There's One Thing I Like About Him

Chapter 12

Trisha

"How about we create a new app that would really catch people's interest? Maybe a gaming app?" Alexa suggested.

"What kind of gaming app are you thinking of?" I asked her, intrigued. We were in the meeting room, where I had called the entire team together to brainstorm ideas for a new project to propose to Mr. Cliff. I noticed him walking past our office and, when our eyes met, I quickly looked away, trying not to make it obvious to my team that he was there. What is he doing here? He could see that we were in a meeting, and his presence was only adding to my stress.

"Maybe something that single young adults could play?" Alexa continued, her excitement palpable. "Like an MMORPG with a dating feature integrated into it."

The room fell silent as everyone processed her idea. I leaned back in my chair, considering the possibilities. "That's interesting," I responded. "A game that combines the thrill of online gaming with the potential for real-life connections. It could attract a large audience, especially among single young adults who are looking for both entertainment and companionship."

I glanced around the table, noting the mixed reactions from the team. Some seemed intrigued, while others looked uncertain. The idea was bold, no doubt, but it was also risky. We'd be entering a competitive market where the line between gaming and social networking was increasingly blurred. Yet, that same risk could set us apart if we executed it well.

"The challenge," I continued, "would be to create a balance between the gaming aspect and the social aspect. We don't want it to feel like just another dating app with a few games tacked on. It needs to be immersive, something that keeps players coming back, not just for the social features, but for the gameplay itself."

Alexa nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! We could design the game world to encourage interaction, maybe through cooperative missions or team-based activities that require communication. And instead of traditional dating profiles, players could customize avatars and meet each other through in-game events. Or we could also add a guild system and a chat box for communication purposes."

As the discussion unfolded, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. I glanced towards the door again, but Mr. Cliff had already moved on, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease. His sudden appearance made me question how much time we had before the next project review. If we were going to pitch this idea, it needed to be fleshed out quickly—and perfectly.

"We'll need to do some market research to see if there's demand for this kind of game," I said, shifting back into work mode. "And we'll have to figure out the technical aspects—how to integrate real-time communication, maintain privacy, and ensure the game is engaging enough to stand on its own. Let's break into smaller groups to tackle these questions. We need a solid pitch ready for Mr. Cliff by the end of the week."

The team sprang into action, each person taking on their tasks with renewed energy. As we wrapped up the meeting, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. We were venturing into uncharted territory, and if we pulled it off, this could be our most ambitious project yet.

But I knew one thing for sure: all eyes would be on us, especially Mr. Cliff's. And that meant there was no room for mistakes.

۝

A week later, I found myself standing outside Mr. Cliff's office, nervously clutching my notes. The team had worked tirelessly over the past few days, refining the concept for the gaming app Alexa had suggested. Now it was time to present our ideas and see if Mr. Cliff would give us the green light.

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. After a brief pause, I heard his voice from inside. "Come in."

I entered the office, the soft click of the door closing behind me making my heart race. Mr. Cliff looked up from his desk, his expression unreadable. "Trisha, take a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair in front of him.