Two Can Play (Entangled Ignite) (20 page)

As the clapping died and Mason opened his mouth to take back the meeting, Rena knew it was now or never for Girl Power. She picked up a brochure from the stack she’d placed in front of her.

“Thank you so much. Your support means a lot,” she said quickly. “In the Life we always support each other and what’s right. Nigel has asked me to speak to you all about a project he believes is important.”

Invoking Nigel’s name seemed to intensify the silence. Eyes darted to him, then to Rena. Mason’s two-colored eyes flashed irritation.

She held up her brochure. “It’s called the Girl Power Project and its purpose is to give girls their rightful place as equals in Lounge Life. That means more girl recruits, more girl managers, more girls in top jobs, such as Watchers, and the end to demeaning sexual costumes.” She paused for a breath. The audience was listening, their expressions neutral.

She rushed on. “Many Phoenix Lifers have signed our petitions at GirlPowerProject.com because they believe bigotry is not worthy of Lifers. I’m new as a manager, but I believe we all can set the example, lead the way—”

“Very worthy, I’m sure,” Mason interrupted with a phony smile. “New managers have so much energy.” A rumble of laughter rolled through the room.

Rena opened her mouth to speak, but Mason beat her to the punch. “If time allows, Ms. Novo, we open discussion to new business items at the end of the final day. If you could hang on to your passion until then?” Another smug smile. He was patting her on the head. “You have brochures, I see. How about you leave them by the door for anyone who’s interested?”

Rena was so angry, she couldn’t speak. She looked to Nigel, who smiled kindly. Why didn’t he defend her? Why didn’t he speak up?

At the break, Rena rushed to the door to hand each person a brochure as they left. Everyone took one, but, later, she found most of them in a trash can in the hall. She bent to collect them, tight with anger. Didn’t anyone care about fair play?

As she stood, someone squeezed her arm. She turned to see it was the Sacramento GM, a woman. “Don’t be discouraged,” she said. “We’ll talk later.” The woman moved on before Rena could respond.

Pushing back her disappointment, Rena returned to the conference room to give her check to Mr. Dollar Signs. Mason was talking to Nigel and Maya, which made it the perfect timing for her minor triumph.

“Mr. Rockingham?” she said.

When he turned, she held out the envelope. “My first contribution. It’s early, but I wanted to do my part.”

Mason smiled briefly, then checked the amount. His smile faded and his blue-brown eyes narrowed. “Will there be more?”

“Every month that much. Mailed to NiGo from now on.”

“But that’s it?” he demanded.

“That’s the required amount,” she said, flustered by his displeasure, fresh sweat tickling her underarms.

“You must excuse Mason,” Nigel said. “He is impatient for our financial success. You’ve only begun your contribution journey with us.” He placed a hand to her back. “Did my story assist you in your dilemma?”

“Yes,” she said, heat in her cheeks. “Very much.”

“Your contributor is interested in further investment?”

“I gave them the packet and all, so…”

“So you’ll follow up,” Nigel said. “We have faith in you.”

Follow up? They expected her to get more? That would require actually meeting with Bingham. Her stomach turned over at the thought.
To whom much is given, much is expected
. That was the gift of the Life, she knew, but at the moment it made her feel tired.

When the meeting started up again, the topic was the upcoming launch party, which Rena couldn’t wait for. The pleasure of going over the plan eased her misery for a moment.

Nearly all Lifers would travel to Phoenix for the first-ever all-Lifer gathering, leaving skeleton crews of new hires behind to run the Lounges. Lifers would be the first to play the new version of the game, enact special Dome battles, join in a toast with Nigel and Naomi, and enjoy pyrotechnics worthy of a rock concert. At midnight, the game would go out to the world online.

Lounges would be dark the next day while Lifers traveled home. They’d arrive to find gamers lined up for blocks, camping on sidewalks to get in before the place filled to the rafters. The media frenzy would be intense.

Lounges would be open twenty-four hours straight to make up for the lost day. Momentum would build, more gamers would purchase
EverLife II
, and soon the twelve new Lounges would be packed, too. The future looked so bright Rena just grinned.

Next was an update on
EverLife
II
led by the project manager, a bleached-blond guy with a dark soul patch, arty glasses, and skintight jeans. This report wasn’t quite so cheery. Because of high server demand, the K men had been forced to adjust difficulty levels so it would take hard-core players a few weeks to rise to the world-change levels, giving NiGo time to find and purchase more servers. Nigel praised everyone, especially Ji Jin, for the phenomenal work, but faces around the room looked anxious.

After that was a demonstration of the new Scrip Banque led by Leland Thomas. A screen hummed down from the ceiling as Leland stood. He looked awful. His hair stood on end, his dress shirt was wrinkled, and there was a huge coffee stain on his khaki pants.

“As you know, our in-game bank will allow subscribers to use real cash to not only buy and sell
EverLife
property and inventory items, but to pay their subscription fees. Ease of use and adequate security has been quite the technical challenge, let me tell you.” He managed a chuckle, but he sounded beaten down. “Let’s take it for a drive, shall we?”

He shakily keyed a URL into the browser and hit enter. An
EverLife
marketplace appeared on the screen behind him. A Paladin in showy armor walked to a kiosk and selected a credit card with which to pay five hundred US dollars for fifteen acres of
EverLife
land. When Leland clicked the key to implement the exchange, the screen froze, then shattered into pixels.

Red splashed Leland’s pale cheeks.

Arty Glasses jumped up. “Of course, we had to hobble a connection for this demo, but we’ll have the Banque nailed before the launch, not to worry.”

“We have complete confidence in you all,” Nigel said, but Leland’s face remain frozen and Arty Glasses looked sweaty. Tension rolled through the room, showing in every face. What if they didn’t nail it before the launch? Talk about a revenue drop. For the first time, Rena saw the burden of being a manager. You knew what could go wrong and what it would mean.

As they broke for dinner, Maya appeared at her elbow. “How about we catch up?” she asked. “We can head up to my room.”

“Sounds great.” She wanted Maya’s thoughts on the meeting.

A few minutes later, Maya fetched Rena an Electrique in a tall glass.

“Nice room,” Rena said of the pricey Lifer catalog furnishings in Maya’s guest Quarters.

“Not my style, that’s certain,” she said, sitting beside Rena on the sleek white leather sofa. Maya had a waiver that allowed her to keep family heirlooms, so her place in Phoenix was jammed with Dead World antiques.

Maya patted Rena’s leg. “Good job on the Dome report.”

“But Mason sent Girl Power down in flames. I know you like him, and Nigel and Naomi trust him, but I think he’s an asshole.”

“Rena,” Maya said with a
tsk
ing sound. “You resent him because he’s not a Lifer. He’s responsible for our financial well-being, so this meeting is a fiscal checkup for him. He has to stay focused.” A smile traced her lips. She really liked the guy. Rena didn’t get that at all.

“More girl gamers will mean more subscriptions. That’s fiscal, isn’t it?”

“In a way. We’ve talked about patience. Changing attitudes takes time.”

“The sooner we start, the faster it happens. Nigel told me to speak up.”

“Nigel is an idealist like you, my love. He looks down from his mountaintop, while the rest of us lead the troops on the ground. It’s dirty and gritty down here and compromises must be made.”

“I thought you believed in Girl Power.”

“I do. Of course. Let’s just get through the launch and get the new Lounges opened up, shall we? Plenty of time for the revolution then.”

“We should act while the hiring is going on, not wait until it’s over.”

“I’m on your side, Rena. Breathe a sec. Drink some Electrique.”

Rena downed the glass. Calm washed through her.

“Better?” Maya asked.

Rena nodded. “I guess, but it doesn’t change the problem.”

“Well, I have news that will make you feel better.” She gave a mysterious smile. “What are your thoughts on the Seattle Lounge?”

“My thoughts? The place is worn down, the equipment’s old, and the neighborhood’s scummy. Like the manager said, it needs help.”

“Maybe you have ideas for fixing it up?”

“What does that mean?”

“Just that you very well could be named the new Seattle GM.”

“You’re kidding.” Seattle had to be the worst Lounge ever. Plus, Rena was far from qualified. She’d only been a manager for a week.

“The new Lounges will be given to experienced GMs, leaving the older ones for new leaders with new energy. You’d be perfect. You’d be the poster girl for your project, for one thing, and, for another…” Her smile went sly. “You know we’re looking for community partners… Your contributor is local, correct?”

“Yes, and…?”

“It’s a family member, right?”

Rena nodded, not liking where this was going. “My father.”

“So, now that you’re back in touch, I’m sure he’d want to be part of something that’s so important to you.”

“You want my father to be a partner?” Sick dread washed through her.

“That’s what Mason was getting at when you gave him your check.”

“I can’t ask for more money.” The idea churned her insides to foam.

“Fund-raising is an indicator of management potential, Rena. Bringing in a community partner would prove your worthiness to manage a Lounge.”

I have to buy my way into the job?
The thought stung like a slap. She’d never before been cynical. Had Cassie’s bitterness rubbed off? Or Gage’s suspicions? “I don’t see how I can do that.”

“You always underestimate yourself. Frankly, if you knew your own power you wouldn’t need your Girl Project. Status is all in the mind. Equal is as equal does.”

“What are you saying? You think it’s in Rachel’s
mind
that the Watchers won’t let her become one? Did I
imagine
the fact that we only have one woman GM and that girls get the shitty shifts and have to wear those demeaning Card Girl outfits?”

“Calm yourself, please. I’m talking about you, Rena, not anyone else. I’m talking about all you could do if you set your mind to it.”

Rena glared at her, still breathing hard.

“What can we do to help you talk to your father? We have a PowerPoint that has swayed many reluctant donors. He could meet Nigel. You know how impressive Nigel can be. If he’s a gamer, he could play an advance release of
EverLife II
.”

“My father’s out of town right now.”

“So stay longer in Seattle.”

“I can’t. I rode up with Gage on his motorcycle.” She was flailing for any way to escape what Maya seemed intent on forcing her to do.

“You did?” Maya’s delicate eyebrows arrowed upward. “Just the two of you?” Her eyes became searchlights, so bright Rena had to blink.

“Yeah. He might transfer to Seattle and he has this cool bike I wanted to drive, so it worked out.” Her story sounded lame and she felt herself blush.

“So he no longer
bothers
you?” Maya ran her fingers along the back of the sofa, petting it like a cat, thinking and thinking.

“He’s more dedicated now. He listens to me.”

“That’s good, Rena, of course, but remember who’s in charge. Never diminish yourself in a man’s shadow. You’re beyond that weak female nonsense. You’re Astra, remember?”

“I remember.” Though on that sleeping-bag night, Astra had been millions of miles away, diamonds had sparkled high in the sky, and Rena had been just a girl who wanted a guy. Did that make her weak?

“Good. And you’ll think about a meeting with your father?”

“I’ll think about it.” She sighed and started to stand.

Maya tugged her hand to keep her seated. “There’s more I want to say.”

“I should go. The Sacramento GM wants to talk to me. She’s our only female Lounge manager, you realize.”

“Until you take over Seattle.” Maya smiled, then hesitated over what she saw in Rena’s face. “You seem hard, Rena. Are you losing faith?”

“No. Of course not. I don’t know. I’m discouraged, I guess.”

Maya’s gaze roved and strafed, then finally decided on something. “Then I have something that might cheer you up.”

“Yeah? What?”

“News of Cassie. She’s going to rehab.”

“She is? Oh, thank God.”

“Now you can start enjoying your new life, knowing she’s been taken care of, okay?”

“You have no idea how much better this makes me feel.” Rena’s heart surged upward and she felt a thousand pounds lighter. “That’s such good news. I’m so relieved. I’ve been so worried, just holding my breath that she’d reached bottom and would accept help. You know how stubborn she is.” Rena laughed, flooded with happiness.

“Then I’m glad I told you.”

“It helps. I do feel better.” She felt a burst of strength.
Yes
roared through her. Cassie was safe and Rena was on the proper path.

To become a GM? If she got to manage Seattle, she would make it the best Lounge ever. She could model female leadership, work with the Sacramento manager to pull girls up in the organization, Lounge by Lounge by Lounge.

To get there, she needed her father’s company, Wingate Technology, to invest in the Seattle Lounge. Why not? Bingham pissed away that kind of money before breakfast.

“I’ll do it,” she blurted. “I’ll talk to my father.”

“That’s wonderful, Rena.” Maya squeezed her hand.

That meant seeing Bingham in the flesh. The idea made her shake.