by Alex Schuler
“You’re continuing to be a disappointment,” Oliver said. The drumming of his fingers grew louder as he leaned forward across his desk. “I hired you six months ago, and we are somehow eight months behind schedule. How many more people do you need to get us back on track?”
Harry Palmer fidgeted nervously in his maroon leather chair, springs creaking as his weight shifted back and forth. After leaving DSU in early 2008, Harry had taken a position with Boeing. He’d been happy there, until Oliver approached him with an offer that at the time, seemed too good to pass up. The beads of sweat forming across his brow indicated the second and third thoughts he was having about his decision to join Where2.
“It’s like I told you, Oliver, this isn’t about throwing bodies at a project. We need more time.”
“You’ve had more than enough time, Harry.” Oliver folded his arms and leaned back in his jet-black executive chair, cocking his head sideways. The northeast view from his office at Where2’s headquarters gave him a view of San Francisco Bay far in the distance. He closed his eyes and recalled the day he had seen the great pizza challenge broadcast. It still amazed him that after all that time, GSI had yet to put a self-driving car into production. “Where2 needs to be first. We need to be first. You need to be first.”
“I understand our objectives.”
“Then tell me what you need.”
“Well, you’ve got Nico Lee coming here. He called me last Friday when he left DSU to tell me how excited he was. That’s a big win.”
“But will it be enough? I know you and Nico were two of the key players for the DARPA Challenge. DSU bested everyone else at that event.”
“You also pulled in people from Ashton and Berkeley. The team is fantastic, Oliver.”
“But is it the best?”
“Well, technically you don’t have everyone that was on the DARPA DSU team.”
“You’re talking about Ted Wolff, aren’t you?”
“Yes. And others.”
“Damn GSI.” Oliver stood up and strode to the window. He clasped his hands behind his back, taking his right wrist in his other hand. Oliver was a delicate man with thin, almost fragile, features. He twisted the skin at the base of his hand back and forth in frustration. “They’ve proven to be the most savvy of adversaries. They seem to have a death grip on their employees. I haven’t been able to pry a single one away.”
“We’ve been using their software to run our systems. Do you think they’ve caught wind that we plan to dump them for the new mapping applications we’re building? Speaking of which, the code I inherited appears to be—”
“Our contract with GSI is locked in for another two years. There must be another reason. I can’t understand why their people won’t join us.”
Harry paused and watched Oliver begin to pace back and forth in front of the window. He said, “It’s because of Vin. They love him.”
“Nonsense. Everyone has their price, Harry. Even love and devotion can be bought.”
Harry started to chuckle. Oliver spun around and walked back to his desk, taking a seat on the corner. Harry rolled his chair back to put some distance between them.
“What’s so funny?” Oliver asked. That smile on Harry’s face made Oliver curious. He wondered if he’d struck a nerve.
“If anyone can be bought, it’s Ted.”
“I told you, Harry, we tried. Six months ago, right after you came on board. He’d just gotten married and said GSI had big plans. He shut me down before I could give him any details and then ignored my calls. As I said, GSI has proven impossible to raid.”
“I hear things there have gone south recently. Something to do with a change in direction.”
“Really?” Oliver’s lips slowly spread into a Cheshire cat’s grin.
“You may want to try again.”
Oliver stood up and slapped Harry on his shoulder. He took a step back and waited for the other man to take the hint. Harry slowly pulled himself out of the chair and adjusted his shirt, tucking it back into his pants.
“If it’s as bad as it sounds, there may be others looking to leave.” Harry headed toward the door, opened it, and looked back at Oliver. “Ask Ted. Maybe he can get Lori Preston. She’s a mapping genius.”
***
Ted killed the ignition on his BMW M6 and checked his phone. He was running ten minutes late. The parking lot at Donovan’s Pub was bustling with an energetic Friday lunchtime crowd. It was Friday the 20th, only five days before Christmas. Many employees were planning to take the following week off, so were leaving work early and going to the pub. The roads and businesses were congested with travelers and last-minute shoppers.
The inside of the restaurant was just as hectic as the outside. He looked around until he spotted Oliver Yan tucked away in a booth in the far corner. Oliver waved as soon as he saw Ted, who maneuvered his way around customers and the wait staff, crassly pushing some aside.
“Hey, sorry I’m late,” Ted said. He extended his arm and shook hands with Oliver. “Traffic was a mess. It’s nice to finally meet in person instead of by video chat.”
A waitress approached as Ted sat down. He requested a glass of water and waved her away.
“No apology needed,” Oliver replied. “Look, Ted, I’m going to cut to the chase. Like I said on the phone, Where2 wants to be first to market with an autonomous vehicle. We need you to make that happen.”
“Harry called me yesterday. It sounds like you’ve got an impressive team already in place.”
“But I want the best.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t more receptive to your calls earlier this year.”
“You blew me off before I could give you the details.”
“Your timing was bad. We were getting ready to pitch our solution to Detroit. And I’d just gotten married.”
“How’d that go? Detroit, not the wedding.” Oliver laughed briefly but stopped when he realized Ted was not laughing. “That bad?”
“Detroit didn’t go well. It was a mistake to believe they’d be ready for a partnership.” He paused as the waitress returned with his water. He took a long sip from the glass and stared at the ice cubes. The way they reflected the light reminded him of Sam’s engagement ring. “Lately, it seems the same could be said of my wife.”
“Oh—” Oliver paused, unsure of how to respond. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Nothing to apologize for, Oliver. Tell me more about Where2’s plans.”
“It doesn’t surprise me that Detroit rejected you. Trust me, Ted, they aren’t ready for the future we have planned. The days of personal car ownership are numbered. Within the next decade, Detroit will be building self-driving fleet vehicles that meet our specifications. Or they will simply cease to exist.”
“You sound very confident about that. But Where2 can’t build cars. You need a partner for that. And Detroit has shown no interest in this technology.” He paused and studied Oliver’s face. He seemed overly self-assured. “Wait. Do you have one? Did Detroit reject us because they already signed on with you?”
“Not Detroit, Ted.” He leaned forward and smiled. “We already have a signed agreement with a major European manufacturer. I’m not at liberty to say which one. But they intend to supply us with a small group of test vehicles to retrofit with our self-driving systems. Long-term, they want to be our supplier.”
“Wow.”
“It’s only a matter of time before the other companies, including Detroit, Asia, and the rest of Europe, realize they need to get on board. Sink or swim.”
“What about your employees? All the drivers who work for you now?”
“Our drivers aren’t employees. They’re work-for-hire. They’ll adapt and find different jobs. Everyone needs to be ready for the changes that are coming.” Oliver leaned back and clasped his hands in front of him. “Look, Ted, the world is evolving.
Kids today don’t want to own a car. They like spending their time and money on phones and video games. Besides, they’re too in debt to afford a car. Or a house. We’re proving that a sharing economy works. Everything is moving in that direction. Don’t get me wrong, Ted. We love our drivers. But self-driving cars are coming. We can’t sit back and let someone else take the lead.”
The waitress returned to the table. Before she could ask if they were ready to order, Oliver waved her away.
“Harry tells me you’re the guy who invented most of the self-driving hardware on top of the Hummer that won DARPA,” Oliver continued. “What was that vehicle called?”
“Cyclops.”
“Right. He said they wouldn’t have won if it hadn’t been for you.”
“He’s right.”
“I’ve got Nico Lee starting next month. But the team won’t be complete without their leader.”
“Leader?”
“I want you to have full control of the project. I’ve had Harry trying to steer the ship. He’s a bright guy, but he’s no leader. Nico and the others from DSU will flush out the team, but I need someone with vision, Ted.”
“Full control?” Ted said softly. He tried to temper his enthusiasm. Vin’s red tape. Sam’s slow, plodding methodology. The overly detailed project plans. All of it would be history. Every word coming from Oliver’s mouth rang out like the most perfect note in the most perfect song.
“It’s all about you, Ted.”
“When Sam and I”—He paused and fiddled with his wedding ring, briefly closing his eyes— “When I joined GSI four years ago, I thought the plan was to change the world. We all knew that the day would come when autonomous vehicles ruled the roads. The plan was to solidify the technology and take it to Detroit to show them the future.”
“And?”
“When Detroit rejected us, the company changed course. The gears at GSI turn too slowly for me. Their new direction is one I can’t support. The future you describe is the right way to go.”
“I’m glad to hear we’re on the same page.” Oliver glanced around, leaned forward, and lowered his voice. “Ted, I want you to know that Where2 is looking beyond self-driving technology.”
“How so?”
“We see enormous potential with the AI engine we’re building. It’s just the beginning.”
“Of . . . ?”
“Of a whole new world. Autonomy is going to be a major disruptor to many industries, not just transportation. Artificial intelligence will change everything.”
“Rise of the machines,” Ted said quietly under his breath. He smiled and asked, “What’s your timeline?”
“That depends on you. We have prototypes in the early design phases. But it’s all on the drawing boards. I want to be ready to have a vehicle ready to show our suppliers in January 2015.”
“That’s less than thirteen months away.” Ted paused and thought back to the years spent at GSI following Vin’s strict quality testing methodology. There were so many opportunities to move the project forward, but Sam and Vin mandated everything be done by the book—their book. “Nico and Harry won’t be up to speed on the latest tech I’ve got at GSI. But they’re sharp, and I’m sure I can get the rest of the team up to speed.”
“Whoa, Ted. Hold on. I don’t want to get into any lawsuits due to patent infringements or stealing intellectual property.”
“I can bring you what I brought to GSI. Trust me. My technology can do much more if pushed to its limits. I have a lot of changes I’ve wanted to make, but others deemed it too risky. I’ll build you a much better system.” Ted’s pulse raced as he began to think of the freedom he’d have at Where2. “You said this would be my team?”
“Yes.”
“So, I get to set the direction—the timeline—the rules.”
“As far as I’m concerned, Ted, you’re the king.” Oliver reached into a brown leather satchel resting beside him. He retrieved a manila folder and slid it across the table to Ted. “This is my offer.”
Ted pushed his glass of water aside and used his napkin to dry the shellacked tabletop dry. He pulled the folder closer and tore it open. The figures on the first page took him back to that day at the airport when Matthew Grant had offered him and Sam jobs at GSI. Just like last time, he was shocked by what he saw. He flipped through the remaining pages, scanning for any other salary-related information. He closed the folder and clasped his hands across the packet.
“Well?” Oliver asked.
“This . . . this is double what I make today.” Ted took another sip of water and cleared his throat. “And I’ll have full control?”
“Total and complete.” Oliver smiled and pulled another folder from his bag. He passed it to Ted, sliding it beneath his hands. “Where2 plans to go public in the near future. This outlines your potential stock option package.”
The waitress returned again, and this time Ted flicked her away. He opened the file and read through the single-page letter, silently running the calculations.
“When are you going public?” he asked.
“Too soon to say, Ted. Look, this offer is just the beginning. Those stock options are just the beginning. You ride this thing to completion, and we see success, the sky’s the limit.”
Ted darted his eyes back and forth between the offer letter and the stock option details.
“So, is it a yes?” Oliver leaned back and frowned. “I’m having trouble getting a read on you, Ted. I’ve put my best offer on the table. What else do I need to do to win you over?”
Ted collected the two packets and slid them off the table, resting them by his side. He tried to remain calm as he ran through the offer again. The stock options were unknown, since they would be based on whatever value Where2’s stock was on whatever day they went public. But he knew it could easily be an eight-figure payout.
“I know you’ve built a great team so far, but I’m going to need the best if we’re to hit your deadline.”
“Harry said you might have others you wanted to bring along. I think he said her name was Lori?”
“Lori Preston. Also Ralph Lorenski, if possible.”
“Anyone else?”
Ted paused and briefly entertained the idea of asking Sam to join him. He couldn’t imagine her leaving Vin. He also couldn’t imagine her agreeing to follow his timeline and methodology. He knew he needed to be free if he was going to succeed.
“No,” he said. “Those are the only two.”
“Wasn’t there someone else? The one from Ashton. What’s her name?”
“My wife. She won’t leave.”
“Oh.” Oliver’s eyes widened as he sunk deep into the booth. “Ohhhhh. Gotcha. Sorry. I didn’t mean to crack that open.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Okay, well, listen, Ted, why don’t you take the weekend to think this over? I’m going to need an answer by the end of the year at the latest.”
“That won’t be necessary, Oliver. I’m in.” Ted thrust his arm across the table and opened his palm. Oliver smiled and grabbed Ted’s hand, shaking it enthusiastically. “And I’ll do my best to get Lori, Ralph, and anyone else on board. When do you need me to start?”
“Well, I assume you will want to enjoy the holidays and give a proper two-week notice.”
“I’d like to hit the ground running as soon as possible. A week’s notice is plenty. Once they hear I’m leaving, they’ll surely want me gone.”
“How does Monday, the thirtieth, sound?”
“Works for me.”
“Perfect. Welcome to Where2, Ted.”
***
The drive back to the office from Donovan’s Pub took less than fifteen minutes. Ted almost got into two accidents on the way. He couldn’t not stop staring at the twin manila folders resting on his passenger seat. His mind was a noisy echo chamber as he though
t through how he would structure his department and what sort of partnership Where2 had formed with the European automaker. He parked his BMW at the first spot he could find and ran his fingers across the blue and white roundel on the steering wheel. Could BMW be the mystery partner? He smiled at the prospect of possibly working with them. He debated bringing the offer letters with him, but opted instead to toss them into his trunk.
The building was fairly quiet. Ted’s heart raced as he searched for Sam. He checked the conference rooms, but all four were empty. He went to the main lab to find only three people inside—Sam, Ralph, and Lori. They all stopped talking when Ted burst into the room.
“Hi,” he said, slightly out of breath from running into the building. He looked between Ralph, Lori, and Sam a few times before allowing his eyes to settle on Sam’s. “Can I have a word?”
“Sure.” She handed a small clipboard to Ralph.
He led her outside the lab and into the closest conference room. The motion sensor flicked the lights on as soon as they stepped inside. He walked to the back of the room. He wanted to be as far from the hallway as possible. Sam joined him, and the two sat next to each other.
“That wasn’t a very long lunch,” she said. “Is everything okay?”
“I didn’t eat,” Ted replied. He rolled his chair closer to her. “I have some news, and I wanted you to be the first to know. Maybe . . . maybe this will end up being a good thing. For us.”
Sam leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. Ted couldn’t help but notice the lack of sparkle in her eyes. She had taken Dani to her mother’s seven days ago and not come back. Catherine had convinced Sam to take a break from the stress and the escalating fights. Ted hated to admit it, but he found the peace and quiet of the house relaxing without the two of them there. His work relationship with Sam had remained cordial at best. He often wondered if seeing each other day and night was contributing to the breakdown of their marriage. He wondered if having separate jobs would bring her back home.