I stood in the quiet, taking in the silence—and the fear in his eyes.

I could see it all.

How he was threatened.

How he was unsure he could win the deal.

I guess, deep down, he knew I was absolutely right. That I had already won his father’s heart. And if it was a game I was playing with him, like he so badly wanted to believe, then deep down… he knew I was holding the crown of victory.

He just could not bring himself to admit that I was winning—and he was losing.

I kept staring back at ...