Malkin’s halfway through droning about demo-centric sales thrust, and Guyver’s so busy trying to figure out who has the ball that he barely catches Byatt’s wink before she sends it his way. He catches it footwise without looking down, then kicks up; it seems to hang suspended above the table, then plops into his hand just as Malkin whirls around.

Guyver snaps on his best interested-vacant face and lets the ball roll down his leg, stopping it with a practiced foot-stall.

“As I was saying,” mutters Malkin, “the B2C market…”

Guyver gives Patel the slightest of winks, then kicks it on.