Read The Game for Free Online Page B

should be able to greet your father more warmly.” The voice on the other end was deep and rich, full of strength and power.
      “I’m busy, Father, and so are you. What do you need to say?”
      “Is he on board? Will Zack do as you assured me he would?”
      Brandon closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “He will do his best. You know better than anyone how the Game works. There are no guarantees once he goes in.”
      “I know that,” the old man snapped impatiently. “I didn’t ask for a guarantee. Has he spent the credits, and are we on track?”
      Brandon paused. “Yes.”
      “The others are all in place?”
      “Perfectly.”
      “You’re almost out of time, son. You know that as well as I do.”
      Brandon knew this better than anyone, but he didn’t dare admit it to his father. “It’s under control.”
      “Thirty years go by fast, Brandon. You’ve done better than I could have hoped for, son.”
    Brandon ignored his father’s compliment. He had learned that unpleasant things often followed a compliment from his Dad.
      “What does the girl being allowed to play again mean?”
      “I’m sure it has no meaning, sir. She did nothing when she played before. Her invitation is just random hype as part of the anniversary celebration.”
      There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Finally his father spoke. “Something in my gut tells me she’s a concern, boy. Keep an eye on her.”
      With a distinct click, the phone call was ended.
     

Chapter 10
      The studio lights were bright and hot. Thick makeup plastered to Zack’s face made it difficult to make facial expressions and, underneath the caked on mess, he could feel a thin sheet of sweat slowly sliding down his skin. Two weeks of very little sleep, whirlwind press tours, interviews, fan packed parties every night, team planning to decide what power ups to buy for his last play, and a host of other activities had left Zack exhausted and drained. He desperately needed rest, and he meant to have it.
      Right after this interview.
      When she walked in, every head in the room turned to catch a glimpse of her. Despite the makeup, Zack smiled, his exhaustion disappearing magically. He was meeting a legend!
      “Hi, Zack. I’m Angelica. I hear you’re interested in joining my club.”
      Zack could only grin and nod silently as he gripped hands with the Gaming superstar. Being in the same room with her, touching her, it was like a dream. Her parents must have had special knowledge of the future when they named her; she looked exactly like an angel. Straight, golden blonde hair hung like spun silk halfway down her body. Her ice blue eyes were penetrating, yet playful, as if she knew a joke that was obvious to her but no one else. It was a common physical trait of experienced Gamers, young eyes glowing with centuries of gained knowledge and wisdom, but Angelica’s eyes were distinct! Her 5 foot 6 inch, athletic frame was everything you would expect of a 22-year-old model and celebrity. If Zack was a star, then Angelica was a goddess.
      “Shall we grab a seat and see if we can’t help you get your voice back before the world tunes in?” she asked, her perfect smile both playful and warm.
      Zack cleared his throat, still grinning. The wise old man inside who had lived many lifetimes laughed at him, but the kid that he still was puffed out his chest and spoke in his deepest, manliest tone. “It’s amazing to be sitting with you, Angelica. You’re here to interview me but I think the world would prefer it if I interviewed you.”
      Angelica touched her hair thoughtfully, looking past him and focusing on something in the distance. Zack turned around to see what she was looking at, but he found only the darkness of the set behind him. When he looked back Angelica had once again trained those beautiful eyes and that smile directly on him. He smiled back.
      “How long until we go on the air?”