If you had asked me who I was just a few short weeks ago, I would have been able to tell you. My name is Dave and I am just a run of the mill guy, 36, married with two kids, just an office bod with nothing particularly special about me. That was then.
It was the time of the firm’s annual sales conference, I am not a salesman but as Senior Administrator for the sales department it is my onerous duty to attend every year. A few days before it all started the Personnel manager walked into my office,
“ Bad news Dave,” he said, not looking particularly worried, in fact he has a slight smile on his lips, “the hotel has cocked up and some people are going to have to share next week, we drew names from a hat and I’m afraid yours came out.”
I groaned inwardly, “Who have I got to share with?”
“That’s the best bit,” he could barely contain his amusement, “Gary Weston.”
My heart dropped even further, Gary Weston was a brash young salesman, only 23 but one of the best, he knew he was the best and made sure everyone else knew it to. He loved fast cars and was an incorrigible womaniser, forever boasting about his conquests. I tried to wriggle my way out of the situation, “Is there no way I could…..”
I was cut short, “No this was the MD’s idea and he drew the names and has approved everything”.
“Thanks” I replied sullenly, indicating that it was time to leave me alone.
The day of the conference arrived and the firm had hired a coach to get us all to the venue, my feelings of dread lifted as I noticed that Gary was not on it and had not arrived by the time we left. It was a boring three hour journey that took us to the four star country hotel that was to be our home for the next four nights. I checked in and went to my room, I had a couple of hours to kill before we all had to assemble for the big annual dinner where all the different offices attending got a chance to get together.
I decided to shower, I felt hot and sweaty after that coach journey. I unpacked what I needed, undressed and stepped into the hot powerful shower. While I was in there I thought I heard a noise but ignored it, after having a good wash I turned the shower off and pulled back the curtain, there was Gary Weston!
“Hi Dave,” he stated calmly, “I knocked but you didn’t answer so I got one of the staff to let me in.”