Dr. Fenix Ensiger
I called the number yesterday but I have not received any answer. I almost gave up contacting the number and hoping for this so-called solution but then, at night, I received a text message saying:
From: 0906-121-3016
See you at The Bliss Cafe, VIP floor at 9 AM tomorrow.
Address: Building No. 360, The Bliss Building, Magnate Street,
Barangay Baniva, Lleh Business Park, Lleh City
After I read this text message, I immediately canceled all my appointments for that day. I called big people in organizations where I myself was one of the bosses and the director. Even in my clinics, I also told my secretary to send a message to the patients, who have an appointment with me today, that all of these schedules will be canceled. I'll just plot another day to entertain them.
I hope all of these cancellations will be worth it.
It's raining heavily today and the wind is swirling everywhere. I immediately got out of my car after parking in the basement area of The Bliss Building. It's good that I'm familiar with this place, otherwise, it might take me much longer to arrive at this narrow direction.
I rushed inside while looking at my watch. It's already 9:30 AM.
I panicked after checking the time which made me dashed towards the counter to ask where the VIP room was located. There aren't that many customers in this coffee shop because of its pricey products. It's also raining so there aren't many people coming in right now. But, I can still see those people who are charging while doing something on their laptops. Perhaps, they are working on something here while at the same time, sipping a cup of coffee to burn their coldness.
While walking, I check my phone in case I receive a text from that number again. Maybe that person wants to cancel our meeting just because I am about thirty minutes late. If he wants, why not. That's all—wasted opportunity.
Until suddenly...
The sound of the broken glass clattering on the marbled floor surface echoed throughout the area. A little coffee spilled on my clothes but there was more than what the waiter was wearing. Even the tray, he also let go.
Ack! I didn't see this coming. I didn't even realize that we had bumped against each other.
"I am so sorry sir!" The waiter immediately apologized and frantically grabbed a tissue from the customer's table to wipe my clothes, but I immediately left.
His jaw dropped open in surprise after seeing my reaction. I didn't bother looking back at him. People around me were also looking at me but I ignored them. When I saw a young man, probably in his teens or 20s, staring at me with a bewildered face, I quickly sat in front of him. There are also college books around him.
His cellphone caught my attention with a lock screen picture of one of the heroes in the Last Byte game. His eyes were confused as he saw me looking at him.
"Study well—" I spoke first but I paused a little to check his name on his school ID. "—Riel Dizon," I continued.
The young man was suddenly restless because of my casual speech as if we had known each other for a long time. He looked around and saw the manager of the cafe scolding the waiter. The rest of the people looked at me badly. I felt a sense of calm after the young man got my aim.
He also acted as if we knew each other. "I am uncle," he affirmed. Nice!
After pretending for a while, I made sure to slip some cash under the book's cover; I made sure that he saw it. Before I got up to leave before he could refuse the money, as most of the people do, I headed towards the elevator. Then, suddenly, someone followed me from behind, prompting me to feel conscious which led me to stop.
"Excuse me sir, are you Doctor Fenix?" A man asked. When I faced him, the face of the coffee shop's manager immediately appeared to me. I quickly roamed my eyes around to look for that waiter that she secretly scolded and I never saw that man again.
I fixed my collar and stood straight. I nodded, "Yes, I am."
His face quickly lightened up. "Good morning to you, the secretary asked me to guide you towards the VIP Floor," he added.
S-Secretary? Who's that secretary? I was unable to stop my mind from racing with the numerous questions that kept popping up in my consciousness.
After entering the elevator, I ascended to what is referred to as the VIP Floor, where I was greeted with the breathtaking sight of a luxuriously decorated interior complete with chandeliers, glass, and hotel-like décor. It was the first time I'd ever seen a coffee shop that was quite so lavish. After that, I spotted a lady who was wearing a black cap in a design similar to a Victorian era that complemented her black dress and silver heels. My pampered eyes were like blinded by the sparkling gold of her necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings.
To judge by how she presents herself, a secretary is the last thing that comes to mind when I see her.
She used nearly just her two fingers to hold the coffee cup when she took a drink from it. Those two bodyguards she had stood like statues at the opposite sides of the room.
After the manager walked away from me without saying anything, all I could do was shake my head and go into the cramped tiny hall.
"Good morning, Miss 0906-121-3016—"
"Take a seat."
I was speechless after hearing her voice cut me off in the middle of my sentence, particularly because she sounds like the type of woman who gives direct or abrupt responses, which is undoubtedly accurate. I stood there freezing my senses. I let out a long sigh afterwards as I sat down in the chair facing her. The enormous circular table acts as a barrier between us.
As soon as I had settled in and made myself comfortable, I was startled by the sudden, loud sound of heavy glass shattering on the ground below me. When I looked up to her, she was smirking. Hearing how the glass shattered as it rolled down the carpet makes it abundantly clear that she did this on purpose.
She faked, saying, "Oops, sorry." Damn it, I don't have time to see how her lips encircled her mouth in a distracting manner.
"Stop beating around the bush. Tell me who you are before revealing to me about the deal that you want me to take part in," I stated with an authoritative voice before continuing on. "Or else, I would file a legal action against you." Before the lady spoke, I could clearly hear her letting out a long, heavy sigh.
"I am from Last Byte Technology Inc., Secretary Flavene Remington," she started with a formal tone which caused me to pause before interjecting my suspicions into the conversation. I couldn't help but fix my eyes on her to know who she really was, despite the fact that I couldn't see her eyes since she was wearing such a large and feminine hat.
I couldn't help but laugh as I thought to myself, "A secretary of a huge, well-known company wants to speak to me in person? Oh my goodness, I am so honored!" I demonstrated my sarcasm by twice clapping my hands.
Before continuing her conversation with an unruffled tone, the lady took another drink from her beverage. After indicating to her guard that they should hand over the white document that was sitting on top of the table, Secretary Flavene informed the group, "This is the offer that the CEO wants you to participate with."
When I was going to get the paper for myself, he slipped it across to me. I was staring at the Last Byte Company logo, and I could feel a building heat of stress coming from my body, which plainly describes something that I was having trouble articulating. The paper is a little bit more substantial, and it seems like it will take me millions and millions of years to read it all the way through.
While scanning the document,, I slowly digested what Last Byte wanted from me.
"Last Byte is aware of the plethora of challenges with citizens' health that the government has refused to rectify by providing financial aid to individuals who cannot otherwise afford one. Thus, the company wants to collaborate with the health ministry, especially to you, Director Fenix, in terms of using the game as a platform to lessen, improve, and address the issue without losing the purpose of both sides: human health stability and video games production," Secretary Flavene explained thoroughly.
After hearing her remarks, I couldn't help but let out a sly chuckle. I gave a little shake of my head and looked away briefly to conceal the shrugging expression I manifested.
"What makes Last Byte think about this? Guilt?" I answered back with a question.
Secretary Flavene looked down a few seconds before she answered. "One of our goals is that by continuously collaborating with different ministries will improve the lives of people."
"Improve our lives?" I giggled in sarcasm. "The investors and even the government chose to support and spend their money in this nonsense video gaming industry just to be called a modern nation rather than those who struggle paying their medical needs. You call this one as one of your company's goals?"
"I apologized for making you feel insulted about this. But, I didn't mean to convey my words in such a way."
I grabbed the document and threw it away in the middle of the table. "I read the collaboration idea and it's about making use of the game to cure illnesses for free. How is that possible?" My eyes squinted.
The secretary began explaining to me all the conditions, terms, and things that will be done about this collaboration until it took us almost half a day to get things understood. After how many hours, she gave me the contract to sign an agreement and it surprised me to see that the CEO's signature was already attached there.
They're only waiting for me to sign? Interesting…
I read the four to five pages of this contract with deliberation. The secretary then gave me a quick thick black matte ballpen for me to use in signing. By just looking at its design, it looks like a lot of electrical wiring was done inside.
Third Person
"As soon as the ballpoint is detached from the paper once you start signing, there is a sensor that will automatically bring a signal to the pre-programmed system that will immediately update all the user surfaces of Last Byte across the country," Secretary Flavene elaborated after the doctor asked about the ballpen's captivating modernized design.
The doctor hesitated to sign the contract. His fingers started to quiver and it felt like there was a force grabbing him to run away. However, he cannot also avoid the fact that the innovation of Last Byte is beyond imaginative. He is sure that this could be a huge help to lessen the issue about health.
Minutes passed, and the doctor had decided to sign the contract. The ballpen quickly lightened up in blue lines, giving a signal that the new update of Last Byte has started especially in mobile phones and personal computers.
Riel Dizon was walking back to his dorm in Beau Monde University while listening to classical music when he suddenly received a notification message from his Last Byte App. The waiter, who the doctor accidentally bumped into a while ago, Andrew Evangelista, also received the notification while drying the mop. This entire updating thing happened to Michael Wix, the manager, too.
Elle Robces just got up from serving her client. She saw her client's laptop vibrating a sound and lighting up, talking about the Last Byte update. Also, Dayen Aquila saw in the television in her neighborhood the national news about the new update too.
Last Byte: New version is now available.
With this new version, we are getting better! You have access to more customization features and flexible ways to help the community achieve our goal as one. Enjoy the new set of heroes, emblems, skins, storyline, and more. Please click the button below to update your system.
Update.