Jimmy Sinclair had a reputation of being a shark in the boardroom. He didn't think the assessment was fair. Sharks went on feeding frenzies without regard for their prey. A mouthful of guppies, a seal, or a surfer didn't matter to the ocean predator.

Jimmy preferred to be considered a snake. Also cold-blooded, but a snake often stalked or ambushed his prey. Jimmy carefully waited patiently and planned hostile takeovers.

The Bates deal took on a life of its own. Jimmy couldn't let the real predator continue to have his way with women. Both Bates fell into Jimmy's trap when they looked to him for capital. Their spending cost them the majority shares of their own business. He circled around them and they allowed the ambush to happen. Everyone was profiting from the sales of the oldest private bank in Boston. When the time was right, a few carefully leaked stories would make Jimmy a real snake. It would be enough to start a criminal investigation.

Jimmy flew to Vail the week of the wedding. The timing wasn't ideal, but he planned to be home two days before the big event. Sometimes the snake didn't need an ambush, because the greedy prey walked right into his jaws. Duncan Dawson was an idiot. Jimmy couldn't understand how Tate had fallen for him.

Dunc didn't understand Jimmy traded money to fund his stupid idea, he had given away his shares in his father's business. Just like the Bateses, the old man also traded shares for capital. The scale had tipped and Jimmy owned fifty-five percent of Dawson Sports.

Feeling charitable, he could still work out a plan with Dickie to save his original stores. Regardless, Dawson would take a hit financially. Jimmy saw a loss on his balance sheet thanks to Duncan. The yo-yo, Jimmy sighed.

Tate was in the back of his mind. She had stood up to him on Dawson's behalf. The stupid startup Duncan put all his money in would never survive. Maybe it would be enough to stop there. Unfortunately, Jimmy invested heavily in a bleeding company and that didn't match his business model.

Returning to Vail conjured up memories. He had come close to making some new ones in Vegas, but he rolled the dice and lost, except for when their lips met. The woman made him hard just thinking about her. He stared at the laptop screen, glad to have it on his lap. Tony sat across from him studying the financials Romy had put together.

"You know, boss, the sales from the original stores are strong."

"They won't be if Dawson can't afford inventory."

"True, true. Do you have a buyer? You've been quiet about your plans."

Jimmy looked up. His staff never thought of him as a shark or a snake. Tony held him in a high regard - higher than Jimmy deserved. His staff viewed him as a Robinhood.

He sighed. "I don't want to take the man's business. I want to make him sweat."

Tony nodded. "The son almost married Baxter Kane's sister."

"Yes, but that drama wasn't Dickie's fault, except that he raised a spoiled idiot."

"Isn't he and the youngest Kane similar?"

Jimmy shook his head slowly. "Not even close. Kasper might act like Tarzan, but he is extremely intelligent."

"So the virtual reality venture?"

"We see what he has. If it weren't so stupid, I'd sell the idea. The kid can work selling hiking boots in the Vail store."

They landed too early for check in, so they skipped the hotel and went straight to the modest offices. Every visit Dawson laid out the red carpet. Jimmy didn't want to be greeted like a hero when he wasn't sure he would be one after a series of frank meetings.

Dickie exuberantly offered him fancy coffee. After his long list of offerings, (what the hell was a macchiato?) Jimmy asked for water. It was after noon east coast time. The man looked disappointed.

Tony followed Jimmy asking for water. Then he commented on the view which set off a long conversation. It was breathtaking with the white-capped mountains and evergreens. Had he appreciated the beauty two years before. He had flown in after dark and spent most of the next day dealing with the wedding guest and then he and Tate weren't looking out the window.

"Duncan will join us for an early lunch. I suppose it's a late lunch for you, gentlemen." Dickie laughed and his belly jiggled. He looked balder and bigger around the middle. Maybe the man understood the writing on the wall.

Jimmy cleared his throat. "How much has your son told you about his business?"

"You're helping him make a game. I don't understand the technical things he said."

"Just like with your business, I don't just give away money. I protect my investments."

"Right. Right. That's only fair. So you'll take a portion of his profits."

Jimmy shook his head. "That was too big of a gamble for me. I wish Dunc had told you, Dickie." He patted his back like a friend who cared.

"Told me what? He's disappointed me the last two years. First, he let Tate go. He didn't realize how lucky he was."

"I agree. The Kanes are an amazing family."

"And wealthy."

The snake wanted to hiss, but he breathed deeply instead. "They are so much more, but the Kanes are not a part of our business. Except for the Burlington store in which they hold the lease."

"Right. We were talking about my son. He knows he disappointed me when he didn't fight for his marriage. Dawson Sports is a family business with family values."

"Divorce isn't uncommon."

"But he splashes his private business for anyone to see."

"That's all part of the times we live in. Any time I escort a woman rumors fly."

"I heard you lost your fortune in Vegas. Is that why you're here?"

Jimmy laughed. He hadn't bothered to look twice at that headline. "I spent more on dinner with my friends than I lost at the blackjack table."

"What about the private poker game you attended?"

Jimmy should have read the garbage. "I don't play. I never bluff." Tony's smug smile made Jimmy up his game. "Back to the subject of Duncan, I'm afraid he might disappoint you even more."

"Why?"

"He put up his shares in Dawson Sports. You can do the math or we can let Tony do it for you."

"He what?" Dickie's face turned red. Jimmy expected steam to come out of his ears.

"I'm sure this comes as a surprise. My only goal is to get the sports stores back in the black."

"You own the majority of my business."

"I do. I expect you were looking for more capital with this meeting, but you don't want to give more of your business to me. It is not in my best interest for you to lose your business." If not for Tate, it might have been. Tony's smugness disappeared.

"Duncan will pay you back when his game takes off."

"I'll be meeting with Duncan on this trip too."

Dickie sputtered, but recovered in time to remind them about lunch.

Jimmy sighed when he realized lunch was at the resort where the wedding almost took place. Two years and nothing had changed between him and Tate. Almost nothing. He made a promise to himself to open his mind to possibilities when and if she trusted him as a friend. Both their healing required each other.

Thinking of Tate would put him off his game. He had to settle a score with her ex first. Duncan looked cocky as he strolled into the dining room. He was shorter than Jimmy but made up for it with muscles. Jimmy kept fit and healthy without bulking up. The comparison didn't end as he wondered once again why she ever chose the man looking uncomfortable in his suit.

"Jimmy. Glad you came."

Willing himself not to grimace while Duncan gripped his hand. He had better not have been rough with Tate. Focus Sinclair.

"Sit down, Duncan."

Jimmy looked at Tony. Dickie's tone reminded him of another disappointed father. "Jimmy, do you plan to ski while you're here?"

He never made time. On his last ski holiday, he met Candace. A chance meeting that worked to his advantage. Jimmy made some profit while Shaun freed herself from her cheating husband. Although the slopes looked enticing, he shook his head. "This is a business trip. I have commitments in Boston, so I won't be extending my stay."

Dickie looked Tony over. He looked more metropolitan than Jimmy. "Tony, do you ski?"

He laughed. "No. It's not really my thing."

"What's your thing?" Duncan asked.

Jimmy smirked. He knew Tony's background, including how his degree was paid for by a charity for city kids raised by single parents. Tony fit the bill. "Basketball."

"Aren't you short?"

"I wanted to be a point guard. Now I play with kids at the Boys' and Girls' club. Do you give back?"

"I entertain people."

Jimmy smiled. "That must be rewarding."

"Yeah. I'm creating a game to entertain kids."

Tony put down his fork. "What's your price point?"

"My what?"

"Price point. How much do you need to sell your game to breakeven?"

"I don't know."

Fifty grand. "No business at lunch, Tony."

"Sorry, boss."

The conversation stilted. What did they have in common aside from business? Jimmy would not discuss Tate. He sighed when the plates cleared.

"So Duncan, where should we meet? At your office?"

"I don't have an office. The developers work from home."

"I'd like to see how it's coming along. Can you set up a meeting so they can show me?"

"Yeah, sure. Tomorrow morning. I could come to your hotel. Are you staying here?"

"No." He barked. "Not here." He told him the name of their hotel. "Nine am."

"Yeah. Okay. I'll let them know."

Jimmy had been hands off hoping Duncan would run his venture into the ground Meanwhile he had to deal with stores which weren't turning a profit.

After lunch Jimmy had a frank conversation with Dickie and left Tony to discuss options on how to save Dawson Sports. Every viable option required closing stores. Tony messaged him they would continue working in the morning.

The hotel gym was empty at four-thirty am just the way Jimmy liked it. He worked out his stress and planned his meeting with Duncan. The worst case would be if the developers had a product. Jimmy would have to wait for it to fail.

At nine-ten, Duncan knocked on his door. The sturdy man in jeans and a sweater smiled. "Good morning."

Jimmy nodded. He overdressed even without his tie. "Did you set up the meeting?"

"For nine-thirty. I want to talk to you."

He nodded. "Shoot."

"I expected you to be different. Tate defended you, but I didn't believe her."

With a cocked brow, Jimmy studied Duncan's face looking for a sign he was lying. "About what exactly?"

"Your reputation. I told her what I read, and she always said it wasn't true or the real you is nice."

"I can be nice, but some of it is true. Tate has argued with me over my business decisions."

An hour later after Jimmy confirmed his suspicions, Duncan yelled, "Tate was wrong about you."

"Don't piss me off or your father will lose his business too. I'm extending my generosity to him."

"Asshole."

Jimmy didn't deny it. When Duncan didn't shut up, he seethed. "Leave before I put Dawson Sports up for sale."

Thanks for voting ⭐️