Worth Something More

by Suze Robinson

  The ride across town is quick. I’m out of the car then rushing inside, making it through the lobby and swiping my badge past security on autopilot.

  The hub of our company is called the pit, where the designers and testers work. The large open floor plan with high ceilings and exposed ductwork open up to a wide workspace. The focus of Orthorn Games centers here on our main floor that has hundreds of high-end workstations set up where all the game magic happens. It’s one of my favorite places in Chicago. There’s only one other company in the world that beats Orthorn and that’s Monroe Games.

  Testers, designers, and support team members circle around the pit and few make eye contact as I walk by because they are all working on various projects. My gaze travels up to the second level of the building. It has the executive offices for marketing, art, and development teams. They keep to themselves up there, and we stay down here in the chaos. I personally love the energy that comes with working here.

  “Hey, did you hear?” Jefferson slides up beside me then hands over a latte once I reach my workstation. What can I say? The man knows me and what I need.

  “About the meeting? Brad texted me. Why is our team coming in at the last minute?” I ask then sip on my coffee. Jefferson is dressed in worn jeans and a t-shirt from our last release. Gamers sure love their unique fashion, and always support the industry by wearing merchandise. He nods and points over to where Rich is.

  “Rich said he talked to a guy in Marketing, and they are bringing a team of gamers to play the Dark Abyss live. Sounds like the head guy planned a unique launch idea and kept everyone in the dark until now. He’s insane but good, and he needed to make some last-minute changes with the recent attention Dark Abyss is getting.”

  We reach Rich’s desk, and he jumps into the conversation, “Are you ready for this?”

  Am I? I don’t even know. It’s a big deal, and launching a game of this caliber will have attention I’ve never had before.

  “Guys”—Rich glances at his watch and rechecks an email on his desktop—“it’s time. Let’s see what the plan is. I can’t believe they kept everyone in the dark this long.”

  For the first time, I follow both guys upstairs to the second level and down a hall that leads to the conference rooms. When we enter the room, there are thirty people in the meeting space. The front of the room is fitted with large, smart televisions and images of the gameplay on the screen. There are a couple of smart boards set up and waiting for the presentation. My nerves increase as I take my seat beside Jefferson. Sipping my chai latte, I try not to fidget in my seat and focus on the meeting coming up.

  Small talk picks up around the room as we contemplate what our marketing launch will entail. Sounds like the Marketing Director has some tricks up his sleeve that will set the game launch apart. Rumor is we have a large budget re-drafted after the success at E3, the largest trade event of the year. Hype is already there for the game, so now we have to have a strong campaign, and the success of the game will be huge without question. And that’s where this man—Lincoln Thurlow comes in. I’ve heard the Marketing Director’s name tossed around the office more than once, but the man is elusive as they come. He’s never once attended a holiday party, nor has he stepped into the pit. He keeps himself hidden in that office the last two years he’s worked for us, but his amazing work can’t be missed.

  And as if I summoned him by thought alone, a man steps in and the room quiets in response. All my thoughts pause the moment my eyes connect with his—those same brown eyes I fell into this morning. Now I know why he looked so familiar.

  Chapter Four

  Lincoln

  I met with my support team earlier and took one final review of the launch trailer I prepared. I’ve worked side by side with the game’s lead designer for the past year, making sure we had this launch campaign ready for the release. We incorporated both storyline and gameplay and the result makes the success of this game certain. With the increased interest since the trade event, I’ve changed the launch and called this meeting to get the team up-to-date.

  “I spoke with Mike, and he approved the marketing campaigns set last week. Are you ready to meet the gamers I brought in?” Dennis says from his spot beside me after the trailer ends. Dennis is my second and leads our online and community marketing. He also does my grunt work, so I appreciate him more for that. Also, with the trends these days, he makes sure our social and community teams handle the changing market. It takes a unique type to handle such a large community of gamers, the staff, and me. Dennis can and does it well.

  “Yes, you sure you found me the best gamers we have at Orthorn to make sure this gameplay live-stream goes well? I want the best.”

  “Yeah, I asked around. I also picked Michelle Chung to lead the commentary, and you know how much those gamers love her. Best community manager we’ve hired.”

  “Sounds good then. Let’s get this started. I need the team set up and ready since we only have two weeks to prepare them. You did pick gamers familiar with Dark Abyss, right? If not, I’ll go out there and play the game myself.”

  Dennis laughs. “Of course I did.”

  I follow Dennis from the room and down the hall. My mind focuses on work but strays to Lily and her pain this morning once I have nothing else to distract me. I wish I could take the pain from her, and it kills me when I can’t. As we make the walk to the conference room, I recall the day I almost lost my daughter. I don’t know why I do it to myself. Lily’s here now, and she’s getting better every day after the car accident, but still, there’s a pain in my chest knowing how much she hurts and I can’t make it better.

  The dark thoughts have taken over so I know once we step into the meeting room, I need to shake it off. Luckily, I put Dennis in charge of the presentation. He addresses the room and starts introductions. Some I know from previous projects, but others, like the gaming team, will be new faces since I prefer the solitude of my office and the gamers are from the pit.

  “This is Lincoln Thurlow, our Director of Marketing. He’s developed the campaign and the launch of the Dark Abyss.” As Dennis speaks, I note the team he’s assembled. My gaze travels to the game’s director, Brad Olhemer, first. The community manager, Michelle Chung, sits next to him. Both I’ve worked closely side by side with during production. Dennis works around the table and my eyes lock on a set of green eyes and stay there. The woman who took my breath away this morning is watching me, her eyes as focused as they were the first time I met her.

  “This is Kate Alverson, one of the new level designers, but she was a tester before that. She created Arthurian and most of the designs throughout Agoroth, and will be our lead gamer during the gameplay live-stream.”

  I watch those gorgeous emerald eyes widen in surprise, and then her stare shifts from Dennis and lands back on me. The side of my mouth quirks up from her response. This is Jake’s aunt Kate that Lily told me about. How could I have missed her all this time? Perhaps they are right, I seclude myself in my office too much.

  Dennis moves on to introduce me to the rest of the team and launches into the plans for the event.

  “So, are you guys ready to see the release trailer for The Dark Abyss?” Cheering from around the room causes a smile to take over my face. The passion and love this team has for their game flood the room. I can’t help but let my gaze travel back to Kate as the trailer starts because now that I’ve seen her, I’m having trouble looking away. She created Authurian and Agorath, so I know she’ll love the scenes I picked for the trailer. Her work inspired me the most.

  She’s smiling and on the edge of her seat, her eyes locked on the screen. This woman created the most strategic and well-crafted levels of the game. It’s her creation on the screen and the pride that flashes across her face when it starts takes my breath away again. She has a spark of life to her that draws me in, and I’m certain she’s almost in tears as she watches the trailer.

  I want her to be a part of the interview team to stand on the stage and s
hare her story with us. I want to know her. The plan is already laid out for who will interview since I’ve spent months of my life working out the details, but as I look at those green eyes glued to the screen with a look of awed passion on her face, I want to know Kate’s story. So, for the first time in my life, I deviate from the plan.

  The trailer ends, and a round of applause starts. I pick up where Dennis left off and continue the meeting so I can make my change. “That’s where we will start the interviews and move into the rest of the launch. Brad will introduce the game world and interviews from Michelle, Natalie, and Kate Alverson will come next.”

  Kate’s eyes widen in response, but I continue. “As you guys take the stage, gameplay will stream on the projector behind you and you’ll present an interview to a live audience. As the stream continues, the screen will cut to both more gameplay and private interviews with other members of the Dark Abyss team. The presentation will combine to make an epic story of the behind-the-scenes making and creation of the Dark Abyss. I want our players to know the game and you, those who made this possible. They will know your story. Michael Thorn will close the presentation and play one more trailer, concluding the show.”

  With smiles and assuring nods, the team’s excitement about a marketing launch styled like this floods the room. My eyes, without thought, find Kate again. They shouldn’t, but I can’t help wondering about her. When I met her this morning, she was a mess. Late and hurried, not paying attention to the world around her, but here, she’s different. She’s focused and inspiring, someone who draws my attention. There’s more to her than I thought.

  Dennis takes back over and continues to talk about the details of the presentation and what work we have up ahead. “After the live presentation, we will stream four players gaming. Rich, Jefferson, Nick, and Kate will play through the game, revealing the world and storyline to our players.”

  Dennis wraps up the meeting and talks about the teams and the project plans. Once he finishes the meeting, the room floods in conversation and action. Everyone is talking about what’s coming. I catch Kate speaking to Jefferson, who laughs off whatever she said with a pat on the arm. She grabs her drink and walks toward the door, allowing her eyes to seek me out before she leaves.

  I follow her out of the conference room and meet her in the hall. She stiffens, and I know she’s still upset about our first-time meeting. I was an asshole, so I’m not surprised by the cold shoulder.

  “Hey, Kate, can I have a moment, please?” I want to make it right. She didn’t deserve my anger. That anger is for Morgan, and I let Kate have it this morning. It was because the moment I saw Kate, my interest was piqued, which I’ll try to push away now that I know who she is. It will be the most difficult thing I do.

  “Yes, sir?” Her voice is high and has a melodic sound to it. She is a spark for sure but radiates a nervous energy now. “Sorry I ran into you this morning. Brad was texting me about this meeting and I was so caught up with everything I wasn’t paying attention.”

  “No reason to apologize. I didn’t mean to knock you down. I’m also sorry I was short with you.” I wait for her to accept my apology to end whatever tension we have. The ball’s in her court now.

  Chapter Five

  Kate

  He’s trying to make things right between us. I see it in the depths of his eyes as he watches me. It’s my choice now to put those first impressions behind us. My mom has always said first impressions were everything and that they judged a person. That’s why she was so insistent on how her children presented themselves.

  I think back to how I met Lincoln this morning. He was consoling his daughter as she cried at school. He broke away to help me up and made sure I was okay. He was short with me, yes, but I bet there was more to the reason why.

  Now he’s apologizing, and I decide—while looking into a fellow lost and lonely-looking soul—that I’ll forgive him. “Thank you. And I’m sorry I wasn’t paying attention. I’m not normally so distracted. I was trying to make sure I didn’t mess up getting Jake to school on time.”

  He laughs and nods his head. I’m not sure why I was so honest and open with him right then, but I want to be. “It’s okay. I know how Julie can be. I’m sure she told you in explicit detail not to have Jake late for school.”

  “You know my sister that well?”

  He points down the hall toward the other executive offices, asking me to follow him. The rest of the team is piling out, and the hallway is full of people, so I don’t hesitate following. The fact he wants to pull me away and keep me to himself makes a flutter rise in my stomach.

  “She’s my ex-wife’s best friend, so I’ve known her since college. Jake and Lily have been friends forever.” The ex-wife statement brings me up short. My sister never told me Morgan got divorced, and she usually tells me everything. I also expected Lincoln to be married and off the market. Relief washes through me, at the knowledge he isn’t—not that I should be picturing him in a way that’s more than professional.

  “My sister has talked about your wife. She’s a crazy one, I’ve heard. I’m surprised they didn’t make the connection that we work together. You’ve been here a couple years now.”

  “Like I said, she’s my ex-wife for a reason. We divorced recently.” There’s a tightness to his voice and an edge of annoyance I can’t miss. Yep, it’s the wife, ex-wife that brings out his grumpiness. “Lily mentioned recently we work together, and I was going to hunt you down out of curiosity.”

  Kate shoots me a sweet smile. “So Lily’s dad, I’ve only heard great things about your daughter but haven’t had the chance to meet her. Jake talks about her all the time though.” Moving the conversation to Lily brings the smile back on his face. Lincoln is a man who wears his emotions right on the sleeve of that pressed suit.

  “Yeah, those two were playing together since they started talking. Your nephew’s a great kid.”

  “Thanks. Jake gets that from me.” That comment earns me a smile, one big enough to show his teeth. I want to make it a personal mission to see that smile again. He has me curious, and I want to stand there with him longer, continuing the conversation, but I need to let him get back to work. He’s our Marketing Director and is launching his biggest game of the year. The stress lines of that are obvious in the tired expression he wears. “Well, I better get back to work.” I point over my shoulder with my thumb and tilt my head toward the other side of the building. “We should do this again,” I boldly say and earn myself another smirk.

  “One more thing. Are you okay with doing the interview? It will be online for millions, so I don’t want you to stress. I didn’t give much time.”

  He seems worried, but it isn’t necessary. The initial shock has worn off, and a wave of excitement and nervousness replaces it. “I’m excited, so don’t worry. Thanks for bringing me into the team.” I smile and hope it doesn’t show the sudden butterflies that erupt in my stomach the longer I stand with him. Lincoln watches as I worry my bottom lip, like he can’t look away.

  “Your designs and contributions to the game are amazing.” His affirmation of my skills overwhelms me. The acceptance and knowledge that he enjoys my work cause my body to react and my heart rate to pick up. That, or I really like the look he’s giving me.

  He glances up from my lips and meets my gaze again. I struggle but find the words to keep speaking. “Thank you. Your work on the project is amazing. Plans for a live gaming session and behind-the-scenes is an amazing idea. Gamers will love it, and fans of the franchise will be watching. The team you put together is great, and the excitement is building. Did you feel that energy in the room?”

  Oh my God, I’m rambling. I snap my mouth shut once I realize I’m vomiting words to the gorgeous Marketing Director. He laughs as a response and then smiles a smile I can’t help but stare at. That’s four of them I’ve gotten from a man who seems so serious. I could do this all day and not grow tired of it.

  “Thank you.” He reaches his hand out to sh
ake mine, causing the crisp white of his dress shirt to slide up his arm. His hands look strong and sure, and my mind travels to how well they’d look against my skin. My mouth goes dry and a knot rises in my throat. “I look forward to working on this project with you. And you’re right, we should do this again.”

  “Same.” I reach my hand forward and shake his. A spark flows between us as we make our final amends for our first meeting and the start of something new passes. “I look forward to seeing you around, Lincoln.”

  I turn and start down the hall. “I’ll see you around, Kate.” His words echo behind me as I take the stairs down and make my way to my workstation. My heart is still racing, and I know I have a grin stretching across my face.

  “There you are.” Jefferson’s voice sounds behind me. “You ready to meet Jesse for lunch?”

  I glance at my watch. I hadn’t even noticed the entire morning has already flown by. “Yep, let’s go. Are we still meeting him at the usual place?” Once I turn toward my best friend, he catches the expression on my face.

  “What has that look on your face?” Jefferson might spend the majority of his time behind a computer, but the man knows me well. We spent years together working as testers as I paid my way through college. He stood with me through everything, and I’ve done the same for him in return. When I lost my father and broke apart, he was there. When I struggled to find myself after, he always told me I could do it.

  Jefferson is my best friend and means the world to me, but that also means he can read me like a line of intricate coding. He might have to decipher me first, but once he does—I’m a goner. He can then master me.

  “It’s the launch, that’s all.” I follow Jefferson out of the office and through the main lobby, assuming lunch is at our normal place. His attention is elsewhere and he never answers my question.