The Pitch at the Gallery
“Okay, then. Let’s roll!” Steve said as he jumped to his feet excitedly. He gathered his laptop and the rest of his information and headed for the door. Greg and Jan followed him out, both smiling at his enthusiasm.
When they entered Jan’s gallery, they saw several rows of seats set up facing a large TV screen. There were twenty people sitting in the seats. Steve connected his laptop to the television perched on a small platform at the front of the large room. Hillary James was sitting near the front, a beautiful woman in her mid-40s. Greg stood next to the TV and used a laser pointer on the screen, while Jan stood off to the side and watched.
To Steve’s astonishment and slight discomfort, in the center row of seats, the millionaire who had earlier un-leashed his dog on Steve now sat silently waiting for the presentation. He wore sunglasses and was playing with Steve’s chewed up phone. As the presentation concluded and the screen went black, the "B & L” logo appeared. Greg offered a little bow, and the audience rose and applauded. They then began to file from their seats and headed toward Steve and Greg to offer their congratulations. The wealthy guests gathered in the gallery milled about, chatting about their wives and kids and next business ventures, while Jan’s assistant Linda offered refreshments: coffee, wine, club soda and gourmet cookies. She eventually found her way next to Jan and handed her a drink. They each noticed Hillary James, the gorgeous mid-40’s something, chatting Steve up at length. She clearly had a lot to say. Glancing toward the door, Steve saw the dog-unleashing millionaire leave Steve’s iPhone on his seat and walk away smiling. Greg also saw the phone, snatched it up and slipped it to Steve as he walked by him.