An amusement park crossed with a gothic vampire bondage dungeon. That was what came to mind when Katie saw Lux’s front lounge for the first time. Opulently decorated, the area was packed tightly with people, their chatter drowning out the music, the air thick with body heat, and the heady scents of expensive perfume and sweat.

At the back of the room was a pair of heavy wood-and-iron doors that opened every few seconds to let out a burst of music and glimpses of faceless naked bodies writhing in the room beyond.

Aiko led them confidently through the crowd toward the doors, ignoring Katie’s death grip on her hand.

“What the hell is all that?” Katie shouted in Aiko’s ear. “Are those people fucking?”

“Relax!” Aiko shouted back as she pushed open the doors and dragged Katie through. “We aren’t joining the orgy,” she said, her voice quieter now that they’d escaped the throng in the lounge. “Come on.”

They pressed past the orgy, and turned a corner down a winding corridor with walls draped with rich velvets and glittering sconces to light the way. At the end, another door. This one had a guard outside of it, one who checked their names and ID against a list, then let them pass without a word.

The decor in this room was sleek and understated, sexy in a way that wasn’t in your face. Katie’s gaze roamed around the room and took in the crowd. It looked like about fifty or so people were here, a few actors, athletes, some bigwigs in various tech fields and a bunch of people she didn’t recognize.

“Aaron’s gonna be glad to see you,” Aiko said, whispering in Katie’s ear.

“Oh stop, jeez.” Katie grabbed her friend’s arm and dragged her toward a bar at one end of the room.

Aiko waggled her eyebrows. “He likes you. I can tell. And not just because you saved his ass today.”

“Come on.” Katie shook her head and smacked Aiko on the shoulder as they started across the room toward the bar. “You’re imagining things.”

“No way. I saw the way he was eye-fucking you earlier.” Aiko wiggled her eyebrows at Katie. “I do believe Mr. Eldridge would like to ruin your dress again.”

“Knock it off. I’m serious.” Katie leaned against a bar stool. She hadn’t seen Aaron yet, but God she hoped he wasn’t nearby. She really didn’t want him overhearing this conversation.

“I don’t get it. You think he’s hot. I’m sure he thinks you are too. We’re in a sex club. You landscaped your lady-bits today.” Aiko pointed at Katie and raised an eyebrow. “So what’s the problem? Sounds like the perfect equation for explosive hook-up time. Why are you being all weird?”

Katie ignored her, raised a finger for the bartender and ordered a whisky neat. “Whaddya want?” She said, glancing at Aiko.

“Same.”

The bartender left to make their drinks, Katie sat back on her stool and threw the small red clutch up on the bar.

“Where’s Tessa?” she asked. “She coming?”

“She texted me that she went home and not to tell Jack.”

“Jack Calvert?” asked Katie.

“Yeah,” Aiko said, waving a hand. “They probably had a fight. They’re always fighting. Those two need to just fuck and get it over with already.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared Katie down. “Never mind them. Don’t think you can weasel out of my question by changing the subject.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Katie picked invisible threads off the hem of her dress and avoided Aiko’s gaze.

“C’mon. What gives?”

Katie sighed and peered around Aiko, scanning the room again. Then she saw him, laughing with a small group of people, nursing his own whiskey and smiling at a joke.

“Shit! There he is,” she said, ducking behind Aiko just as the bartender delivered their drinks. She grabbed the whiskey and chugged it, coughing as the liquid burned her throat.

Aiko patted her on the back as she sipped her own drink. “Yeah. Sure. You don’t like him at all,” she said, laughing.

“Okay he’s fucking hot alright? And a genius.”

“That’s what I’m saying, you two are–”

“Oh my god Aik, no. Just drop it.”

Aiko frowned at her and narrowed her eyes. “No,” she said sternly. “You’re not doing this. I’m not letting you do this.”

Katie averted her gaze, and concentrated on swirling the remaining inch of whiskey in her glass.

“Katalina Gabriela Martinez,” Aiko said. “I can sense that toxic little hamster-wheel of negativity starting up in your brain right now. And I’m gonna shut that shit right down.”

“Aik, he literally dates super models.”

“So the fuck what? You’re not good enough for him because you don’t model silly string underwear on a runway?”

“No, it’s not that. I’ve just been down that road before, ya know.”

“What?” Said Aiko, frowning. “You’re talking about Steven aren’t you?”

“Yes, Aik,” said Katie. “I cannot go through that again. He stole the company I co-founded and all my ideas and….tech guys are intimidated by smart women. It just doesn’t work.”

“No. Assholes are intimidated by smart women. Aaron’s not like that Kat,” said Aiko. “Seriously, not every guy in the industry is a pathetic, thieving ass like Steven was.”

Katie sighed and traced her fingers over the condensation on her whiskey glass. “Even so. It’s still super dorky. He doesn’t know me as a game developer. To him, I’m like a fangirl or something. I don’t want to feel like the lesser half of a relationship ever again.”

“Your head is up your ass.” Aiko glared at her.

“Ouch.”

“Sorry. Tough love time.” Aiko held up her fingers to the bartender to let him know they’d be needing two more drinks, then she settled onto the stool beside Katie and leaned into her. “You’re a visionary. You’ve built something amazing with Celestia. How can you say Steven stole all your ideas, when Celestia is the most incredible world you’ve ever created?”

Katie blushed and scrunched her nose up, trying to hide the smile that was threatening to break out.

“Dude, don’t even with that cute little nose squishing. I know when I’ve won a round with you.” The bartender set their fresh drinks down and Aiko picked hers up, clinking it against Katie’s. “Go on, say it. Say I won.”

Katie picked up her drink and clinked back. “Yeah okay, you won.”

“Good. So, to sum up.”

“Must we?”

“We must always sum up, dear KitKat, it’s how I celebrate my victories.”

“By rubbing it in?”

“Yes, stop stalling. So to sum up. You’re hot and smart and a genius at utilizing the very tech that your crush invented. Frankly, that’s an ego trip in his favor. He won’t think it’s dorky, he’ll eat that shit up with a spoon.”

“He’s not my crush. I just said he’s hot.”

“And smart and rich. Which doesn’t matter because so are you, okay smart, not the rich part, but again, that doesn’t matter, because, point is, you’re totally in his league, and if my vote counts for anything–”

“Not sure that it does.”

“Still,” Aiko said, huffing loudly for emphasis. “I vote you jump his bones, first opportunity, then call me and tell me all about.”

Katie’s gaze met Aiko’s, and the two squared off, staring unblinking until Katie’s eyes started to water and she finally caved.

“Ha!” Aiko bounced in her seat and pumped a fist in the air. “Can we dump the pity party now and move on to the sex party?”

“Jeez.” Katie rolled her eyes. “I want to try the gear, yes, but I’m not having virtual sex with anyone.”

“Heh.” Aiko tossed back her whiskey and hopped off her stool. “We’ll see about that.”

“Aik,” Katie warned. “I mean it.”

“Relax pumpkin, that’s not a threat, just a prediction.” Aiko’s smile flashed wide.

“Katie! Aiko!” It was Aaron’s voice, he was headed their way. Katie gulped another mouthful of whiskey, stood, smoothed the lines of her dress, and turned to face Aaron as he approached them.

“Glad you made it.” He beamed at them both, and then took a step back, unabashedly appraising Katie’s form.

She flushed crimson under his scrutiny, and wondered what exactly he was staring at. Maybe Aiko was right, maybe the attraction was mutual?

“Wow,” he said, pointing to her breasts. “Tessa got the tea out.”

“Oh! Right.” Katie cleared her throat and smiled. “Yep, good ole Tessa.” She laughed nervously and glanced down at the floor.

Aaron cleared his throat now, and Katie looked up, certain that her cheeks were burning as red as her dress.

“Um, so I meant to ask you before the presentation,” said Aaron. “But there wasn’t really time. Katie Martinez, are you, I mean do you go by Kate? Kate Martinez? I think I recognize that name. Are you the creator of–”

“Quest of the Crystal Knight?” Aiko interrupted loudly. “Yes, yes she is.”

Katie turned to snarl at Aiko, but Aiko snarled first and shoved her hard enough that Katie had to side step to avoid bumping into Aaron.

“Uh, yeah,” Katie said, laughing to hide her embarrassment. “I was the lead story writer on that game, the world builder, the art director, 3D artist, uh–”

“That was the best fucking game!” Aaron said loudly. “I loved that game. That’s amazing. Are you working on anything now? I’d love to see it.”

This was getting weird. Katie glanced at Aiko imploringly. She really didn’t want to be having this conversation. All she wanted to do was try the VR rig and go home. A long sob story about the company she founded, and was subsequently run out of by her college sweetheart, was just not her idea of a fun Friday night.

“Uh, ya know, I’m kind of between–”

“You said you’re in HyperLyfe?” Aaron was pointing again. “I would love to see what you’ve been doing in there. I bet it’s incredible. Man. Seriously. You are so talented. Goddamn.”

He stopped gushing. The room got a little quiet and Katie felt like a thousand eyes were staring at them. Staring at her.

She picked up her whiskey glass, drained the contents, swallowed and forced herself to smile.

“Thank you so much,” she said. “That’s really kind of you.”

“Kind’s got nothing to do with it,” Aaron said, shaking his head. “It’s just the truth. C’mon.” He jerked his thumb, beckoning them to follow. “Let me show you the new rigs. I can’t wait to get your thoughts.”

Aaron led them through a set of doors at a the back of the party room, and down a short hallway into another large room, the perimeter of which was ringed with single doors, about a dozen in total. In the center, lounging on plush sofa, was Jack Calvert, co-owner of Lux, and Aiko’s former boss…or current? Katie was never sure.

“Do you still work for him?” Katie whispered to Aiko as they walked to the sofa.

Aiko shook her head. “Yeah. But it’s complicated,” she said. Standing tall in front of Jack, she put her hands on her hips like she was ready to do battle. “Is he here with you?” she demanded.

Jack tilted his head, cocked an eyebrow and smirked. “I assume you mean Malcolm?”

“Obvs.”

“No, I don’t know where he is at this precise moment. Why? Do you need him for something?”

“Ha!” Aiko plopped down on another sofa. “He wishes. Fucking psycho.”

“Do you know where Tessa is?” Jack asked.

“No idea,” said Aiko. “Last I saw her, you were pissing her off. So if she’s run off in her crystal carriage again I’m gonna go ahead and assume it’s probably your fault.”

“No doubt,” Jack said wryly.

“No doubt,” Aiko echoed.

“Hello again, Katie,” Jack said, ignoring Aiko’s dig, and rising to shake Katie’s hand. “So nice of you to help us out of our bind.”

“Us?”

“I have a vested interest in HyperLyfe,” said Jack smiling. “When Aaron’s video games do well, I do well.”

“Not a video game!” Aaron shouted as he crossed to them, dragging his hands through his hair until it stood up at crazy angles. “It’s a virtual reality three-dimensional simulated environment. Don’t make me tell you again!”

“Noted,” said Jack, raising his glass.

“What are you drinking, Jack?” asked Aaron. “It’s gotta be something good.”

Jack held his glass up to the light and admired it. “Macallen Lalique ,” he said. “Fifty year old–”

Aaron grabbed the glass, drained it, and handed it back to Jack.

“Sorry.”

“I’ve got more.” Jack shrugged.

“Today has been a fucking minefield of stress,” Aaron said. “Food poisoning. The presentation. That sneaky reporter.” Aaron removed his jacket, tossing it on the sofa as he began loosening his tie. He stopped, stood still for a moment, as though he was silently gathering his thoughts. Then he threw his tie on the sofa. “I can’t believe I fell right into her trap. God, what the hell was I thinking?”

Aaron began unbuttoning his shirt, and Katie hugged her arms across her chest, trying hard to not look as though she was helping him undo those buttons with her eyes. But she totally was. One. Two. Three-four-five. Ohhhh, all the way now. So much naked hunky man chest. She licked her lips and wondered if she could mentally help him out of the rest of his clothes. Maybe if she really concentrated?

“No, you know what?” said Aaron, his tone defiant. “I don’t want to think about that right now. Tomorrow, I can get with our marketing team, see how we can spin this into great press. Right now, I just want to relax and have fun with my friends.” He flashed a dimply smile at Katie. “Both old and new.” Aaron shrugged his shirt the rest of the way off and threw it down on the sofa next to his tie. “Whaddya say? Let’s get fucked up and screw around.”