“I don’t want to say how I know, Jerry, because that wouldn’t be fair to my source,” Charlie began. “But I know what you’re here to present today, and I respectfully must disagree with it.”
“I’m sorry. What did you say? You disagree with me? I find that a bit strange, Charlie,” Jerry returned.
“Well, it’s the reason I’m here today. I’m here to implore this executive team to consider all sides and to not make any hasty decisions about InVision’s future based on a single perspective. Based on your perspective, Jerry.” Charlie made sure to face his adversary when he spoke his name.
“I’m still confused, Charlie,” Jerry said. “How is it you came to know about my presentation?”
“That doesn’t matter right now,” Charlie said. “I thought the best way for you to understand how and why InVision will help to shape SoluCent’s future is with facts and data. For some of you seated here, I’m sure this will just be a refresher course.”
Charlie’s PowerPoint deck was only six slides in all, but each helped tell a carefully crafted story: healthy consumer interest in InVision, lower than projected production costs, a multipronged sales strategy that included a comprehensive advertising plan and details of the partnerships with some of the world’s most prominent automotive manufacturers. The business case was as airtight as a killing jar.
Charlie’s presentation style, forceful but not overly animated, was no less convincing than the content. His word choice had been carefully crafted and memorized. His timing ensured the presentation took less than five minutes, without him seeming rushed or vague. Having run his own executive-level meetings, Charlie had anticipated a tight agenda and limited floor time.
The final slide was a direct comparison of Jerry’s assertions, taken from the PowerPoint Anne Pedersen had provided, with Charlie’s data in larger, bold type. Several sub-bullets backed up his claims and illustrated just how wrong Jerry’s assertions were.
“These numbers are irrefutable,” Charlie concluded. “I welcome an audit, and I promise you, the Magellan Team uses GAAP for all our figures. There is no fudge factor here.”
Everyone in the room sat quietly after Charlie finished. There was some shuffling of papers, the soft creaking of chairs.
“Any questions or comments?” Charlie asked.
Charlie stood awkwardly at the front of the room. He faced the silence and rocked back and forth on his heels, praying that someone would speak up.
Jerry Schmidt put his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his hands. He took in an audible deep breath and let it out slowly. In the quiet of the room, it was as loud as a scream. He looked puzzled and concerned. Good, Charlie thought. You wanted to play hardball, Jerry. How does it feel to be on the losing side?
“Charlie,” Jerry began slowly. He spoke in a very authoritative tone, as though he were confronting a child who had just done something against the rules. “How is it again that you came across my presentation you’re attacking?”
Charlie couldn’t help but let out a little smirk. Gotcha, you jackass.
“That’s not important, Jerry,” Charlie said. “The bottom line is that I knew what you were presenting and I felt it was my obligation as a shareholder in SoluCent to present the counterargument. You now have the facts as I see them. You have both sides. We’ll each have a chance to have our say. I’m comfortable leaving it up to the executive team to make any final decisions.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, Charlie,” Jerry said. “Really glad. It’s just…well, it’s just strange that you thought I was here to attack InVision.”
The comment stunned Charlie. He took a step for balance and wound up standing in front of the projection screen, casting warped numbers from his slide across his body and lighting up his reddening face with the white-hot light from the projection bulb.
“I’m sorry, Jerry. What are you saying? I don’t think I follow you.”
“What I’m saying Charlie, is you should have looked at my presentation before you got up here.” Jerry leaned back in his chair. “My presentation,” Jerry added for emphasis. “The one I planned on giving today. The one I’ve always planned to show.”
Jerry stood up; the room remained silent. He went over to the computer, opened his PowerPoint presentation from the network, and projected it on the large white screen. Charlie had moved back so he could read the title slide. A sinking, sickening feeling of horror washed over him.
The Future is here and now! Winning big with InVision
By Jerry Schmidt, Vice President, Channel Marketing, the Americas
“I’m confused,” Charlie said.
“Well, darn it,” Jerry said in a mocking singsong voice. “So am I, Charlie! Confused and bewildered at that. Do you want me to go through my deck? I mean, you covered most of it already.”
“I… I…don’t understand.” Charlie felt flushed, blood racing through him, his heart beating mercilessly in his chest. For a moment he thought he might be sick.
“Leon, you can scratch me from the agenda, okay?” said Jerry. “Charlie covered all my slides. Growth, new market position, new consumer demand, cross-selling opportunities, and projected increase to net revenue of one hundred forty million year one—and that’s a low estimate.”
“Charlie! Jerry!” Yardley said. “What the hell is going on here?”
“I’m asking the same question, Leon. I think only Charlie knows the answer,” replied Jerry.
All eyes turned to Charlie.
“I was told by a very reliable source that Jerry was here to try and shut down InVision, to push it into R & D. This person gave me Jerry’s presentation,” Charlie explained. “I don’t know what is going on, but I’m guessing Jerry caught wind of it and changed his deck to make me look bad.”
“Well, you look bad,” Yardley said. “Jerry, is this true?”
“Absolutely not!” Jerry snapped. “That is completely absurd. I have one position on InVision. Sell the shit out of it. That’s all! The product is great, and it is going to make SoluCent better. End of story.”
“Charlie?” said Yardley.
“I have his deck, Leon! I don’t know who he thinks he’s fooling,” said Charlie.
“Who I’m fooling? Who are you fooling, Charlie?” Jerry asked. “Tell me, who gave you this alleged PowerPoint of mine?”
He had no choice. The situation had changed. “Anne Pedersen,” Charlie said after a pause. “I got the deck from Anne Pedersen. She gave it to me a few days ago at lunch.”
Charlie didn’t have time to think of the consequences, but the moment he spoke her name, he was awash with guilt. He remembered what she had told him. That she had just gotten divorced. He thought she had mentioned children to support. Surely she’d be fired after this came out in the open. But he wouldn’t let her down completely. He knew people. He could get her another job in another company if he had to.
Charlie could see Jerry processing, thinking intently.
Jerry spoke in a calm, dispassionate voice. “I don’t know who that is,” he said.
Charlie glared at him. “You…you…don’t know who that is?” He was enraged at the audacity, Jerry’s ruthlessness. It was bad enough that Jerry had somehow switched presentations to cover his tracks and humiliate Charlie in the process, but to lie flat out was inconceivable.
Charlie looked around the room for signs of support, anyone who was willing to speak