“You went to Juilliard?” Gary was now studying me as if he’d never seen me before.
“Most of us in the department have musical backgrounds.” Ryan snatched his focus off me and onto Gary, while offering a smile to downplay the edge in his voice. “I don’t mean to sound glib, but you didn’t graduate from Juilliard, did you, Aubrey?” His smile grew bigger. He had a cunning way of playing the roles of predator and savior at once.
“No, I didn’t graduate per se,” I replied. “but I attended for two years.”
Everyone went quiet because I had more pizzazz in my past than expected. Finally, Logan broke the silence to bring the Emono world back in order. I couldn’t help but think it was because none of them found me deserving of this much attention.
“Okay. That’s a good demonstration of the talent we have at Emono Games,” Logan said, moving the conversation forward. “We have an impressive team with a variety of skills and experience. Twenty years in gaming between me and Ryan alone.” His explanation placed his experience higher than my own and was enough for everyone to dismiss me.
As the discussion shifted back to the game, including a video highlighting our most developed levels, I sighed heavily. I couldn’t help but feel I’d missed the opportunity for them to see me as someone significant—although thoughts like mine were born of pride and dreams. The reality was I needed them much more than they needed me.
Then I heard my audio section from Outbreak at the end. The sound effects of the explosion and interlude of music had been used and highlighted. My work was the showpiece!
I sat up taller and smirked over at Ryan. Take that weasel.
“That concludes our presentation,” Logan said, turning off the video and drawing my attention back to him. “We hope what we have will give you some ideas of what we want to achieve with the soundtrack for the game.”
“I have forty-two ideas already on the go,” Paul answered cryptically.
Everyone but me laughed. Then someone out of my line of sight blurted, “The meaning of life.”
“Yes,” Paul said. “That’s the second time I’ve heard that today.” His eyes went directly to me as a mischievous grin spread across his face. They also read The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, then.
I bit my lip and gave an almost imperceptible shake of my head, because I didn’t want him to mention holding me up on the train. Our interchange surely wouldn’t do more than remind Logan that I had come back late. Please don’t tell them, I thought again when it looked like he would.
Thankfully, he kept silent. That was, until Gary said, “You can work in any way you choose.”
“Good. Aubrey would be my choice as point-of-contact for the project,” Paul said.
A hush filled the room for a split second. Gary leaned over and spoke in Logan’s ear for his take on Paul’s proposal. No owner of a company knew all the goings-on between staff members, or if someone like me, who hadn’t been there long, could deserve a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Ryan’s face reddened. He scowled at me, even as he spoke up, “I’ve been here for years and worked on audio for all of Emono’s triple-A title games,” he said, his voice rising. His eyes narrowed at me. “I was in on the planning of the Absolution project from the start. Sorry, but Aubrey’s only a contractor. We wouldn’t want to waste anyone’s time, not to mention the extensive time it would take to fix her errors within our projected timeframe and allowance.”
I ground my teeth as a flush crept across my cheeks. I’d let him get away with highlighting one mistake to Logan, but my pride wouldn’t allow him to label my work as inferior. It was a fine line to navigate, but I took the high road, with caveats.
“I’m confused at your assessment of my work,” I said adding an incredulity to my expression to make me appear genuinely perplexed. “I’m meticulous on all assignments. Every scene I’ve worked on never had a critique of extensive errors, and I have never handed in an assignment past deadline—”
Logan interrupted me, ignoring that Ryan had brought this up. “This is a client presentation, not the time to bring up issues in the department.”
Ryan paled, letting me know that my words had landed and hit.
“True,” I agreed. “However, we were discussing project management and Ryan pointed out things I’ve never heard before regarding my work. I have never handed in anything late or had significant issues with the final delivery. As for project management, I’d have to agree that he’s right. While I have music production experience, I’m on a contract position here. I agree that someone senior in our department should lead Mr. Crane’s project.” My statement was enough to roll the negative tide away from me.
“That was all I was pointing out,” Ryan said, as if no one had heard his very obvious attempt at putting me down.
“Agreed,” Logan said, turning to Paul. “Ryan will be your point of contact on the project. Though if you want someone to mentor—”
“Daniel would be good,” Ryan piggybacked. “He’s also on contract, but he has a degree in sound engineering. I could use him as a liaison for Emono and Crane Production.”
“Yeah,” Daniel said, perking up in his seat.
“Then it’s settled.” Ryan grinned and shared a nod with Daniel.
Everyone had accepted this as business as usual, but then Paul broke in addressing us all.
“You don’t decide how I work.” He had spoken in a firm and decisive voice, his facial expression alerting everyone that no one—absolutely no one—could tell him otherwise. The tone he’d used didn’t go unnoticed. Several people at the table darted their eyes at Gary, then snatched them away just as quickly.
When Paul spoke a second time, his voice lacked some of its frost. “My music is my music. My name is my name. I won’t put it on anything I don’t want it to be on. Emono Games asked for me.”
He purposely hesitated, allowing those last words to sink in. He adjusted his suit jacket and then sat forward, clasping his fingers on top of the desk. “If you can’t handle how I work, then you’re wasting my time. And I don’t waste my time.”
He sat back again and sent a glare at Gary, his gesture a seamlessly fluid flexing of power.
I drew in a breath. Be still my heart. A pin falling could’ve sounded on the carpet.
Ryan’s face had gone from pale pink to beet red. He made an unnecessary adjustment to his tie. “I hope you didn’t think I was trying to manage your work, Mr. Crane. I had only hoped to point out the difficulty that comes with working with a beginner tech.” He ended the last words with a pleasant smile in my direction.
“You’re right, Mr. Crane. You should have full creative rein on the soundtrack,” Gary reassured him, completely ignoring Ryan. He then fixed Logan with a stern gaze before giving a brief nod and focusing his attention back on Paul. “We’re sorry if there was any confusion. We can work with you and whatever plan you have once you agree to take on the project.”
We all looked at Paul, the victor.
“I agreed to come today and meet your team. I’d say we have a start,” Paul said noncommittally. He wasn’t won over so easily.