Virtual Reality

by Kitty Cox

  "Younger sister?"

  "Older." He took a sip of coffee. "So, I couldn't tell from the way you wrote it, do you want kids one day, or not?"

  Kate was impressed with how he'd slipped that in so easily. "Dunno. I wasn't going to have them with dickhead, so I haven't really gotten that far. I just wrote it and realized that I'd put them in a situation where neither could really have kids, but it's so often a concern, you know?"

  "Yeah, I kinda liked how you didn't shy away from it. I mean, women are so often defined by male ideals, but a man wouldn't think like that. Well, not usually." He chuckled. "Ok, I sound like a guy that was raised by a strong black woman, huh."

  "You kinda do." She leaned back, smiling over at him. "Why'd you hire her?"

  "Nancy? Because she doesn't take crap, she knows how to say no, and she can calculate the best possible profit in her head on the fly. I guess I've just had more luck finding loyal talent in people no one would think could do the job. And the ones with perfect resumes like the guy before her? Yeah, he kept trying to hedge his bets. Always wanted to come out looking like roses on both sides so he had a backup. Eventually, I told him to use the damned backup, because he was costing us a few million a month."

  "Damn."

  Adam waved that away. "It's a big company, Kate. We work with extra zeros, both in and out."

  "And into your bank." She giggled. "Half a billion, huh?"

  "Had to leave room for improvement." He lifted his cup in a mock salute. "Seriously, I could probably have more if I stopped giving it away, but what's the point?"

  "So, what are your pet causes?" She uncrossed her legs, then put the other knee on top.

  His eyes flicked down. "Sorry, what was the question? Kidding. I gave three million to the PLG for the QQ program. Getting more women into games seems like a good idea to me. I also have a small foundation that screens single mothers for college grants. Tuition, living, the whole thing." He scratched at his jaw. "And I give to a group that offers low-cost health care in Ohio."

  "That's kinda all over the place." She looked over at the clock.

  Adam followed her eyes. "A bit, but there's a theme. I can, so I help those that need. Have I convinced you yet that I'm not a monster?"

  She drained the last swallow from her cup. "I just don't know why you care so much when you have so many women trying to fight their way into your life. I can only assume it's the forbidden fruit - an appeal that vanishes quickly."

  He smiled and looked down into his own coffee. "The temp didn't show up that day. I ran down to grab a phone number - and you walked in. The sun was behind you, coming in through the glass, and I expected an executive. Then you handed me a resume. I thought you'd be perfect for the front desk. You have the look, the professional manner, all of it, but then you slipped." He stood and took her cup, carrying both to the sink. "For just a moment, I realized you were bluffing. You had no idea who I was, but you were going to get this damned job. When you clasped your hands, I saw it." He lifted his arm and tapped his wrist. "Gamer's mark. Never met a gamer that couldn't think outside the box. I also know that we're not always the easiest people to deal with."

  "Ok?"

  He jerked his thumb across the hall. "I have a good friend who scares off her admins. The ones that can take her shit can't handle the people that walk into her office. We needed someone that could cuss like the devil, understand that it's a complicated strategy, and look like she was born to be on Fifth Avenue." His eyes slid across her. "And there she was."

  "Ok, that explains why you hired me." Kate swallowed, feeling her cheeks warming again. "Why do you flirt?"

  He shook his head. "I'll tell you that next week after we know how your date went." He made a shooing motion. "Go call Void. He's going to want to make sure the suites for his clients are all in line."

  Her eyes bulged. "Void?"

  Adam cleared his throat. "Logan Weiss, Attorney at Law. Yeah. He's got a slew of suites, and he'll want them all side by side. Do not piss him off. He'd ruin us."

  She stood, giggling at that. "Yeah, well I'm pretty sure I got an in with that. Saved his girlfriend from an ambush last night. Pretty sure no one fucks with QQ."

  "Not anymore," he agreed. "And good luck tomorrow, with court."

  "And my date." She wiggled her fingers and sauntered out, well aware that he was watching.

  Behind her, she heard him groan. "You're killing me."

  Chapter 19

  That afternoon, three contracts blew up. Nancy poured her attention into saving one, Kate jumped into action with the game convention, and Adam finally lost his temper and told the other to cancel and see if they could find a better deal. The three of them stayed at the office until nearly eight, all frantically handling what they could. Adam kept telling her to go home, but she refused, knowing she could take at least a little burden from their shoulders.

  In the end, it was a good thing she did. She ended up on the phone with Logan Weiss, whom she knew as Void, and the problems were quickly sorted out when all the posturing was set aside. Adam walked past once, saw her laughing and heard her cussing. He gave her a shocked look, but she just mouthed "Void," and he nodded, continuing across the hall in the empty building.

  Unfortunately, her late night also meant that she barely got to talk to Ice. With an early court appointment, she needed to get some sleep. They exchanged email addresses, agreed to use Google Hangouts so neither had to give out their number, and both swore they would be there the next evening. It was probably for the best since Kate was so nervous she didn't think she'd do herself any favors in a conversation. Ice swore he understood and wished her luck, then all but kicked her offline to get some sleep.

  The strangest thing was that she actually slept. Kate arrived at the courthouse early, checked in with her attorney, and the two of them clarified a few last points. When their turn finally came to stand before the judge, she reminded herself that she was an executive, equal to any VIP at Degrass Industries, and lifted her chin proudly. It didn't hurt that she was dressed in an expensive suit, one Nancy had insisted on. It made her feel just a little more powerful.

  In just three weeks, she'd learned how to play the game. Marshall, however, hadn't. His slacks were wrinkled, he wore the same boots he always had, and he didn't even bother with a coat. She was shocked that he'd gone so far as to put on a tie. When they stood before the judge, Kate saw the apparent confusion on the man's face before he began reading the notes. Isabella Ford played the video of the incident in the parking garage, but Kate couldn't watch. She didn't need to see how weak she was, not with Marshall standing just beside her. The judge didn't need to see the whole thing either.

  He flipped through the police records, the two reports of domestic violence, and had only one question. "Ms. Gaskill, what was your reasoning for staying at home the last five years of your marriage?"

  Kate licked her lips, letting a few her nerves show. "My husband insisted. I tried to convince him that we would be much more successful financially, but he was adamant that his wife should take care of his house."

  He nodded. "Mr. Stinel? Would you like to add anything?"

  "She was just a receptionist. We couldn't afford the second car, and she never kept a job for long."

  "Objection," Isabella said.

  The judge lifted his hand. "Sustained. Mr. Stinel, if that's the case, how do you explain the purchase of a second car two months later? One which was returned as part of an initial settlement." He flipped a few pages. "Which it looks like you backed out of. I thought you couldn't afford it?"

  Marshall stared for a long moment. "Well, things changed."

  He nodded. "So, why did you not want your wife to get a job after those changes?"

  "The cost of gas, you know, and maintenance."

  The judge nodded slowly. "I believe, Mr. Stinel, that you should be ashamed of yourself." Then he very pointedly awarded seventy percent of the home equity to Kate, along with only the debt for the past due utili
ty and phone bill on the property. All of the credit card debt would be Marshall's responsibility alone. With a tap of the Judge's gavel, a swirl of a pen, and a dip of the judge's head, Kate became a single woman.

  It was all somewhat underwhelming. All the stress, all the fighting, all the fears, and the whole thing was over in less than fifteen minutes. Kate walked out in shock, her mouth hanging open.

  "Congratulations," Isabella said, offering her hand.

  "Thank you," Kate breathed, clasping it with both of hers. "Oh my god, thank you so much."

  Isabella laughed, patting her hands gently. "The next time I see you, Kate, it will be for a prenup, and with a lot of smiles."

  It was done. It was all over. Kate headed out to the bus stop, and dropped on the bench, looking through the papers in her lap. The restraining order was maintained for a year, the documents would save her credit, and with the money she was making, she might even be able to afford that cute little mini cooper she'd been joking with Ice about. Thinking about him, she grabbed her phone and sent him a message.

  [Lithium] I'm officially single. Last chance to back out!

  [IceMan] Not happening. Just one question, do I wear the Paradox blue tie or get creative?

  [Lithium] Chartreuse. Then I'll know it's really you =p

  [IceMan] Do they even make those? How about magenta?

  [Lithium] That works.

  [IceMan] Good. And how will I know it's you? :P

  [Lithium] Orange hair, turquoise dress. Kinda hard to miss. Besides, you've already cheated!

  [IceMan] Never said I play fair. And grats, by the way. I'll let you tell me all the good parts over champagne. ;)

  [Lithium] Just don't stand me up!

  The bus turned the corner, so she silenced her phone and stood, anxious to get home. The trip was long and horrid. It took three connections to get from the courthouse to her apartment, and almost two hours. When she finally stepped in her door, she almost expected everything to look different. Instead, she was just as broke as she'd been a month ago, but now, she was digging herself out of the hole. In a few more paychecks, she might even be able to move to a nicer place.

  Peeling off her suit, she felt her pocket buzz again and grabbed her phone. It was another message from Ice, but this time, just a picture. A lovely magenta tie, the obviously expensive kind, lay across a white-clad arm. While she looked, another came in.

  [IceMan] Unique enough? Can't imagine there will be a lot of guys around in pink.

  [Lithium] Gonna tease me with bits and pieces for the next few hours?

  [IceMan] Would love to, but it probably wouldn't go over well in the office. Now you, however, are at home.

  [Lithium] Ok, that's fair.

  She finished undressing, tossed the suit on the floor, her lace bra on top, then took a picture of the pile and sent it. Giggling, she picked it back up and hung it, but she wondered exactly what he'd say. It took much longer than she expected.

  [IceMan] Thank god I'm sitting down. You are a tease!

  [Lithium] I'm single, I'm allowed to be. Get some work done!

  Next, she sent a text to the people she knew had worked so hard for her: her bosses. She simply told them she was done, she'd won, and her ex was not happy about it at all. Nancy beamed and gushed, going on and on about how happy she was, and how she hoped Kate had a really good weekend. Adam, on the other hand, surprised her.

  Adam: Good. I hope you enjoy tonight.

  That was it. Short, sweet, and not at all what she'd expected him to say. Then again, when she first met him, she thought he'd be a self-centered jerk, so clearly she had a lot to learn about the man. She also couldn't stop thinking about that kiss.

  Just once, he'd said. Did he mean once ever? Did he mean until she was single? What if things worked out with Ice? Would she ever look at Adam the same way? Could she ever look at him without remembering exactly how soft his mouth was, or how his fingers had teased the back of her head? The sound of him breathless was something she could definitely get used to. He'd almost sounded like Ice, and Ice's voice was incredibly sexy.

  On impulse, Kate threw herself a miniature tantrum, squealing and stomping in place, then made one last call - to the cab company, to arrange her ride for the evening. When all of that was done, she headed into the bathroom. Nothing would pull her out until her legs, and other bits were as smooth as a baby's bottom. Her goal was just to have a nice evening, but every newly-single girl should be prepared for the best-case scenario.

  Besides, worst case, La Pierre was just a few doors down from one of their nicer hotels. She could always take an unassigned suite for the evening. It was one of the perks of working on the top floor. Nancy had made sure to mention it casually, in passing - as if the thought had simply occurred to her - just after picking on Kate about her date.

  She'd much rather meet a man willing to invite her home, but it had been a long eighteen months. If Ice was cute but not the type to fit into her life, she might just make use of it. Hell, she was a single girl, and she needed a little rebounding!

  Chapter 20

  The cab pulled up before the restaurant when her phone beeped, notifying Kate of a message. She scrambled for it quickly, terrified that Ice would back out at the last minute. When she saw it was from him, her heart stopped.

  [IceMan] I'm stuck in traffic. Going to be 5 or 10 minutes late, but I am NOT standing you up. Idiot tried to turn left on red.

  She'd actually just passed that accident on the cross street. Kate breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out of the taxi, making sure the fare really was taken care of. He assured her that her secret admirer had handled it all, then drove off to get his next client.

  [Lithium] Saw that. Probably closer to 15. I just got here.

  [IceMan] Reservation is under IceMan, of all things. I'll meet you at our table.

  She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and walked inside. As if the doors shut off the rest of the world, the sounds dimmed to a soft mumble. The restaurant's lighting was soft, mostly from glass covered candles on the tables, and every diner looked as rich as her bosses. Kate gave herself a little pep talk, reminding herself that this was a celebration - in one of the most romantic places she'd ever heard of and couldn't afford to go on her own. She had a beautiful dress that made her not only feel sexy but also looked beautiful, and Ice would be drooling over her. She had nothing to worry about. Nothing at all - but she couldn't convince the butterflies to stop swarming in her guts.

  The young man at the front greeted her as if she was a normal client. "Evening, ma'am. Do you have a reservation?"

  "Yes, it's under the name IceMan?"

  He smiled. "Yes, of course. I hope congratulations fit with this celebration."

  She chuckled and nodded. "Yes, actually. Thank you."

  Then he led her back, guiding her toward a table almost in the middle of the room. He apologized that they didn't have something more private available on such short notice, then introduced her server. This was a middle-aged woman who could have easily convinced people she was much younger. She walked up with a smile and asked if Kate would like to start with wine, or if she'd prefer to wait for her date.

  "Wine," Kate said. "He's stuck in traffic."

  "Certainly. Do you have a preference?"

  Kate shook her head. "Honestly, no. I have limited knowledge, and too few chances to sample."

  The woman smiled. "Do you typically prefer white, or red?"

  "White."

  She nodded. "We have a lovely vintage that's light enough to enjoy before a meal, and just right for those times you're stuck waiting."

  Kate nodded her head, smiling. "Sounds perfect. Thank you."

  The waitress returned quickly and filled the glass at the table, placing the bottle to the side. "I'll give you a few minutes before I check on you again."

  Then she was gone. Kate was left staring at the paintings on the walls, listening to dinner conversations at the tables around her, and waiting to hear h
er phone buzz with more bad news. She glanced at the clock on the far wall, realizing only ten minutes had passed and took another sip of her wine.

  Something shifted subtly. At the front, she heard a man greet someone into the restaurant and saw the staff all look up, standing a little straighter. Obviously, even the people used to seeing the obscenely wealthy all day still got a bit star struck. Kate smiled at that, took another sip, but wasn't willing to turn around and gawk like a teenager. She looked at the clock again and felt a hand gently brush her hair from her shoulder.

  "Sorry I'm late, darlin'."

  "Ice," she said excitedly, standing to greet him with a smile. It froze on her face when she saw who'd greeted her. That wasn't IceMan. It was Adam! Kate sucked in a breath, her heart hanging in her chest, and she set her jaw. "What are you doing here? You know I have a date!"

  He pressed his lips together and nodded. "I do. If you remember, I also told you that I hope it went well. I tried to make it very clear that if you didn't like what you saw, I have no problem with this being just as friends, but you still deserve the celebration."

  She stared at him. He'd sent her the first as a message, but it was Ice who'd promised he had no problem as just friends. How could Adam know that? It wasn't possible!

  When it became obvious that Kate's tongue was too tied to talk, Adam tried again. "You look amazing. We need to discuss your definition of a twig."

  How did he know all this! There was only one explanation. Her eyes dropped to his throat, then slid down the front of his shirt, taking in the magenta tie. The same tie that had been in the picture sent to her by her gamer guy. Suddenly, it all made sense.

  "Oh fuck. I've been played." She dropped into her chair.

  "Not exactly. May I sit?"

  "Ice?" She still couldn't believe it. Her sexy boss, who'd been hitting on her, was the same guy she had a crush on in a game? There was no way. No way in hell that was possible.