The Assistant

Let's Be Friends

There's a scheduled meeting at eight thirty sharp about the release date of the game.

It's already thirty minutes passed time to clock in, and Drake still isn't here yet.

"Hana," Grover pokes his head out of the meeting room. "We need to hurry up, I don't know if Drake will even come in today."

The meeting room is on the first floor and I stare outside at the street, hoping that he'll show up at any second.

"I guess you're right," I turn to him. "We have to continue with or without him. Let's get this meeting over with."

I walk inside and there are multiple people that I haven't met before. I assume that they're part of the publishing company that we work with.

I dressed up for this occasion by wearing a blouse and a pencil skirt, regardless of it being chilly outside.

We all sit at a round table, everyone in here looking as dignified as knights.

"Now then, we will start the meeting," A man with a suit and tie begins talking.

"Just who's idea was it to change the entire plot of the game?" An elderly looking man in a suit snaps.

I look around at everyone. "It was my idea," I snap back. "Due to some recent complications we had to change the plot."

He narrows his eyes at me. "What kind of complications?" He asks bitterly.

"Complications that I don't feel like talking about," I end the conversation there, leaning back in my chair.

Gosh, who knew the video game business was so cutthroat?

"Uh, shouldn't we talk about the release date?" Andrew tries to readjust the topic.

"Ah, yes," A man in his thirties starts. "What about in the Summer time? Most games become popular in the Summer."

Everyone nods.

The summer? What?

"I feel as if it should be released in the Winter," I tap my pencil's eraser on the table. "I mean, majority of the game is set in the winter time, isn't it?"

Everyone looks at me.

"It would make the players feel more engrossed into the game if they play it in the same setting as their regular lives. Besides, Christmas is in the winter, and that's a huge profit coming in from video games. To me, it would only make sense to release it in the winter."

Everyone stares at me with wide eyes.

"Well," One of the men start. "I guess it's settled then, Winter release it is."

A satisfactory grin is on my face as we all get up and leave the meeting room.

We leave and all begin walking towards the elevators, when I notice someone familiar walk in through the main doors.

Drake is shuffling in, except he's not wearing his usual office outfit. He has a black suit on today, with no tie on.

"Where have you been?" I ask as I walk up to him. "We waited thirty minutes for you!"

"I was busy," His voice is dull as he walks past me.

His shoulders are hanging lower than they normally would today, and he looks gloomy.

What happened to him?

"Busy? What could have you so busy that you miss a meeting for work?" I demand.