Virtual Reality

by Kitty Cox

  "It is, and my jerk of an ex isn't making it easier. He's been dragging this shit on for a year and a half. Finally got him to agree to terms today, but I'm still going to end up with almost a hundred grand of his debt. God, I hate that man."

  "Damn. How did he... No, that's not really my business. Sorry."

  "He bought anything that caught his attention, often drinks for women at bars, and charged it all, then couldn't understand that he'd have to pay it back, that's how." She just couldn't help herself. For over a year she hadn't had the chance to vent, and now poor Ice was ending up as her sounding board. "Sorry."

  "Keep going. Don't let me stop you now."

  "Well, I mean, I guess I don't have much room to complain. I got to sit at home and do nothing for five years, but still. I wanted to work, and he kept saying it would cost more if both of us had a job, right? Thing is, I could make more than him, but he didn't want to cook or clean. Keep in mind, I can't cook!"

  "Really?" He sounded surprised. "You have to be able to cook something."

  "I can make amazing frozen pizza, but I do a lot better ordering."

  "Please tell me you aren't serious."

  "Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? I do cold cereal too." She giggled. "Yeah, I've been eating like a college student for a while."

  "One of these days, I'm going to cook for you, Lith. I love cooking."

  Yeah, some guy she met on the internet was offering to cook for her. Talk about pipe dreams. "Sure. If we're ever face-to-face, I'll let you cook for me."

  "It's a date."

  That was when she started yawning and realized it was already after midnight. "Ice, I have got to get some sleep."

  "Yeah, me too. Someone kept me up until dawn," he teased.

  "You weren't trying to leave!"

  "You're right." He chuckled. "Go to bed, darlin'. I'll probably be online off and on all day tomorrow. Log in if you're bored, or just TeamSpeak. Whichever."

  "K. Night, Ice."

  "Night, Lith."

  She closed the chat server and realized she was smiling. He was just honestly a nice guy, it seemed. He put up with her stupid mistakes in game, he didn't flip out when she went off on a tangent, but she was still married. If she did the least little thing wrong, Marshall would use it against her. She shouldn't even let her mind start to think of IceMan as anything other than a virtual gamer friend. It also sounded like he'd flirt with any girl in the game. Not that there was anything wrong with that, but she shouldn't feel too special because of it. She was just latching on to the first person who'd been nice to her.

  Unfortunately, that she was even debating it with herself meant she'd already gone there. Kate groaned and pushed away from the desk. She sure as hell didn't need a man to complicate her life. She wasn't even really single yet! When her divorce was final, then she could think about stupid rebounds and one-night stands. Until then? She needed to be a perfect example so her ex couldn't figure out another way to screw her over. It wasn't fair, but sadly, she didn't have any money to even the odds.

  But she couldn't stop feeling that knowing someone like him would be kinda nice. A man who treated her with respect, was a little bit protective - even if that was only in a game - and who sounded so very grounded. Then again, how much of that was little more than wish fulfillment? Probably most, but at least she'd started wishing. For too long, the idea of just living alone had been what she wanted. To stay away from the world, pretend like it didn't exist. Now? Well, she had friends who didn't expect her to clean the house or entertain because they would never come over. They enjoyed talking to her and just wanted to game together.

  She liked it. She liked everyone in Paradox, so far. She liked First Person Shooters, so far. She loved the challenge of them. It had only been two days, but this was a hobby she could see herself keeping for a while. Sure, the games would eventually change, but the genre was big enough, and with enough practice, she'd be able to switch from one to the next easily. Most of those guys could cite a list of titles they played.

  It was also something she could do without screwing it up completely. Her marriage had fallen apart, her career neglected, and some days it felt like her life was crumbling around her, but this was just a game. Worst case, she'd at least done this on her own. Best case, she might remember how to do things right again.

  That's why she'd started playing. The article on Reddit made it seem like an outlet for her frustrations - a safe one. The stories from gamers always sounded so passionate, so emotionally charged, and so rewarding. Kate needed a little reward in her life.

  She also needed a lot more sleep. Her evening routine was easy, even more so considering that she was already basically wearing her pajamas. She put her phone on the charger, set up the coffee pot for the morning and crawled into bed. That was all it took, but sleep didn't come easy.

  For almost an hour, she tossed and turned, her mind spinning between worrying about her ex-husband and comparing him to IceMan. They were both initially charming, and that was the problem.

  Marshall had been so thrilling when she'd met him. His charisma had blinded her to his faults, making him seem like the perfect mix of bad boy and romantic hero. He was good-looking, had been good in bed - until he lost interest in her - but faithfulness had never been something he could tolerate. He'd cheated on her the day after their first anniversary. When she found out about it, he'd cried, swearing it would never happen again, and begged her to forgive him. In her youthful innocence, she had. Then it happened again.

  That time he'd denied it. Eventually, he'd gotten so good at lying to her that Kate couldn't trust a word he'd said. When she'd finally confronted him about it, he'd reacted violently, shoving her around, the argument escalating to screaming until they both started throwing things. The fight had ended suddenly when he backhanded her.

  Oh, he'd apologized, but that was one thing Kate knew better than to forgive. She'd sworn that if it ever happened again, she was gone. It took years before he raised his hand to her a second time, but she'd kept her word. She still had a backbone, even if she'd forgotten how to use it, and her pride wouldn't let her be abused by a man who claimed to love her. She might not be a fighter, but that didn't mean she was a doormat, either.

  Still, that was how she'd ended up living in a crappy, rundown apartment on the shadier side of town. The moment he pushed her, she hadn't said a thing. She'd simply packed her stuff and left. So far, she'd sold everything of value, held three different temp jobs, and managed to make all the ends meet. It didn't sound like much, but she was slowly and surely climbing out of the hell she'd put herself in.

  And yet she missed having someone around.

  The idea of no longer being alone was so tempting. Even to just have a friend she could talk to, someone who would laugh about things she found amusing and understand when she needed to get problems off her chest. Someone with a voice she could listen to all night, rich and filled with intelligence, vibrant in a way that alluded to a caring man behind it.

  No. She would not think like that. Not today. She needed to learn to live on her own, not be some trophy. She needed to stop hoping that Prince Charming would appear out of thin air and save her.

  Most of all, she needed a damned job.

  Chapter 5

  Thursday passed in a blur. IceMan logged in for short bursts but hadn't been on as much as she'd hoped. She still had fun meeting and playing with the other members of Paradox. By the end of the day, she was able to consistently kill one person for each time she died. Granted, she couldn't do it without a group of good players at her back, but she sure wouldn't complain. She also made sure to thank them for watching out for her.

  Friday had come all too quickly. The morning seemed to drag on forever, but the afternoon blew past too fast. Kate spent over an hour looking for just the right suit. A blue ensemble with an elegant white shirt finally won the battle, giving her the chance to be memorable while still looking professional. If she could make the right impres
sion, she was sure she could get this job.

  Until she left late. It was only a few minutes, but already she'd started off on the wrong foot. When she arrived at Degrass Plaza, it was exactly 2:01pm. She'd planned on being early. Nothing she could do now, she thought, but it was one tiny mark against her.

  She barely stepped through the door when a well-dressed lady walked into the lobby, glancing around. Their eyes met, and the girl smiled. "Ms. Gaskill?" she asked.

  "Yes."

  "Follow me."

  The woman made an elegant gesture, something that looked like it had been practiced repeatedly, and turned to the right. Kate did as directed, walking quickly behind this lady's longer steps while anxiety started to set in. The blonde walked softly, but Kate's heels clicked loudly, crudely, in her ears, announcing their arrival to the conference room before the door was even opened.

  Six executives sat around an oval table. Most were older, but half were women. Kate smiled politely as she entered, all too aware that her entire outfit cost less than most of their watches, and accepted the hand of each before sitting in the chair offered. The interview started like most, with a little about the company, then an older black woman at the far end opened with one of the questions she'd been dreading.

  "Ms. Gaskill, why were you out of work for so many years?"

  Unconsciously, Kate licked her lips before answering. "My husband's income was sufficient to support us, and we enjoyed a traditional-style family. I concentrated on caring for our home and personal assets."

  "I see." The woman's eyes never left the resume before her. "And you said you are no longer married?"

  "No, ma'am. I am in the process of filing for divorce, which is why I am excited to return to my career."

  That brought a hint of a smile from the executive. They were playing a game, and both of them knew it. Just like with any interview, what they wanted to see was if she could play it their way. As a front office receptionist, half of her duties would be the way she presented herself and the company. Most clients wouldn't be able to distinguish a difference in the two.

  A balding, pale man at the side spoke up next. "Are you worried that your office skills may have declined since you last held a job outside the home?"

  "No, sir," she said with a smile. "One of my many hobbies is writing. I have a blog and submitted a few short stories during my time as a stay at home wife. This made sure my typing skills are not only sufficient, but actually better than most. I currently type approximately ninety-five words a minute, with minimal errors, have an excellent grasp of both grammar and spelling, as well as the skills to multi-task easily. My blog has a moderate fan base, which must be handled with the same professional attitude and respect as Degrass Plaza expects from its employees."

  The next question came from a younger blonde woman dressed in almost the same style as Kate, but wearing red. "Do you have any experience in dealing with irate customers, Ms. Gaskill?"

  She smiled. "I think that's one thing universal to all jobs." She smiled and waited while they all chuckled. "But yes, I have dealt with many dissatisfied customers in my life. I learned to never take it personally and find the real solution to their problems. The goal, after all, is to maintain the image of the business, not worry about my own personal pride."

  The door behind her clicked as it opened. The executives all looked up, a few sitting just a bit straighter. Kate wondered who had just entered to get that kind of reaction from people placed high enough in the company to make hiring decisions. On the heels of that thought came another: and why would that person be walking into her interview.

  "Good afternoon, Mr. Degrass," the older woman said, the only person not looking impressed at his presence.

  "Afternoon, Nancy. How are the grandbabies?"

  "Fat," she said, grinning. "Adam, can we help you?"

  Adam Degrass? The CEO and founder of Degrass Industries? Kate had learned a lot about him in her research on the company. At the age of nineteen, he'd purchased his first million-dollar business. By twenty-five, he'd expanded into hotels and the service industry, making a name for himself in high-end luxury accommodations. Kate was pretty sure he even owned one of the famous Ritz hotels now.

  While she tried to figure out what was going on, Adam Degrass walked around to stand beside her. Looking up, her eyes saw an immaculate suit first, then moved up to his face. He was smiling at her politely, but it took her breath away. First, because Adam Degrass was a very handsome man, but she'd also seen him before, and not just in the news. This time, she could remember where. He was the same person who'd set her appointment. "Mr. Degrass?" she gasped. "I'm sorry I didn't recognize you the other day." She stood and offered her hand.

  He took it, tilting his own just enough to turn her wrist up. His eyes lingered on the callus just below the heel of her palm, the one earned from too many hours at the computer. "That's not a problem. I'm actually very glad I was there." His smile made her heart beat faster before he released her. "Unfortunately, we've already filled the position you're applying for, but I was wondering if you'd be interested in another opening?"

  "That would depend on the job, sir." Yes! She would be interested in anything but didn't want to look desperate.

  He smiled, his brown eyes warm and inviting, and gestured for her to reclaim her seat. "We have an opening for an assistant to Mrs. Macintosh - Nancy over there. The position has some similarities to that of an administrative assistant, but is at the executive level and would also include traveling to business functions as well as coordinating between Nancy's office and my own."

  "Does the pay compensate for the additional hours and the travel time?" Kate asked.

  Nancy answered. "Yes, it does. This is an executive level opportunity, Ms. Gaskill, not an entry level one. However, it comes with considerable drawbacks. One of your duties would be mediating events, such as the upcoming video game convention held at our hotel in Columbus."

  Adam Degrass chuckled. "I have a feeling Ms. Gaskill might have an interest in that area."

  "Oh?" Nancy asked.

  He nodded. "She has the hands for it. Only virtual artists and gamers tend to spend enough time moving the mouse to earn that mark."

  Kate pulled her hands into her lap and blushed at her reaction. "And writers," she added. "I just started playing games. On my free time, of course."

  "Of course," Mr. Degrass said, looking up at Nancy. "I just wanted to stop in and let you know that the applicant for the front desk accepted the position, but Ms. Gaskill impressed me with her demeanor the other day, making me feel at ease in my own lobby. Plus, you all should know that I prefer to find talent in places others rarely look. I think those hungriest for a chance are often the most valuable to our endeavors." He looked back to her. "Do you prefer to be called Katelyn?"

  "Kate, actually."

  He nodded. "Well, it was a pleasure, Kate. I'm sorry to have interrupted."

  "Never a problem," Nancy said. "Thanks, for letting us know, Adam."

  He nodded and turned to leave, the other executives murmuring for him to have a nice afternoon. The air of respect was thick and heavy, shocking since he was a young man, probably only a few years older than Kate. He was nothing like she expected from the head of such a large company. Granted, he was also really good looking. Distractingly so.

  "So," Nancy said, breaking the silence. "It seems you made quite the impression on Adam. Now, when it comes to the Executive Marketing Coordinator position, I do have a few additional questions for you, and the VIPs may have more."

  Something about Mr. Degrass's appearance gave Kate the pride she needed to tackle it with class. For the owner of the company to have taken an interest in her? That meant she had to be at least a little impressive. While she smiled politely at the people pouring over her life on paper, she couldn't help but massage that funny little callus on her right wrist, wondering why he found it so interesting. Almost everyone who worked on a computer had it. Didn't they?

  The
anxiety eased even as the questions became harder and more personal. It sounded like she'd be directly responsible for organizing Nancy Macintosh's schedule and would act as Mrs. Macintosh's spokesperson in the event that the head of marketing was unavailable. Her writing experience was treated as a bonus, her interest in video games became a selling point, and her intensity to restart her career seemed to seal the deal.

  The job would pay well, the hours were dependent upon the tasks they had, but could be as long as sixteen hours some days, with overtime pay in addition to her salary. It wasn't just a job they were offering her. It was a career, and the kind people like her rarely just fell into. This was a dream for Kate, something she could excel at which required the skills she had, that she could stay with for decades.

  In the back of her mind, she couldn't wait to get home and tell IceMan. He knew how nervous she was about this interview. She'd spilled her guts to him the night before, shocked to find him so easy to talk to. The best part was that while she wouldn't be able to get the time off for the Columbus convention, it sounded like she'd be going as a part of her job - getting paid to be there and meet her friends in the outfit. She felt like she'd won the lottery and wanted to make sure her only friend knew all about it.

  The interview concluded, and they prepared to leave. One of the VIPs held the door as Kate stepped through, smiling appreciatively at him. The rest of the executives followed her out, offering polite words before they dispersed. She made it all the way into the lobby before the receptionist there - the same woman who led her into the interview - looked up.

  "Ms. Gaskill?" She touched one speaker on her headset as if listening to a voice on the other end. "Mrs. Macintosh asked if you'd wait for just a moment."

  "Certainly."

  Hopefully, that was a good sign. If she couldn't even make it out of the building before they wanted to talk to her, maybe it meant a job offer? She sat at the edge of a chair, pulling her phone from a pocket and opened the outfit forums. While she waited, at least she could catch up on what Paradox had been doing. Maybe she should send Ice a message, letting him know that so far the interview was going well? Nah. He was working, and while she didn't know what he did, she knew it could get pretty intense at times. That's why he was only online for brief visits during the day.