Page 8 of Unbearable Player
After a few minutes, Reid shifted back, adjusting his suit as he returned to his human form. He always felt more centered after a shift, more in tune with both sides of his nature.
As he made his way out of the building and onto the bustling streets of Manhattan, Reid found his thoughts returning to the upcoming meeting. Despite his protestations to Jake, he couldn’t deny a spark of curiosity about Brianne.
What kind of woman combined game design with an understanding of shifter society?
Reid shook off the thoughts as he neared the café. He entered the café and sat to wait for Brianne. But as he caught sight of a blonde woman walking toward the café, a notebook clutched in her hands and a nervous expression on her face, Reid felt his carefully maintained control slip away.
FOUR
Brianne stood outside the trendy café, her heart thumping a staccato beat against her ribs. She peered through the large front window, scanning the bustling interior until her gaze locked onto an imposing figure seated at a corner table. Reid Parker. Even from this distance, his presence commanded attention.
“You can do this,” Brianne muttered to herself, smoothing down her favorite dress - a vibrant blue number that brought out her eyes. “It’s not a date. It’s a business meeting. With an incredibly handsome, successful man who probably bench presses small cars for fun. No pressure.”
Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door. The rich aroma of freshly ground coffee enveloped her, mingling with the buzz of conversation and the soft clinking of cups against saucers. Brianne weaved her way through the maze of tables, her eyes never leaving Reid.
As she approached, Reid stood, and Brianne’s breath caught in her throat. He towered over her, his broad shoulders filling out his tailored suit to perfection. His dark eyes met hers, intense and curious, and Brianne felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her.
“Ms. Ellis,” Reid greeted, his deep voice resonating through Brianne like the bass drop in her favorite video game soundtrack. A shiver tap-danced down her spine, and she silently cursed her body’s betrayal. His voice was so familiar. She swore she’d heard it before.
She frowned. “I’m sorry. Have we met before? It’s just…you seem familiar.”
He extended his hand, and Brianne took it, praying to every gaming deity she could think of that he wouldn’t notice the slight tremor in her fingers. His hand engulfed hers, warm and firm, like the grip of a particularly affectionate bear.
“I would remember meeting you before, Ms. Ellis.”
“Please, call me Brianne,” she managed, her voice miraculously steady. Inside, she was doing a mental victory dance for not squeaking like a startled Pikachu. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Mr. Parker. I promise I won’t bore you with too many pixel-perfect details... unless you’re into that sort of thing.”
“Reid,” he corrected, a small smile transforming his serious features. It was like watching a final boss reveal their secret, softer side. “And I assure you, I find pixels fascinating. Shall we sit?”
As they settled into their chairs, Brianne’s mind raced faster than a sprinter on energy drinks. She’d met her fair share of attractive men in the gaming industry - it wasn’t exactly short on confident, charismatic types who could charm the code right out of a computer. But Reid? He was playing in a whole different league.
He exuded an aura of quiet power and control that both intimidated and fascinated her. It was like sitting across from a character she’d spend hours designing, only to find he’d somehow glitched his way into real life - and decided to level up his attractiveness stat to maximum.
“So,” Brianne started, fidgeting with her charm bracelet adorned with tiny gaming icons, “I have to ask. Do you always dress like you’re about to walk the red carpet at E3, or is this your casual ‘meeting a quirky game developer’ ensemble?”
Reid’s eyebrow arched, a hint of amusement flickering in his dark eyes. “This is actually my ‘undercover security expert’ disguise. I find it helps me blend in seamlessly with fashionable café crowds and overly caffeinated coders alike.”
Brianne snorted, then immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, mortified. Great. Real smooth, she chided herself. But to her surprise, Reid’s smile widened, revealing a dimple that should have come with its own warning label.
“I’m glad to see my wit hasn’t entirely malfunctioned,” she quipped, recovering quickly. “I was worried I’d left all my good dialogue options at home.”
“I assure you, your conversation skills are functioning at optimal levels,” Reid replied, his tone dry but his eyes twinkling. “Now, shall we discuss your game? I’m eager to hear about this Shadow Realms you’ve created. Promise me there are no actual interdimensional portals involved. I left my portal gun at the office.”
Brianne grinned, feeling herself relax despite the butterflies still performing acrobatics in her stomach. “No promises. But if we do accidentally open a rift to another dimension, I call dibs on being the plucky sidekick in our inevitable world-saving adventure.”
Brianne’s mind raced. Reid exuded an aura of quiet power and control.
“So,” Reid began, leaning forward slightly, “tell me more about Shadow Realms. Your email piqued my interest, but I’d like to hear about it directly from you.”
Brianne nodded, grateful for the familiar topic. She launched into an explanation of her game, her initial nervousness giving way to enthusiasm. “It’s an immersive multiplayer experience where players navigate through different dimensions, solving puzzles and battling interdimensional beings. But what sets it apart is the security system we’re developing. We want to create a truly seamless experience where the game’s security measures are part of the gameplay itself.”
As she spoke, her hands moved animatedly, punctuating her words. She caught herself mid-gesture and blushed, realizing she’d been rambling. “Sorry, I tend to get a bit carried away when I talk about my work.”
To her surprise, Reid’s expression had softened, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Don’t apologize. Your passion is evident, and it’s refreshing. Please, continue.”
Encouraged, Brianne delved deeper into the game’s mechanics, explaining the intricate balance between player freedom and security measures. As she talked, she couldn’t help but notice how intently Reid listened, his gaze never wavering from her face.
“The main challenge we’re facing,” she admitted, “is integrating robust security features without compromising the gaming experience. That’s where we hoped your expertise might come in.”