Emily sat opposite Jason and Carrie. Everyone was upset, her most of all.

“I don’t see what the big deal is? You hate that game just as much as everyone else, if not more. He’s the owner of the company, the only one who can do something about it. It should be a good thing if he’s upset, shouldn’t it?”

“Wrong, Jason. He is upset but it’s not good for him or for us. There are other ways of doing business. I specifically said I didn’t want you to call him out.”

“I didn’t.”

“No, you made it look like I did.”

“Jason was wrong to do it, but it seems like it might have worked.”

Emily looked at Carrie, wondering if her friend had been listening at all.

“News on the wire is he’s called a big meeting over at Sunny Studios tomorrow morning at nine. Everyone from the coffee guy to the top executives are invited. Well, maybe invited is the wrong word, more like summoned.”

Emily wondered if Conor was serious about changing the company, but she didn’t want to think about that now. She had to straighten out the issues in her own backyard.

“As I was saying, Jason, you put me in a very awkward situation. I didn’t like being caught off guard like that. It made me look unprofessional and mean.”

“Mean? This isn’t grade school, Emily. It’s the business world and Conor is at the top of the food chain. I’m sure he’s used to this kind of criticism.”

Trying to hold her temper, Emily tried again. “Jason, it doesn’t matter what he is, what matters is who I am. I am not that person. I do not behave in an underhanded way.” At the mulish look on his face, she softened her tone. “I appreciate that you were looking out for me and doing what you felt was right, but it was wrong. It upset me, caused an ugly fight with an important member of our gaming community, not to mention the amount of upset people hitting our website.”

“It’s publicity, Emily. All’s fair in love and war, so they say.”

“Get out now before I say something I regret. Go.” She raised her voice when he lingered. She was beyond furious. Carrie sat white-faced but didn’t make a move to leave.

“Do you agree with him?

“Who, me? With Jason? Heck no, he was out of line. But what I am a little confused about is why you’re taking this so personally? It’s not the first time he screwed up and it won’t be the last.”

“Carrie, he embarrassed me. Not just in front of everyone who visits our website, but…”

“But…? Come on, out with it. Tell Auntie Carrie.”

“Conor took me to coffee on Saturday.”

Carrie raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt.

“He seems like a nice guy. A genuine guy.”

“Well, he is cute and loaded, but nice? Really? He doesn’t have that reputation.”

“What type of reputation does he have?”

“Well, he shreds companies to bits.”

“Are you sure that’s not just the gossip pages talking? Because when he explained what he does to me, it sounds like he buys failing companies and turns them around to make a profit. Or he sells them off in bits and pieces to recoup his investment. His investors love him.”

“I guess that’s true. I only met him briefly at the fundraiser, so I can’t say I know him. I can dig into him, though, if you want me to. I know someone…”

“Please don’t do anything. It’s enough he thinks Jason is a wild card. He suggested I sack him.”

“I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

Shocked, Emily looked at Carrie, who was suddenly finding the tabletop very interesting. “Why would you say that? Jason has been around since the very start.”

“Yes, I know what he did for you at High School but this is business, Emily. He’s good at what he does but there are better people out there. He just…well, he’s a bit intense.”

“Moody, I guess you mean. Well, he is, but so are a lot of artistic people. I know he screwed this up. But...”

“I think you’re blinded by your loyalty to him.” Carrie still didn’t look up from the desk.

“He was good to me, Carrie. I can’t ignore that.”

“Okay, let’s drop the Jason subject and talk about something more interesting, like Conor. When are you going to see him again?”

Emily blushed. “Carrie! Stop that.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot you’re aiming to be the next Mother Theresa.”

Emily didn’t mind Carrie teasing her, not usually, but today she was feeling a bit sensitive.

“So are you going to see him again?” Carrie asked quietly this time.

“I don't know.”

“Do you want to?”

Emily nodded. Boy, did she want to. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face. Only, she saw the hurt look he had when he had come to confront her about the video. That was the look she couldn’t get out of her mind.

“What should I do, Carrie?’

“Don’t ask me. My love life is a mess. I spent all weekend with Jack. You know, that cute guy, looks like a model.”

Emily didn’t know who Jack was and the description could describe most men Carrie dated.

“Well, anyway, he dropped me off last night and since then, nothing.”

Emily couldn’t help but glance at the clock. It was only eleven.

“Why don’t you call him?” Carrie asked.

“Jack?”

“No, silly, Conor. Call him and invite him out for a drink.”

“I can’t do that. I mean, it’s a bit desperate, isn’t it? And plus, he’d think I was fishing for information about tomorrow.”

“Oh, true, I forgot about that. Leave it a couple of days and if he hasn’t called you, give him a buzz.”

Emily wasn’t sure she had the courage to call Sunny Studios again. But maybe he could call her if she waited. Why shouldn’t she call him? She was a believer in women’s rights wasn’t she. Before her nerve failed her she phoned his cell, which diverted to his office.

“Conor Dunne’s phone.”

“Oh, hi. I guess he isn’t there.” How silly did she sound? If Conor had been there, Conor would have answered instead of this man.

“No, he just stepped out for a moment. Can I take a message?”

Emily wavered. Would she sound stupid making a date over the phone?

“Could you ask him to meet Emily in the coffee shop about four? I need to speak to him about something.”

“Sure. Does he know which coffee shop?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“No problem. I will tell him to call you if he can’t make it.”

“Thanks.”

Emily hung up and only then realized she hadn’t asked who she was speaking to. Must be someone close to Conor if they picked up his calls.

“Emily, you ready to get back to work. What are we going to do next? The feedback on Warrior Queen is in from beta testers. Want to work through their issues?”

For the next few hours, Emily was up to her neck in quirks and foibles the beta testers had found with Warrior Queen. Overall the feedback was good, but some thought the range of the test questions on level five were too difficult. It was very frustrating trying to get through to the next level. She and Carrie played the game on multiplayer. Despite having fun, they decided the betas were right. They had to make that move to the next level a bit easier, but how?

* * *

Emily’s brain was like mush by the time she got to the coffee shop. She and Carrie had gone through every sequence possible for the game. They both liked slightly different paths. It would be nice to get a third person’s opinion but she could hardly ask Conor. She waited and waited, not wanting to go inside the coffee shop until he came. Thirty minutes later, he hadn’t arrived. She checked her cell but there were no messages or missed calls. Was he still annoyed? Playing some game? Did he think it was funny to make her stand like a lemon? She was tempted to call to see if he’d gotten the message but that would make her look stupid. Instead, she got a to-go coffee and walked home. Alone.