The red microfiber seats in the multi-tiered auditorium had all but filled up by the time we arrived. We squeezed past a couple of guys behind the last row. I sighed and leaned back against the scratchy cloth that covered the wall. It looked as though we would have to stand for the presentation. I waved my hand over my damp neck from the beads of sweat that formed as the heat thickened the air.
The overhead lights dimmed around us, and the hum of hundreds of voices died away. A girl walked across the stage in a tan pencil skirt and high pumps. I blinked in surprise. I knew Sheridan from a few of the classes we both attended. We’d both gravitated on the edges of each other’s social circles. Still, I would have thought she would’ve mentioned to everyone she knew that she’d been named spokesperson of this little project. She tossed her blonde hair off her shoulder and straightened the note cards on the podium.
“Good morning, everyone,” she said, leaning into the microphone. She flashed a dazzling smile to the crowd. “This is an amazing turnout. I didn’t even think we had this many people sign up.”
A chuckled traveled through the crowd. The truth was, not even a quarter of the audience was participating. The application process had been stringent and lasted for almost two years when Nerida University had first announced it. The board had chosen only the brightest to represent the college. Luckily, I had been one considered one of those. The rest had come to catch a glimpse of Mercer Chaplin.
“I know all of you are looking forward to embarking on this adventure as much as I am,” Sheridan continued. “So, without much further ado, I’ll introduce our guest and head of the Proprius Project. As the CEO of the Instafriend network, Mr. Chaplin is an inspiration to all of us. Let’s give him a round of applause.”
The music the played over the speakers mixed with the cheers that filled the room. He walked across the stage like he owned it. The gigantic screen above the stage pasted his face for even us in the nosebleed section to see. His black hair was pulled back into a neat pony tail that brushed the top of his shirt collar. The suit he wore sat on his athletic body in just the perfect way. He flashed his straight, white teeth at the audience as he took the podium.
“Nerida University,” he said. “This is quite a greeting.”
The cheers grew even more deafening, and he raised a hand. The noise settled to a low murmur. He cleared his throat and grinned as his gaze traveled up the tiers of the auditorium.
“It’s great to see you’re all as excited about this project as I am.”
Serenity snorted and crossed her arms. I elbowed her. I didn’t know what her problem with Mercer was, but she’s wasn’t going to waste my ogling time with snide sounds.
“Imagine a world where people could travel the world, become anything they wanted, all from the convenience of their own homes.” He chuckled. “Sounds like a wild dream, huh?”
I laughed along with the crowd. That kind of talk usually belonged in science fiction stories. Then again, my family belonged in something out of fantasy.
“What if I told you this is entirely possible, and you’re going to create it?”
Murmurs traveled through the crowd. Serenity leaned forward, her rebellious posture gone. The screen shifted from his face to a two dimensional drawing of a visor connected to wires.
“Virtual Reality is still an untapped resource, and what I believe is the next step in technology,” he said. “For the next year, you will design and develop the first virtual reality device combined with a social media space that will allow users to connect across the Globe.”
The buzz of the audience echoed through the group. This was not what we had been expecting when we’d applied for the intern project. It was so much better.
“Is this even possible?” I asked Serenity.
She rubbed the back of her neck, but her eyes gleamed. “Oh yeah.”
I smirked at her. “Glad I dragged you here?”
She cut her eyes at me but a smile hovered on her face. “Depends on if we’re successful.”
I scanned the crowd. “I’m surprised he let people that aren’t part of the project in here.”
“He wouldn’t be announcing it if he wasn’t already ages ahead of the competition with the development of the idea. He probably wants new of this to get out—increase his stock market value.” She shook her head. “In fact, he probably did some of it for the publicity.”
She had a point. Mercer never seemed to try to hide his life to the media. He constantly paraded his latest girlfriend out to different restaurants or shows. The reports had even filmed the entire first date with his last one. She hadn’t seemed to mind, either. Was she here, lapping up luxury at some suite in the Omni while he promised us greatness?