that I could never have written this book without the love of my father, who encouraged me to write later in life, because he wanted his son to be prosperous and happy, and my mother and brother who allowed me to grow up, knowing I was cared for. And, of course, my wife, who has made my adult life the envy of any man—not only is she beautiful, loving, and brilliant, but also a professional juggernaut who has never once settled for less than being the best at anything she does, pulling me along with her.

Also important are the panoply of miscreants and clowns (at least one of them an actual clown) who taught me that neither intellect, morals, nor taste were required to succeed in finance, so that even so lucrative a failure as my own might not reflect on my character. But there were also those rare dedicated and decent people who worked with me, and made what success I had not just possible but occasionally fun. Without them I wouldn’t have lasted a month. Sharing every day since with my wonderful children and incredible wife, and a small group of special, caring friends, was a treasure I hope someday to deserve.

Finally, my heartfelt thanks to the editors I have worked with in my brief career as a writer—Richard Story, Deborah Frank, Katie Gilligan, and Melanie Fried there to greet me when I returned from the yawning abyss of a blank page with a sheaf of disfigured paper, and the burning desire to do it again. My gratitude as well, to the remarkable Thomas Dunne who chose to invest his time, money, and reputation in me. I hope his faith is rewarded.

MIKE OFFIT began a twenty-year Wall Street career after graduating from Brown University, abandoning advertising, and earning an MBA from Columbia University. He rose to become a senior trader at Goldman Sachs, and to head the mortgage and asset-backed securities trading desks at First Boston, Prudential, and finally at Deutsche Bank, where, as managing director, he built and ran the Street’s leading commercial real estate finance business. After retiring, he returned to writing, becoming a columnist and contributing editor at the luxury lifestyle bible Departures magazine. He lives in New York City and Bedford, New York, with his wife and their two children.

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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS.

An imprint of St. Martin’s Press.

NOTHING PERSONAL. Copyright © 2014 by Mike Offit. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.thomasdunnebooks.com

www.stmartins.com

Cover designed by James Iacobelli.

e-ISBN 9781250035417

First Edition: February 2014