Bateman slides his card across the table; it's off-white, with the words PATRICK BATEMAN: VICE PRESIDENT centred and embossed in black.

The assembled party gasp in admiration.

"Very nice."

Bateman leans back in his chair.

"Picked 'em up from the printers yesterday."

"Good colouring."

"That's bone. And the lettering is something called Silian Grail."

Another broker interrupts.

"It's very cool, Bateman, but..."

He whips out his card, laying it next to Bateman's on the table. Off-white with the words ROBERT VAN PATTEN: VICE PRESIDENT centred and embossed in black, it is basically indistinguishable.

"Egg shell, with Roman."

Bateman smiles bitterly.

"Nice."

Now a third broker pulls out his card. It looks exactly like the first two, except it reads TIMOTHY BRICE: VICE PRESIDENT.

"Raised lettering, pale nimbus."

"Impressive", Bateman mutters. "Let's see Paul Allen's card."

The room falls silent as the third broker produces an absent colleague's card.

Bateman speaks in voiceover.

"Look at that subtle colouring. The tasteful thickness."

His face creases in horror.

"Oh my God. It even has a watermark."