<div class="floatright">(https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/233996993/m%3D900/v2?user_id=15258111&amp;webp=true&amp;sig=b90ebac02e9dda10b2f9bec799e0a04e2130f8be0e462e8165ad848d1cc01eb2)<br/><div align="center"><strong><em><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">Mateo Lucas</span></span></em></strong></div></div><br/><div style="text-align: justify;">Mateo Lucas ... Not the name people wanted to hear in the recent year within the gaming industry. Currently the CEO of Abyss World Inc. However, that seat of power did not come cheap. He had to sever far too many connections to get where he was. Exposing a fellow employee to the whole world. Not that he did it in a gallant or valiant fashion. No, he pretty much ruined his competitor's career, and was blamed of exposing a little more than personal corruption. Many of his peers were impacted by what he did. Not to mention a few secrets were unveiled to the gaming community. He sold out his reputation to sit on that chair. But it meant he'd walk the rest of this path alone. After all, he wasn't seeking redemption for what he did. He'd betray himself if he did.<br/><br/>These were all thoughts that swirled in his mind as he buttoned up his shirt, and put on his cufflinks. As he stood over the mirror, staring into the man he'd become, and the path that lead to where he is now. Because of what he did, his recent project, one where he poured countless resources into, bombed so hard that he had to rethink his entire strategy for the coming year. Critics turned ravenous when he show cased his newest project, tearing it apart one item after the other. This wasn't the price he had to pay for what he did, not in his eyes. They wanted it to be ... but he wasn't selling. All he had to do was humble himself enough to try something new and different.<br/><br/>His reflection on the mirror was as determined as he was. Standing tall in a perfectly hand sewed suit, a bold depth of black with a somber white shirt underneath. His own six foot height stood confidently with one hand tucked into his pocket. He was ready for his appointment. An appointment that could win him this cold war the rest of his peers waged on him. Checking the time on his silver plated wrist watch, its was still 1:35 pm. He wanted to leave an impression so he decided to beat the traffic and reach their office on time.<br/><br/>He picked up the phone and dialed his personal assistant's cell. There was one final preparation he needed to do. "Wilson, prepare the assets and send them to me by e-mail. Yeah I won't be in the office until later." Mateo clicked off his phone and tucked it back into his pocket. He was supposed to pick up the necessary assets to present his project to his new potential partners himself. But he ran a little late with prior engagements before he returned home and prepared himself for the meeting.<br/><br/>Naughty Otter. As much as they were the talk of the industry after their latest game, Mateo spent the past few days reading up on them. Projects, management and resources. A simple indie studio compared to his triple A behemoth corporation. Yet they took the recent events by a storm, praised and paraded as the ground breaking pioneers in gaming development. Was he jealous? No, he was frustrated. His own games were good, put people teared them down for who he was. He played some of their games himself. They were good, entertaining, but they were too on the nose when it comes to their goody-goody message. Sure a game should be inclusive, but Mateo always preferred those aspects to be subtle and perceived by the player rather than being shoved into their face. Or maybe he read a little too much into their games.<br/><br/>Regardless, they were a capable studio. Interestingly though, they were lead by two female figures. When he made the appointment with them a few days past, he felt the two of them were managing the company. It wasn't one above the other. It was always easier to deal with one person, but two? Considering how quick they made it into the industry's hall of fame? Things may not be as easy or traditional.<br/><br/>Mateo picked up his work's tablet and made his way down from his penthouse to the front gate, his Pearl white Audi ready for him. As he slipped into the driver's seat, he pulled up his phone and highlighted the location of their office. He let his own customized cruise guide voice announce the beginning of this trip. He paid one of the voice actresses a hefty bonus to have her services used across his company, and included in his phone as a cruise guide. Her voice was spectacular, which made her voice acting so superb that he had to offer her this expanded chance.<br/><br/>As he neared their location, he ran his idea through his mind one last time. To salvage his project, he needed to strike a deal with them, so they'd add their own touch to his own open world project. While no details were discussed so far, aside from a simple open opportunity to create a joint project where their talents and resources are poured into it, he still had to be sure that he doesn't scare them off. He was lucky they actually humored his offer. Anyone else was more than happy to cut ties with him than even listen to what he had to offer. Was he desperate? He'd better not look like it, or this whole deal is doomed against his favor.<br/><br/>When he pulled into the parking lot, his astonishment grew even more. They were a single story studio, and they made that grand of a success? Compared to his own five stories headquarters ... What would it be like on the inside?  Turning off the engine, he picked up both his phone and tablet and slipped out of the car, straightening his jacket, he made his way towards the front gate. "Mateo Lucas, I'm here for Naughty Otter." The security guard regarded him with a quick look and nodded and pointed towards the elevator to the left, "Right this way sir, second floor." Mateo nodded and made his way to the elevator.<br/><br/>The metallic doors slowly opened up to what he only can describe as modest and passionate. Someone who loved what they did but did not go overboard with it. The backboard with the logo. A star difference from his own company which was a pitch black building from the outside, true to the name of their brand, and the inside, marbled floors and metallic clading plated doors. Even the entrance was a huge lobby that had its ceiling stretch up to the top floor. You'd think you're in a abyss if it wasn't for the grand space above rather than downwards. But those were ... semantics if anyone worried about them.<br/><br/>Mateo slowly approached their own security guard. One hand remained tucked in his pants, while the other clutched his leather garbed tablet, "Mateo Lucas, I've got an appointment with Miss. Lepage and Miss Warren." The guard smiled, "Hang on one second, please." and he picked a phone hanging on the wall next to him, quickly dialing a short extension number, "Yeah, hi Liz. I have a Mr. Lucas here. Yeah yeah, Alright." He put down the head piece and smiled at Mateo, "Liz will be here shortly to escort you, sir." Mateo nodded and didn't have to wait for too long which made him think this place wasn't too big. The lady came out the door and greeted him, "Mr, Lucas. Hi! It is so nice to finally meet you, Let me escort you to the meeting room." She was a rather bundle of joy the way she smiled.<br/><br/>"Thank you, Liz. Lead the way." They walked past the threshold, into the world where Naughty Otter was more than just a name or a records breaking game. Now he was in the heart of it all. And though he wasn't averse to stare at the woman's back whose escorting him, he also could not sate his curiosity unless he eyed everything around him on the way to the meeting room. Everything was simple. The desks, the computers. They knew how to be efficient, but how does that compare to his own world? Everyone there seemed to have a friendly spirit. Not a bad atmosphere. Abyss wasn't a gloomy world by any comparison, but everyone was more occupied with their work there.<br/><br/>There was also the prominent presence of so many figurines and novelty items. Unlike his own company, where merchandise of their own brands were littered everywhere from small figurines, to life sized sculptures or floor to ceiling posters. This place felt relaxed, while his was a meticulous web of professional designs and atmosphere. Pursing his lips, as he couldn't help but judge and compare anything he'd seen. He lost so many awards this year, compared to this? Its not like he thought little of what they did, but everything he did should be magnified by a ten times scale. There's more secrets around here than he could see, and perhaps, just perhaps this meeting could be his entrance to those secrets.<br/><br/>They finally made it to the meeting room, and Liz, in her jolly demeanor, stood by the door when he walked in, "Nissa and Becky will be with you shortly. Make yourself comfortable." And she closed the door, leaving Mateo smirking. They even have such a friendly relationship with their team that they used pet names or some such? While he wasn't too strict since everyone can call him Mateo at his own Abyss. He'd still wouldn't be that friendly with everyone, even if he substituted for a motion capture session, or went to an after event party. There were lines that shouldn't be crossed, he thought. Otherwise, he'd be sated in his grunt-level work.<br/><br/>As he waited, he didn't sit down, rather, paced around in slow steps, running over his ideas, and how exactly to present them now that he had a glimpse of what their studio looked like. He could easily adapt depending on how the ladies played with him. After all, this is just another game of conquest.</div>