The Love Game

Iris smiled to reassure him. This wasn’t her first rodeo. “I can produce a dynamic launch on a budget.”

“That’s why we hired you, Iris.” Kayla inclined her head.

“Let’s get started.” Tyler pushed away from the table, signaling the meeting was over.

Iris stood, pausing to wish the other members of the meeting a good day. Donovan seemed satisfied by the meeting’s outcome. Xavier appeared concerned. Kayla looked pleased.

But it was the strain on Foster’s expression that stayed with Iris. What had put that look on his face?

Iris was getting the feeling that there was more at stake with this launch than just the success of “Osiris’s Journey.”

Chapter 5

Tension twisted the muscles in Tyler’s neck and shoulders as he escorted Iris away from the executive conference room and down the aisle that led to Sherry.

Why was his father second-guessing him?

Why had Iris smiled at Donovan?

Why do I care?

“That was one of the most efficient executive meetings I’ve ever attended.” Iris seemed impressed. “And one of the shortest.”

“We don’t have time for unproductive meetings.” Tyler stopped beside the administrative assistant’s desk. “Hi, Sherry. Do you have Iris’s key card?”

“I sure do.” Sherry pulled a small rectangular cream card from a side desk drawer. The Anderson Adventures logo was set in large black type in the center of the card’s hard plastic surface. She offered it to Iris, along with a black-and-silver lanyard. “It’s good to see you again, Iris.”

“You, too, Sherry.” Iris accepted the items.

After two meetings, Iris and Sherry seemed like friends. In contrast, after more than two months, Lauren didn’t know Sherry’s name. But then, Kayla couldn’t remember Lauren’s name, either. That wasn’t like his aunt.

Tyler set aside his concern for now. “Keep your key card with you at all times. Most doors on this floor—including this entrance—and our research floor downstairs are kept locked.”

Sherry lifted her key card, which she wore suspended from the lanyard around her neck. “No one wants to be locked out of the office after a bathroom break.”

“See you later, Sherry.” Tyler started back down the hallway. “You may have noticed most of us prop our office doors open.” He glanced at Iris. Was she still thinking of Donovan? Was she attracted to his friend? “The doors lock automatically when they’re shut. Always lock your computer and close your door when you leave your office.”

“That’s going to take some getting used to.” Iris’s shoulder-length, sable hair shone beneath the office suite’s fluorescent lights. “Why do I have to lock my computer if the office door automatically locks?”

“It’s an added precaution.”

“Is this security meant to prevent corporate espionage?” Iris’s eyes searched his. “I’ve read there’s a lot of spying in the computer gaming industry.”

“We trust our employees. The security measures give us an added comfort level.” Tyler passed his office and stopped in front of a small conference room, which would serve as Iris’s office for the duration of the project. “Let’s see if your key card works.” His pulse kicked up with the knowledge she would be steps from him for the next four months. Keep it professional, Ty. She’s your consultant. That’s all.

Iris swiped the card through the lock on the glass door. A green light blinked and she let herself into the conference room.

The space was bright and spare: six gray cushioned chairs surrounded a rectangular glass-and-sterling-silver table. A gray metal filing cabinet stood in one corner. A small blond wood table was tucked into another. Three glass-framed photographs lined the beige wall behind the table. One was of the current building, which Anderson Adventures had moved into ten years before. The middle picture was a black-and-white image of the first space the business had rented. The third picture, also black-and-white, showed a very small dining room.

Iris studied the last photograph. “Is this where your father and uncle started Anderson Adventures?”

“Yes. It’s the dining room of the apartment they shared when they first graduated from college.”

“Your family’s come a long way.” Iris stepped back and scanned the supplies and equipment arranged at the head of the table.

“Ted from IT will come up later to connect you to the printer.” Tyler pointed toward her telephone. “Your extension, fax number and other codes are on the paper beside your computer.”

“Great.” She lowered herself onto her chair. “I’ll get started on the plans for the internal launch.”