Style, you
either have it or you
don't. And if you have it, you have it
all the time.The Rogue Goes to the Dogs
by Tux Toledo
Page 17
Harry
shrugged.
"He's aggressive and successful," he said.
There was something Harry wasn't telling me.
"And?" I asked.
"Well, this is only a rumor, mind you, but some people question the way
he has accumulated his Spectrum stock."
"What do you mean?"
Harry shrugged again. "They claim he has committed certain
improprieties," he said.
"What do you think?"
"Me? Spectrum is a very desirable company. I
wouldn't mind having it myself. It's been a bit mismanaged,
but I think with a little help it could be a real winner."
"Then you wouldn't break it up?"
"You know I don't believe in that." Harry clipped the end off
of a Davidoff Aniversario #1 and expertly lit it. He sat back
and let the smoke create temporary, puffy castles over the table.
"You didn't answer my other question. What about Nick
Arthur? Do you think he improperly acquired his shares?"
"My sources of information are good. I'd say he probably
did. But I can't prove it. It's not really unusual
to have a few skeletons in the closet in this kind of
business. But it would take some very good investigating to
find any evidence of wrongdoing."
"I see," I said. "You know, Nick doesn’t seem to be that
type."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, he's a dog fanatic. Animal lovers are typically good
people. He also seems to be a real sportsman with a strong
sense of fair play."
"You've been around long enough, Winston, to know better than to
believe outward appearances. There's a difference between
animal lovers and fanatics. Nick Arthur is a vicious
competitor. He'd do anything to get what he wants."
"I just wanted to hear you say it, Harry," I smiled. It
figures that someone who doubts my sporting nature would be involved in
such behavior.
"So now what happens with Spectrum?" I asked.
"Maybe Lester and Nick will knock themselves out and allow a third
party to sneak in and take the company."
"Yes, that would make a good story. Do you think it's
possible?"
"Not probable. One of them will falter. They're
playing a tenuous game. The first one to get his reputation
damaged will lose."
"And if they both get their reputations damaged?"
"I wouldn't mind making an offer for Spectrum myself," Harry
smiled. He had that wistful look.
I grinned, more of a smirk, actually. "Thanks, Harry," I said.
"I say, Winston, you aren't involved in this mess, are you?"
"You know me, Harry."
© 2008 David Biagini