Charlotte yawned, bringing to a close her laptop.

“It’s so bothersome not knowing the technical name of the process I did… I guess this is one of the downsides of not taking those courses seriously, huh.” She said as her hand bothered her tired eyes.

She looked at her mobile atop at the side of the desk, finding a new message.

“Jean:

Why did you cancel the interview today? D’=

I thought were going to work together! I even recommended you to it, you know!”

Oh, right. It’s because he recommended me that I almost got to work at GameWorld… It could’ve been an easy job with good reputation, no? I heard they’re one of the biggest in the world, last year they developed something for the head? Hmm, I should at least apologize.

“Charly:

Im soso sorry! I was calld this morning to start working there!

I spent all afternoon and tomorrowll be the same!

Itll last for like 2 weeks, maybe more if things don’t change but im not sure

Im so sorry & thanks for the inconvenience! (・ω

She nodded, hitting the button to send the last message before getting a change of clothes. Her phone buzzed as she was in the middle of it. Returning, she found Jean’s reply.

“Jean:

Oh, I see, don’t worry. So? How was it?

Your first day or, afternoon, of work”

She told him the outline of the meeting, explaining what her job was about and stuff like that. After a while, she clapped. “Oh! He could help me with that! He’s very good at games and riddles, isn’t he?”

“Charly:

Oh by the way

For todays interview I thought of something nice to try to impress them

But because I got accepted at this other thingy its not possible anymore so I want to tell you about it”

“Jean:

Oh? What’s it?”

“Charly:

Its an idea for a game!! I know you like those things quite a bit so maybe it can inspire you

So! I want ur thoughts on it!”

“Jean:

That sounds interesting, I’m listening.”

“Charly:

Its a game about decieveng others and it all depends on what choices the machine does at the start!

So you need to think about what could go wrong and how to change it!”

“Jean:

That’s… Not usual but it could work, how will the machine choose? And how many branches will there be?”

“Charly:

Dunno? I just thought itll be interesting and wanted to try it you know? Thats why Im telling you so you can help me with it（〃￣∇￣）”

“Jean:

Hmm I see, for things like that, I believe there’s a need to have at least 10 stablished routes, and maybe 4 to 5 branches for beginners and so on depending on the level of difficulty one can choose… I’m not too sure, I’ll ask a script writer I know to see how it’s best to do it”

Charlotte panicked as she read that and started to type as fast as possible.

“Charly:

NO! Wait no! Dont do that!”

“Jean:

Why? I believe having the help of a professional is better, no? ”

“Charly:

Yes but I still want to try to do it! If you tell anyone they might steal my idea and I don’t want it! Im telling you because I trust you and at most Ill like to do it together with you!”

“Jean:

Don’t you fear I’ll steal it??”

“Charly:

Don’t be silly! I told you I trust you enough to know you wont do it ＼_(･ω･*)з))”

“Jean:

Whatever. I won’t tell anyone on the condition that you’ll tell me when you start working seriously on it, okay?”

Charlotte chuckled. As always… You’re so easy manipulate… But… Shaking her head, she drove her thoughts away and replied.

“Charly:

Of course! But now I gotta sleep

Tomorrow I need to be there at 7! (つ﹏⊂)”

“Jean:

Oh damn, that’s pretty early, it’s already past 11… Ok, I won’t bother you anymore

Have good dreams, goodnight! ”

“Charly:

Bye~! ヾ(^_^) “

Ummm… 5 possible routes for each choice, uh… Charlotte thought as she only had done one for each possible scenario she came with during the last hours. Whatever, I’ll do it tomorrow night. Now, to do other things.

She went to the desktop she hadn’t used it that much these last two days, she didn’t need to calculate anything, and trying to sort things wasn’t meant for a machine but for a human. At least that way she’ll remember each and every file while knowing where they were. It was close to midnight right now and she still needed to sleep or she’ll be way too tired for tomorrow's work.

Let’s finish it fast so I’ll be able to start working on it. Too bad I can’t get more space without dropping its operational speed. At least connecting it to my laptop is basically the same, if not slightly faster, than an external disk.

She kept mumbling as she connected the multiple cables required, taking at most a minute before the setup was ready. She typed a script for the desktop and nodded as it started its work.

I can leave this one for now. I got a lot of things from that beast, most of it was just materials to work with my theory and how to make more of them. There’re also a few files on things I can’t quite understand, yet. At least there’s a machine looking thing, it should be a way to verify if things are good!

She took off her vest, leaving only her underwear and her socks. This is everything I can think of. She sat on her bed, working on freeing her body from all chains still on it. Sort it by type of material and their properties as well as their rarity. It’ll make do, for now.

She let herself plop into the bed, with only her panties helping her fight the chill of the night.

A loud sound of war and destruction brought her back from her slumber. Extending her hand, she turned off her phone on the floor, next to the bed.

Why’s it so loud….

Closing her eyes, she drifted back into the dream world before the deafening sound came back.

Ugh, why… Oh, right, I’ve got a job now!

She jumped out of safety and rushed to the door before looking down at her bare chest. Walking back, she came to her wardrobe and took out a big shirt which went down to her knees, putting it over her body she then reached for the clothes for the day, a long black skirt and a plain white blouse.

These’ll do.

After taking a short shower and putting a slight blush to cover the black under her eyes, she made herself a scrambled egg and accompanied it with white bread and black coffee.

Sweet coffee is only for the weak. She thought after blowing at the hot thing, her lips remembering the burn it just got. If one wants sugar, there’re more things to choose from, like soda or canned tea.

She put the dishes on the washer and ran to her room after breakfast was done. She put a sweater and a compacted umbrella inside her trusted satchel, brushed with teeth and covered her feet with the sandals she never used. Looking at her phone, it showed her with bright black colors that only half an hour was left until seven. She rushed out.

She arrived to the building with only 5 minutes to spare, sweat coming down her cheek. “Fui, just on time.” She thought with a smile.

Greeting the receptionist on the counter of the building, she went to the hall on the third floor. Once inside, she looked through the tens of people before finding her objective. She asked a woman wearing a tag of Treller’s for a laptop for her. With dropped shoulders, she used the elevator once again to the company’s floor and back, her bag heavier than before.

It was past seven already and most people were already in groups, with only a few looking at a chart before going to an already formed group. She did the same and met her teammates, four men. Before she could greet them, the speakers did their job.

“Good morning, everyone. We’ll be discussing now how your will progress and everything you need to take into account. Any suggestion is welcome.” Dunn paused with a nod, looking at everyone in passing. “Alright, let’s start with…”

Dunn descended the podium close to noon, leaving on the helping table four empty water bottles and a screen projecting the schedule and notes taken during his talk.

Laurent Revilla was chosen by the company as her team’s leader as he was the one with more achievements in her group.

“Alright,” he said with a smile, “I believe it’s best for us to work in the same place, that way we can keep track of each other and answer any problem appropriately. What do you think?”

“I’m fine with it.” “It’s okay.” Two of the other four said while Charlotte and the last one nodded.

“Perfect. Then I’ll make a draft on the activities each of you’ll do, wait for a moment.” Finished with his words, he took out a new looking terminal and started to touch its screen.

As long as I’m given enough room to do my things, anything is fine by me. Charlotte thought, taking a look at the other groups.

What she saw left a bitter taste in her mouth. The place didn’t have much on the feminine side, her being the fifth from what she counted. A wry smile took place in her face for a moment.

While Laurent worked on the roles of each member, one of the three remaining men approached her and started to talk with her with a nervous expression. As soon as she answered with a smile, the other two joined him, asking about her hobbies, her likes and dislikes and what she did while on the web.

This… Feels as if they’re not used to talk to girls. She said after she answered them with a smile. They can’t be like That, right…? Right?!

“Ok, I’m done with it, can you take a look to it? If there’s something you want add or change, feel free to speak out so I can modify it.” He smiled at the trio of men, interrupting their time speaking with an awkward looking girl.

She sighed and followed the trio to look at the screen Laurent passed on to them. Her relieved expression went away as soon as it came. Even him?! She thought with a brow jumping up.

“Uhm, is this alright? I’m like, not doing anything, at all?”

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” he answered with a refreshing smile, “from what you told us before, you don’t have a degree, and the experience you should have is close to nonexistent with this being your first formal job, right? So, for now, I believe it’s best for you to sit back and watch us, with more experience, work. Of course, I’m planning on increasing your workload in the future to contribute more with the team.”

It’s true this’s the first time I’m working in a company, but I can’t help but feel he’s looking down on me way too much… Even if that’s great as I can use the free time I’m getting on other things… Even then… Even then…!

Straining her face with a smile, she said. “A-alright, I understand, but, I want to keep working here, I don’t think it’d be enough to continue if I only do these after the first two weeks.”

“There’s no need for you to worry, dear.”

Dear!?

“If you do what I put here perfectly, I’ll vouch for you so you can continue working with us without problem. After all, we can’t have our ma- ahem- only female getting fired for something as minor as that. Ain’t that right, guys?” He asked, turning around to the other three with a smile, who nodded back with determined eyes.

Ma? What’s a ma?! A mask? Martyr? Ma-scot?... MASCOT?! AM I A PET NOW?! Her lips twitched while all the men spouted nonsense to her. It’s true I’m short, heck, it could be I’m the shortest one in all this hall, but I can still do wonders if required! Hum! Don’t let this missy’s height fool you! You’ll be in for a long ride if you do!

“Iguessitsok…” She mumbled with a sigh.

It’ll at least gimme time to do my things… She thought while trying to justify their actions with her own goals.

“Now that it’s settled, let’s think of a place we can go to work in. Any suggestions?” Laurent looked at the other three members of his team, not even sparing an eye to the girl. After a moment of silence, he continued. “I know of a good place to go to. It’s on the outskirts of the city, it’s from my family so we can use it without much inconvenience. We won’t need anything else if that’s the case. What do you think?”

Waiting for a reply, he nodded with a smile.

“Perfect.” He clapped. “We can go now. It’s near the highway to Guignon and there’s a metro stop at around 15 minutes a walk from it. I know it’s a little far, but there’s nowhere else to go. If it’s too inconvenient, we can find another place afterwards. What do you think?”

The three other lambs moved their head up and down.

“Hmm? You don’t want to go there?” He said with a tilted head to Charlotte. “Is it too far?”

“No, it’s not that. The thing is, I don’t have a suitable laptop to work with. The one I’ve got is borrowed from the company, going there means I’d need to hand it back.”

“Oh, that… You don’t need to worry, I can ask my family to lend a desktop to you, we’ve got plenty over there.”

“… Thanks.” Charlotte smiled weakly, already lamenting her choice of a team.

“Don’t fret it. Shall we go? It’s getting late and I want to progress as much as we can, even if it’s only a little.”

“Where are eating?” Dave Trishe, one of their teammates asked once out of the building.

They had been talking about schedules and what not for the last hour and the clock on the street marked it was close to one. Going that far away would take them at least another hour, not to mention the time needed to walk to there.

“Hmm, we can eat once we get there, there’s a good restaurant I know. My treat.”

Once everyone agreed they boarded the metro.