Chapter 21 THE MEETING PART 2
The door clicked shut behind Jane, and the silence that followed felt heavy between them. Alexander stood perfectly still. Vivienne stayed frozen just by the door, her fingers gripping her portfolio.
Ten years turned into nothing when their eyes met across the room. She couldn't breathe. Her lungs just wouldn't work, and the edges of her vision started to close in. The big office blurred until all she could see was his face coming into focus.
Alexander's face changed as he broke into a warm, professional smile. He walked up to her with confidence and reached out his hand.
"Hello, Ms. Cross. Thanks for coming." His voice was deep and commanding, just like she remembered. Made it hard to stand still, her knees were going to give out."
She moved forward and take his hand. "Hello, Mr. Hunt."
His grip was warm and strong, and his palm was a little rough from calluses that she didn't remember him having before. The simple touch took her back in time. Suddenly, she was nineteen again, walking along that Maine beach at sunset, their fingers intertwined, laughing about some silly inside joke, and so sure they had forever ahead of them.
Vivienne quickly pulled her hand back as far as politeness would let her.
"Vivienne Cross," she said awkwardly in a formal way, as if they were meeting for the first time. "Thank you for your patience Mr Hunt."
Her voice was steadier than she had any reason to expect. Little wins.
Alexander pointed to a place to sit on the other side of his office. "Please, let's sit here. It's easier to talk this way than across a desk." He pointed to a leather couch and two armchairs that were set up around a glass coffee table. "Would you like some coffee? Water? Anything to drink?"
"No, thank you." Her throat felt like sandpaper, but she didn't trust herself to hold a cup without her hands shaking.
Vivienne picked one of the armchairs and put her portfolio on her lap like a shield. Alexander sat down on the couch across from her, one arm casually resting on its back. He was completely at ease in his own space. He never took his eyes off her face.
She tried not to look him in the eye, but she couldn't help taking in every detail with quick glances. His expensive charcoal gray suit fit him like a glove. The white shirt underneath didn't have a tie, and the top button was undone. His dark hair was shorter than she remembered, and it didn't have much product in it.
Ten years had changed him. There were small lines around his eyes, his jaw was more defined, and he had a more mature seriousness instead of the youthful confidence she remembered. Somehow, he looked better now. He had a good life.
"You look nervous." Alexander broke the silence between them, "There's no need to be. This is just a conversation. I want you to feel comfortable here."
His mouth curved a little. "I have to say, you look good. Great even. Your features are very interesting. I see why I refused to give up so easily."
Vivienne felt the heat crawl up her neck and into her cheeks. The comment seemed too personal and too close for a business meeting.
"Thanks," she mumbled, then turned right away. "Can we talk about the project's schedule and what we expect from it?"
He nodded, but amusement crossed his face when she clearly tried to change the subject. "Of course. Tyranny isn't just a game; it's a whole multimedia franchise. We are starting with the game, but we also want to make a TV show, merchandise, and more content for the expanded universe". He bent over a little. "This is a long term an investment. The main character, you, are the most important part of everything we're making."
Vivienne tried to pay more attention to what he was saying than to the man who was saying it, but her senses let her down. She saw everything: the way his hands moved when he stressed a point, the slight smile that played at one corner of his mouth, and the way his gaze kept coming back to study her face with an unsettling intensity.
Was he staring too long? Would he somehow recognize something about her? Paranoia shot through her body like ice water.
"The process of motion capture is begins first," Alexander said. "We'll be recording your movements, facial expressions, and voice work for several hours every day in the studio. It takes a lot of physical effort. There will also be photo shoots and appearances for marketing. He looked straight into her eyes. "You'll basically become the embodiment of this character. It's not a small task."
"How many days a week?" Vivienne asked, holding on to what was useful. "How many hours a day? What is the overall schedule? Where will the sessions be held?"
Alexander answered each question in full, and with each answer, Vivienne's stomach sank. This wasn't a quick project. This meant that she would have to work closely with him for weeks, maybe even months. Of pretending. And keeping the impossible lie going.
She thought about it for a moment, the words coming and going on her tongue. I should bring up Noah. She thought.
I have a son. I can't spend that much time away from him. But she was scared of what it meant. It was like opening a door she could never close again if she told Alexander about Noah. She kept the words to herself and stayed quiet.
Instead, she said, "I need to set some limits. I need to know if there would be changes to the schedule ahead of time. My weekends and evenings are special." Even she thought the words sounded empty.
Alexander paid close attention and then leaned in. "I understand your worries, but I need to be honest. There are deadlines for this project that can't be changed. The Tokyo summit won't wait for us. We'll need to be flexible at times, like on late nights and some weekends.' His voice stayed soft but strong. "We'll do our best to work around your schedule, but you need to understand what you're getting into."
His tone wasn't rude or pushy; he was just sure of himself and convincing. Vivienne nodded in agreement to terms that she knew would make her carefully planned life a mess. And with Alexander's confidence there was no point in fighting back.
Alexander moved closer and grabbed a tablet from the coffee table to show her some concept art. The sudden closeness brought his scent to her, an expensive, subtle cologne with hints of cedar and something else that was very much him. The smell again brought back memories that she wasn't ready for. She couldn't help but close her eyes as she tried to calm down.
"Ms. Cross?" Alexander's voice broke through her thoughts. "Are you okay?"
She opened her eyes quickly and saw him looking at her concerned, his face too close to hers. She could see the amber flecks in his dark eyes, the same eyes Noah had.
"I'm fine," she said, pulling back a little. "I'm just a little overwhelmed by all the information."
"Should I ask someone to bring some water?" His forehead wrinkled. "Maybe we should take a short break?"
"No," Vivienne quickly said, too afraid of what might happen if this meeting went on for even a minute longer than it needed to. "Please go on. I want to know everything there is to know about the project."
Alexander looked at her face for a while, and something unsure crossed his face before he nodded and went on with his explanation. Vivienne, on the other hand, couldn't survive how his eyes stayed on her face, as if he were trying to figure out a puzzle he couldn't quite put together.
This is going to be a long day.