‘You can’t be bought. Yes, I can see that,’ Julian nodded. ‘And I respect you for it. But for what it’s worth, I have full faith that no such compromises would even be required. I would not dream of trying to bribe you; Kit will redeem himself. At the moment he’s face-down in the mud, but he’s too much of a fighter to stay down there. It’s in his DNA to fight. He will come back and his stock will rise again.’ Julian’s eyes sparkled. ‘As my accountant likes to tell me, he is an appreciating asset.’

Clover smiled. ‘Do you think he’ll reward you with loyalty if his moment of glory comes again?’

Julian laughed again. ‘Oh, I sincerely doubt it! If he starts winning and your film shows him in a sympathetic light, then of course, he’ll sign to one of the big boys.’ He clicked his fingers. ‘He’ll be gone. No regrets . . . But he’ll have done what I needed by then.’

‘Boosted your profile?’ Matty said, trying to get in on the conversation.

Julian looked at her with an even warmer smile. ‘And fur-lined my pockets. Early termination of contract comes at a price.’

‘How long is he signed to you for?’

‘Three years.’

Clover quickly calculated. ‘So he’d be thirty-three before he’s free to sign a new contract. That’s getting on in the snowboarding world isn’t it?’

‘Well, the average age of his competitors is twenty-two, so . . .’

Clover’s eyebrows shrugged up. ‘You really do believe in him.’

‘Or perhaps I am as mad as everyone has been telling me I am,’ he grinned. ‘The feedback on my new ventures wasn’t exactly favourable.’ He gave a lackadaisical shrug.

Clover wondered how many millions he had invested in signing Kit and delivering on the production capabilities for the clothing and snowboard ranges. The prospect of losing it didn’t appear to be unduly worrisome. From what Ari had told her – that Julian had rung him seventeen times in an afternoon – she had expected him to be driven, but the man before her had an almost studied languor. Unless that was just part of his mannered mode of behaviour?

‘How have you found Kit? On a personal basis, I mean?’ she asked, watching him closely. ‘It’s obvious why he’s hostile to us but your sponsorship bestows your family’s good name upon his besmirched reputation—’

‘Great word, besmirched,’ Matty nodded appreciatively.

Julian chuckled, his eyes lingering on her for a moment.

‘You’ve given him and his team a beautiful chalet to live in, a base where he can hone his new craft pretty much all year round. And I’m guessing the big shiny car is part of the package too. You must be best buddies, surely?’