The next day at work, Elise couldn't help but share her news with Evelyn.
"Evelyn, I'm really pregnant," Elise whispered her little secret to Evelyn.
"Really? Congratulations!" Evelyn squeezed her face, sharing in the joy. "I told you so, I'm really happy for you."
"I just did a simple test at home after work yesterday. I'll still need to go to the OB-GYN to confirm."
"Either way, you need to take good care of yourself for now. If you need help with anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"But I don't plan on telling many people yet, so please keep it a secret for me." Elise leaned on her shoulder, like a little sister confiding in her big sister.
"Of course!" Evelyn patted her head with a teasing tone. "You get to see your husband at the meeting soon. Excited?"
"I'm not that clingy," Elise retorted, lifting her head from Evelyn's shoulder.
Elise thought to herself, of course, they should strengthen their bond now while it's still just the two of them. Once the baby arrives, they might be so busy that they won't have much time to nurture their relationship.
But then again, maybe they didn't need to actively nurture it; she and Braden had been together for so long. A bit of distance now and then might be nice... Would that make him miss her more? The thought filled her with joy, as if her heart was wrapped in a thick layer of honey, rich and sweet.
"Elise, I have a question for you..." Killian came running over with a bubble tea in hand and accidentally spilled the entire drink on her.
Elise was startled, grateful it was a cold drink and not a hot one. If it had been hot… she couldn't bear to imagine.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I'm really sorry..." Killian looked at her in terror, tears welling up from his own clumsiness.
"It's okay, I brought extra clothes. I'll go change." Elise kept her composure and turned to Evelyn for help. "Evelyn, I'll be back after I change."
Evelyn nodded and pointed at the floor, instructing Killian, "Go get a mop and clean this up. Next time, don't run when you're looking for someone. It's dangerous, you know?"
"Okay, I understand..." Killian's teary eyes blinked, and she sniffed, her voice tinged with a sob. "I really didn't mean to, I'm sorry..."
"Alright, go on." Evelyn didn't want to say more, not being directly involved herself.
She quietly noted Killian's impulsive behavior, making a mental note that this person was a bit of a reckless woman.
Elise arrived at the dressing room, taking off her drenched clothes. From her bag, she pulled out a pink chiffon blouse with a bow tie and a black pencil skirt. After a quick change, she tucked the soiled clothes back into her bag, stepped out of the stall, turned on the faucet, and checked her appearance in the mirror by the sink.
Luckily, in case of another sudden gagging incident like yesterday, she had started bringing an extra set of clean clothes. She hadn't felt unwell today, but it seemed this backup outfit still came in handy.
She tilted her face left and right, confirming her appearance was flawless, then left the dressing room, heading toward the office.
As she walked towards the office, Elise saw Evelyn still waiting for her.
"I'm ready, and it's almost time for the meeting," Elise glanced at her phone, placing her bag by her office chair.
Evelyn nodded with a smile, "Yes, let's go."
Upon arriving at the meeting room, Elise saw Braden talking with Gunnar, while she and Evelyn took seats across from them.
To her surprise, Tyree didn't show up this time, but Mylee was present.
Elise didn't dwell on it, instead chatting with Evelyn while waiting for Jakob, who hadn't arrived yet.
"Are you okay? Did anything happen earlier?" Evelyn asked with concern, her eyes scanning Elise for any sign of trouble.
"I'm fine, I was a bit startled, but I'm okay. Luckily, it was a cold drink; otherwise, that would have been terrifying," Elise lowered her voice, not intending for Braden to overhear the earlier incident.
"I can't imagine if it had been a hot drink..." The thought alone made Evelyn shudder, unwilling to envision it further.
"Anyway, I'm fine now." Elise rested her hands on her lap, putting on a calm front. "No worries!"
Evelyn nodded and refrained from further questioning. Before long, Jakob finally arrived, bringing the earlier culprit, Killian, into the meeting room with him.
"Apologies for being late. Something came up at work unexpectedly," Jakob scanned the room as he apologized for his tardiness.
His voice successfully interrupted Braden and Zayne's conversation, bringing it to a halt.
Only then did Braden turn his gaze towards Elise, who was chatting animatedly with Evelyn. He recalled that she hadn't been wearing this outfit in the morning. It had been a white blouse with a khaki pencil skirt.
Mylee glanced around the room, seeing that everyone had found someone to talk to, leaving her feeling isolated and uncomfortable, especially as Elise had taken away her favorite. If it weren't for Gunnar, she wouldn't have wanted to come.
"Let's start the meeting," Zayne spoke up, gesturing for Jakob to proceed.
Braden turned his attention back to his laptop, carefully listening to Jakob's report as he outlined the features and new modes that H Corporation hoped to add to the collaborative game, recording each detail.
"Christmas might not have much to do with a martial arts game, but it's still a holiday where people give gifts to those important to them," Jakob sent his idea to the group chat with H Technology and H Corporation. "I'm planning a Christmas gifting event as a side mission. Players can exchange gifts during a 24-hour period after Christmas, and receive a random gift package from us in return. Each package will include an invitation card, which grants access to a limited dungeon. I wonder if H Technology has any feedback or other ideas we could consider?"
Braden chimed in, "I think this proposal sounds pretty good. I have no other comments."
"If Christmas doesn't tie in with a martial arts game, then why not wait and host an event around the Fourth of July instead?" Mylee retorted coldly, deliberately finding fault.
Of course, she understood the Christmas event was intended as a way to engage players and encourage more gifting. Gifting essentially meant in-game purchases and spending, which benefited the company. Offering feedback gift packs wasn't a costly issue; in fact, it was good marketing for the game.
But she clung to the argument that Christmas had no relevance to a martial arts game, using it to counter Jakob's proposal.
Even though she wasn't a developer.
Jakob laughed instead of getting angry, "So, do you have a better idea in mind?"
"Not really, I'm just offering a different perspective. Hope you don't mind." Mylee gave a charming smile, her eyes alight with laughter, though her thoughts hinted at something else entirely.
"She just wants to be involved," Braden interjected to ease the tension.
"You really do understand me. After all, we've worked together for quite a few years." Mylee casually referenced their past, her gaze softening.
Elise felt a pang of jealousy but reminded herself that it didn't matter—she had known Braden much longer.
Baden's face darkened, and just as he was about to retort, Zayne burst out laughing.
"Oh dear, Mylee really treats the company as if it were her own home. I get it. It's great to have someone who understands you." Zayne's smile carried a hint of sarcasm. "But this isn't H Technology, and it's not your home either. It's mine."
Jakob held back a laugh, quietly letting Zayne say whatever he pleased.
Braden understood what Zayne meant, but as a fellow employee with Mylee, it wasn't his place to say much.
Elise didn't care at all about their quarrels. Right now, she was only worried about embarrassing herself, struggling to suppress a wave of nausea rising within her as she tried to stay calm.
"Zayne, I'll get straight to the point," Mylee finally revealed her hand. "I want to withdraw from this screenwriting collaboration and let our colleague Tyree from H Technology take over."
Elise gasped, still unable to believe that a decision that seemed so certain was now changing.
