Page 12

Chapter Twelve

Aspen

Strolling straight into Zeland’s office has become a daily ritual since Arlo started working at Ridgeland.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, looking up from his computer screen as I flop into the chair opposite his desk.

“It’s official: I’m a school dropout and a weirdo stalker. I’m sure my mother would be so proud that I’m following in her footsteps. All I need now is to have a kid and disappear from its life. Wanna help a girl out?”

His laughter echoes through the room. “As hot as you would look knocked up, I don’t think Ridge would be thrilled about having a baby in the house. He doesn’t really like noise too much. But let’s go back to the first two problems—you dropped out?”

“Dropped out, kicked out... same, same, right? I ran into my ex-roommates today, and I might owe Sunny a new nose. Would you believe she tried to call me out in class for owing her rent? She kicked me out and kept the deposit I paid her. Then she tried to say I hit on her boyfriend, and he agreed. In my defense, I attacked him first for being a lying piece of shit, but she tried to jump in, so really it’s all her fault. I just hope she doesn’t press charges; I don’t need that shit right now.”

“Don’t sweat it, and if she tries, we will send our lawyers over. She will run scared the second they knock on the door. No bestie of mine is going to prison.”

“Thank god. Orange is not my color, and I would have to get a wife. I’m not cut out for that life.”

Zeland chuckles. “And what’s this about your stalker tendencies?”

I smile. “All week I have been watching Arlo work. I pretend to be the mail person just to get close enough to smell him. Who even does that? I shouldn’t be so obsessed with someone I’ve supposedly only just met.”

“Is there something wrong with how I smell? You’re free to sniff me whenever you want.”

“Don’t worry, I use your cologne and might have stolen a shirt or two from your room. I figured you knew about it since Ridge has cameras everywhere.”

“Shit, woman, you are making me rethink a lot of things, and I don’t like it. ”

I kick my feet up onto his desk, the edge of my boots the only thing holding my legs up. “Yeah? Like what?”

He shakes his head. “Like keeping you. Besides what I have with Ridge, I have never wanted to keep someone as close to me as I do you.”

“Ditto, but I also like what we have now, so let’s circle back to Arlo, since he’s my obsession this week. I’ve already figured out you and Ridge, but he is still a mystery I want to solve. Online he seems so confident but in person he’s shy. I watched him blush when someone told him he was doing a good job. How cute is that? I think I want to run that competition like you mentioned.”

“The one we’re rigging, so you can chase and fuck Arlo?”

I nod. “It sounds perverted when you say it like that, and we don’t have to fuck. I mean, I would be happy just to chase him.”

“Then it’s done. We can film something tonight and upload it, but know I will be there when it happens. Like you said, you’re not strong enough to hold a man down. While he has a clean record, I need to know you’re safe. Do you have any ideas for a backdrop? We can’t film at the house.”

I shrug—I hadn’t thought about it. “What do you think?”

“The carnival is coming to town. I could hook us up.”

I laugh because a carnival seems so cliché, but then again it could make for an interesting chase.

“Sounds like a plan,” I say, and he smiles. “How would Ridge feel about you fucking another man, if it came to that? I’m all for pissing him off, but crossing boundaries is not something I’m comfortable with.”

As if his ears are burning, Ridge strides into the room like it’s his office.

“Speak about the devil and he shall appear,” I drawl.

Ridge locks eyes with me and his brows furrow. “Talking about me, stray? If I didn’t know better, I would think you’re obsessed with me.”

“In your dreams, big man. I’m just a decent human being and asked Zeland how you would feel about him fucking another man.”

Ridge blinks a few times, then stares at Zeland. Oh, hot damn, this was Zeland’s plan all along—he wants to make Ridge jealous. Using me worked to an extent, but I was never a genuine threat because I don’t have a cock.

I watch as Ridge crosses the room. It’s as if I’m not even here, and I wish I had popcorn.

He rounds Zeland’s desk and spins his chair until Zeland smirks up at him, so Ridge grabs his chin roughly, using it to push his head back. “Is my cock not good enough for you? Do I need to bend you over this fucking desk and remind you who you belong to?”

“Yes, please,” I whisper, and both men turn to face me. “Sorry, please continue.”

Zeland laughs. “I didn’t plan on letting him fuck me. My ass is reserved for you—unless Aspen wants to peg me, but I figured you wouldn’t get jealous of a plastic dick.”

Not once in my life have I ever thought about pegging someone, but with the image my mind just conjured up, I’m making a mental note to order a strap on. I’m one hundred percent going to fuck someone with it.

“Good,” Ridge states firmly. “If I find out any man has put his cock in what’s mine, he will be finished.”

“Sweet Jesus, can you be that possessive of me? Come on, Ridge, be a sport. Your voice when it’s like that fucking ends me. Poof, I combusted into dust.”

Ridge’s eyes find mine and he smirks. Holy shit, this man is lethal, and I don’t look away as he pushes off Zeland and stalks toward me. I swallow as my mouth becomes dry all of a sudden, and when he reaches me, he drags my chair and turns it to face him. He places a hand on each armrest and leans down so his eyes are level with mine. “You couldn’t handle a man like me—I would eat you alive and spit you back out. I don’t do feelings, and I don’t care about your needs.”

“Bullshit,” I whisper. My bravado has completely vanished while I’m stuck in his web. “You just proved you have feelings for Zeland, and you care about my needs—you just won’t admit it.”

“I don’t care. You could walk away today, and I would go about my day as normal.”

“You’re a liar, Mr. Ellington, but maybe you’re also lying to yourself. And it sucks to be you because I’m not going anywhere. Maybe I’m your salvation and I was brought here to save your grumpy ass from yourself because, as annoying as you are, you do fucking care. You checked out a stranger to make sure he wasn’t a weirdo to keep us safe, you gave him a job to further make sure he wasn’t a weirdo, you come home every fucking night, and even if it’s not for me, it’s one hundred percent for Zeland. You’re a good man under all that gruffness.”

“You’re wrong, stray. Everything I do benefits me.”

My heart gallops in my chest, and he doesn’t budge. “Prove it. When I do my next video and run the competition, don’t vet the man I choose and don’t follow us.”

His jaw goes hard. “You’re going to regret trying to get close to me, stray. But you forget, I care for Zeland. He is the only person in this world I care about, and he seems to care for you, so that means you get all of me.”

I smirk. “All of you, huh?” I say, looking down. Even though I can’t see his package, he gets the point.

“I don’t fuck strays, but I have no issues watching.”

Shivering at the thought, I have unlocked a new thing I like called exhibitionism. I enjoy being watched, at least watched by him. However, I don’t know how I would feel about a complete stranger watching me. It’s why the content for my page is pretty PG, yet people keep asking to pay for explicit content, though my reservation there is more about the content being on the internet forever in the hands of weirdos.

“It’s a good thing you watching us turns me on. I’ve never had someone look out for me before, Ridge.”

“Be careful what you wish for, stray. Me having that kind of power over you should scare you.”

“It does,” I whisper, and he stands back to his full height.

“Okay, so this has turned me on,” Zeland interrupts. “If you don’t want to fuck me right now, leave my office so I can touch myself. I’m hard and I need to do something about it.”

“Your little obsession is working on finding bugs in our new game. If you want to pretend to be a new hire, I can call down for you.”

A smile takes over my face, and I look at Ridge. “You would do that?”

“To get rid of you so I can bend Zee over his desk, sure. Head downstairs and Theo will be waiting for you.”

I clap and practically run from the room. As much as I would normally make some quick-witted comment about watching them, I need to get a fix of Arlo. The elevator takes forever, but I finally make it downstairs to find Theo waiting for me. “Aspen?”

“That’s me.”

“The boss said you would come in to help run through the new game. I need you to sign a form saying you won’t talk to anyone outside the room about this game.”

“I’m well versed with signing NDAs for Ridgeland.”

Theo hands me an iPad and I sign on the dotted line. He tells me to follow him, and when he gets to a room, he opens the door and Arlo is inside.

“Arlo, we have a new girl here to help run through the game with you.”

Arlo turns and my chest flutters when he smiles, pushing up from the floor where he was sitting. He slides his black-rimmed glasses up his nose and walks over to me. I smile back, noticing he wore his Rick and Morty shirt today. “Hi, it’s nice to see you again. ”

“I’m excited to work with you. I’ve heard good things.”

Honestly, I haven’t. Ridge doesn’t say nice things about people he works with. It’s either they’ve done their job well or they haven’t—there is no in between. But I know Arlo will benefit from the confidence boost.

“I trust you can bring her up to speed. Mr. Ellington wants this finished as quickly as possible.”

“Of course, and don’t worry, Theo. I should be done quicker with the help.”

Once Theo leaves, Arlo awkwardly shifts on his feet. “So, a quick tour. PCs, large screen with PlayStation and Xbox, and you can use the recliners, couch, or beanbags—I prefer the beanbags personally. Fridge is over there and is stocked with soda. Kelly brings in snacks and restocks them every day. If you have a preference, you can let her know.”

“Thanks. Should we get to work and maybe you can show me what we’re testing?”

“Right,” he says, his cheeks staining red. I follow him to the beanbags and take a seat beside him.

“We are working on a hyper-realistic online military strategy and survival game, where players control mercenary factions in a war-torn world. Unlike standard shooters, it combines FPS combat, base building, and political alliances. We have to build a squad, and right now we play against the computer, but with you here we can actually build our teams and play against each other, so I will set up the other projector after we go through this. Basically, you train your squad, which you can buy or slowly build using game points. You will be able to form alliances with other teams, but your own characters could turn against you if you are not developing them enough. We will release new maps with our monthly updates. Oh, and you have to treat your squad like humans—they will need to rest and eat.”

“And how does someone win the game?”

“There are a few ways—by dominating the world map at 75%, being the last fraction remaining, and there is a peace route, but I don’t suspect that will be popular. At all times, players risk rogue AI mercenaries infiltrating and taking over all the factions and losing the game outright.”

“Okay, I think I have enough information. What do I need to do?”

“Let me get you set up, and you can build your team. Mine is already done, so we can spend a few hours getting yours to the same strength as mine.”

Arlo does just that, spending a few hours sitting beside me as we build up my characters, buying all the things I would need to hold my own against his team. The aim is for us to play it enough to make sure there are no bugs and then it’s sent to the other beta teams, who will play it live from their own homes and send in feedback.

Who would have thought game testing was so fun? I’m tempted to ask the guys for a job. Gaming has always been my way to wind down and relax. Would Zeland be pissed if I ditched the app? Or maybe I could do both; it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve worked more than one job.