I clap a hand on his back. “You’ll be fine, man,” I assure him. “The game is solid. People will like it.”
“I just wish I had some moretime—” he starts, and I shake my head.
“The game is out there. It’s great. Stop trying to pick holes in it andrelax.”
He nods jerkily. The lift shudders to a stop, and we all step back as the doors slide open again. A short, portly man in a pinstriped suit steps inside, and Jack goes completely still.
I recognise the guy immediately. Hamish Cavendish. He’s the CEO of Cavendish Industries, one of the biggest gaming companies in the world.
Jacklovesthis guy. Watches all of his online TED talks religiously. He once made me watch one with him, and I came to the conclusion that Hamish is an arrogant, disgustingly wealthy knobhead, who has made way too much money and developed a God complex.
But hey, that’s just me.
Hamish gives us a mild smile and pulls out his phone, then freezes, looking up at Jack. His eyes focus on the pass hanging around his neck.
“Trinity Games?” He reads. “You wouldn’t happen to be Jack Insley, would you?”
Jack turns, his eyes wide. “Y-yeah?” He stammers, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes. The guy can talk about RPG stats and pixel counts until the cows come home, but put an important man in a suit in front of him and he dries up like a salted slug.
The man nods, offering Jack his hand. “Hamish Cavendish. I’m the head CEO of Cavendish industries.”
Jack shifts Cami to his hip and shakes his hand numbly. “I know who you are,” he gushes. “I… oh my god. I love your work.Under the Red Skyis one of my favourite games ever.”
Hamish raises an eyebrow. “Deep cut. Not a fan of my newer stuff?”
Jack turns bright red. “No, sir. I mean, yes! I just think it’s incredible how you wrote such a complex game in your twenties. It’s very inspiring. But I like all your later releases too.Knight Takes Rookwas amazing, the graphics were stunning—”
I stamp on his foot to shut him up.
Hamish grins. “I was just kidding. Thank you, kid. We’ve been following your game development journey. You’re very talented.” He glances between us. “Is this your team?”
“I just work admin and finances,” Seb says, then nods at me. “Cyrus is advertising. The development is all Jack.”
Jack looks like he’s about to die. I try to hold in my amusement.
Hamish nods. “That’s impressive. How did you get started developing games?”
“Oh.” Jack looks down. “When I was younger, my dad used to play a lot of text-based adventure games. I used to make my own—write them out on bits of paper. When I was in high school, I took some programming courses, and worked out how to turn them into playable PC games.” He shrugs. “Then I just kept going.”
“That’s fascinating. I’d love to hear some more about it.” Hamish pulls a business card out of his pocket, handing it over. “I’m afraid my diary ispackeduntil Tuesday night—we get most of the year’s business done this week, you know. But if you’re free then, I’d love to have dinner with you three.” He gives Cami an uncomfortable smile. “I know the hotel has a creche.”
I snort. We’ve had this kid three weeks; there’s no way I’m letting some stranger take care of her. Right now, the only four people I trust her with are myself, Seb, Jack, and Beth.
“I’ll have to pass, man,” I say, fixing Cami’s hair. She stares at me with huge eyes, then crumples up her face and starts to cry quietly. I take her off Jack and press a kiss to her cheek, cuddling her. “I’ll be looking after ladybug, here.”
Hamish looks slightly relieved. “Oh, good. She’s yours.”
Sebastian frowns. “Do you have a problem with hiring parents?”
Hamish waves him off. “Not so much in the later years, but definitely when there are babies involved. I find family life and business don’t mix well together, you know? I can’t stand when new recruits start having kids.”
“Oh, isthatwhy all of your employees are men?” I ask lightly, tickling Cami’s belly. Seb cuts me a glare. “What? It’s true.” I’ve seen their website. Most of their employees are identical private-school old boys. I probably never would have noticed before Cami came into our lives, but now I have a tiny baby girl to look after. The idea of anyone underestimating her or refusing her job opportunities because of hergenderis enough to make my blood boil.
Incredibly, Hamish doesn’t even deny it. “Yes. Not very politically correct, of course, but the truth of the matter is, it’s impractical to place females in high-ranking positions.”
Sebastian coughs. Cami frowns. She’s either outraged by the injustice against her sex, or about to poop.
Hamish sighs heavily. “They always promise they’re career-oriented in interviews, then inevitably choose to have families after a few years, and demand maternity leave. Hiring them is just bad business.”