You Were Always Mine

Game On #2

The whistle pierced through the morning air.

Instantly, the chatter across the sports field settled into excited murmurs.

Employees from Pearl Corporation gathered beneath the blue team banner while the staff from Onyx Technologies occupied the opposite side beneath black flags that danced lazily in the breeze.

The announcer stepped forward with a microphone.

"First event!" he called enthusiastically. "Mixed relay race!"

Cheers erupted.

Vivian rolled her shoulders once before stepping toward her team.

Across the field, Oscar was already doing the same.

The duo made eye contact, spelling war without having to even say it out loud.

Cassandra and Charles exchanged looks as they watched their bosses look ready for war.

Charles leaned toward Oscar, just as Cassandra leaned towards Vivian.

"Sir..."

“Ma'am…”

Oscar looked away from Vivian just as Vivian looked away from Oscar.

"What?" The duo said almost at the same time.

"...Please remember this is supposed to build company relationships."

Oscar accepted the relay baton.

"I know."

Vivian accepted the baton from her assistant. “Of course.”

Charles and Cassandra exchanged looks, there was no stopping the madness that was about to unfold between these two..

The runners took their positions.

Vivian stood second in Pearl's relay just as Oscar stood second for Onyx.

The whistle sounded.

The first runners bolted forward. Employees screamed and cheered from the sidelines.

"GO!"

"PEARL!"

"ONYX!"

The first baton reached Vivian. She grabbed it cleanly and immediately picked up her pace.

Oscar received his own baton almost at the same time.

He glanced sideways but she was already pulling ahead.

"...Not happening."

He pushed harder.

Within seconds they were running shoulder to shoulder.

Vivian glanced at him. "Trying to keep up?"

Oscar didn't even look at her.

"I was wondering why you were slowing down."

She scoffed. "Oh?"

Without warning, Vivian increased her pace.

He must have forgotten she lived and breathed the tracks in high school.

Oscar blinked. "...Bloody hell."

She overtook him.

The Pearl employees screamed in excitement.

"YES!"

"COME ON, MS. VIVIAN!"

Oscar narrowed his eyes; he hated losing, especially to her.

The hand-off came seconds later and Pearl's last leg finished first.

Onyx came second.

Charles sighed, adjusting his glasses, knowing this was bound to get his hoss in a foul mood as he walked closer to Oscar.

"Don't." Oscar warned.

Charles exhaled. "You made this personal in under three minutes."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Oscar walked away, already aiming to win the next game without fail.

"You absolutely do." Charles muttered.

The second event was dodgeball.

Employees spread across the indoor court as the referee lifted both hands.

"No aiming for the face."

Everyone nodded obediently.

Bibi whispered to Tina, "I absolutely intend to aim for faces."

The whistle blew and balls flew in every direction. Someone screamed dramatically after being eliminated. Another employee dived behind a teammate like it was wartime.

Vivian caught a ball cleanly and cheers exploded from Pearl's side.

Oscar picked another one up immediately, his eyes meeting hers across the court.

A part of him wasn't sure he wanted to sing the ball at her but hell, this is a competition and he didn't want to lose!

His lips curled up. Vivian knew that look.

She ducked just as the ball flew past her head. It struck one of Pearl's accountants instead.

"My glasses!"

Oscar shrugged. "Collateral damage."

Vivian laughed despite herself.

She grabbed another ball but Oscar had turned to eliminate someone else.

Bad decision.

She launched it hard at him and it struck him squarely across the shoulder.

The Pearl team cheered just as Oscar slowly looked back at her.

Vivian grinned. "Collateral damage."

Employees began laughing. Even the referee struggled not to smile.

Oscar picked the ball up again and this time, he didn't miss.

He launched it at her feet, the ball sliding right under her leg and disrupting her footing.

She fell hard and the referee blew his whistle.

“Out!”

Oscar held another ball, spinning it on one finger as a playful glint reached his eyes.

“Bye Ms. Vi.” He mocked, calling her by the name her staff seemed to fancy.

Her eyes narrowed on him as she stepped out of the court, earning a small laugh from him.

Vivian stormed out to the side, her eyes fixed on Oscar like she wanted to smack that smirk off his face.

Cassandra approached with a bottle of water.

“Ms. Vi.. “

“Urgh!” She groaned. “I just want to wipe that smug smirk off his face.” She muttered.

Cassandra stepped back, scared she'd be caught in the cross fire.

Goodness, she and Charles are not having a good day..

The obstacle course came next; ropes, balance beams, tyres, walls, mud. Lots of mud.

Vivian landed lightly after climbing over one of the barriers.

She could already hear footsteps gaining behind her and it was Oscar.

Of course.

She smiled to herself.

He reached the narrow balance beam seconds later.

Vivian deliberately slowed just enough...Then stepped directly into the middle of it.

Oscar stopped. "...Move."

"No."

"There are rules."

"Are there?"She folded her arms. "They don't say I have to move."

Oscar stared. “What are you doing?”

She smirked.

He stepped left, she also stepped left. He stepped right and she mirrored him.

Employees nearby burst into laughter. Charles covered his face and Cassandra was seriously considering resigning at this point.

Vivian smiled sweetly. "You seem stuck."

Oscar looked over the side of the beam.

Without warning, he jumped down into the mud, walked around the beam and climbed back up ahead of her.

Vivian stared. "...you."

Oscar looked over his shoulder. “What?” He teased.

She immediately caught up but her elbow 'accidentally ‘accidentally bumped his arm.

Oscar wobbled. "Vivian."

She chuckled. "You looked balanced enough."

Then she sprinted away.

The employees following behind could barely breathe from laughing.

Oscar watched her in disbelief, finding himself laughing at her antics. Well, that part hasn't changed much now has it?

Lunch arrived and temporary peace settled over the grounds.

Employees gathered beneath tents while volunteers handed out drinks and sandwiches.

Bibi collapsed dramatically onto a folding chair.

"My legs..."

Tina handed her water. "You've been amazing."

"I know."

Bibi accepted the compliment graciously.

"I simply refuse to disappoint my people."

She looked toward Vivian; her beautiful...successful...definitely real cousin...was discussing strategies with the rest of Pearl's team.

Bibi straightened immediately as the coordinator announced tug-of-war.

"This one," she whispered. "I'm winning."

The rope felt rough against her palms.

Pearl lined one side and Onyx lined the other.

Oscar stood near the front while Vivian anchored Pearl's team.

The whistle blew and both teams pulled but nothing happened.

Employees screamed encouragement but the rope barely moved.

Oscar dug his heels deeper. Vivian leaned backward with everything she had.

Bibi squeezed her eyes shut.

"I'm pulling!" she yelled. "I'm pulling with my whole bloodline!"

Nobody knew what that meant but they appreciated the enthusiasm.

The rope shifted as Onyx gained ground.

"No!" Pearl employees shouted.

Vivian adjusted her footing. "Together!"

Everyone pulled again and the rope slid back.

Oscar frowned, “Pull!” He instructed.

The final tug nearly sent everyone falling backwards.

Pearl won by less than half a foot.

The celebration that followed sounded like they'd won the Olympics.

Bibi jumped up first. "We did it!"

She spun toward Vivian.

Vivian looked slightly out of breath, sweat clung to loose strands of hair around her face.

Yet she smiled as Bibi danced next to her.

Vivian gave her a high five.

“You did great!” she said before making her way to the bleachers.

Bibi froze; did...did she...just give her a high five and compliment her? In front of everyone?!

This was her heaven!

Tina hurried over with wide eyes. "Oh my God! Ms Vivian shook your hand!”

Caroline nodded excitedly. "I saw it!"

Tony slapped Bibi's shoulder. "You really are her favourite cousin."

Bibi adjusted her ponytail casually. "Oh..."

she sighed. "She's always been supportive."

The group stared. "Really?"

Bibi waved one hand dismissively. "You know Vivian. She practically raised me."

The lie slipped out so naturally even Bibi almost believed it herself.

Her coworkers looked even more impressed.

Inside her head, she was screaming.

‘She complimented me. And shook my hand! I'm never washing these hands!’

Across the field, Oscar accepted another bottle of water from Charles.

"We might lose, sir."

Charles sounded far happier than he should.

Oscar ignored him, his gaze drifted across the crowd.

Vivian stood surrounded by employees, her eyes twinkling.

Someone said something and she threw her head back and laughed.

It carried across the field before disappearing into the afternoon breeze.

Oscar forgot to drink. He simply...watched her, his chest tightening strangely.

When was the last time he'd heard that laugh?

College maybe.

She laughed again.

Bibi appeared to be saying something outrageous because several employees doubled over with amusement.

Vivian covered her mouth, still laughing.

Oscar looked away first, his grip tightened around the water bottle.

"...Sir?" Charles asked.

Oscar blinked. "What?"

"Do you need anything else?” He asked.

“No.” Oscar gulped down the water. “Let's finish this.”