Intimidating.

If Terrence could describe the setup at the EG tournament in one word, it would be intimidating.

The giant convention center was decorated ceiling to floor in logos, tapestries, signs, and lights. Several booths lined the halls advertising different inventions, tech gear, video games, and many gaming art creators were in attendance too. Cosplayers stopped for pictures and autographs that took weeks and months to perfect to emulate the characters they portrayed. It was busy wherever your eyes landed and it was almost overwhelming to Terrence.

He occasionally glanced up at Harry and saw the joy and appreciation for his staff in his eyes. The CEO waved frequently at the passersby and stopped to talk to a social attendee. He shook hands and talked many times to higher ups.

"Mr. Edwards."

Terrence turned his head with curiosity and faltered at the sight of the voice's owner. A petite woman with flowing black hair and a dangerous look behind her stylish glasses approached the two. She stood in a grey dress suit, a VIP pass around her neck signified her level of importance as she smirked at the CEO.

"Ms. Park, still in business attire I see," Harry greeted with a familiar smile.

She brushed her hair behind her ear and scoffed lightly. "As are you, Mr. Edwards. Is this your guest?"

Terrence's face heated up as the gorgeous woman laid her gaze on him. Contrary to her aura of a queen bee, she looked at him with the warmth of a comforting fire. Terrence expected her to look down her nose at him as an outsider.

"Oh, yes! Terrence, this is my right hand and the scariest of my employees, Jimin Park. Ms. Park, this is Terrence Quinn, my lovely arm candy for the evening," Harry extravagantly introduced.

The blush on Terrence's cheeks grew hotter at the way Harry described him. Jimin smiled with grace and professionalism that was very pleasing to the eye as she caught his blush.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Park," Terrence acknowledged.

"Lovely, indeed. Nice to meet you, too, and please, call me Jimin. Your friend just loves to remind me of my seniority while I strive for youth," she said, giving a playful glare in Harry's direction.

"You, you look very beautiful," Terrence murmured.

Jimin grinned, showing a sliver of her true aura. "Thank you, I find truth in that compliment being told that from someone so breathtaking as yourself."

Terrence ducked his head and pushed up his glasses at the counter compliment.

"Mr. Edwards, a word."

The trio glanced over at the booming voice of authority. Terrence saw a rather stout man in completely professional, and expensive, attire. The balding white hair exposing sweaty, blotchy skin, beady icy eyes glaring with distaste at Harry.

Terrence looked up at Harry as he dropped his arm to his side. Harry's mouth set in a line at the presence of the man.

"Certainly, Mr. Galloway. Ms. Park, show Terrence around, will you? I'll be back before the tournament," Harry assured, looking into Terrence's eyes with an apologetic look.

Terrence nodded wth support and walked with Jimin, even if reluctantly. That man reeked of bad news. He faced forward with Jimin's hand lightly on his shoulder, trying to not turn back to watch Harry's back go farther in the distance.

Harry was not at all pleased. The overbearing stench of the cologne the elder male wore blinded his sense of smell and he was resisting the urge to wrinkle his nose in disgust. He was not at all relaxed as the stockholder lead him to a secluded area of the convention center for VIP attendees, men in suits hovering around them with determination.

Oliver Galloway, the biggest stockholder largely behind Harry with 15% shares, was no man to be friends with, god forbid you to have the displeasure of becoming even acquaintances with him. He was greedy, grubby, and ambitious. Only behind closed doors does the true nature of his ways shows.

Growing up in his early teens, Harry made the mistake of finding that nature. Throughout the bulk of high school, Harry walked on eggshells around him until he gained the courage to fight him off. Now Harry walks with a rare sense of importance to combat the persuasion of Mr. Galloway.

"What is it, Mr. Galloway?" Harry questioned without the slightest care for the garbage that'll spew.

"Have you considered my proposal, Mr. Edwards?" Mr. Galloway asked, thoughtfully swirling his scotch on the rocks.

Harry rolled his eyes without restraint. "I read it and had already sent my denial to the board. Now if that's all you requested me for, I have appearances to keep."

He turned away from the stockholder and walked defiantly away. The crushing sound of glass breaking made him look back. Mr. Galloway was stood up from his leather chair; glass, scotch, and ice spilled across the floor. His face was an angry red and his eyes glared daggers.

"Mr. Edwards." Mr. Galloway called through his teeth. "Please reconsider."

Harry had never seen him hold back this much but still appear threatening. This behavior should backtrack him into accepting the proposal for discussion, but there was no way Harry could let it go that far.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Galloway, but my decision is final. We're not going to test artificial life, not like that. Enjoy the festivities, sir," Harry solidly cut off.

Harry walked away before it could get any worse, but he doesn't know how bad it already is.

"Mr. Edwards, the tournament is starting soon. Please follow me backstage."

He sighed as he nodded at the pixie-sized stagehand.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Excalibur Gaming Tournament of 2126 will begin in 15 minutes.

Harry was pushed into a beauty salon chair and had every hand in the room on him. Brushing and styling his already kept hair, applying makeup to his already pristine skin that was perfection for a teenager, and pulling his coat off and applying cologne. Since starting as the CEO of HoloTech and later Excalibur Gaming, Harry has had to sit through all of this nonsense before his appearances on stage. He tried to refuse for a few years but many reporters commented on his lack of makeup and hair prep, especially when he was not the CEO of two companies. His board of stockholders at HoloTech caused an uproar about his style out of the office while his secretary of Excalibur Gaming said it would be best to apply the bare minimum to appease them.

Harry sighed as the voice amplifier was attached to his vocal chords. He's done a lot of sighing in these days, he noticed. Harry amuses the thought of Terrence's attraction to grey hair. That's what gets him smiling as he's called out to the stage.

Loud cheers, whistling and screaming filled the air when he stepped into the spotlight. Growing up, he always laughed at the fans in huge audiences for gorgeous people, that held up posters and signs telling them that they're beautiful, handsome, number one, or even asking their hand in marriage. Because he never thought he would stand on a stage and see those same signs telling him those very things.

"Good evening, guys, and welcome to the 4th annual Gaming Tournament hosted by Excalibur Gaming," Harry opened up with suggestive clapping.

The audience applauded afterward and settled down again. He smiled again at the people in front of him.

"I'm so glad that you came out to support these talented people and enjoy the amazing artists and cosplayers that attend every year. Now I see some people have lined up already, so let's begin the Q&A for this year."

Harry had two other conventions that year, HoloCon and CamelotCon, that he also does Q&A's at but he never tires to answer questions that inspired others or amuses the audience.

How are you?

"Aww, that's a great first question. I'm dandy, thank you. I have come with a guest this year for the first time and it's been great so far," Harry answered with an endearing smile.

What are we to expect this year for games?

"Hm... As of recently, a TailSpin sequel has been suggested to my wonderful developer team. There have also been a few character designs that have floated through the office that look like a possible start to the first online multiplayer, so look out for that," Harry hinted at as he rolled up his sleeves.

Follow up to the first question, is your guest your new girlfriend?

Harry bashfully smiled and looked at the floor. The audience took that as a yes and started cat calling. Harry waved away the jump to conclusions.

"No, he's not my new girlfriend," Harry denied.

Then is he your new boyfriend?

Harry laughed as he expected that. In the corner of his eye, he first noticed Jimin, highly amused by this all, and then Terrence looking like a deer in headlights as he waited for the answer.

"My new boyfriend? Hmm, should I tell you guys?" Harry egged on.

The very deafening approval made him grin wider. Harry crouched down to be more leveled with the audience. He glanced to his bookworm who was as desperate to know the answer than anyone else.

Is he my boyfriend?

"No," Harry verbally responded to his thought.

Meanwhile, in the front row of the audience, Terrence's heart reached its limit and dropped to the floor within 2 minutes. He felt ridiculous to be so let down by one word.

"At least..."

Terrence laid eyes on Harry again, as he nonchalantly turned in his direction to finish his sentence.

"Not yet."