Gamer Girl by Carmen Willow

introduced his senior staff and concluded the meeting.
    There was the hesitant beginning of clapping somewhere in the group. It petered out rather quickly as people studied the sheets to see to whom they should report. Sarah looked down. It was as she suspected. She was to report to Eamon. She knew he would want the pleasure of firing her himself. She noticed that Jim was being asked to report to Martin Ellesworth. That had to sting.

Chapter 6
    Sarah took a deep breath and made for the bank of elevators out in the foyer. She stepped inside along with other employees from Rainwhite. They got off, one by one at different stops before hers. By the time she reached the eighth floor, she was alone. 
    When the elevators opened, Sarah found herself in a large waiting area with another bank of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Kansas City skyline.  Sitting at a desk in front of the windows was a very beautiful, stylish young woman dressed in pink skinny jeans, a pink, green and white tunic top and white kid high heeled boots busily hammering away at a computer. She had ink black hair, high sculpted cheekbones and the bluest blue eyes Sarah had ever seen. Clearly, Eamon liked to surround himself with pretty things.
    Beyond the young woman was a set of double doors that opened into another space. The young woma n wore a lightweight headset that obviously blue toothed her phone and intercom. When Sarah exited the elevator doors, the young woman said something softly into the headset. She listened for a moment and then, as Sarah approached the desk, she said, “Mr. Byrne will see you in a few moments, Miss Adams. Please be seated. Would you care for some refreshment? Coffee, Soda?”
    “No, thank you.”  Sarah turned and sat down on the sofa to wait. Her stomach churned, but she forced herself to maintain an outward appearance of calm. He kept her waiting for ten minutes.
    Finally, the woman stood up. “Mr. Byrne will see you now, Miss Adams.” The young woman escorted her to the door and opened it. Sarah stepped inside.
    Eamon’s office also had floor to ceiling windows, though they could be darkened as they were now. Sarah looked at the wall opposite and understood why. There were multiple video screens affixed to t he wall suggesting that many people could be brought in on videoconference at the same time. Eamon hit a button on his desk and the windows began to clear.
    “Have a seat, Sarah,” he said, indicating the chair in front of his desk.
    “Thank you, Mr. Byrne, I prefer to stand.” Sarah stood up straight.
    “Fine,” Eamon stood up and came around the desk to stand near her. When she was looking up at him, he said, “You cost me more than a million dollars by the time everything was said and done. What made you think of trying to sell the game engine?”
    Taken aback by his question, Sarah said, “It was the logical choice. Wickerworld as a title has possibilities for the future, but that does nothing for the present. You are about to launch your second game in a popular title, so you must be ready to start planning the third. New consoles are due out soon; new consoles mean the need for better graphics. You’ve reached the end-of-cycle on your old game engine…” Sarah’s voice trailed away.
    “Exactly. And I let it slip how much I liked Rainwhite’s engine.”
    Sarah lost her temper. “What was I supposed to do? You were trying to take over the company I work for. It was my responsibility to help them stop you if possible.”
    Eamon shrugged his shoulders. “I agree. But you don’t work for them any longer.”
    Sarah turned and started for the door.
    Eamon reached out and took her arm. “Wait a minute.”
    Sarah turned back around. “Why?”
    “Sarah, y ou don’t work for Rainwhite any longer, but I want you to work for me.” Eamon released her arm. “Sit down and let me explain.” He pointed to the chair. “Please. Sit.”
    Sarah sat down in one of the chairs. Eamon sat down in the