"Next Sunday, we're playing more chess!" Walter Parker slurred, arm around Gus Harper. "You're coming, brother!"
"Deal, brother!" Gus hiccuped. "I keep my word!"
"Careful going home!" Walter called. "No driving drunk, no driving drunk!"
"Alright, you two!" Zoey Parker groaned, propping Gus up. "Aunt Sophie, take care of Dad. He's trashed. I shouldn't have come."
Zoey was exhausted. The Riverside Heights dinner started at noon and dragged to 2:30 p.m. Halfway through, Walter broke out aged whiskey, and "Uncle Walter" and "Gus" became "brother." She felt like a third wheel at her own family dinner.
Hauling Gus into the elevator, Zoey glared at him. "You game succubus. Charming everyone, even outside gaming."
Gus grinned, pulling his arm back. "Because I'm charming." His eyes sparkled, sharp despite the whiskey. "I'm only 70% drunk. Gotta act 'til you cry."
Zoey's jaw dropped. "You're faking it?"
"Your dad needed me to play drunk," Gus said. "He knows I'm faking, I know he knows, so I lean in."
Zoey clutched her head. "So, drunk or not?"
"Drunk-ish," Gus laughed, ruffling her hair. "You're cuter than your dad."
Zoey blushed, muttering as she headed to the car. Definitely drunk. Gus stumbled out, lighting a cigarette by the garage. Walter was unreal. Their "family chat" was a masterclass in business. Walter's take on WindyPeak's diversified growth? Pure gold. And he barely knew gaming—hadn't even played a mobile game. Yet, from Gus's brief pitch, he nailed key insights, offering razor-sharp advice. Like a chess grandmaster pivoting to esports and dominating. Terrifying.
Gus smirked. Gotta visit Walter more. Chess alone would level him up.
A horn blared. Zoey pulled up in the Navigator. Gus hopped in, buckling up.
"Did you just roast me?" Zoey asked, squinting.
"Huh?" Gus blinked. "When?"
"You said I'm cuter than Dad," she said. "Calling me dumb?"
"No way!" Gus waved her off. "I was hyping you to Walter. Said you're the heart of To the Moon."
Zoey softened, guilty. "Okay, sorry. My bad."
Gus snorted, turning to the window. "Too late. Next week, I'm telling Walter you slack off, hoard snacks, and hog the meeting room for movies. The team's fed up."
"No!" Zoey grabbed his sleeve, shaking him. "I'm sorry! I'll bake you a cake!"
"Did I roast you?" Gus teased.
"Nope!" Zoey grinned.
"Cute, then?"
"Super cute!" she chirped.
"Then drive. I'm dizzy and need a nap."
"On it!" Zoey hit the gas, then paused. "Wait, your car's not moving!"
"You didn't shift gears," Gus sighed. "You didn't drink. Why're you dizzy?"
"I'm just adorable!" Zoey giggled.
At Riverside Heights, Aunt Sophie set out tea, fruit, and candied snacks. "What do you think of Gus, Sophie?" Walter asked.
Sophie, Walter's longtime nanny, was sharp-eyed and soft-spoken. If Uncle Liam was his business confidant, Sophie was his home anchor. Walter trusted her implicitly.
"He's solid," Sophie said, arranging the tray. "Polite, capable, and he's got your respect."
Walter chuckled. "How'd you know?"
"You've had plenty of hotshots here," Sophie said. "Never seen you this happy—chess, whiskey, all of it."
Walter grinned, popping a candied fruit. He dialed a number. "Ah Hu? Clear out the Riverside Heights apartment."
"Okay, boss," Ah Hu replied. "What's next?"
"Wrap it up. Been half a year. Gus is a good kid." Walter rubbed his temples. "Zoey's grown. She can handle herself."
"Got it," Ah Hu said. "We'll clean it out, nothing left behind."
Next day, WindyPeak's Seattle office buzzed. Luke Bennett and Jake Rivers perched on Gus's couch, eyes gleaming with gossip.
"So, what'd Walter say?" Luke asked, back straight like a kid in class.
"You two are worse than neighborhood gossips," Gus said, peeling a tea egg. "Just a business dinner. Chess, tea, work talk, food. Done."
"That's it?" Luke raised an eyebrow.
"What else?" Gus shrugged.
"Two kids in three years," Jake said, deadpan. "You're all-in on games, Zoey's hands-off. Parker Capital needs a grandkid to inherit."
Gus choked, shoving the egg in Jake's mouth. "Shut it."
Jake mumbled, "I don't talk much…"
"Let's be real," Luke said, smirking. "You and Zoey have been dancing around this for months. When's it official?"
Gus dodged. "It'll happen naturally."
"Naturally?" Luke scoffed. "Like To the Moon's post-credits? Just seal it."
"If it was me," Jake said, chewing, "I'd be in bed with her by now."
Luke stuffed a donut in Jake's mouth. "Eat."
Gus laughed, wiping his hands. "Alright, serious stuff."
Luke and Jake leaned in. Gossip was fun, but work was priority. Gus and Zoey's spark? Fate would decide. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next year, maybe when Zoey and Gus teamed up again. For now, projects demanded focus.
"Yesterday, Walter tipped me off about Komina," Gus said. "They're testing Silent Hill's market with small-scale ads. We figured they'd go big next month, but Walter thinks they'll jump early."
Luke blinked. "Early? That's rushed."
Komina's Silent Hill ads on Twitch and YouTube had been low-key for two weeks. The "Fvk KOMINA" crowd was quieter, thanks to PR. Gus's team planned Outlast's reveal to counter Komina's big push. But early?
"Won't that cost Komina a fortune?" Jake said, frowning. "Early ads mean more backlash, more PR cash. Joetsu Keimasa's a profit hog. Why rush?"
"Walter's sharp," Gus said. "Komina doesn't know about Outlast. But To the Moon's $25.5M charity haul? It's a global hit. WindyPeak's shining, and Komina's feeling the heat."