Lust in Ecstasy: Love, Lies and Revenge
Chapter 63: Dream Come True.

Chapter 63: Dream Come True.

Danladi fully settled into the routine at the studio. Every day, he woke up early, went to the studio, and worked on the game. He wasn’t just another developer—he was at the heart of it.

Late nights blurred into early mornings, fueled by coffee and an obsession with perfecting every detail. He refined mechanics, coded late into the night, and worked closely with the artists to bring the world to life.

The team was good—really good—but Danladi pushed them harder. He wasn’t just making a game; he was building something that would shake the industry.

Then came the testing phase.

One night, after the studio had mostly emptied, Jason, Sasha, and Mike sat in front of their screens, controllers in hand.

"Alright," Jason said, cracking his knuckles. "Let’s see if all this work was worth it."

The game booted up. A title screen appeared, then an opening cinematic, and finally, gameplay.

Danladi watched as they played, feeling his heart pound. The mechanics worked. The AI responded dynamically. The choices the players made had real consequences.

After a long session, Jason leaned back, exhaling. "Damn. This is good. Like, really good."

Mike grinned. "I think we’ve got something special here."

Danladi smiled. He already knew.

---

Months later, everything was ready. The game was polished, the marketing was in full swing, and the world was watching.

The launch event was massive. Screens showcased gameplay footage. Influencers and journalists gathered, eager to get their hands on it. Danladi, standing in the crowd, listened as Jason addressed the audience.

"This game started as an idea," Jason said, "but it became something bigger. And now, it’s finally here."

The countdown began.

3... 2... 1.

The game went live.

Almost immediately, reviews started pouring in.

"A masterpiece."

"One of the most immersive gaming experiences ever."

"An instant classic."

Danladi sat at the back of the room, watching it all unfold.

He had done it. The game was a hit.

And he did it without ever truly revealing himself as the main sponsor of the game.

Within weeks, sales skyrocketed. The game became one of the biggest releases of the year. Discussions flooded online forums. Players dissected every detail, every choice, every hidden secret.

Sitting in his apartment one night, Danladi scrolled through his phone, reading the praise, the theories, the excitement.

Then, his phone rang. It was Eric.

They hadn’t talked in a long time as he had been busy and Eric had Law school to deal with.

"Well, well, well... It’s the man of the moment."

Danladi chuckled as he picked up the call, leaning back on his couch. "Look who finally decided to call. I was beginning to think you forgot about me."

Eric laughed on the other end. "Please, you’ve been the one dodging my calls. Mr. Big-Time Game Developer."

Danladi smirked. "I’ve been busy."

"I can see that." Eric’s tone was laced with amusement. "Your game is everywhere, man. Social media, news articles, even some gaming forums I follow. You really did it."

Danladi exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah... still doesn’t feel real, to be honest."

"Oh, it’s real, alright," Eric said. "And I’m calling because I have an idea. A big one."

Danladi sat up. "I’m listening."

Eric paused for a second before speaking again. "You ever thought about expanding? Like, really expanding? Your game’s a hit, but what’s next? What if we turn this into something bigger—your own gaming empire?"

Danladi narrowed his eyes. "I already have a company."

Eric scoffed. "A ghost company. You’re still running everything in secret. I’m talking about stepping into the light. Becoming the face of it. Owning your success, instead of hiding in the background."

Danladi leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He had always preferred staying in the shadows, letting Jason and the team take the spotlight while he pulled the strings. But Eric had a point. With the game’s success, it was only a matter of time before people started digging deeper.

"What’s the plan?" he asked.

Eric chuckled. "Now that’s the Danladi I know. I’ll fly out to Vancouver after my exams. We’ll talk in person."

Danladi smirked. "First-class ticket?"

"You wish. See you soon, brother."

The call ended, and Danladi stared at his phone for a moment.

Eric was right. The game was only the beginning.

---

Danladi was still lost in thought when his phone buzzed again. This time, it was Jason.

He answered, already guessing what this was about. "Yo, Jason."

"Dan! Finally, man. You free tonight?"

Danladi stretched, glancing at the time. "Depends. Why?"

Jason chuckled. "Come on, don’t play dumb. We’re celebrating, bro! You’ve been cooped up for weeks, and the whole team wants to let loose. We’re hitting a bar—drinks, music, the works. You in?"

Danladi hesitated for a second. He wasn’t much of a party guy, but they deserved this. The team had worked hard, pushing through sleepless nights and endless bug fixes.

"Alright, I’m in."

"Good," Jason said. "And listen, I got something to announce when we get there. You’ll want to hear this."

Danladi raised an eyebrow. "That so?"

"Trust me. Just get your ass to The Red Lantern by nine. No excuses."

The call ended, and Danladi smirked. Jason was hyped about something. Whatever it was, it had to be big.

---

The Red Lantern was already buzzing with energy when Danladi walked in. Neon lights glowed against the sleek bar, and the air was thick with laughter and music. He spotted Jason near the back, surrounded by the team.

As soon as they saw him, cheers erupted.

"There he is!"

"Took you long enough!"

Jason slapped a hand on Danladi’s shoulder. "Ladies and gentlemen, the man who made it all possible!"

Danladi chuckled, shaking his head. "You guys act like I did all the work."

"You kinda did," one of the developers, Mark, chimed in. "Now, let’s get to the important part—Jason, tell him the numbers."

Jason grinned, raising his glass. "Alright, everyone, listen up!"

The table quieted, eyes on him.

"Our game—our baby—has officially made forty million dollars in revenue."

A moment of stunned silence. Then—

"Holy shit!"

"No way!"

Danladi’s eyes widened. "Forty mil?"

Jason nodded. "And climbing."

Drinks were raised, voices cheered, and just like that, the night was filled with celebration.

The party was in full swing. Drinks flowed, laughter filled the air, and the weight of months of hard work lifted off everyone’s shoulders. Danladi leaned back in his seat, enjoying the atmosphere, when his eyes landed on someone he hadn’t noticed before.

She was sitting across the table, a glass in her hand, engaged in a conversation with one of the developers. He had no idea who she was, but something about her caught his attention. Maybe it was the way she occasionally glanced in his direction or how she smirked slightly whenever their eyes met.

This went on for a while. A glance here, a lingering look there.

My God, she’s pretty.

She had warm brown skin, deep expressive eyes that seemed to take in everything around her, and full lips that curved into a teasing smile every time she laughed. Her dark, curly hair framed her face perfectly, and the way she carried herself—confident yet laid-back—made it hard to look away.

I haven’t spoken to a lot of women since I got here. Most of the women I work with are older and see me as a little brother. But her... she looks like someone I could actually talk to. Someone I’d want to talk to.

But how?

I could go with the cheesy pick-up lines. They’d either make her cringe and never look at me again... or maybe—just maybe—she’d laugh at how bad they were.

I was so lost in thought that I didn’t even realize how hard I was staring.

Alright, enough of this. Time to make a move.

He excused himself from his seat, grabbed his drink, and made his way over. She was in the middle of laughing at something when he leaned slightly toward her.

"Hey," he said, flashing a confident grin. "Are you French? Because Eiffel for you."

There was a pause. Then, she blinked. Slowly.

"Oh my God," she muttered. "That was... terrible."

Danladi chuckled. "Yeah? Okay, let me try another one." He cleared his throat. "Are you a magician? Because whenever I look at you, everyone else disappears."

She winced. "Wow. You’re actually serious about this."

"One more," he insisted, holding up a finger. "If you were a vegetable, you’d be a cute-cumber."

She stared at him, completely deadpan. "If you were a vegetable, I’d leave you in the fridge to rot."

Danladi burst out laughing. "Damn, alright. I walked into that one."

She smirked. "I just didn’t want you to feel bad about your pick-up lines. Had to match the energy."

He raised his glass. "Respect."

She clinked her glass against his. "So, mysterious pick-up line guy, what’s your name?"

"Danladi," he said, extending his hand.

She took it. "I’m Selena."

"Well, Selena," he said with a smirk, "now that we’re past the worst pick-up lines in history, how about we actually talk?"

She grinned. "Only if you promise to never use one of those lines again."

"No guarantees."

And just like that, the night got a little more interesting.