Zoey Parker gripped the steering wheel of Gus Harper's SUV, a sly grin creeping across her face. "First, you took down Komina. Now you've one-upped Veventi. The biggest gaming giants out there, and you're out here stealing their spotlight. How do we even survive this?"
Her tone dripped with mock worry, but her eyes sparkled with glee. She was thrilled. Gus's knack for stirring up the industry was a goldmine for her loss-chasing rebate schemes. If he kept ruffling feathers, WindyPeak might trip up, and she'd swoop in with a yacht, whisking him off to a carefree life.
"It's not like Veventi's crying over it," Gus said, scratching his neck, a bit sheepish. He knew Firebird Studio's Ace Heroes, a $600M blockbuster, launched the same week as Plants vs. Zombies. But who could've predicted a $1.15M indie game would outshine a 3S-level FPS in buzz and sales? "I didn't mean to steal their thunder."
Gus wanted no beef with Veventi—not yet. WindyPeak was already locked in a feud with Komina, the global gaming titan. Their Silent Hill P.T. (Escape) had crushed Komina's Silent Hill, even splitting Yamamoto Studio. But Komina bounced back fast, with Jiro Nishikawa merging it into Nishikawa Studio to plug the gap. Their deep pockets and quick moves proved they were no pushover.
Gus's plan was clear: take down Komina's remaining pillars—Koizumi and Takasugi Studios—in the next market showdowns. Cripple them, and Komina would wobble. If WindyPeak could outlast a potential counterattack, they'd dominate the global market. Only then would Gus consider Veventi, a corporate beast dwarfing Komina with its water-industry roots. For now, he hoped Veventi would shrug off this accidental slight.
His next step? A Way Out. If it hit big, WindyPeak would join the billion-dollar club by year's end, securing a prime booth at EastCon Game Expo to challenge Komina head-on.
Zoey turned the SUV into the Riverside Heights sales office parking lot. "What's got you so deep in thought, Mr. Harper?" she teased, unbuckling her seatbelt.
"Company's future," Gus said, clicking his belt off. "And profit plans."
Zoey's hand slipped, nearly smacking her face. "Let's… focus on the house tour first."
They stepped out, greeted by Yang, their real estate consultant, who'd been waiting by the lot. "Good morning! I'm Yang, your guide. Follow me, please."
They crossed a landscaped path toward the sales office. Yang glanced back, smiling. "Shopping for a wedding home?"
Gus and Zoey froze, caught off guard by the bold question.
"Uh… just browsing," Gus said, forcing a chuckle.
Yang nodded, unfazed. "Riverside Heights is perfect. Top-notch schools, shops, medical facilities. Our developer, Grayson Realty, is a trusted name around here—solid finances, great rep."
She pushed open the sales office door, ushering them inside. The place screamed understated luxury, with sleek decor and polished surfaces. Yang led them to a reception area, offering tea and floor plans.
"Thanks," Zoey said, flipping through a plan. "You mentioned Grayson Realty. That's… Paul Grayson's company, right?"
"Yes, but he's the big boss," Yang replied. "Our project manager's Peter Grayson."
Zoey's face tightened. "Peter Grayson?"
Yang tilted her head. "You know him?"
Zoey paused, then shook her head. "Nope." She grabbed Gus's arm, pulling him toward the exit. "We're out."
"Whoa, what?" Gus stumbled, confused. "What's wrong? Did I say something?"
"This place is bad vibes," Zoey muttered, her face dead serious. "Let's go."
But as they reached the door, a group approached. Leading them was a chubby guy in his mid-twenties, short, with round cheeks and wide glasses, looking like a friendly teddy bear. Four or five people trailed him, chatting.
Zoey hissed under her breath. "Told you to run."
The guy spotted her and lit up. "Zoey? What're you doing here?"
Gus blinked. This guy knew Zoey?
Zoey leaned close, whispering through gritted teeth. "Paul Grayson's my dad's friend. Calls him Uncle Paul. This is Peter Grayson, the guy Dad tried to set me up with."
Gus's eyes widened. Oh. Zoey had mentioned this—some rich kid her dad pushed as a marriage prospect, joking he'd make her settle down if she didn't take over the family business.
Zoey's hand slid into Gus's, squeezing tight. "Play along," she murmured.
Gus smirked, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Relax, he seems chill. Doesn't look like the caveman you described."
Zoey shot him a glare, but before she could snap back, Gus led her forward, hand in hand, to meet Peter.
"Peter, good to see you," Zoey said, her smile tight but confident. She gestured to Gus. "This is my fiancé, Gus Harper. We're checking out a wedding place."
Gus nearly choked. Fiancé? Zoey was going all-in.
Peter's small eyes blinked behind his glasses, clearly thrown. He shook Gus's hand stiffly. "Oh… wow. Congrats."
Gus, recovering, played along. "Thanks, man. Heard great things about this place."
Peter nodded, dazed. "Yeah… uh, congrats again." He gestured to the VIP room. "Take a seat, I'll join you after a quick bathroom break."
Gus nodded, but as they sat, he excused himself to the restroom too. Inside, he overheard Peter on the phone in a stall.
"No way, babe! Guess who I saw? Zoey Parker! Yeah, that wild heiress from Walter's family. She's got a fiancé!"
Gus froze.
"She's always been a handful," Peter continued. "Her guy looks rough, though—swollen eye, probably from her. Poor dude's in for it."
Gus's jaw dropped. What the—?
Peter kept going. "Yeah, pity the guy. He's gotta deal with her forever."
Gus's mind spun. Peter had a girlfriend? He wasn't after Zoey at all? This whole "fiancé" act was for nothing—Walter was just using Peter as a scare tactic, like a parent threatening a timeout.
He bolted from the bathroom, washing his hands in a rush, and headed back to the VIP room. He had to tell Zoey to drop the act.
But before he could speak, Zoey stood, waving past him. "Let's go, Peter!" She grabbed Gus's hand, interlocking their fingers, and strode toward Peter with a smug grin.
The tour began, and Zoey leaned into the charade. Walter's threats about marrying her off to Peter had left a mark, and she was determined to squash any hint of that future. She clung to Gus, playing the lovestruck couple.
"Hey, Gus, we could put a swing here. You'd push me, right?" Zoey said, pointing at a corner of the model home.
"This spot's perfect for a studio," she added, squeezing his arm. "Get a cozy couch—I'll sprawl on you while you work."
"Oh, and a big bed," she went on, eyes glinting. "You cool with me stealing the covers?"
"Look at this room!" she gushed. "Perfect for a kid's space. We could build a little castle."
Peter trailed behind, his expression a mix of pity and resignation, clearly buying the act. Gus, meanwhile, was silent, caught between amusement and exasperation.
Zoey's chatter filled the model home, her hand never leaving his. Gus could only nod, playing along, as her performance drowned out his chance to explain the misunderstanding.