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The next few hours were spent going over the documentation from the project director on our next project. Arjun was right. After Happy Bird was released, OceansPlay had been scrambling for their next new banger game. Some games did really well, but none of them did as well as Happy Bird. Being the lead programmer on the game gave me perspective. I'd always known I was good at what I did, but up until then, I'd never really realized the extent to which my genius went.
Not only had it made me one of the most popular names in the gaming world, but it had also upped my market value by several hundred thousand dollars. As a result, OceansPlay had to promote me and increase my salary nicely just to keep me.
Every company wanted me. I'd gotten offers from gamers worldwide for collaborations that I wouldn't have dreamed of otherwise. I wasn't going to lie: It felt good to be recognized for my hard work. I'd put everything into getting where I was today, and not even my mother, Rosaline Pegg, could talk down on me.
If only she were here to see it.
three
Aaron
"Thank you all for coming," said a voice from the front of the room.
The air within the OceansPlay auditorium crackled with anticipation as employees gathered in hushed excitement. The colossal screen at the front displayed the company's logo, flickering waves that seemed to ripple with a sense of impending revelation. The project director, Jeffery Donovan, stepped onto the stage, the spotlight capturing the determination in his eyes. The room fell into a hush, and all eyes turned toward the visionary at the helm.
"Is it just me, or does it seem like there's a particular flair for Jeff today?" Arjun whispered next to me.
"It's not just you," I responded. Even I was jittery. An excitement coursed through my veins, a familiar rush of electricity that seemed to jolt my senses to life. The last time I'd felt this way was about two years ago when I'd gone from junior programmer to lead programmer.
"Today, I'm thrilled to unveil a project that will redefine not only our company, but the very landscape of virtual reality gaming." Jeff's voice carried through the quiet auditorium as the screen transitioned to a mesmerizing teaser, a harmony of visuals and music that encapsulated the essence of the next few months. Waves of applause and whispers of awe rippled through the auditorium as the audience absorbed the unfolding extravaganza. We'd all wanted to work on a virtual reality game since it became all the rage with online gamers a few months ago.
The lights dimmed, and the screen bathed the large room in a soft glow. Jeff explained the vision, and soon, we all got lost in it. He'd briefed me a few days on the theme, so I wasn't entirely surprised at some of the information he was passing on, but from the magnitude of his words, I could tell that this was a project that would demand everything. All hands would have to be on deck.
I smiled. The kind of thing I lived for.
"The lead programmer on this project, of course, is none other than Aaron Pegg, the genius behind Happy Bird," Jeff's voice carried, drawing me out of my reverie. The spotlight was instantly on me. Raising a hand awkwardly, I waved. I didn't hate public attention. Just when it took me by surprise.
"Our game designers will be headed by Felicity Wiley," Jeff announced, and the auditorium went silent. My heart skipped a beat at her name, and I craned my neck to find her. Even the spotlight seemed to be lost.
"Felicity? You there?" Jeff asked with an uncertain chuckle. We were about to give up the search when five slim fingers suddenly shot up at the back of the auditorium. The spotlight immediately found her.
She flinched from the glare, using one hand over her forehead as a shield from the bright rays shining on the round glasses covering most of her face. "I'm…I'm here."
"Yes, yes," Jeff nodded. "A round of applause, everyone, please."
The applause was scant, but it was better than none.
"Dude, you're staring," Arjun elbowed me. With great effort, I tore my gaze away from her, swallowing.
Jeff introduced a few more people before the screen went off. "Of course, this project is not open to the public yet, and the details are top secret for now. Only the aforementioned employees will be privy to the necessary information until the project is completed."
For the rest of the meeting, the only thing I could think about was Felicity. As the meeting ended and everyone dispersed, I waited in my seat until she came into view before getting up and heading toward her. But I lost track of her again before I got to the door.
"Shit," I murmured, looking around. There was no long, sandy-brown-haired woman anywhere. It wasn't like I knew what to say to her anyway.
Jeff cornered me for a quick discussion about rounding up the team players, and afterward, I headed back to my office.
However, when I neared my office, I was surprised to see Felicity standing outside my door, sketchbook in hand. She wore an uncertain look on her face, like she would rather be anywhere else. It made me snort, a throaty sound that quickly disappeared when I reached her.
"Uh…don't know if you're aware, but this is my office,” I said.
She lifted her eyes to look at me, and I got a closer look at them for the first time. Gold-flecked amber. The most beautiful pair of eyes I'd ever seen. My breath hitched.
"Yeah, I can see that." She nodded, gesturing to the nameplate on the door. "Since we'll be working together, I was just thinking we could get a head start on the project. I already have some sketches and thought you'd want to see them."
Her voice was doing all sorts of things to me. Wicked, decadent things. How could she be unaffected when I could barely hear a word she was saying? Was it normal that I couldn't stop staring at her lips?
"…have defined character sketches, and I played around with some colors—Are you listening to me, Mr. Pegg?"
