Page 7 of Return on Love

Gabriel gives a short laugh. “We’re a small team. With only the employees, it wouldn’t even look like a party. We have their families as well, as also some freelancers who work with us. We’ve also invited some of our best players, especially those with YouTube channels and a large following.”

“I love the décor. A lot of streamers!” I say with a sheepish grin.

Gabriel chuckles and punches me playfully on the arm. “With this sense of humor, you’ll get along fine with the team. Just make sure not to poke’em on.” We both chuckle at our bad jokes. “C’mon, let me introduce you to the others.”

I try to keep my lips pulled into a smile. I hope he didn’t mean Ryan when he said ‘others.’ My eyes wander around the room as we walk towards a group of people. I can’t see Ryan anywhere. Is it too much to hope that he couldn’t make it? The thought itself puts me a little at ease.

“Hey everyone. This is Eva Jones. She’s our consultant and future investor. Fingers crossed. So be nice to her and do her bidding.” Gabriel laughs easily as everyone shakes my hand and introduces themselves.

There are two women gamers in this group of fifteen people. I’m just glad that there are at least two of them. “So, what name do you go by?” I ask one of them.

“MagnaHulkness,” she replies with a weird smile. “I know it’s not girly, but that’s this world. It’s changing slowly. If you follow gaming, you might know YodaPrincess. She’s unapologetically feminist. I was hoping I’d get to see her here.”

I’ve heard of MagnaHulkness and even discussed some games with her a few times in some portals, but the mention of my avatar takes me by surprise. Thankfully, another gamer replies and gives me some time to recover my expressions.

“I heard they tried, but they don’t know her real identity. For all you know, she’s a guy pretending to be a gal.”

“Why would she do that?” I ask, facing the new entrant, a tall skinny man with thick specs.

“To get into the limelight. I mean, YodaPrincess is one of the best female gamers, and that’s why she has a huge following. She would be just one of many if she were male.

I open my mouth to reply, but MagnaHulkness is already protecting my avatar. “You’re insane if you think that. She started many years ago. And has inspired so many of us to play and enjoy it and believe that we can beat the likes of you.” She smirks. “Don’t forget our game last Sunday and how I beat the crap out of you.” She chuckles, as do some more who have gathered around.

My eyes dart across the room, a subtle nervous energy gripping me as I search for the man I desperately need to avoid. If it weren’t for the constant vigilance I’m practising, I might dare to say that I’m actually having a good time. All this talk of games and meeting people I’ve played with and against is crazy and fun. I lean against the bar and request an apple juice. Tonight, I’m determined not to overindulge. Lessons from my past experiences have taught me well.

My mind drifts back to that ill-fated annual grad school party at the end of my first year. The allure of free-flowing alcohol does something to your brain. It stops making the right choices. I gave in to its demands, and the next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache, grateful to find myself in the familiar confines of my room. Yet, I had no recollection of how I’d got there. All I could remember was Ryan, ensconced with some hot girls. I’d caught him staring at me. His eyes locked with mine before he averted his gaze, erupting into laughter. I couldn’t shake the suspicion that he’d been poking fun at my expense.

I drank some more for strength and stumbled over in his direction to give him a piece of my mind. My memory is completely hazy after that. I don’t think I ever made it over to him, and I likely passed out before my intentions could materialize, and some friends must’ve hauled me back to my room. Everyone was too drunk to remember much from that night.

A similar scenario happened again, but luckily it was during a party in our room. Apparently, I kissed a statue and then puked all over it. Since then, I promised myself I’d never drink more than a couple of glasses. So, here I was, drinking the trusted apple juice.

A hand on my shoulder makes me jump as I turn around.

“Hi. I’m Greg. I hear you’re the one with the money.”

“Eva Jones.” I try to smile as I shake his hand. There’s something familiar about his voice, though I can’t place it. “You work at MooreGames?”

“Nah! I’m a gamer. A 9 to 5 job is not for the likes of me. If you follow online gaming, you might know me as the one and only TheLochNesstard.”

Ah. That’s why his voice sounds familiar. I’ve watched some of his videos. He seems too full of himself and more interested in bashing up the noobs and bad-mouthing the creators than anything else. And now, seeing him act all smug and conceited solidifies that assessment. Ryan, I’m sure, gets along well with this prick, hence the invite. Birds of a feather!

“I’ve heard of you,” I say.

He takes it as an invitation to hit on me. “Red suits you,” he says, slipping onto a stool next to me, with his arm on the counter right behind me. “So, are the rumors right? You here to see how much money to burn in these games?”

I smile and nod.

He leans a little towards me. “It’s too loud here. Wanna go out? I’m staying in a hotel nearby where we can talk in peace.”

Yeah, right! I’m sure talking is all he has in mind!

But there is a trick I have for such people. I slyly slip a ring onto my left hand while pretending to look for a tissue in my purse. I take out the tissue and wipe my face a little, displaying the ring in all its glory.

Right at that moment, my eye catches something, or rather someone, to my left. Blue eyes, staring at me. The lips contorted in distaste. The unmistakable frown on his forehead. Yup. That’s Ryan’s look for me. Even now, after all these years, I might still possess the magic to make him puke.

“What happened? Cat got your tongue?” Greg drones on.

I only half listen to him. My eyes are locked on the figure that is sauntering towards me. My brain is frozen, and I can’t even think of making a run for it. Ryan is almost here by now.

---