Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
this is life
MARK
There they are. The crème de la crème of budding developers and game designers. Headhunted inventors, creators, long-time reviewers with millions of followers, and extraordinary students from elite universities. Altogether, they make up the plan to revitalise Infinio Games.
I don’t usually welcome new starters, but it’s rare we have this kind of calibre coming in all at once.
After Damian torched his career as CEO, we lost too many of our top talents to keep the company in the lead.
This recruitment drive is expensive, and it has to work.
I can’t see the company I founded fifteen years ago crumble because my friend lacked self-control, willpower, and any semblance of consideration for what’s best for our employees and for our company.
I was always the back-office master. The backbone of our business, focused on go-to-market strategies, retention of customers, and revenue growth.
Basically, keeping our shareholders happy.
Now I need to do Damian’s part as well. Even with the new art director, it takes its toll on me.
Being the face of the company, taking decisions on design, making appearances like this, exuding energy, endless fucking interviews with press and media—I hate it. I hate the attention.
And I suspect the board meeting next week will not be a pleasant one. My investor and friend, Sebastian, shared that the board unofficially discussed replacing me in case I’ll make a mess like Damian did.
I will never.
This is my company.
I’ve proven I had nothing to do with his atrocious behaviour. Should I have noticed? I trusted him like a brother for half my life. I was blind.
Five months since the big blow-up in the media, and we’re still feeling the pain. Still working on rebuilding what he tore down. At least the court cases are over, and Damian is no longer a part of my life.
I will never let this happen again.
The group of new starters sees me. They recognise me and seem to understand my presence calls for attention as they all go quiet.
Well, not all of them seem to get it.
There’s one girl in a bright yellow dress with her back to me who’s still talking.
I’ve spotted her before.
She’s hard to miss.
Although she’s not the only person in colourful clothes and tattoos, it’s the combination of that with her wild, dark hair, her loud voice, and constant high energy, which makes her impossible to ignore.
Pair that with the fact that she’s one of HR’s board report spies, which Sebastian also hinted about, and she’s on my radar.
What the hell is Nia playing at sending her here, talking to my new talent?
I’m sick of being treated like I’m about to step out of line, as if a man in power can’t keep his dick in his pants just because there are opportunities aplenty. Some of us have self-control and actually give a flying fuck about this company.
I wait for her to shut the fuck up, but my patience is waning.
Finally, she stops yapping and turns to me. That bright smile fades immediately as our eyes meet.
Yeah, you know you’re unwanted here, don’t you?
I probably shouldn’t tell her to get fucked back to HR in front of the new talent pool.
And our recently hired art director has just sidled up next to me as well. Where’s Frank?
I take a breath and put on the enthusiastic voice I know Damian would have pushed for as I welcome them all.
“You are here to form the next generation of Infinio Games. It’s an honour to have you.
You are here because of your extraordinary skill, your achievements, and your accolades to date.
Some of you are fresh out of university but have accomplished more than others twice your age, and some of you have a few years under your belt and have shown exceptional talent.
Talent we are proud of having here, and together we will make sure Infinio gets back to being the top live services game provider in the world. ”
It bothers me it’s the HR girl’s eyes I keep sticking on.
I force my gaze back across the group of diverse and eager-looking young adults, and then it falls back on her large brown eyes.
She’s just standing there, brazenly obvious in her loud outfit.
At least the other HR spies had the decency to pretend to fade into the shadows.
This one’s right in front, taking up space. Taunting me with her presence.
I rub a hand over my jaw, trying not to show my frustration.
I never used to have stress and irritation this close to the surface.
But it turns out that’s not a huge feat when life’s easy.
And life has been a smooth ride for me, until last year when the blog came out, followed by the storm of news articles, then the police-involvement, ending with Damian being forced out—and I took on the role as the main man.
Nowadays, it’s a real effort to keep my heart rate stable, stay calm and collected, and focus on the task at hand.
And don’t get me started on dealing with people. People fucking annoy me more often than not.
Right now, that girl and what she represents are annoying me.
“Horace,” I say, leaning close to the man next to me.
“Yes?”
“Can you please escort the HR rep away? She’s not meant to be here.”
“Which one’s that?” he asks.
“The one in yellow.”
“Hmm, I’m doing the induction day on short notice. I-I think she’s here to help me,” Horace says.
“What happened to Frank?” I ask behind my hand while the group patiently waits for me to continue my presentation of Infinio.
Horace shrugs. “He called in sick, apparently. Nia reached out to me this morning. I’ve not even had time to look through the agenda for the day.”
For fuck’s sake. The man looks like he’s about to cry.
I grit my teeth and growl inwardly. People.
I can’t have this man stutter his way through the first day of the new starters’ induction. What the hell kind of first impression is that of the company? I thought he was made of stronger stuff.
“Right, I’ll do the first part. Get across the content of it in the next break. Can I safely assume you won’t have a problem presenting your own team’s objectives?”
He nods his head vigorously. “Yes, of course. Thanks, Mark.”
Do I have higher priorities than talking to a bunch of new starters?
Yes. Absolutely.
Do I also struggle with delegation and trust?
Indeed, I do.
So here I am. Doing my least favourite thing.
My smile is stiff on my face, I can feel it, but I do my best to channel the charisma of Damian in his heyday.
“Our vision, and you should live and breathe this, is ‘infinite imagination, infinite possibilities’. What’s made us successful is that we’ve created worlds people don’t want to leave, and there’s something there for everyone. Keep that up.”
I shift, trying to look anywhere but the big brown eyes up front.
“We have a steep learning curve through a week of induction to all the departments. It’s important you get on board with our style and methods.
This is what’s made our name, and our market share.
You’ve been selected for a reason, but even the most innovative designers, fantastic storytellers, or astounding programmers have to be incredible team players.
This is not a solo race. And note: this is not just work. This is life.”
A snort-laugh sounds from the front of the group, and my eyes go straight to the girl in yellow. Her hand covers her face, and her eyes go wide.
That’s it. I’ve had it.