The movement our hands touched, a surge of energy jolted through me, like a thousand volts of electricity igniting every nerve in my body. My heart pounded so hard I could barley breath, and my eyes filled with tears threatening to spill over.
In an instant, a vision flashed before me- he was there, gripping my hand, desperately trying to pull me up from the edge of a cliff.
"Hey! Hey!", his voice broke through the haze, snapping me back to reality.
I blinked, dazed.
"What happened? Are you okay?", he asked, concern filling his eyes.
I nodded, still shaken. "Y-Yes, I am fine. Thanks".
As soon as he pulled me up, I could hear the faint sounds of voices and footsteps growing louder. The rescue team was there, waiting tenth-floor elevator door. They worked quickly, forcing the doors open, and the bright light from the hallway spilled into the dark, cramped space. Relief washed over me as I saw their faces.
After what felt like hours of struggles, we finally crawled out of the elevator, collapsing onto the floor, gasping for breath. We lay there side by side, the relief of survival washing over us like a heavy rain after a storm.
"It`s like we have been through a whole thriller movie!", I laughed while gasping heavily.
[ Thud, thud, thud....]
I hear the sound of footsteps approaching us.
"Well done, guys!" a man shouted, reaching out his hands to help us up.
"Thanks! Nice suit Though" I said, still trying to catch my breath.
"Boss!" the handsome man next to me said, his eyes wide.
"Wait, what? Boss?" I echoed, confusion flooding my mind.
"Hey, nice to meet you! I'm David, CEO of Gen Z. Apparently, I'm your boss from now on," he introduced himself, shaking my hand firmly, a hint of a smile on his face.
"Hello, sir. Nice meeting you too. But... you don't look like one." I laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
"What is that supposed to mean?" the handsome guy whispered, clearly puzzled.
Suddenly, I realized the situation had turned awkward, as if I had said something I shouldn't have.
"Ka, ka, ka" — the sound of crows echoed nearby, like the scene needed a comedic sound effect.
"I mean, come on. You look too young for a boss! That's what I meant! Like, seriously, are you sure you're not just two kids stacked on top of each other in a suit?" I blurted out, trying to salvage the moment while my cheeks burned with embarrassment.
"Eline Wu, right?" David asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Yes, sir," I replied, trying to sound confident despite the nerves bubbling inside me.
"Come on, darling, don't be so tense. Just think of me as your friend," he encouraged, his warm smile easing some of my anxiety. I nodded and returned the smile, feeling a bit more at ease. He then gestured for me to follow him to his office. "Let's get the next step sorted out," he said, while the handsome guy excused himself to head back to his work.
(At the CEO's office)
"You can fill out this form and give it to my secretary, Raveena. She'll take you to your desk after everything is sorted," David said, handing me a clipboard.
"Okay, sir," I said, glancing at the form.
"Just call me David," he replied, his tone friendly and inviting.
"Okay, David... sir," I said, feeling a bit flustered.
"I mean, just David. No 'sir.' Everybody calls me that," he replied with a playful grin.
"Then why did you say that?" he added, raising an eyebrow with a teasing grin, clearly enjoying the banter.
"Yeh? what?" I asked, confused.
"That I don't look like one," he said with a smirk.
"Ah! that. Well, there are rumours that the CEO of Gen Z is, like, old... you know, totally old," I stammered, unsure if I should have said that out loud.
"That's exactly why I ask my colleagues to call me David. I mean, I don't want to look 'totally old,'" he said, making air quotes with his fingers and laughing at his own joke.
I was stunned for a moment by his words, my mind racing as I processed the playful banter. A smile crept across my face, and I couldn't help but appreciate his light-heartedness.
After a brief pause, I gathered my thoughts and excused myself, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement as I walked away.
[Clap, clap, clap.]
"Everyone, attention please," Rovina called out. "This is Eline Wu, our new character designer. She's going to be working with us from now on," she announced with a theatrical flair.
As everyone welcomed me with cheerful smiles and friendly nudges, I felt a rush of excitement. I was ready to dive into this new adventure. But then, my gaze landed on a familiar figure slouching at the corner desk. He was watching me with an expression that seemed to say, "Why is she even here?"
My heart raced as I recognized him—the handsome guy from the elevator. A mischievous grin spread across my face, and I felt a bubbling excitement rise up inside me. Without thinking, I dashed over to him, my enthusiasm overflowing.
"Hey, fancy seeing you here!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my joy. "What's your name? Where are you from?" I fired off questions, my excitement getting the best of me as I leaned in closer. "Come on, don't you dare tell me we're going to work together."
He looked at me, clearly annoyed, with a bemused expression. He lifted a finger and gently pressed it against my forehead, nudging me back a little. "No, we're not, and I'm not going to share my name or where I'm from," he declared, a hint of playfulness in his tone despite his irritation.
Even though I felt a flicker of disappointment, I wasn't about to back down. "Oh, come on, just tell me your name," I persisted, unable to resist the urge to know more about him.
"Ru Bing! David wants you in the office," a man suddenly shouted, his voice cutting through the chatter.
The entire office went silent, and everyone turned to stare at him in disbelief, looking as if they were trying to process what had just happened.
"Did I say something wrong?" the man asked, looking genuinely puzzled.
In unison, everyone nodded, their faces a mix of amusement and sympathy.
"But... someone just called you by your name—Ru Bing," I chimed in, unable to hold back a chuckle.
Ru Bing sighed, dramatically smacking his forehead with his hand, a resigned look on his face. He held up a finger, signalling, "Wait for me", before striding into David's office. Laughter erupted around us, leaving the poor man scratching his head.
"What did I do?" he asked, still trying to make sense of the chaos.
"Hey, you must be our new character designer, Eline Wu, right? I'm Cedric, the senior graphic designer. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask." the man said, extending his hand with a friendly grin.
"I suppose you already helped me with something," I replied, flashing a big smile before walking away.
Chuckles filled the air as Cedric stood there, completely bewildered by my response.
[Knock, knock, knock.]
"Come in," David called out.
"David, did you call me?" Ru Bing asked as he stepped inside.
"Yes, about the idea for the new game that you proposed. I discussed it with the shareholders, and, well, they loved it!" David said, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
"So?" Ru Bing raised an eyebrow, anticipation clear in his tone.
"So... you can start working on it right away," David replied, his grin widening.
"Yes! I knew it!" Ru Bing exclaimed, pumping his fists in the air like a victorious athlete.
David leaned forward, his tone shifting to something more serious yet encouraging. "You can take whoever you want for the project. But don't forget Eline Wu."
"What? Her? And me? Working together?" Ru Bing nearly shouted, throwing his hands up in exaggerated dismay.
"Yeah, is there a problem?" David asked, looking puzzled.
Ru Bing hesitated. "No, it's just... she's a little... annoying," he replied, his voice trailing off.
David grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Not annoying. Just Enthusiastic. That's part of her charm. And trust me, once you see what she can do, you won't want her on any other team."
Ru Bing still looked unsure. "Enthusiastic, huh?" he muttered, not entirely convinced.
With a smirk, David slid a thick file across the desk toward Ru Bing. "Take a look for yourself," he said, eyebrows raised in challenge.
Ru Bing picked up the file, flipping it open with mild curiosity. But as he turned each page, his expression shifted, eyes widening in surprise. Each page revealed stunning artwork, drawings that seemed to leap off the paper with life and intricate detail.
"She drew this?" Ru Bing asked, flipping through faster, disbelief growing with each piece of art.
"Told ya! she's a rare talent," David replied, grinning even wider.
Ru Bing paused, still staring at the drawings, torn between his earlier reluctance and a growing admiration for Eline Wu's skills. Finally, he nodded, a faint smile forming. "You were right. I should have her on this project," he said, beginning to walk away. Then he paused, turning back to David with a grateful smile. "Thanks for the opportunity."
David grinned, "My pleasure."
Back at my desk, I was busy arranging things when Ru Bing came striding out of the CEO's office, his jaw practically on the floor. "Cedric, Eric, Lily, Rosé, and... Eline Wu. Can I have a minute of your time?" he asked, his voice carrying a weight that made everyone pause.
We all exchanged confused glances, trying to read each other's faces without speaking. What's going on? The silent question hung in the air.
But I was especially lost, it was my first day, and now I was being called into something?
"Did I do something wrong?" I whispered to the girl next to me, sighing internally. "I thought I'd last at least a few more days."
Ru Bing led the group into the meeting room, his expression serious but with a spark of excitement glinting in his eyes. Once everyone had settled, he stood at the front and took a deep breath.
"So, you guys know that I proposed a new game idea to David," he began, looking around at their curious faces. "Well, it was a success! The shareholders loved it, and they've given me the green light to move forward with my concept."
The group exchanged glances, a mix of surprise and intrigue lighting up their expressions.
Ru Bing continued, "And I've selected all of you to be part of the team that's going to develop this game." He paused, letting the significance of his words sink in. "Are you guys okay with that?"
"Us? Seriously?" Cedric asked, his face lighting up with excitement.
Eric looked around at the others and chimed in, "We're in. This is going to be epic."
The room erupted with enthusiasm, and Ru Bing nodded, clearly pleased with their reactions.
"I'm glad you're all on board," Ru Bing said, his gaze landing on me. "And we're going to bring this game to life using Eline Wu's incredible sketches."
I had been quiet amidst all the excitement, but his words caught me off guard. I blinked in surprise. "What? Wait, my sketches?"
Ru Bing smiled. "Yep, your sketches. You in?"
My shock quickly turned to joy, my cheeks flushing with excitement. "Of course! I can't believe this. This is amazing!" I exclaimed, feeling a surge of pride and happiness.
I dashed back to my desk, heart pounding with excitement, and grabbed my sketchbook. When I returned to the meeting room, I felt a surge of determination as I prepared to share my ideas with everyone.
As everyone looked at the sketchbook with amusement, suddenly Lily gasped, her eyes widening. "Ru Bing! you need to see this!" she said, passing the sketchbook to him.
Ru Bing took it, his face shifting to one of shock as he stared at the pages. He froze, his expression a mixture of disbelief and awe.
Seeing their reactions, I quickly snatched the sketchbook back, my own confusion growing. As my eyes landed on the drawings, my heart raced, and a wave of shock washed over me. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I struggled to process what I was seeing.
Ru Bing and Lily exchanged glances, both of them looking as confused as I felt.