Games Of Fools

with potential. Three weeks had passed since the contract was signed, and already the land bore the marks of swift, efficient labor. Fences stood straight as soldiers at attention, ir

on of a man who had gambled and won. His sharp eyes missed nothing-the way the fence posts were perfectly spaced, how the newly

hind, arms crossed, watching the older men with an expression caught between pride and wariness. The sleeves of his work shir

sed when I was told that you immediately started working the very next day after we signed that contract." His

"Well, that's how we work. Start fast, finish fast." He sho

weeks, and after looking around the farm and seeing the report you sent over, I was blown away." He tu

. "Well, thank you, sir

ter signing the contract?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Most would say they need a week or more to 'put things in place.' Waste time. Then, even after starting, they don't work half as efficiently as

too white against his sun-darkened skin. "What can I

stretched out, nearly ready for planting. The setting sun painted the til

the farmland," Kirby rep

up toward his hairline. "You're saying I ca

e to make the younger man rock forward slightly. "Actually, this is all thanks

airs on Jake's arms stand up. "Really? The last time we spoke, I knew he

ept his voice even. "I'm just lucky,

ood and citrus-mingled with the smell of fresh-turned soil. "Even you don't believe what you're saying." He tilted his head, studying Jake like a scientist examining

ting in those pale eyes, before dipping his

stood straighter. "Mr. Sullivan, thank you for the business-and th

a pleasure. And Jake-" He paused, his grip tightening slightly as he leaned in. The fading light caught the silver in his ti

g behind his eyes like a candle

-

llbar –

docks. The Bullbar, nestled between the portside bustle and the quieter streets leading toward the cliffs, stood as it always had-a pl

. It had been weeks since he'd last been here, weeks since that first meeting with Sullivan that had set everything in motion

tions as before. Sullivan in his usual chair, fingers steepled before him, the dim light catching on the platinum of his wristwatch. Rowland sat to his

ime, when Jake entered, Rowland looked up from his pho

e seat across from Sullivan wit

nge as Rowland's, condensation beading on the sides. Jake hesi

ound low and knowing. "S

ondensation on the glass. "Can't say I've se

y in protest. "But then again, not many people think the way we do." He studied Jake o

ment deliberately casua

ick. "But we both know it's more than that. You didn't just do

on his tongue, the citrus tang making his mouth

for him. His fingers tapped a rhythmless pattern against

g the way the liquid sloshed against the s

chin. "Five years ago, I started something.

his brow furro

emples. "Every year, I handpick thirty young people-bright, hungry, the kind who could be something more if given the right push." His hands moved as he spoke, sketching shapes in the a

ondensation had made the surface slick, and his

the expression of a man hold

said slowly, the title of his first series t

that might have been triumph. "You wrote it five y

e glass down with more force than necessary. The

Out of 150 people who've gone through the program, seven are now billionaires or close to it. The rest?" H

ke waves against the shore. "That's... insane. You too

air protesting softly. "People don't fail because they're stupid or lazy. They fail because they never g

e was beginning to form. The juice sat heavy in his

to be part of it," S

enc

ed at him

group starts soon," Sullivan co

ealize I wrote this story,

you're still working for your father's company. Still writing

jaw tig

ill give you the details next week." He no

-

c crash of waves against the cliffs a steady bac

about this," h

Sullivan

s one thing to write abou

point, Jake. You wrote about a man who got a chance

the dark water. "

doing," Sullivan said. "But we both

wheel. Sullivan opened the door

s named after your series. Diamond in

, and the car disapp

tugging at his clothes, the weight of the o

itten thi

d, he was goi