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And as Mary closed her eyes to savor herin love with Jack Sullivan, the first snowflakes of winter began to fall…
Chapter One
Early Deceo…
Jack Sullivan needed a Christmas reat and cutting-edge product That’s e agreed toChristray-haired man who had founded Walter Industries held Jack’s invention in his hand "Unfortunately," Allen said as he put it on the table and slid it a couple of inches away, "our sales reps have all reported in to let us know that their accounts are fartoys like the Pet Rock and posters of sex symbols such as Jacqueline Bisset for the holiday sales rush My coreat products this year What we need to sell this Christ to have to cut our losses now I’m afraid this is the end of the road for the Pocket Planner"
Ten years ago, Jack had just begun the PhD progra at Stanford University when he’d woken up in the ht with a crystal-clear vision of a portable electronic device that would help people keep track of their appointht he was crazy at first, but he’d held on to that vision with unwavering focus By the tiraduated with his doctorate, three of his fellow PhD candidates had joined his quest to develop the Pocket Planner
In classic Silicon Valley style, Jack, Howie Miller, Larry Buelton and Jaarage of a house Jack was renting on a suburban Palo Alto street Jaroup to take a steady job with a paycheck But Larry and Howard had stuck with Jack through hundreds of cold slices of pizza and cups of coffee while they sweated it out over their computers and calculators They’d had plenty of failures and had h success--along with part-ti forith their plan
This , when the three of the with Allen Walter, they’d assus were shaping up for their big holiday product launch Walter Industries had been one of the early investors in Hewlett Packard and, as far as Jack was concerned, they were the only partner he would have trusted with his baby It had been a thrill when Allen’s coned on earlier in the year to manufacture and distribute the Pocket Planner to retailers this Christmas
Jack had worked too long and hard to let Allen and Walter Industries pull the plug Even if several other new products had underperformed this year, he knew his wouldn’t Fortunately, he’d done extensive research and he knew exactly what had underperforh market," Jack said "And the Playerphone is too siadget forit, too, because it will make their busy lives easier Even kids can use it to keep track of hoa four boys while putting in part-time hours at the school district office She would have loved having his invention at her disposal to keep track of household purchases and school schedules His father would have used it to track his favorite sports teaht, Jack," Allen agreed "The proble your invention I’ the retailers to stock it in the first place Between rising inflation and slowing econoet stores to give a new product a chance They truly have to believe that people ant to part with their hard-earned dollars to buy it"
Jack could see his partners, Larry and Howie deflating more and more with every word out of the chairman’s mouth But it would take a heck of a lot ive up
"We appreciate your concerns, Allen, and would like to co and publicity plan that will convince you that our invention can be extremely profitable for your retailers"
Howie shot Jack a look that he could read without needing to hear hi to coineers, not PR people
Larry’s expression was even easier to read: It’s over
Allen shook his head "I aded--too fast, if you ask me People aren’t interested in wholesoain "Tell you what--if you can figure out a way to give this device sex appeal, we may be able to continue the conversation"
Jack could have easily proved its usefulness And he could have definitely detailed its ti benefits
But sex appeal?
Even Jack knehen he was staring straight into a dead end
Still, he’d bought them twenty-four hours Noas time to use those hours to make absolutely sure he and his two partners cah, and "sexy" enough, that the retailers couldn’t say no