Josie is a sales associate by day and a lollipop-sucking hacker by night. She likes to stay in and feel the keys underneath her fingertips. When she decides to grace her friends at a club, she stumbles across a man who seems to send every part of he...
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After Kade left, I showered, hoping the warm water would relax me and help me figure out what the hell could be the last hint, but nothing. Nothing is coming to mind. I'm not a fan of puzzles or riddles, and that's why this is pissing me off more than I would like. "Tony?" I walk into the kitchen, where he is sitting with Yannick. Hopefully, he can help me crack this.
"Yes, Josie," he answers.
"I need help."
"Well, hello to you too. I see you only care about Tony." Yannick chimes in, closing his laptop.
"Hey... now I need help." I sit on the kitchen stool. "So, hint number one. It's about what you're willing to give up. Hint two you will have to part with something about yourself. Hint three... well I don't know... I don't remember what was said about hint three."
They both stare at me with furrowed eyebrows.
For heaven's sake, please tell me these two are just some clueless henchmen.
"Are we supposed to guess this?" Yannick asks, and I nod.
"You are going to have to give us some backstory or context here," Tony adds. "No one, and I mean no one, can guess just off those hints."
I can't tell them it's about me proving my love to Kade, so I have to think of something else. I chew on my lip, my mind racing to concoct a believable story. Come on, Josie making shit up is what you are good at... was good at. Growing up as an only child, you had to have an imagination.
"It's... it's for a game I'm developing for a client..."
"But you haven't had a computer in a month." Tony deadpans.
"Well, Kade is back, and he let me use his laptop in his office. So, I'm starting to catch up on all my freelance work. So back to what I need help with. "It's a puzzle game. I'm stuck on the final riddle."
"Okay..." Tony says slowly. "So, it's about giving something up? Parting with something about yourself?"
I nod, relieved they seem to be buying it. "Any ideas?" I ask, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.
Yannick taps his fingers on his laptop, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Could it be about letting go of the past? Or maybe sacrificing a part of your identity?"
"Those are... interesting thoughts." But I don't think that's right. I barely have an identity worth parting with.
Tony leans forward, his eyes searching my face. "Josie, are you sure this is just about a game? You seem really stressed about this."
I force a laugh. "Of course it is. I'm just really invested in getting it right, you know? This client is paying big bucks."
Me proving my love to your boss is at stake. I want to tell them.
