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Love's Illusion

Page 17

by Priya Grey


  “No way,” mutters Ajax.

  “I never thought you’d get the axe,” whispers Parker.

  I look at them, in utter shock.

  “Now, Flo,” demands Josh, his face cold as ice.

  I get up from my chair and follow Josh out of the room.

  “Take a seat,” he says flatly as we enter his office.

  I sit down. Josh reclines in the chair behind his desk. He stares at his computer, avoiding eye contact with me.

  “I’ve decided to slim down the testing team. I’m getting rid of some of the weak links,” he says. “I’ve been going over your logging reports, and they don’t meet our standards.”

  I’m totally confused. “Really? I thought I was doing a good job.”

  Josh glances away from his computer and finally meets my gaze. “Not compared to the others. So, unfortunately, it looks like this will be your last day working here. If you could collect your things and leave by the end of the day, that would be great.”

  I’m shocked. But gradually, I begin to suspect that Josh is lying about my work performance. Is he retaliating against me because I wouldn’t let him take 50% of my game?

  “Can I see the data?”

  Josh is surprised by my request. “Excuse me?”

  “Can I see how my log reports compare to everyone else’s?” I ask, taking a stand for myself.

  Josh stares at me coldly and shakes his head. “No.”

  Now I’m getting angry. Two months ago, I didn’t have the courage to stand up to Josh. But I guess I’ve changed a lot since then, because I refuse to back down. “Are you firing me because I won’t let you take an ownership stake in my game?” I ask him, point blank.

  “That’s ridiculous,” Josh says, breaking eye contact with me and glancing down at his desk.

  “Well, if that’s not the case, why can’t I see how my performance compares to everyone else?” I persist.

  Josh looks at me again. There’s visible hatred directed toward me in his eyes. He leans forward across his desk and clasps his hands.

  “I would tread carefully, if I were you, Flo. You’re trying to break into this industry. I don’t think accusing the head of Quality Control – at the hottest video game company – of abusing his power, is the way to go about it. Do you?”

  “But what if it’s the truth?” I can’t believe I have the courage to speak this way. Maybe all my workouts with Nash have toughened me up in other ways, too.

  “I know a lot of people in this biz,” Josh says leaning back in his chair, trying to act like he’s a big shot.

  I shrug my shoulders. “So? It’s not fair that I lose my job because you have some personal vendetta against me.”

  Josh shakes his head. “This isn’t personal. But if you continue to make these accusations against me, I’ll tell people at other game development companies that you are a difficult person to work with.”

  “You can’t do that. It’s not right.”

  I see the hint of an evil smirk appear on Josh’s lips. He looks at me and continues, “You’re just starting out, Flo. Be careful you don’t get the wrong reputation.”

  I’ve heard enough. He’s totally trying to screw me over. “Are we done here?”

  Josh nods. “Yes. Go back to your workstation and collect your things.”

  I leave Josh’s office and return to the game testing room, my eyes directed to the floor. I’m angry, flustered, and embarrassed. I fight back the tears as I pack my things. My dream, since I was twelve years old, was to work in the video game industry. Now that prick, Josh Diggers, might blackball me from ever getting another job. I try to stifle back the tears, but one escapes my eye.

  “I’m sorry, Flo,” says Parker as he looks at me, not sure what else to say.

  “Yeah, it’s not right,” adds Ajax.

  “It’s not right, but it happened anyway.” I finish packing my things. “Take care, guys.”

  I wipe my eyes and leave the room, overwhelmed with embarrassment.

  As I ride the bus home, that homeless woman is seated across from me again.

  “They’re all a bunch of assholes,” she hisses.

  I look at her and nod. “I think you’re right.”

  I blow my nose and cry the rest of the bus ride home. When I step inside the house, Juliette shouts from the pool, “Flo, come join me. I’m so bored.”

  I really don’t feel like it. But I also don’t want to be in my room, alone.

  I step into the backyard.

  “Why are you home so early?” Juliette asks as she puffs on a joint.

  “I got fired.”

  “Merde! But you’re a superstar?”

  “Maybe just in my head,” I reply with slumped shoulders.

  I take a seat beside Juliette, as she takes another puff from her joint.

  “I really thought this was going to be my big break,” I tell her. “My shot, you know? But that fucker, Josh…”

  The reality of the situation starts to hit home. I’ve been fired! My dreams have been crushed! I feel another rush of tears coming on. But I try to control myself.

  “I don’t want to go back to Minneapolis, Juliette. It’s so fuckin’ cold. I like it here,” I bawl.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” she replies. Juliette then dabs her finger on her tongue and extinguishes her joint.

  “But I can’t stay here without a job,” I tell her. “I’ve got no money. And it took me forever just to get this internship.”

  Juliette looks at me, offers a comforting smile, then says, “I’ll pay your rent until you find another job.”

  I’m shocked by her generosity. “You can’t do that.”

  Juliette shrugs. “Why not? I’ve made over $10,000 dollars this month.”

  My eyes widen. “Really?”

  “Maybe you should webcam,” Juliette advises. “I could see you being very popular.”

  I can’t even digest that thought right now. “I really don’t think that sort of thing is for me.”

  Juliette nods. “I understand. You have to have a certain je ne donne pas une attitude de baise – or Fuck It Attitude – to do what I do. Anyway, I can loan you money for rent until you get back on your feet. I don’t want you to go back to Minnesota. Los Angeles and I need you,” says Juliette as she pats my hand.

  “I really appreciate it,” I reply, still shocked by her generosity.

  “What are friends for?”

  Suddenly, Juliette’s phone begins to buzz.

  “Merde,” she mutters as she glances at it.

  “Who is it?”

  “Roger,” Juliette says with a sigh. “I’ve been ignoring him since Mr. Starbuck entered my life. But he keeps wanting to webcam with me. He’s such a sleaze bag. After Mr. Starbuck, it’s hard to go back to creeps like Roger. But Mr. Starbuck isn’t calling me back. You don’t think anything happened to him, do you? Like a heart attack? Or worse, do you think he lost interest in me?”

  Juliette appears visibly concerned that Mr. Starbuck might have lost interest. I don’t know what to say, or how to comfort her. Luckily, Nash steps into the backyard just in time.

  “Nash, I think Mr. Starbuck might have broken up with me,” cries Juliette, worried.

  Nash shrugs. “Or maybe he ran out of money. Talking to you is pretty expensive.”

  “Nonsense,” says Juliette with a shake of her head. “He’s rich, and my company is well worth the expense.”

  Nash looks at me, surprised. “What are you doing home?”

  “She got fired,” Juliette informs him.

  “No fuckin’ way,” says Nash.

  “Way,” I nod sadly.

  “But I thought you were killing it?” Nash looks confused.

  I shrug. “So did I.”

  I tell Nash about my meeting with Josh.

  “That dick is fucking you over,” he shouts angrily.

  Juliette relights her joint and takes a puff. “He’s very much fucking her over,” she concurs.

 
“You have to report him,” Nash insists.

  “But I might risk getting blackballed in the industry,” I reply, worried. “Josh says he knows a lot of people in the business. What if he starts calling everyone and telling them not to hire me?”

  Nash stares at me in disbelief. “So, you’re just going to let him get away with this?”

  I shrug, not sure what else I’m supposed to do. “I’m nobody. I’m just an intern.”

  Nash shakes his head, angry. “You’re an intern who developed an awesome game all on her own,” he says. “That fuck-head Josh is the one who should get fired, not you.”

  “So, what are you saying, Nash? I should go to Zach, the CEO, and tell him what happened,” I fire back.

  Nash nods. “Why not? If they still screw you over, at least you’ll have stood up to the asshole. And who knows, maybe Zach will have your back, and that jerk-off Josh will get fired instead. If you let Josh get away with this, Flo, you’ll never be the success you want to be in life. If you want to reach a goal, you don’t let people walk all over you.”

  “That’s very inspiring, Nash. And sexy,” says Juliette. “Maybe you should start training me.”

  Nash rolls his eyes and doesn’t respond to Juliette’s comment. He turns his focus back to me.

  “You got to fight this one, Flo,” he repeats with seriousness.

  “Yes. Nash is right,” agrees Juliette. “Fight.”

  Chapter 43

  That night, I go to bed thinking about what Nash said – that I need to fight. I look at the poster of Prince hanging above my mattress.

  “What do you think I should do, Prince?”

  I sigh as I imagine his response. “I thought you’d say that.”

  The next day, I go back to work and knock on Zach’s door. He looks up from his computer.

  “Mr. Foster, my name’s Florence Hill,” I say, standing outside his office.

  Zach offers up a smile. “I remember you. Game tester, right?”

  I nod. “Do you have a moment?”

  “Sure. Come in.”

  I walk into Zach’s office.

  “Take a seat.”

  I sit down.

  “What can I help you with?”

  “I got fired yesterday,” I say nervously.

  Zach leans back in his chair, not sure how to respond. “Oh,” is all he manages to say.

  “And I don’t think it was justified,” I add.

  Zach takes a long look at me and nods. “Okay, I’m listening.”

  I describe, to Zach, the kind of work I’ve been doing since I arrived at the company. Then I tell him about the video game I developed – and how I showed it to Josh, and he wanted to take an ownership stake in it. But I refused.

  After getting this all off my chest, Zach looks at me and says, “I’m glad you brought this to my attention. I’ll take a look at the log reports, myself. And see if Josh’s actions were justified.”

  “Thank you,” I say, breathing a sigh of relief.

  I get up from my chair. I’m about to walk out, when Zach calls my name.

  “Miss Hill.”

  I turn around.

  “If you have a moment, I’d be interested in seeing your demo.”

  “Really?”

  He nods.

  Zach is one of the industry’s top producers, and he’s asking to see my video game. I’ve waited my whole life for a moment like this. Nervously, I walk toward his desk. I recently created an app of my game and use my phone to launch it. With my hands trembling, I hand Zach my phone. He begins playing my game.

  “My roommate composed the music,” I tell him, as he plays through one of the levels.

  Zach nods. “It works. And I really like the structure and game play. The atmosphere you’ve created is unique and very dream-like. I’m impressed. And I love the title: Fall into Flow.”

  I can’t believe it… a man who produces video games with budgets of millions and millions of dollars is impressed by my little, tiny game.

  I still can’t believe any of this is happening. “Thanks,” I say, still shocked.

  Then the phone on Zach’s desk beeps. His assistant speaks via the intercom.

  “Zach, you’re late for your marketing meeting.”

  Zach sighs and looks at me. He hands my phone back. “I have to go. But would you mind sending me a copy of your game? I’d like to explore it a little further.”

  “Sure,” I say. “Of course.”

  As he gets up, Zach looks at me and says, “And I promise, I’ll look into what happened with Josh and get back to you.”

  I nod and smile. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  I leave Zach’s office. As I make my way down the hall, I pass Josh. He eyes me curiously. I ignore him. I continue walking to the first floor and bump into Ajax and Parker by a vending machine.

  “Hey, what are you doing here?” asks Ajax.

  “I’m leaving. I just wanted to tell Zach about Josh.”

  A smirk crosses Ajax’s lips. “That’s pretty ballsy, Flo. Good for you.”

  “Yeah. You’ve got big balls, Flo,” says Parker. “Speaking of big. Have you lost weight?” he asks. “You seem more… I don’t know… compact.”

  Ajax rolls his eyes and hits Parker on the arm. “Dude, that is the worst way to give a compliment.”

  “I guess I’ll take it, though,” I respond with a smile. “Thanks.”

  “So, do you think you’ll get your job back?” asks Ajax, changing the topic.

  I shrug. “We’ll see what Zach decides.”

  “Well, I hope they take you back,” Ajax replies.

  “Me too,” adds Parker.

  I look at both of them. “You know, when I first met you two, I thought you were sexist assholes.”

  “See, you had us pegged all wrong,” says Ajax with another smirk.

  “Not all wrong,” I reply with a playful shake of my head. “You two are totally sexist, but you’re not assholes.”

  “Thanks, I guess,” says Parker.

  “I got to run. Bye, guys.”

  “See ya.”

  I exit the building. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m proud that I stood up for myself.

  Chapter 44

  As I wait to hear back from Zach, the weekend arrives. So does Selena’s gig at a club in Hollywood.

  Juliette and I stand near the edge of the dance floor, watching Selena spin her music. The club is crowded, and the dance floor is packed. Nash appears carrying our drinks.

  “Thanks,” I say as I grab my Moscow mule.

  “Merci,” says Juliette as she sips her cosmopolitan.

  “I thought you didn’t drink?” I ask Nash, as I notice him sipping a beer.

  “Not while I’m training,” he responds. “But now that my training days are over…”

  “You can relax a little,” I interject with a smile.

  I clink my drink against Nash’s.

  “I’m proud of you,” he says.

  “For what?”

  “Standing up for yourself and talking to the CEO.”

  “Thanks.”

  We both smile. Juliette then shoves Nash.

  “Selena’s waving at us,” she shouts.

  We look at Selena and wave back.

  Juliette then turns to us and says, “I’m really worried about Mr. Starbuck. He still hasn’t called.”

  “Maybe he’s busy with work,” shouts Nash above the loud music. “If he runs his own company, I don’t understand how he has the time to talk to you all day.”

  “He’s in a different time zone,” responds Juliette. “He lives in Singapore. He calls me when he’s done at the office.”

  A look of excitement suddenly washes over Juliette’s face. She reaches for her phone. But when she sees who’s calling, the excitement vanishes.

  “It’s that pig, Roger,” she shouts. “It’s about time he heard the truth!”

  Juliette answers her phone and waves at Roger.

  “H
ello, Roger,” she shouts.

  “Are you at a party, sweetie?” he asks. “Why have you been ignoring me?”

  “I’ve been ignoring you for one simple reason, Roger,” replies Juliette. “You disgust me. I think you’re a pig. And if your wife had any sense, she would leave you. Fuck off, Roger! I never want to talk to you again.”

  Juliette gives Roger the middle finger and hangs up her phone.

  “That felt great!” she shouts. “Probably not good for business, though.” Then, Juliette looks despondent. “Oh, why does my heart ache so badly?” she proclaims.

  Nash turns to me. “How many drinks has she had?”

  “I stopped counting after the fifth one.”

  “This Mr. Starbuck really did a number on her,” Nash whispers into my ear.

  I nod.

  We watch as Juliette guzzles down one more drink.

  “Maybe Mr. Starbuck had an emergency at work. He’ll probably call you when everything is taken care of,” Nash attempts to convince Juliette, trying to make her feel better. But Juliette doesn’t believe that’s the case.

  “Or he’s lost interest in me,” Juliette frets.

  “He was a client, Juliette,” Nash reminds her. “He wasn’t your boyfriend.”

  Juliette places her hand on Nash’s shoulder. “Nash, you don’t understand the bond we had,” she shouts. “How we laughed. How he made me orgasm even though he couldn’t touch me. I’ve never had a man move me that way. Once you’ve had Mr. Starbuck, no other man can compare. Now, I’m destined to be miserable. I need another drink.”

  Nash shakes his head. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?”

  Juliette thinks for a moment and then vehemently disagrees.

  “Not nearly enough. My heart is still beating,” she replies.

  Juliette leaves us and heads to the bar.

  Nash and I watch her walk away.

  “She’s very dramatic,” Nash says to me.

  I shrug. “She is French,” I remind him. “They practically invented romance.”

  As the song that was playing comes to an end, Selena grabs the mic and speaks to the crowd.

  “Thank you all for coming out. Before I finish my set, I’d like to play something special for you. This new track is dedicated to my friend and roommate, Florence Hill.”

 

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