I am Dante

Dante Pt. 2

   "Hello, welcome to Microsoft! If you need any help, just let me know, my name is Dante," I greet the incoming customers.
   The, who appears to be, new college student smiles and nods at me as her and her mother proceed towards the displayed computers.
   "You get the chance to check out the new Battle Royale game yet?" Sam slides up and asks me.
   Sam leans on the counter next to me. He is wearing the company shirt wrinkled and barely tucked inside of his dingy khakis exposing his white undershirt. At times I wonder how he even got a job working here as a sales associate. I like to think that it is because of his relaxed persona, making him easy to talk to and skilled at persuading customers but it's most likely the fact that he's the district manager's nephew.
   "I logged into one of the accounts and got to play online earlier, it's kind of sick. Not as sick as Forknife, but it has potential."
   "I've been greeting and helping customers since I got here, if you can take my spot, I'll go check it out and let you know how I feel about it."
   "I got ya."
   Sam also has a great amount of interest in gaming, most likely another reason why he is still here. We spend most time together talking about the latest games to come out and reminiscing on the old ones.
   I walk over to the flat screen that we have in the corner of the store, displaying the latest updated Xbox home screen. There are no customers interacting with it this early in the day and the current ones are intrigued by the new VR set.
   I start playing the game and proceed to evaluate how it compares to Forknife. I see someone shooting towards me far in the distance and I immediately start shooting back. It takes a minute for me to kill him because he keeps moving. I take no damage from him when I shoot him down, but I soon realize it is because he was my teammate. I continue to play the game, trying to keep in mind that the game has friendly fire. After my second friendly fire and three deaths, I conclude that the game is more diverse in its characters and their backgrounds, which I like, but has too much action for too little control buttons and I am no good. It'll be a great seller for this era, where everyone wants to shoot em' up and level up. It's not a bad thing if that's the gaming you're into, but it seems like developers are just spewing out the same game, just with a different title. There are some games getting put out that focus on a story line but they're not as popular as the battle games. The story lines are flat and typical; you know the ending as soon as the game starts, not like the old choose your own adventure games. The characters are just as typical and cliché as the story lines. They need to design a game that incorporates more of a freedom story line with a diverse and unique character. I guess if I want to play that kind of game I have to create it, but like Deshawn said, I don't know if I have what it takes.
   "Hey! Chad is here and he's with some guy from corporate, so I think now's the time to call the game quits and stop dazing off into space. As dry as this morning is, I do understand, but I don't want to hear him complaining my ear off at the next family dinner," Sam says, patting me on my shoulder and bringing me out of my thoughts.
   I shot up from the couch and made myself presentable after forgetting where I was.
   "I forgot they were coming in today," I respond as I smooth out my shirt and pants. "What for again?"
   "To see how business is coming along these ways."
   How could I forget that he was coming in today and with someone from corporate; he could be my ticket to making my games come to life or at least get me going.
   "I have to introduce myself."
   "What for?"
   "A developing project of mine."
   "A project? Oh yea, them lil ideas you be having."
   "...yea."
   Sam was the first and last person I told about my games other than my close friends and family, not wanting to hear it be down played because they're just not some "lil ideas".
   "Anyways, how might I be able to introduce myself to him?" I ask Sam while I tried to appear to be busy but keep him in my sight.
   "Chad?"
   "Of course not Mr. Bellman! I'm talking about the man from corporate."
   "Well first off, don't call him man from corporate," Sam chuckles.
   I give him a stale irritated look, "Bro come on."
   "Ok, sorry, his name is Edward Stagger and he's one of the assistants at the Microsoft Corporate building. He comes once every year and a half to check on sales and the overall business."
   "I've been here for over two years, I've never seen him come in before."
   "You were most likely not scheduled for the day he came in."
   "Most likely," I say while typing random things into a nearby computer and keeping my focus on the two men. They were talking while looking at something on a computer.
   "But, Chad always points out his best employees, so it's good that you're here. You've been pretty consistent and committed with your work performance so-"
   "You think so? Thanks," I cut him off. "Sorry, go ahead."
   "No problem but yea, I'm sure you'll be one of them he reports."
   "Perfect! I can bring it up then, thanks!"
   "Oop, here they come."
   Sam becomes attentive to a nearby customer and I presume my nonsense typing and clicking.
   "Here is Dante, one of our top and most creative sales associates. He's probably looking up a cool new way to increase sales through public interest right now," Mr. Bellman says, approaching me.
   I take a quick look at the incomprehensible words that I formed on the screen and exit out of the word application.
   "You always have to find a new and intriguing way to keep sales rolling in. Hi, you must be Mr. Edward Stagger," I say shaking his hand.
   I always enjoy not having to worry about how to greet someone male, not having to deal with the mispronunciation and misassumption of Miss, Ms., or Mrs.
   "Yes sir," Mr. Stagger says while taking my hand in a shake. "And what are some of those things that you do?"
   Mr. Edward Stagger is dressed in a blue and white striped button down with a dark sports jacket to accompany it and some pressed, dark pants. He looks to be in his mid or late 30's. There's a slight smile on his face, waiting to hear my answer.
   "Well, I like to pull customers in by giving them something to look at while passing by the store," I put on my most professional voice. "That could be displaying and trying out the newest device we have in stock to deals we have, or for the gamers, the latest game to come out."
   I can tell from Mr. Bellman's eyebrow placement that I had surprised him with my choice of tone and that it may be a bit too much.
   "Since we have the latest games out in front, it brings in the gamers, allowing us to receive high sales on Microsoft live and the Xbox," I slide gaming in ever so nicely.    
   "I like to hear that," He says chuckling. "We have not been as outstanding in our gaming department as we want. With competitors like Sony and Nintendo, they always seem to be a step ahead."
   I smile, enjoying where this conversation is going,
   "Well, Sony and Nintendo produce their own games that then become very popular but only allow for their own profit growth. If we could just create our own unique games, we could most likely draw in some healthy competition and allow gamers attention and loyalty with their sales."
   "You seem to know a lot about this sort of stuff."
   "Well I do spend a fair amount of time gaming and doing my own research."
   Mr. Bellman's eyebrows were still slightly raised but I'm sure it is positive this time.
   "I like your commitment and drive for better marketing at Microsoft," He looks at his watch and folds up his files into his binder. "Well, I have to get going. Mr. Bellman, thank you for your time and reports. And Dante..."
   "Dante Edmond."
   "Mr. Edmond, I'm sure we could use your input and creative ideas up in the office. Is there a number I can reach you from?"
   "I...uh..." Butterflies were forming in my stomach and my head started pounding as I couldn't answer the most simple question that could start my entire career.