“You think you love her or you love her?” she insisted.
Neither of my arguments seemed to have convinced her. She probably thought I was overcomplicating things.
I lost my patience. “Marina, do you mind? You’re not my shrink, are you?”
The wretched Nicotine Withdrawal kept giving me spontaneous Enrages. I just couldn’t wait for the blasted thing to finally be over.
I struggled to calm down. “Honestly, I just don’t know.”
“Very well. Let’s go back, then,” she said, putting out her cigarette. “Actually, I have one more question. Do I know her?”
“You most definitely do. You can even come with me now and try to rectify the situation. She heard what you said to Dennis about us.”
“Vicky!” she exclaimed. “Of course! I should've known! That’s why you dropped me off first that night in the taxi! Because you two were going to... you were going to...” she dissolved in desperate, child-like sobbing, curving her mouth and wailing.
She was a child, really. I tried to suppress my desire to give her a hug but couldn’t. I flung my arms around her, trying to soothe her.
She clung to my chest, sobbing. Her long chestnut hair tucked behind her ears emitted the flowery smell of some cheap shampoo. I stroked it, tensing up whenever I heard the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door, ready to shrink away from her at any moment. I wouldn’t be surprised if Vicky walked through that door in true soap-opera fashion: this was a very possible turn of events, considering the whole office treated this landing as a smoking room.
Still, luck must have been on my side this time. On top of that, the mysterious game seemed to be pleased with me. Vicky hadn’t surfaced; instead, I’d received a new system message,
You’ve received 100 pt. XP for performing a socially meaningful action!
XP points left until the next social status level: 100/9000
It should have been 120 pt., actually. They’d removed 20 pt. for the drop in my Reputation with Dennis. Question was, what exactly did the system consider a socially meaningful action? Had I received it for trying to soothe Marina or for not trying to take advantage of her feelings for me?
Probably the latter.
“Why, what’s wrong with Vicky? Is it because of what I said? You’ve just said so, haven’t you?” she rummaged through her purse again and hurried to clean up the mascara streaks with a cotton disk. Without the makeup, she looked like a high school student. “Go get her. I’ll wait for you here. I’m gonna explain everything to her. Whatcha starin’ at? Go and get her. Don’t worry, I’m not going to say anything you’re gonna regret. Go!”
I nodded. I could tell she meant it. She really wanted to help.
As I walked back into the office, I bumped straight into Greg.
“Where are you two?” he demanded. ”Where’s Marina? We’re fed up with waiting already!”
“Jesus, Greg. Didn’t I tell you you should go on your own? I still have things to do here!”
“But where’s Marina?”
“We’ll come together later. Don’t worry, you’re not gonna miss her. Just go now, I have other things to do.”
He blew a noisy breath. “My stomach thinks my throat’s been cut.”
On that note, he finally left.
I walked over to Vicky’s office and knocked on the door. “May I?”
“Come in, please,” her voice replied from within.
I walked in, closed the door and looked around the room. We were alone. The mousy middle-aged lady who shared the office with Vicky had already left.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hi,” she replied without taking her eyes from the computer screen, scrolling the mouse wheel fiercely.
“Listen, sweetheart...”
“Let’s cut the crap.”
“Okay. All I’m asking for is the chance to explain myself. Can we go somewhere?”
“Why? You can speak here if you want. I’ll listen to whatever you have to say. Then you can close the door behind you.”
“Vicky.... Ms. Koval, please.”
Without saying a word, she switched off the computer, collected the stuff from the table into her purse and rose. “Very well. Where do you want me to go?”
“Actually, I wanted to invite you to a small celebration. I received that bonus, remember? So I’m buying dinner for the guys. Cyril and Greg, you know them. I’d love you to join me on a night like this.”
“That’s all very well,” she replied in a level impassive voice, “but I’m afraid I can’t come. My daughter’s arriving in an hour. I need to go and meet her now. Enjoy your bonus and your celebration.”
“Would you like me to come with you?”
“Before, I might have said yes. But not anymore, sorry. What am I supposed to say to her? ‘This is Uncle Phil, we work together, that’s why he’ll be staying with us tonight’?”
“Why not?”
“I don’t think so. She’s a big girl, anyway. You can’t fool her. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?”
“No, not really. Can we go to the stairwell? I need a smoke,” I lied.
We walked out of the office. She locked the door and we headed for the stairs.
On seeing Marina, Vicky recoiled, trying to leave, but I held her by the waist and pressed my back to the stairs door, blocking the way. “You promised you’d hear me out.”
She heaved a weary sigh and lit a cigarette. “I’m listening.”
“Ms. Koval, that wasn’t what you think it was!” Marina spurted out.
“Okay. That wasn’t what I thought it was. Anything else?”
“Ms. Koval... Vicky... Vicky, please listen to me.”
Marina was a smart little girl. She’d managed to strike the right note. “They’d paired me with Dennis for the trial period. You know him, don’t you?”
“I know everyone who works here. And?”
“And from the very first day, he just wouldn’t leave me alone...”
Marina went on, telling the story of Dennis’ harassment in an orderly, logical manner. She explained how I’d helped her by taking her under my own wing and supervising her first meetings with clients.
Cross-armed, Vicky kept smoking as she listened to her, her body language betraying her defensive position. Her Interest in the story fluctuated, hovering under 50% which meant she’d already crossed me out from her close friends’ list. Still, her Mood was just above zero which meant that not all was lost.
“The rest you saw for yourself,” Marina concluded. “I’m very sorry I said what I did. I just freaked out. I mean, when I said that I’d had it off with Phil — oh sorry, I mean that he and I were in a relationship. There’s nothing between us at all, whatsoever.”
With bated breath, I awaited a system message informing me of my improved Reputation with Vicky. Still, something was wrong there. Either she didn’t believe Marina or the whole incident had left a bad taste in her mouth, but her Dislike status wasn’t in a hurry to change.
“I can see now,” she said. “Thanks for taking the time to explain. If I were you, I should report the incident to the boss. Sexual harassment can’t be tolerated. Still, I can’t see how it can possibly concern me. I work in HR. You could have sought my advice, I suppose, in which case you should have made an appointment to see me in my office. There’s no need for all this cloak-and-dagger stuff.”
I winced. She was getting bitchy now. “No need at all, I agree,” I said dryly. “Sorry we had to trouble you on this insignificant matter, Ms. Koval.”
“No trouble at all. Have a good day,” she used her pass card to unlock the door and turned back, about to walk out. “You’ve got lipstick on your shirt, Phil.”
She left, leaving me and Marina alone on the landing.
I felt drained. I hadn’t gotten enough sleep last night, what with Vlad calling me in the middle of the night and my 5 a.m. reveille, followed by some quality iron-pumping in the gym, the unpleasant conversation with Ya
nna, and an exhausting day of contract closing. Among other things, I’d received a new level, had to confront yet another jealous freak in the shape of Dennis, ruined my relationship with a girl whom I liked a lot (which wasn’t actually my fault), had been hauled across the carpet by the boss and had to comfort Marina.
And I still had lots of stuff to come. I had the dinner appointment with the guys and after that, I still had to distribute the points I’d just received. I also needed to have my hair cut (which would have to wait till tomorrow), call my parents, speak to Alik and Fatso to find out how it had gone with their new jobs, sign up for a boxing class and keep searching for a new place.
As for Vicky, I already knew from experience that she needed some space in order to calm down and think things over. It would probably be better to leave her alone for a few days. And then... time will tell.
Confounded, I kept mulling over it all as we walked to Jared’s, completely oblivious of Marina trotting by my side. As we approached the bar, she timidly touched my elbow,
“Phil, you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I replied, unwilling to ruin the night for her. “Let’s party!”
The party didn’t last very long, though. Having toasted my bonus and Marina’s first sale, I ordered myself a mixed salad with a few bits of egg and tuna buried in a haystack of rocket lettuce. I needed to lose some weight if I wanted to improve Agility. I’d been obliged to get myself a beer but I’d managed to make it last all night.
At least Greg and Cyril didn’t stand on ceremony. Their plates were heaped high with steak and French fries. Having finished his rare steak, Cyril timidly ordered a jumbo size burger taller than my beer glass.
Marina kept a low profile. She barely spoke, casting long piercing glances at me in expectation of my reaction — any reaction. I tried not to look at her.
After a couple of hours of unenthusiastic gossip and tepid discussion about Cyril’s health and Greg’s matrimonial problems, a crimson-faced Cyril cleared his throat,
“I think I’m gonna have a cigarette! Why not? Technically, I’m supposed to quit today. But today isn’t over yet! Which means-”
“Which means what?” Greg asked, already a bit slow on the uptake.
I shook my head. “Please. Don’t. That’s alcohol speaking, not you. It drops your guard.”
“See if I care! We’re celebrating, aren’t we?” he waved to a waiter.
The waiter approached our table. “How can I-”
“What kind of cigarettes do you have?” Cyril interrupted him.
As the waiter recited all the available brands, I made up my mind. Time to go home.
“Excuse me,” I interrupted the waiter, “Could you please repeat the beers except for me and make out the tab? Then you can get him his cigarettes. Sorry, Cyril, no offense. I can’t stop you from killing yourself but I’ve no intention of financing it. I hope you understand.”
The waiter nodded and disappeared, mumbling something about “one moment”.
Cyril shrugged. Greg just sat there looking blank. Marina kept staring at me, trying to lock her gaze into mine and hopefully read something in it.
“What’s gotten into you?” Cyril asked.
“To be honest with you, I’m dead on my feet. I can’t keep my eyes open.”
“That’s normal,” Cyril said. “Thanks for the party. I just thought we’d stay a bit longer. Was it the cigarettes?”
The waiter brought the beers and the tab in a box. I glanced at it and laid a few bills on top. “Keep the change.”
He gratefully collected the money and left. I shook the men’s hands. “Thanks for keeping me company.”
“Phil?” Cyril raised a quizzical eyebrow. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine! I have no problem with you whatsoever. My only problem is, I’m falling off my feet. Marina, you stay with the guys. I’m sure they’ll take care of you. See ya!”
She didn’t reply. I could see she wasn’t happy with me at all. Still, it was better that way. Had I offered to share a ride, she’d have jumped at the chance, and then tomorrow I wouldn’t be able to prove anything to anyone. Either Greg would let it slip in a conversation or she’d come up with some stupid story simply out of spite. Cyril too could be trusted to say something stupid. Then I could forget all about Vicky. She wouldn’t forgive me a second time round.
It didn’t take me long to get back home. At this late hour, roads were virtually empty.
The moment I opened the door, Richie barged out, sweeping me out of his way as he rushed toward the elevator. Oh well. He was my friend and my responsibility. I locked the door and followed him.
As I walked Richie, I opened the interface. I still had to decide how best to invest my skill point. Leveling up Luck was more or less clear. But the skill point I hadn’t decided what to do with yet.
Never mind. That would have to wait.
Just in case, I perched myself on the edge of a park bench still wet from the rain and added the point to Luck.
Warning! We’ve detected an abnormal increase in your Luck characteristic: +1 pt.
Your brain will be restructured in keeping with the new reading (9) to comply with your new decision-making choices.
The world blinked out of existence, then reappeared. I was already used to this phenomenon.
Oh well. Apparently, I’d just become luckier. Which was hard to believe, considering my ill luck earlier that day which had brought Vicky into the room just as Marina was snapping profanities at Dennis.
I opened my characteristic tab. Much better. Still not much to write home about but at least I showed some progress.
Philip “Phil” Panfilov
Age: 32
Current status: sales rep
Social status level: 9
Classes: Book Reader and Empath
Married
Wife: Yannina “Yanna” Orlova
Children: none
Main Characteristics:
Strength: 8
Agility: 4
Intellect: 18
Stamina: 5
Perception: 7
Charisma: 13 (+3 bonus from the Standard Business Suit)
Luck: 9
A book reader? And an empath? I opened my skill list.
That’s right. Both skills were listed at the top. I had level 6 in both Empathy and Reading Skills. I giggled, imagining myself weeping in empathy over some tear-jerking romance novel.
Oh well. It could have been worse, I suppose. I could have been classed as some Paranoid Lemming.
I tried to add the skill point to Learning Skills but failed,
Sorry. You’re attempting to add a system point to a skill currently undergoing Optimization. Current progress: 3%.
Just on the off-chance, I tried to add it to Insight and received another message,
Sorry. You can’t improve a system skill.
I tried again and again, “clicking” the Insight icon with my gaze and receiving the same message until finally the system lost patience with me,
How many times do we need to tell you? You can’t invest a system point in a system skill!
My inner wordsmith recoiled at the phrasing. They used “system” twice in the same sentence, useless hacks!
Whatever. My Vigor had already dropped below 20%. I needed some sleep. Still, Richie was taking his time.
“Come on Rich, get on with it, for Christ’s sake,” I mumbled with a jaw-wrenching yawn.
It probably wasn’t such a good idea to make leveling decisions in this state. I decided to check my skill list instead. I scrolled through it until I came to Running. It was still level 1.
How come? Between the stat booster and all the bonuses, I would have expected it to be at least 2 or 3 by now. Something was definitely wrong here. Maybe my running technique wasn’t good enough? I made a mental note to look into it once my head had cleared a bit.
I scrolled the list all the way down and — surprise! — discovered a new system sk
ill, gray and inactive.
I summoned Martha and asked her — for purely esthetical reasons, you understand — to assume her old human form. “Is it possible to create a separate system skill list, pretty please? I’ve just found yet another system skill absolutely accidentally. I didn’t even know it was there.”
“Of course. Here you are. I would advise you to manually change the settings to receive new alerts every time a new system skill is added. At the moment, they are displayed at the very edge of your field of vision. How are things, overall?”
“Fine,” I grinned at her good old bubblegum-blowing self. “Did you really need to ask? You’re sitting in my head 24/7, anyway!”
“Phil, Phil. You’re still confusing me with the program. I’m not the program in your head. I’m only your virtual assistant. My memory only stores the logs of our meetings and conversations, as well as your queries. I thought you’d already returned the dog to its owner?”
“Not really, as you can see. Richie, you’re really cheeky! You’ve had plenty of time to do your business!”
Richie stopped circling the grass in search of an arcane devil-may-know spot he found suitable for his needs. He sat down and looked at me quizzically, tilting his head.
I cast an angry glance at my watch. It was way past my bedtime. “Never mind. Thanks, Martha.”
I reopened the skill window. It now contained two tabs: one for the main skills and the other for the system ones. The system tab only listed three skills. One was Insight II, followed by Optimization I.
And what was that? I peered at the end of the list.
Heroism
My suppressed WoW memories stirred in the depths of my subconscious.
Heroism? What, just like that? Would it improve my main characteristics, maybe?
I studied the skill’s description.
Oh, no. It was much much better. It was out-of-this-world freakin’ awesome.
New unblocked system skill available: Heroism.
Restart_LitRPG Series Page 31
