Deception 5 steps
Manufacturing Mike's New Persona to Win Ashley's Attention
Britney rebuilds Mike into the confident, well-dressed man Ashley supposedly desires, then remotely scripts his behavior through an earpiece during a staged store encounter. The makeover and hidden coaching together produce the composed figure whose display turns Ashley's admiration into curiosity.
Read the 5 steps as text
- 1
Mike gets a physical makeover
Mike · Britney · Ashley
Mike undergoes a dramatic makeover with new clothes, a sharper haircut, and a cooler attitude so he can embody the tall, rich, and unflappable type Ashley supposedly wants.
- 2
Britney directs Mike from behind the scenes
Britney · Mike
What it looked like: Mike appears to act on his own, while his behavior is actually being remotely scripted by Britney.
Britney coaches Mike from behind the scenes, guiding his every move with the help of an earpiece and a few well-timed cues.
- 3
A staged store encounter is rehearsed
Britney · Mike · Ashley
What it looked like: The meeting looks like a chance encounter with a distracted, busy Mike rather than a rehearsed setup.
Britney and Mike rehearse a casual 'bump into' at a store, where Mike pretends to be absorbed in a phone call while Ashley watches.
- 4
Mike performs composed confidence in front of Ashley
Mike · Ashley · Britney
What it looked like: Ashley sees Mike as the unflappable, self-assured type she supposedly desires rather than a coached performer.
During the encounter Mike stays composed and confident in Ashley's view, though a slip of Britney's mic causes him to crash into a clothing rack on the way out.
- 5
Ashley's admiration turns into curiosity
Ashley · Mike
Ashley's initial admiration of the transformed Mike turns into curiosity as he stays composed and confident, which is the reaction the plan was built to produce.
