Simulated Love (2024)

Chapter 21

Elijah

Maggie finished her fifth shot of tequila and second margarita that night.

It had been a week since she had quit Game Spotlight Magazine, and I was so ready for the ceremony to piss Dean off and leaving the company while taking my impact and popularity with me was gonna do it.

Maggie sighed as she swirled her drink.

"I am happy I stood up for myself. But damn, I miss the job and the money and dare I say it, Henry. As much as he drove me crazy sometimes he was very sweet and still is. He still reaches out to me to check in, but he has also been asking me for help. I feel wrong because he's a sweet guy, and I want to help, but I'm also bitter."

"Nah, fuck that company. Henry took the bait, and now he has to deal with it. It was obvious that they made him go for the position. Their minds were made up already. He worked directly under you to learn your ways to be the white male version of you."

"But I can't ever be replaced."

"Exactly."

"What if we invest in something of our own? Or Hopeless Studios, maybe?"

"I have some money in my savings but it wouldn't be enough."

"If you win the competition, we'll have a nice chunk. And Hopeless Studios, they're onto something. Independent games, creative freedom. We could make a difference."

"It's risky. But if we believe in it, it could work in our favor."

"You know anywhere we go, especially you, people will follow."

"True."

"So what do you say?"

"I'm down. It doesn't sound like a bad idea at all."

She took a sip of her drink. "And you could work closely with your man."

We shared a laugh.

I took a few sips of my drink. "Oh stop that shit."

"Look at you blushing. I see you tryna hide that smile."

The corners of my lips fought to stay down, but after her saying that I couldn't help but smile and cover my face. "Maggie, stop. You're being annoying."

She laughed as if torturing me wasn't enough. "But it's a nice thought, isn't it?"

"It is. I think it's a good idea, actually. I have the email to Chase's boss when I sent over the prototype so I can try and get in contact with her about the potential investment."

"Period! I just have a good feeling about this. Should we take a shot for this?"

"Let's save the shots for after I win the competition."

~

The ceremony was approaching, and I was allowed to bring two people to sit in the VIP spots. My first thought was Maggie, but then my mind drifted to my parents. If they saw the work that I had done then maybe they would have had more respect for me.

I was more than sassy reviews and lifeless words on the screen. Seeing my work come to life through playable characters with a storyline I constructed would change their mind completely.

At least, that was what I hoped.

I knocked on their door a few times and just like last time, there stood my dad. That time with a smile.

"Elijah, come on in. How are you?"

"Good. How has things been?"

"Oh you know. Same old same old. Your momma will be happy to see you." He closed the door behind me.