I pulled out my phone as I stepped out into the cool evening air, the neon lights of the city reflecting off the polished pavement. I dialed Chloe, my heart steady despite the blatant lie I was about to tell.
"Hey," she picked up, her voice sounding a mix of tired and suspicious. "You're late, Druski. I made dinner."
"Listen, Chloe," I said, my voice dropping into that smooth, authoritative tone my new charisma stats provided. "Change of plans. The studio is pulling an all-nighter for a high-budget project. They need the 'night-time' aesthetic for a major sequence. I'm not going to be home until tomorrow morning."
There was a long silence on the other end. I could practically hear her gritting her teeth. "An all-nighter? Druski, you've been at that studio all day. Who are you even shooting with?"
"Just work, Chloe. This is what being a CEO looks like. High demand, high pay. I'll make it up to you, I promise."
