Below, the frost-thickened air is heavy with expectation; Children, like koala bears, slump sleepily on aching shoulders and gaggling groups gather beneath the piercing light of their smartphone cameras.
“Ten...nine...” Jake loosens his tie and raises his glass; xylophone chimes of ice hitting crystal. “...three...two...” Jake jumps.
Cheers morph into screams as Jake lies splayed and bloodied on damp concrete. Firework disco-lights dance frantically on his waxy skin; just as the quarterly stock market numbers roll in.