IMAGINATION, a Short Story by Gordon Hall Gerould

In the shadowy elegance of an exclusive gentlemen's club, three men—an acclaimed critic with a sharp tongue, a literary tycoon fueled by ego, and a young admirer—exchange tales over whiskey and tea. What begins as light banter soon delves into revelations of ambition, sacrifice, and the slippery nature of gratitude. As secrets from twenty years past resurface, including a mysterious manuscript and a presumed act of charity, loyalties are tested and reputations threatened. When the truth about one man’s rise to fame is laid bare, the line between generosity and self-interest blurs in an unforgettable confrontation. In this witty, incisive exploration of human vanity and the cost of success, Imagination dares to ask: is greatness born, earned, or borrowed?