The Gamer

Chapter 5

I had never really liked San Francisco. Not because it wasn't a beautiful city, but because I couldn't stand the people who buzzed around me. I also hated being the only daughter of a renowned family, people tended to give you titles without knowing you.

Although I was already 22 years old, I was still the spoiled princess of the Richardsons in the eyes of all. The only difference was the fact that I was now grown up and there were many, too many, expectations of me. My parents had long understood that I didn't want to become like them, but they tended to wait in silence for my change. On the other hand, I still attended university, I passed the exams with the highest marks, I did not tarnish their name during the public outings to which I was forced to go: I behaved like a good child.

I knew I wasn't going to be able to connect to Empire of Gods for quite some time and I missed it a lot, but Janny was really helpful by telling me the news from the game. I had almost forgotten about Samael and his hot voice when she told me how he had made Destructor give up from attacking me. What a good knight. It is too bad I'm not the princess everyone believes.

I put on the cocktail dress that my mother had bought me and took my car to go to the usual summer party in the usual respectable San Francisco: I hated that world deeply.

I would meet my parents there and enjoy the ride in the meantime.

I hadn't had time to be alone for a while, the house, strangely, had been full of guests with whom I was forced to chat. My mother had made several strange speeches and they all revolved around some bachelor offspring of the city. My father, on the other hand, had talked all the time about how to direct my studies in law. They still tended to want to control my life and I still kept pretending to accept their advice - it was pretty much normal. Even my low-cut dress, the expensive accessories, and the fact that there were bachelors my mother had been telling me about for days, that was all ok too.

I parked the car near the beach and took a deep breath of the salty air. The time to reflect on the future was running out and I hadn't even found a way to take any more. I was in the most absolute panic. I was starting to think that I should do as my mom suggested and marry someone influential, be supported and flush my ambitions. In the end, I didn't even know what my ambitions were. I was always looking for stimuli, for that euphoria that I had always lacked. That was why I played in Empire of Gods, it made me free and alive.

I grabbed the phone straight away and activated the game chat. It was also convenient for this, I could talk to my friends even without officially entering the game. I went through the list and read the messages that had arrived in those too many days that I had not logged in. Chuck had written to me as always and I, as always, just ignored him. Instead, what most shocked me was Samael's message. It was strange that he took all this confidence. I was sure he didn't do it with others.

"Didn't I make you so cowardly, already escaped from the podium in the ranking?" he wrote me.

He had a really asshole way of teasing.

" No, just back home. I can't play when I'm here. My parents don't know that I usually humiliate men in video games " I left him an audio, poked against poked.

I started the car and left the parking. I left the chat open, just to see if he responded quickly… and he did. As soon as I left the car with the valet at the villa, before entering, I read the message. It was an audio, he had become really sociable.

" Not me, you would not be able to. It must be a sad place if they don't let you play ".

I had almost forgotten his voice or, at least, I thought. My private parts woke up instantly.

" I just have too many commitments. Now, unfortunately, I'm at a party and I hate them. I would have gladly stayed home in my pajamas, but apparently my mother wants to find me a husband. You know how?! Girls' lives are bad " I replied.

It was easy for me to answer him, usually I didn't talk like that with the other guys in the game. I put my cell phone in my purse and went into the villa to look for my parents.

It was not difficult to find them, as they were always surrounded by several people.

" Oh Ashelia, come! I will introduce you to some people " my father said, motioning me to approach his group.

He introduced me to all his colleagues and their progenies, who, casually, just to tease me even more, worked with their parents. After about a quarter of an hour of talking about how beautiful it was to work in that studio, my mother kidnapped me to introduce her friends and their sons. Discussions followed on what we were studying at university and future perspectives and, coincidentally, some of the boys seemed interested in what I had to say. How I hated that place.

As soon as he managed to escape for a few moments, I hid behind a hedge to check my cell phone.

" I can't imagine you at a party. They will have dressed you as a gift, since you have to find a husband " he sent me another audio and he also seemed amused.

I did it on impulse. Maybe I should have thought before, but he had already seen my face, by now I didn't have many limits with him. I took a picture of myself, framing myself from above to take my whole person, and sent it to him with another audio.

" No, I think candy is more appropriate than a gift " I said, laughing.

I went back to the party with a big smile. I put on the mask of Daddy's good nock and chatted for the rest of the day about futile things with the boys and their mothers. Yes, I looked adorable.

I returned home late in the evening in my car. I didn't even go in, I threw myself on the grass to read the messages. Samael had sent me an audio.

" Poor man who marries you " simple and concise, he really made me laugh.

" I'm not getting married. I should stop playing if I do. Let me see you, so at least I can comment as well " I replied.

He didn't answer me. I waited all evening for a message that didn't arrive. Maybe it was because of a different time zone, maybe he was asleep, or maybe he just didn't want it.

I returned to Los Angeles without knowing what happened to him. It would have been nice to tell him that some guy, that evening, I had really conquered in the candy version.