9 Connections

Three days had passed since the time I signed the contract with Anazon. With my army of 1000 UTFs, the orders for my products had gone down to a manageable level. The <Hologram Projectors> were a big hit in the entertainment market, with even a few well known universities asking to buy large amounts of them at a time for use in classrooms. The device could be put in a room up to 200 by 200 meters, so it was no problem if they where they were used, even in lecture halls.

My profits had risen to being a minimum of $200,000 a day, with at least 10 Hologram Projectors being sold per day. The number of vacuums being sold had stabled at around 100 per day. This was reasonable because, although the vacuums were the best of the best, not many people were interested in buying vacuums.

I had also just introduced a new product today, the <Virtual Reality Helmet>, which cost 1000 Credits, and I would be selling it for $5000. This helmet, like others on the market, allowed people to experience virtual reality, but at a much higher caliber than other kinds of virtual reality equipment. The helmet sent signals to the wearers brain, making it feel as if it was not only seeing the virtual world, but feeling things, such as wind, touch, or temperature. Although no games had this function yet, with my new product out, the popularity of a virtual reality game would depend on if it could code in the physical aspects. My website included a free users guide on how to code this in, and it was relatively easy to do.

Other than thinking of ways to improve my company, most of my time was spent researching the perfect spot to put my base. I have decided to build it on an abandoned farm in California's 'great basin'. The land was flat for at least two dozen miles in every direction, it was next to a medium sized river, which could provide clean water, the soil was very fertile, easily able to grow crops for a steady food supply, the weather was calm and sunny, and it was located at least 20 miles from any large towns or cities. It was the ideal place to set up a base, and from what I remember, one of the most successful and mighty bases around was originally built there during the apocalypse, which only further cemented my plans of rooting in there.

While sitting at my desk thinking about all of this, I got a sudden call. Looking at my phone, I didn't recognize the caller ID. 'Who could it be? Other than that lawyer from Anazon, I haven't given my phone number to anyone recently.'

I answer the phone, half expecting it to be one of those fake, robot calls trying to say I won a free cruise. "Hello, this is Natasha Parker. Who may this be?"

"Hello Ms. Parker, my name is Trevor McClond. I am calling on the behalf of Macrosoft to talk to you about a possible partnership with us on your Virtual Reality Helmets."

'Another business proposal so soon?! Where did they even get my number?'

---------------- Trevor's POV ----------------

"Yes sir. I will sir. Ah, no, we haven't calle... yes, right away sir." Putting down his cell, Trevor sighed. He had just gotten off the phone with his superior, who had demanded that he get into contact with Natasha Parker and the get her to exclusively partner with us on virtual reality games.

"Why does my stupid, egotistic boss fails to understand," Trevor muttered to himself,"the we don't even have Ms. Parker's number in the first place?!"

Thinking through all his sources, he remembers that Anazon had signed a contract with Highlander Electronic Appliances to rent their delivery drones for a month. Swiping through his notes on his phone, Trevor find his contact that works for Anazon, Stacey Warf.

"Hey, Stacey, it's Trevor."

In a happy tone, she responds,"Oh, hey Trevor. I haven't seen you in awhile. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing fine. I have a quick question though. You guys seem to have signed a contract with Highlander Electronic Appliances and my boss is pressuring me into getting into contact with the owner, Natasha Parker, but we don't have her number. Do you know where we can get into contact with her, it also appears that she doesn't have a office number either?"

"Oh, yes, I think my friend over in the legal department mentioned that she had had business dealings with Ms. Parker. Let me ask her if she has her number." Trevor hears Stacey getting up from her chair and walking off, most likely to go and ask her friend if she had Ms. Parker's number.

'Heh, from the pictures I have seen of Ms. Parker, she really is a beauty. I her friend has her number, I can brag that I have a hottie's number.' While thinking these unrelated thoughts, Stacey gets back on the line.

"Hey Trevor, my friend has her number. What are you willing to do to get it?" She asked in a jokingly coquettish voice.

"Stop trying to play with me. Of course I want that number. Can you tell me it?" Used to her random flirtatious actions, Trevor continued on with normal business.

"Sure, her number is ..."

After getting her number and saying his goodbyes, Trevor immediately dialed the number that he was given.

------------------- Natasha's POV -------------------

"Ah, I see. What kind of partnership is Macrosoft thinking of? Can you go into more specific details?" I asked, wondering what they would want to form a partnership for.

"Of course, Ms. Parker. I would be glad to. We had created some virtual reality video games, and they were just about to be released to the market, but seeing your product, and the quality of it, we were thinking of adding in the features of physical touch to the games. After doing that, we would want to have the game sold with a model of your Virtual Reality Helmets, instead of people having to buy them separately."

Taking a breath, he continued.

"We think that it can be beneficial for the both of us. We get to have a one of a kind game on the market right now and you get to advertise your product for free. All you would have to do is sell your helmets, with our game included, at a price that is a little lower than you are currently selling them for."

Taking a moment for me to process what he had just said, I asked him,"Were you thinking of getting a discount on each helmet individually, or were you thinking of buying them in mass with a discount attached?"

As if anticipating my question, Trevor said,"We were thinking of buying them in mass, let's say 500 for the first batch. We will market it as an exclusive batch, so do you think that you can color the helmets to a specific color scheme?"

"One second please." Taking a quick glance at the User Store, I looked to see if there was an item that could change the color of an object, and surprisingly, there was, and it only cost 5,000 credits.

"Yes, I can change the coloring of the helmets to anything that you would like."

Hearing the affirmation, I could hear him breathing out in relief. He had obviously be worried that I couldn't when I asked,'One second please.'

"That is great. Do you think that we could schedule somewhere and some time to meet in person so that we can write up a non-binding contract?"

"Yes, of course we can. We can schedule to meet at my house tomorrow. What time is convenient to you" Thinking to myself, I realized that I needed to get an office space if things like these were to become common.

"Before deciding the time, could you tell me your address?"

Almost slapping myself for being so stupid, I apologetically respond,"Ah, sorry, almost forgot. I live in Long Beach, California. My address is 21** Palm Avenue."

"Ok, if my partner and I were to take a flight there in the morning, we could make it there by 12 o'clock. Let's set the meeting time to be 4:00."

"Sure, that would be great. I hope to see you then. Have a nice day!" Putting down the phone, I was excited that I had already received another business proposal for one of my products.

Deciding to tell to Amy before I forget, I go upstairs. Knocking on her door, I say,"Hey Amy!"

"What!" She calls back.

"I'm going to be expecting some visitors tomorrow, I just want to make you aware."

"Oh, you want me to leave you and your lover to some alone time, is that it? Of course, whatever makes my sister happy makes me happy. I won't get in the way of your love making." I could hear the smile in her voice as she said that, holding back her laughter.

Knowing that I had caught her in my trap, I opened the door, taking out the photo that I had found three days ago,"Speaking of lovers, who might this be? Should I know who he is?"

Seeing the picture in my hand, Amy jumps up from the bed, where she had been reading a magazine,"Where did you get that! Give it back!"

She lunges for me, but I, anticipating her response, grab her in my arms, retraining her.

"Hey, let go of me! Give me that photo right now!" Struggling in my grasp, she yells at me.

"Okay, but only if you answer me one question."

Amy stops her struggles as she hears my response,"What is it."

With an uncontrollable grin spreading across my face, I ask,"Have you guys done it yet?"

"WHY THE HELL ARE YOU ASKING THAT!" Ripping away from my arms, she grabs the picture, locking me out of her room.

Laughing to myself, I celebrate my victory in getting back at her. 'Life going great!' I think to myself as I head to the workout room, deciding to have a go on the treadmill for an hour.

'I wonder how the meeting tomorrow will be?'