20. Battling the Boss
Stepping out of the Uber,I squared my shoulders and adjusted my jacket like a knight gearing up for battle. The quest? Infiltrate the high-end restaurant where Rachel was dining with Liam. As I approached the entrance, the glitzy facade of the place struck me as completely wrong for her. Rachel wasn’t the type to fuss over which of the five forks at her place setting to use first. She was more a greasy pizza and cold beer kind of gal, laughing with sauce on her chin and not caring who saw.
This was a stealth mission, and I was mentally ticking off the boxes in my gamer strategy guide. Objective one: get inside without looking like a complete stalker. Objective two: observe the ‘enemy’—not that Liam was actually my enemy, but tonight, he was the boss level blocking my path to victory.
I chuckled to myself, imagining the scenario as an actual game. Everett’s Epic Love Quest, I titled it in my mind. The neon lights of the restaurant’s sign blinked like the glowing entrance to a new game level. Inside, the lighting was dim, the ambiance dripping with that ‘too expensive to enjoy your meal’ vibe.
As I slipped past the ma?tre d’, I imagined gaining stealth points, my gamer brain narrating each step. Plus ten for suave entry, I thought as I blended into the shadows. I spotted them at a secluded table—Liam, all CEO-smooth and Rachel, looking uncomfortably gorgeous in the kind of dress that was definitely not her first choice.
Objective three: confirm the relationship status without alerting the NPCs (non-playable characters, or in this case, overly nosy waitstaff).
Peering from behind a tastefully overpriced potted plant, I watched them for a moment. Liam was talking, probably about some business deal or another, and Rachel was nodding, her smile tight. She caught the eye of a server and pointed at her nearly empty wine glass—a classic move to buy time, I noted, appreciating her stalling tactics.
Final objective: rescue the damsel from the corporate dragon without causing a scene or getting slapped with a restraining order.
I snorted softly at my joke, then steeled myself for action. It was time to level up, to show Rachel that no high-level CEO or fancy restaurant could compete with a gamer who knew her inside and out. I straightened, ready to stride over there, charm the boss, and whisk Rachel away for a slice of greasy pizza—her real favorite. But first, a deep breath; even heroes need to gather their courage.
The moment I claimed I was joining a party already seated, the hostess scrutinized me as if I might be crashing a royal dinner rather than a casual meetup at a ritzy spot. Her suspicion only deepened my resolve. “It’s a business meeting,” I added, spotting Rachel and Liam at their table. “See? There, that’s them.”
“Oh, let me take you over,” she said, her tone shifting to accommodating as she picked up a menu and gestured for me to follow. My heart raced—no more hiding behind potted plants or stealth moves. This was it.
We approached the table, and both Liam and Rachel looked up, their expressions a mixture of surprise and, in Rachel’s case, mild horror. “Hello, sorry I’m late,” I announced as the hostess pulled out a chair for me, playing my part to perfection.
Liam recovered first, his corporate polish unflappable. “Everett, I wasn’t expecting you,” he said, a slight edge of curiosity in his tone.
Rachel hissed under her breath, “What are you doing here?” but loud enough for just me to catch.
I feigned confusion, glancing between them. “Liam invited us this morning, didn’t he?” I said, turning my bafflement into a joke. Liam chuckled awkwardly, while Rachel’s gaze sharpened.
“Oh, I was just asking Rachel,” Liam corrected smoothly, but I waved off the misunderstanding with a casual shrug.
“Well, I’m here now. Traveled all this way…” I let my voice trail off, injecting a playful note into the tense air. Rachel’s lips twitched, a sign she was fighting the urge to smile or strangle me—possibly both.
The conversation hesitantly shifted to lighter topics until Liam, perhaps attempting to reclaim some control, turned to me with a question. “So, Everett, what did you do before gaming? Rachel mentioned you worked for a nonprofit.” His tone held a veiled condescension, as if weighing the value of my life choices.
“Yes, I did,” I acknowledged, recognizing the challenge. “My mother wanted me to move to New York and work at her law firm as a social worker. Have you heard of Beckett and Associates?”
Liam’s reaction was immediate; his eyes widened just a fraction, but it was enough. Beckett and Associates wasn’t just any firm; it was a titan in legal circles, known for both its clout and charitable foundations.
“I suppose I could’ve been just another trust fund brat,” I continued, leaning back in my chair with a nonchalant air. “But helping people is more my goal. It’s actually why I agreed to work on this game. It’s about making a difference, you know?”
Liam nodded, his demeanor shifting as he processed the new information. He was clearly recalculating his approach, now aware that the stakes and the standing of his dinner companion had changed.
Liam, picking up on the competitive undercurrent, shifted seamlessly from casual conversation to a more assertive display of his accomplishments. A confident smile played on his lips, clearly prepared to elevate his own status in this subtle battle for influence.
“Well, Everett, that’s noble of you,” he started, his tone carrying a hint of condescension masked as praise. “But let me tell you about building something from scratch. I founded Apex Legends Interactive with nothing but a vision and a laptop in my dorm room. Now, it’s a giant in the gaming industry.”
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in, then continued with a sharper edge. “We didn’t just create games; we revolutionized how they integrate with social platforms. We transformed gaming into a shared experience that connects millions globally.”
Liam’s expression turned smug, as if he had just laid down a royal flush on the table. “And let’s not forget the economic impact. We’ve generated over a billion dollars in revenue and employ hundreds. It’s about vision, ambition, and yes, the ability to execute at the highest level—qualities necessary for any leader.”
His gaze flicked to Rachel, then back to me, as if challenging me to match his achievements. “It’s one thing to work for a cause, quite another to create one. Apex Legends isn’t just a game; it’s a cultural phenomenon.”
My response was swift, tinged with a smirk as I leaned back in my chair, unfazed by his display. “I think we all know how successful you are, Liam. I think I read it in a tabloid once—or maybe that was about that model you dated? I can’t quite remember,” I teased, watching his confident demeanor falter slightly.
Annoyed, Liam shifted tactics, turning his attention back to Rachel with a flirty undertone. “So, Rachel, I was wondering if you would be willing to visit the office in New York and get a tour? It would make TherTech look like a playground.” He winked, clearly trying to establish a personal connection that excluded me.
Rachel, surprised, choked on her wine, coughing slightly as she tried to get back her composure. I handed her a napkin, a small smile playing on my lips. Round one to me, I thought triumphantly.
“I’m pretty busy here, but thank you for the invitation.”
As the server arrived to take my order, the tension momentarily eased. I glanced over the menu, then decided to order whatever Rachel was having, reinforcing our connection through shared choices. Liam and Rachel had already ordered, and their plates were being set down as I spoke. “I’ll have what she’s having,” I started confidently, but paused as I noticed the dish placed in front of her—some intricately plated, minuscule portion that looked more decorative than nourishing. That’s supposed to feed someone?
“Actually, make that two,” I finished, masking my surprise with a casual tone, while internally questioning if that tiny dish could satisfy even a toddler. My gaze met Rachel’s, her expression a mix of amusement and mild embarrassment at the fancy food.
The ambiance at the table shifted as Rachel delicately picked at her food, each bite taken with the enthusiasm of someone undergoing a root canal.
My food arrived, and I attacked it with the gusto of a starving man, barely tasting the overpriced morsels as I shoveled them in. The conversation limped along, filled with awkward pauses and forced pleasantries, each of us dancing around the tension that crackled just beneath the surface.
Just when I thought the evening couldn’t get any more strained, the server appeared, his timing as impeccable as ever. “Would anyone care for dessert?” he chirped.
“No,” Rachel and I blurted out in unison, our voices a stereo echo of desperation.
“Check, please,” Liam and I then said together, each of us eager to end the evening on our terms.
A rapid-fire exchange ensued, both of us throwing down our credit cards like duelists in a Western. “I’ve got this,” I declared, trying to sound casual yet firm.
“No, let me,” Liam countered, his tone equally determined.
“I insist.”
Rachel, clearly fed up with our macho posturing, rolled her eyes. “For heaven’s sake, I’ll pay for it myself!” she exclaimed, reaching for her purse.
As the bill settled on the table like a challenge, I acted swiftly, grabbing it and handing my card to the server before Liam had the chance to react. My tone was firm, final. “It’s on me tonight,” I declared confidently, meeting Liam’s gaze squarely. It felt like a silent but emphatic punctuation, marking my territory in this odd triangular dynamic we found ourselves in.
“Well, Rachel,” I continued, turning towards her with a more softened tone, “I’ll get us an Uber home. It was nice meeting you, Liam.” My words were polite but carried a hint of ‘this is over.’
Liam, not easily deterred and ever the competitor, quickly countered with his own offer, his voice smooth and composed. “I have my town car outside. I wouldn’t mind giving you a lift.” There was a subtle undertone in his voice, full of challenge and charm, as if this were just another move in a strategic game we were all playing.
“That’s alright, Rachel and I have a lot to talk about,” I said.
As we prepared to leave the restaurant, I instinctively placed my hand at the small of Rachel’s back, guiding her away from the table with a gentle but firm touch. Behind us, Liam’s voice cut through the awkward silence, his tone smooth yet loaded with implications. “I look forward to seeing you again soon, Rachel.”
We moved swiftly towards the exit, the tension between us palpable. Outside, while waiting for the Uber, Rachel turned to me, her expression a mix of confusion and frustration. “Everett, what was that all about?”
We watched Liam’s town car pull away, his departure doing little to ease the tension. “I told you I liked you, we kissed, then today you had a date with another man,” I explained, my voice low but intense. “I guess I needed to establish dominance.”
“You were drunk, you weren’t interested,” she countered sharply, her brow furrowing in doubt.
I stepped closer, my voice softening. “Says who?” I questioned, locking my gaze with hers. Her eyes flitted to my lips, a subtle but telling movement.
She hesitated before speaking again, her voice barely above a whisper. “It feels like you might like someone else.”
“Who?” I asked, though I knew exactly where her thoughts were heading.
“You stream with HuntraTheRed, right? I watch. You have a special relationship. You banter,” she said, her voice laced with a hint of jealousy.
I licked my lips, acknowledging the truth in her words. “I do care about Huntra very much. She’s been through a lot of tough times with me, and she’s my best friend.”
Rachel nodded slowly, trying to pull away, but I wasn’t ready to let her go—not yet. I pulled her close again, my hands gently gripping her arms. “But right now, I’m here with you, Rachel, the girl who makes me laugh in the middle of a mundane day, whose passion for games rivals even the fiercest competitors, and whose kindness touches everyone around her.”
I continued, my words flowing more freely as I spoke of her qualities, each one more endearing than the last. “You’re not just someone I stumbled upon; you’re someone I chose, someone whose every little detail—from the way you tilt your head when you’re thinking to the infectious enthusiasm you show at work—matters to me.”
Rachel’s eyes searched mine, looking for the sincerity in my words. “You’re the girl who challenges me, inspires me, and yes, drives me a little crazy sometimes. But that’s what makes this—whatever this is—so real and so important.”
The night air around us felt charged as I finished speaking, the space between us filled with the weight of my confession and the unspoken questions hanging in the air.
“You barely know me,” she whispered.
Lies. I knew her better than anyone. “Let me get to know you.”
Rachel’s expression softened, a hint of vulnerability flickering in her eyes. “Okay,” she finally murmured, the word hanging between us, laden with possibilities.
“Come on, let’s get pizza. I’m starving after that tiny meal,” I suggested, eager to shift the atmosphere to something lighter, more familiar.
At my words, a genuine laugh escaped her, and it was the best fucking sound I’d ever heard—a clear, melodious laugh that cut through the tension of the evening and seemed to echo off the city streets around us.
She nodded, her smile broadening. “Pizza sounds perfect. I know a great spot. Cancel the Uber and we can walk.”
“Lead the way, Princess.”
As we walked together toward a nearby pizzeria, the air around us felt lighter. It was as if, with each step, we were walking back towards something simpler, something real and filled with potential.
The night might have started with formal dining and uncomfortable silences, but it was ending with laughter and the promise of pepperoni and cheese. In that moment, with Rachel’s laughter still lingering in the air, everything seemed possible.