“It’s closer than any of you assholes have gotten!” Luke said, embarrassed and defeated, but still laughing.
“That’s true. And it might work,” Lisa said, looking at her phone before showing the group a LinkedIn page. “Looks like CompComm has new IT leadership. Both the VP and Senior Director of Global Technology are new hires in the last three months. That sounds like a prime target.” She smiled at Luke. “Thanks for the tip. First one to land a pitch owes the other dinner.”
Alec shot me a glance. His eyebrow twitched as a smirk played on his lips. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who’s to say you two will be going after them? This is huge, we should discuss strategy and tactics. Because remember,” he grinned like the devil himself, “a win for FinCrest is a win for all of us.”
“But a win for me is best,” Lisa said.
Alec smirked. “Don’t know about that…”
“Why don’t we wager on it?” I said.
The Sr. Reps led both casual and professional group conversations. Salespeople have big egos, and things like titles and seniority matter. The other Jr. Reps and I were most oftenthe audience. But I had to take the chance, and hope I read Alec’s silent communication correctly.
“A wager, how? Should we cast lots on who gets to call or email them? Or maybe a foot race on which team prepares the deck?” Lisa said.
“No. Each of us antes up $100, so $200 a team. First sales team to deliver a pitch, not just schedule it, but delivers to someone at CompComm, wins the pot.”
“Two thousand dollars?” Lisa said, laughing. “Oh, honey…”
Alec stepped in. “No. The kid’s got a point, but let’s make it two-k per team. So, a twenty-k pot. And half of each team’s Star Award points.”
Lisa rose a brow and smirked. “And what if one of us closes?”
“Two points off the top of each team’s combined year-end bonus from last year,” Luke said.
Star award points were for purchasing FinCrest branded hoodies and shit, or a Visa gift card if you saved enough. But two percent of our year-end bonus? Alec’s bonus might have been half my salary. If not more. That would bethousands.If he wanted to split it evenly, which, knowing him, he might, there was no way I could afford it.
Before I could object, Lisa’s smirk slid into a smile. “Now that’s interesting. Alec? Kevin? Alicia?”
The Sr. Sales Reps. agreed, and soon, that was the official bet. One thousand dollars from the twenty of us, the entire pot going to the first team to deliver a pitch to Compact Communications. If a team closed the deal, they’d get much more than that. Making it a team’s combined bonus obscured what we made to the others. There wasno wayI could afford that!
Promises were made to regroup at happy hour that night to finalize the details. It was better to discuss it off company time, according to one of the older Sr. Reps. But as soon as the group dissolved to get some work done for the day, I let Alec know my concerns.
“What if Lisa closes in a few weeks?” I said as Alec took the seat across from me in one of the tiny breakout rooms scattered around our floor. “I can’t float even a few points of your bonus, man—I’m just not that liquid.”
The room was cramped. Two chairs, a table, and a small screen for sharing. I was looking forward to the promised renovations. The top floor, where the C-suite sat, was already complete and looked fantastic. All glass and chrome with larger, more open spaces and more non-traditional breakout areas.
I watched Alec deflate. The energy of the group setting shed off him in a single steady wave. When he spoke, he sounded sleepy.
“Mason, please calm down,” he said, closing and opening his eyes.
“Yeah?” I studied his face for a moment. “You good, bro?”
“Yeah.” His eyes were slow to focus on me. “Just home shit. Maybe you really should stay a bachelor forever.”
“Oh shit. Things not going well?”
Alec shook his head, clearing some of the fog, and smiled. “Nah, man, living the dream.” His smile turned artificial.
That’s how he was. He looked exhausted sometimes, but as soon as it was needed, he’d be up and active. Ready for whatever with a smile and the energy of a snarky eighteen-year-old.
Alec continued, “First of all, she won’t close that deal. We’ll land a pitch first, but that’s all it will be. The big boys will be all over them, if they’re not already. But if there’s a chance they’re open to a contract with us, we’ll close it.”
“Yeah, but—”
He lifted a hand. “But if she, or anyone else, somehow beats us, I’ll cover you. You didn’t work here last year to have gotten a bonus. No way anyone expects you to pony up. You’re excluded.”
“Yeah, but it was my idea in the first place.”
