Zander walked through the wide doors Demetrou glazing Investments. _ Good morning Mr. Demetered. _ said Helena, one of your receptionists. _ Good morning Helena. is even more beautiful than yesterday. _ he said to him giving a wink, making the almost fifty year old lady blush at the praise. _ And you are more gallant than yesterday. _ she returned, smiling while the other two receptionists warned the hair to get your attention. _ You deserve the best of me. _ he teased and then turned to the two other women. _ Good Morning Amber, Alexa... But it was a polite greeting and nothing like what he dedicated to Helena. After all Helena was a woman of older and happily married. Zander wouldn't risk playing the same way with Amber and Alexa, who did everything to call their Warning. Never get involved with employees satnodp tpheedy t arylli nkng etwo cita,l lb yuotu nrever Warning. Aa two replied in unison as he walked away to the private elevator. Enter your password on the panel and the doors started to close while listening to the sighs and girls comments. _ What envy, Helena. _ said Amber. _ If he greeted me like that way every morning would have to bring extra panties. _ commented Alexa, making others laugh two. _ Shut up girl. If Zander hears something like that could get her fired. Him does not engage with female employees. _ Helen explained. Zander didn't hear the rest of the conversation, but I didn't need to. The look the two threw at each other him every time attended the company already reported his thoughts. The elevator stopped a few minutes later at the penultimate floor where your office. Lucca, his secretary looked up of the documents on your desk and to the see him got up quickly. He was a man of almost forty years old, tall and muscular worked for Zander as secretary and security.
Chapter 1 Best friend
Keeping my eyes on the screen, I press the buttons on the joystick almost instinctively, while looking for bugs, glitches and
other failures. Besides, of course, wanting to beat up the guy who is beside me and playing as a second player â and not happy,
worth mentioning. Normally, we would hire a game tester, but we need to introduce the beta version in three days. We are
working on this project for almost a year and we have to convince investors that the game has the potential to be a blockbuster
sales.
And everything depends on this presentation. Everything!
"I think we should adapt that part. - Jean, my best friend and co-worker, he comments - Or maybe
there is a bug in the transition between scenarios. - I thought the same thing. - I answer - Let's include that
in the fnal report. We remain focused on our work, making several
breaks and writing down what needs to be corrected, but as soon as I notice
there are no more mistakes, I allow myself to relax and give the beating that
intended from the beginning and my friend also gets into the mode
competitive. It's just not enough to stop me. Jean practically throws the joystick on the couch and groans.
I chuckle at her irritated â and hilarious, expression.
ticket. "I can't believe you won again.
- Well, I developed the game.
"Me too, damn it!" "So you're just a bad player anyway.
My friend gives me the middle fnger and mutters "asshole"
when getting up. Of course I burst out laughing. the way he is moody and hates to lose is ridiculously funny. Although,
I admit, I can't judge him too much, as I also hate losing. I'm quite competitive. Too much, sometimes.
We organized the sheets with the notes in a folder and
we leave the meeting room, aware that we have a lot of work to do
ahead until this Thursday's presentation.
"I think we're going to have to stay overnight." Jean says,
sitting in your chair. "Let's try to streamline a few things here after
pass the report along to the rest of the team and make a
video call when we get home.
He agrees and, without further ado, we place our hand on the
pasta. I graduated from the 'Game Design' course three years ago and
I got a job at the company where I am today, still in my
last year. I started as an intern and reached a permanent position of
designer times later. This is also where I met Jean. He is
four years older than me, as is my wife,
But that didn't stop us from becoming great friends. Being
honestly, he's pretty much the only friend I have besides
from Hajime and Nath.
I was a bit of a recluse in high school. was always
dressed in band t-shirts and all in black. he was shy
too much with strangers and preferred to keep to myself while
listened to Linkin Park albums â my favorite band â
on MP3, hidden in the classroom. Not that I was completely
Isolated, far from it. He did have some colleagues with whom he used to
go out from time to time, but it wasn't uncommon for me to choose
company of books or music. Let's say I was what they called "dark". Being around girls then was an impossible task.
for me. He would get so fustered and fustered that he'd run away before
of being able to say a measly 'Hi!' , which apparently caused
that I would become popular with them. My embarrassed way was
strangely attractive and, while I wanted distance, they
wanted to approach.
Even though my face was considered pretty, my body
was slight and I looked way too young for my age â what
it hasn't changed despite my current 26 years. I just started to
develop even at the age of eighteen to nineteen, when I had
a sudden growth and my muscles were developing
because of boxing. I practically became another guy when I joined
at university, when I decided to really change, to be
more sociable and maybe have my frst kiss and lose my virginity â
I wasn't lying when I said I had serious problems with me.
approach girls. Jean and I extended an hour after hours, however,
we decided to fnish the changes at home. I check on my cell phone
gave Ăve time to leave work, planning to meet her for
back together, and it's only then that I notice that he's sent a message
minutes ago saying she's going to be late because she's wrapped up in
workshop.
"I left your favorite dish in the fridge. Love you!" , is what she
responds after I ask if I should buy or prepare the
dinner, followed by "I'm having dinner with the boys". I stay a little
surprised, yet immensely grateful. She must have done before
to leave in the morning. I need to think of something to repay her later.
I have some very interesting ideas in mind. - Is Eve coming to pick you up? my friend asks. - Not. - I put the backpack on my back - You'll have to tell me
hold on to the subway.
"How lucky for me, isn't it?" In addition to spending the whole day
by your side and doomed to spend the night too, now I'm
forced to look at your face until you go home. -
fakes a sigh - I'm starting to suspect you're married
with me. I laugh. But it's a fact that I'm spending more time with
him than with my wife because of the project; we go to the
elevator and greet the security guard.
"Want to stop somewhere for dinner, then?" - Not worth. Eve left my favorite dish prepared.
- Okay. No restaurant can compete with that. "You should come over for dinner one of these days. What about
after the presentation?
"Aren't you going to run?" I mean, Eve has the job
her, and it would be kind of last minute. - That is true. But whatever, I cook.
"Now that I'm not going anyway." - do one
queasy grimace - I still haven't forgotten what a disaster that was.
thing you insisted on calling fricassĂȘ. I have nightmares
until today. "Fuck you!" - I rage - It was the frst time I
I cooked a dish like that. Of course, it wouldn't be perfect. I
I'm not a culinary genius like you. Sorry. - All right. I apologize. I control myself not to curse him and say with conviction: "Believe it or not, my fricassee is much better.
now. - Sincerely? I prefer not to risk it. Jean makes the sign of the cross and kisses her fngers in a fgurine. And me
I want to punch him.
- Wants to know? Forget the invitation and don't even think about
show up at my house. Idiot. My best friend bursts out laughing, calling out to
people's attention on the platform, and puts his hand on my shoulder
before saying: - I wonder how Eve puts up with a person
as moody as you. I point down, and as soon as he looks up even though he doesn't
understand, I show the middle fnger surreptitiously. He laughs again and
I end up imitating; the train fnally stops at the station. Due to the timetable, the carriages are not full, which is
a real relief.
Jean and I said goodbye at Charles de
Gaulle Etoile. Each one goes their own way. I get off the subway and
I decide to take a taxi to the 10th arrondissement [1], the neighborhoodfrom EntrepĂŽt, where our apartment is located. It's not a very nice place
large, considering that space is a real luxury in Paris,
but it suits our needs well. It's our corner. Our home. The main stage of our adventures. As soon as I get home, I fnd the silence of the
Eve's absence. The atmosphere is completely different when
she is. Receptions are noisy and full of kisses, which I
I love it, I have to admit. Besides the occasions I meet her
arguing with the tv while watching series or experimenting
some new recipe in the kitchen. We both take turns preparing
of meals, though, she's a thousand times better at cooking than I am. Their apple pie literally makes me lick the plate. I look at our wedding picture hanging on the wall and
I smile, before walking into the bedroom to rip off her clothes.
a whole day and take a shower and then have dinner.
I always believed that when you fnd true love,
bells would ring the instant my eyes came across
this person. It's kind of silly, I know that, I just got this idea
fxed after watching a movie. And, coincidentally, that's what
happened when I met my wife. However, instead of
bells, it was those bells over the door that rang and that
it didn't even resemble a bloody bell. But, well, I guess so too
it was valid. After all, we got married.
The way we met, in my sophomore year at
Game Design course, it was funny and unexpected. followed
a colleague to the garage where she worked, close to campus, and
not even the grease-stained overalls made it lookless attractive to my eyes. Her hair was long
time and were tied with a blue bandana. There was one
grease smudge on your cheek too, and yet, when
the doorbell rang behind my back, I knew
would fall in love with that short woman.
Whether I want to admit it or not, I am a very romantic person,
those who believe in love at frst sight and soulmates.
Everything that most consider balela or even a little tacky.
Eve was my frst in everything. My frst kiss, my frst time, my frst
girlfriend. And today, more than my wife, it is with her that
I share my other frsts. Although my parents were a little reluctant with the
our decision to marry, considering my young age in
time, they adore Eve and say the best thing I did,
went to marry her. Sometimes it even seems that she is their daughter, instead of
from me, from so much that they pamper her. all attention
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