Taking deep breaths, Vikram closed his eyes and tried to relax for a while and then picked up his phone and dropped Akira a message.

"We need to talk." - Vikram

"It is urgent" - Vikram

Akira could see her phone screen buzzing up with his message, but she chose to ignore it and started explaining people about the concept of the new game.

The whole concept of 3D projection was new and was the most awaited buzz word for both gamers and non- gamers. She explained the concepts in a very lucid style such that even the reporters who were not having any prior experience of gaming were also able to understand.

She presented the whole technical aspect in a non-technical way such that even a layman could understand what she intended to say.

She wrapped up the Q&A session in another fifteen minutes and then ended the press conference.

Sitting in his office he saw her look at her phone and ignore his message.

His heart burned.

But considering the fact that she was at the press conference, he let his anger subside till the press meet was over. The moment he saw the conference end, he picked his phone and called her up.

But all his rings went in vain.

In a fit of rage, he threw his phone away and leaned on to his desk and mumbled,

"She can't ditch me... There has to be some reason behind it. There has to be."

-----

Reaching her cabin, the first thing that Akira did was to call up Raymond.

"Hello."

"Hi there."

"How was I?"

"Flawless. Even I couldn't have done this well Akira. I am so proud of you."

She blushed hearing his comment.

On her way back to her cabin, everyone had praised her performance, David, her team members, and even some press reporters, but she cared about just one person's opinion and that was all that mattered.

She took a deep breath and then asked,

"So what next?"

"Well, that depends on how he reacts. Has he reacted?"

"If you consider a stream of message and call as a reaction, then yes."

"Well, then you need to dupe him well. You need to make him believe that all this wasn't planned. It was all an accidental choice and you completely intend to return his money."

"I will try, but I am not sure if he will be that stupid and gullible."

"We have to do that. We have to disturb him so that he acts all desperate at the dinner party today."

"I will try Raymond. I will try my level best."

"I know you will Akira. The thing is, he still thinks you are all alone. He still thinks of you as his naive childhood friend who will never try to deceive him."

"Just like the way I thought of him. Just like the way I never expected him to deceive me, right?"

Raymond could sense the pain in her voice. He could sense that she was still rummaging through the bitter memories of the past.

He wanted to hold her tight and tell her that everything was going to over soon. But he still needed tonight to be over for that.

Taking a deep breath, he said,

"Let's not dwell in the past Akira. The whole aim of tonight is to get our lives back. The life that we deserve. And that can only happen if these two people are out from the scene. You have already dug the pit for Vikram. Now just give him time to fall."

"It will be a hard fall for him Akira. I am just waiting for the evening so that he realizes how hard he has fallen."

Akira heard his words and found a bit of solace.

Then, taking a brief pause, she asked,

"What are you going to do with your dad Raymond?"