Page 39 of Sinner

“What would you do differently, Ms. Turner?” I threw out just to see what she would do.

She was smart enough to know I was challenging her. I was more than impressed she’d found a unique way of calling my brothers and me hacks.

Her smile could be described as more of a smirk, as if she knew something I didn’t. “Well, I don’t think I need to offer you any advice. You believe you know what you’re doing. I wouldn’t dare challenge that.”

“Oh, please do. I adore hearing from my fans.” Why not toss the arrogance back in her direction. I was eager to get to the bottom of why she hated me so much.

“Why don’t you take Ms. Turner into your office so she can provide you with some recommendations, Xander?” Zach asked.

I flashed him a look and nodded only once. When I returned my attention to the prize standing in front of me, I gave a challenging gesture of my hand. “Would that be acceptable to you, Ms. Turner?”

She seemed uncomfortable that I’d used her name so many times, but she’d need to get used to it. I felt the full enjoyment of making her squirm.

She looked at her watch as if I wasn’t aware she had nowhere else to be. She’d been bold enough to call in sick, a brave move for someone who always followed the rules. “Fine. I can take a few moments. Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds, for your time.”

My little lamb was generally courteous to everyone, which was why I was determined to get to the bottom of her immediate dislike, and even repulsion, of me.

I didn’t say a word to her as I led her the long way around to my office, waiting in the doorway on purpose. As she brushed past, I sensed her body tensing.

My office could be quite oppressive.

But she would try with everything in her existence not to let her emotions give her away. I closed the door behind her, immediately heading toward my desk. I eased down onto the edge, using my open hand to gesture to the chair.

She hesitated before walking closer. “This won’t take long, Mr. Blackwell, as I’m meeting friends for drinks in a little while.”

I checked the time on my watch myself, wondering if she noticed I was curious that it was only three in the afternoon. If she did, she didn’t react in any way.

Whereas I’d wanted to fuck her before, my feelings were already turning more sadistic. To some it would seem needy. In my world, the next phase was simply a matter of course.

“Then by all means, go ahead. What’s wrong with the game?”

“First. Let me ask you a question. Are there controls on the game so minors aren’t allowed access to the violent, sexual content?”

“Of course there are, Ms. Turner, as there are with all our games.”

“But this isn’t just any game. What you’ve created is… monstrous.”

Her choice of a word to use to describe it couldn’t be more perfect. Perhaps that’s what was missing from the marketing campaigns. “Monstrous. Predatory.”

“Yes, blood and gore.”

“Yet horror movies where men who wear ski masks and use chainsaws are allowed to be shown at various theaters across the country.” The flicker of fear that I’d seen before immediately formed in her eyes.

She blinked it away, doing her best to remain undaunted.

“But your thoughts are used against you. Right?” she asked, a tightness in her voice.

“To some degree, yes. Once the brain of the game determines what kind of person you are, the suggestions offered will allow for a more satisfying experience.”

She shuddered at my words. “Artificial Intelligence.”

“How did you think we managed to accomplish such an incredible goal, Ms. Turner? We’re not mind readers, as evidenced by our required questionnaire. How do you believe we knew what tormented your every dream?”

I could almost smell her desire. My cock twitched from the thought.

“I’m suggesting you should be very careful. You could turn people into monsters.”

“Or monsters into men. Although it’s my belief monsters are created by the composition of their DNA and upbringing, not fictional realities.”

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