The big monitor was displaying the view from the hospitality suite. Scott and the people from his team were milling around, most with a drink in their hands, enjoying the successful completion of another major show. Peter was there too, but only a few of his team members were present.
We could see Peter check his watch; then he looked up to where he knew the cameras were located and gave a small nod. The game was afoot!
Debby, the woman I’d met earlier in Peter’s office, bent over the microphone in front of the monitor and responded, “Roger that, we are go for launch.” It was obvious that Peter had heard her through the small microphone in his ear because he nodded again. She flipped a switch and spoke quietly, “Commence stage one.” One of Peter’s people in the room responded with a surreptitious nod, then went over to one of Scott’s salesman. He stuck out his hand to the salesman and began offering his congratulations. Even at a distance we could see the smile break out on the salesman’s face.
Debby toggled the speaker switch to a different setting and repeated the same instructions. As we watched, one of Peter’s product demonstrators strolled over to another of Scott’s people and began talking to him. The man’s face took on a look of surprise, and although we couldn’t hear anything, it appeared obvious that he was asking for confirmation.
Several other members’ of Peter’s team repeated the process, and we could see the excitement starting to build among Scott’s team.
Debby glanced over her shoulder at me, her mouth taut. “The word is starting to spread,” she said. “Get ready.”
As I watched the screen closely, Peter made a slight adjustment to something under his jacket and suddenly we could hear the rustle of material as he walked over to his adversary. “Well, Scott,” he said, extending his hand, “it looks like you’ve won. Congratulations.”
“What are you talking about, Peter?” Scott snarled suspiciously, refusing to take the proffered hand.
“I just heard that Mr. Moffatt announced his retirement at the Executive Committee meeting this afternoon. I also heard that the Committee elected you to be his successor,” Peter said.
On the screen, we could see Scott looking at Peter warily. “I haven’t heard any such thing. What kind of game are you trying to play, Hammill?”
Just then, one of Scott’s people came over and began clapping him on the back. “Way to go, boss! We just heard the news.”
“What news? What are you talking about?”
The salesman was undaunted. “It’s all over the show, Scott. You’re going to be the new VP of Sales and Marketing!”
As Scott looked at him uncertainly, another one of his people came up to offer congratulations. Debby zoomed the camera in on Scott’s face, and we could clearly see exultation warring with hesitation. Scott gave a little hand gesture.
Debby looked back at me. “That’s your cue,” she said. I held up Mr. Moffatt’s smartphone and clicked SEND on the text message I’d prepared. I noticed that my hands were slightly sweaty.
It was easy to tell when the text went through because Scott jumped as though he’d been shocked. Quickly he grabbed the smartphone out of his pocket and checked the text he’d just received. I knew what he was reading because Peter and I had carefully composed it:
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