Artificial Mates - Chapter 41

The link stayed silent all day, by lunchtime I was a little anxious. I knew I told them to leave me alone. However, not knowing what they were up to made me nervous. Anna touched my shoulder causing me to jolt back. She stared at me with concern.

“Sorry to scare you, as I was saying it time to head back,” her eyes dropped to my half-eaten sandwich. “Grant won’t be happy if you don’t finish the lunch he’d prepared with love,” she pointed out. I was so focused on the inner turmoil that I’ve forgotten at food. I quickly stuffed the bread in my mouth and followed her inside.

-Grant? Demos?

I waited for a response as I reached my office. Still nothing. I sunk into my seat and opened EWink. They said that nothing could break the link so why were they not answering.

Liliane: Hey, guys. Why aren’t you answering? Did something happen?

Demos: Sorry, I’m busy. We will talk tonight.

Grant: Same

Liliane: mm…ok

I closed the app while sighing. Anna gave me a quick peek.

“You’ve been out of it since this morning after your phone call,” she commented. Anna was too smart for her own good. How could she’d figured me out in such a short amount of time?

“Boyfriend,” she asked as she swirled around in the chair. I slowly nodded. I was aching to pour out my heart. However, I was scared she might judge me…since I’m in a three-way relationship. Whatever the ‘we-are-one’ thing they keep saying, it was still a three-way. So, I altered the story to fit society’s standards.

“I’m… my friend disapproves I’m with a…artificial. She’s convinced it’s not good for me and that I should date a human. But, I really like my boyfriend… I don’t care about artificial or not. They… fit me and I’m happy. She told me she’s coming back to help me and right now I don’t know what to do,” Anna listened with attention and nodded when I was done.

“So you don’t want to hurt your friend still you don’t agree with her, right?” she said. I was amazed she could sum up my issue using those few words. I shook my head. She sighed and turned to her screen.

“You should tell her you love your boyfriend and that it’s none of her business. Not all friends are real friends. They don’t always want what’s good for you,” her words took time to sink in. Lyla was here for me when I needed her. I didn’t want to believe she was that type of person.

“Thanks for your advice. I’ll talk to her soon. The cost of the communication is kinda ridiculous for Titan,” I laughed to ease the tension. Anna sprung around with big round eyes.

“Titan! Like Titan, the satellite around Jupiter?” she shouted.

“Yeah,” I chuckled at her reaction.

“Super! I dream of going up there. I’ve never left Kumari R2. I so want to travel the world and go off-world,” she sighed with dreamy eyes. “Too bad I’m broke,” we both exhaled in frustration.

“Today is salary day,” I answered with my glaze lost in the space before me. I had so much to pay this month. I doubt there would be anything left when I pay Sognare and my rent.

“I’ll only get a five days salary. It’s better than nothing,” she smiled. I was surprised at her positivity in the smallest things. I should follow her example. We went back to work this time I poured my full attention in my task. I was loved, I had help at house, I didn’t have to be alone and they kept me warm at night. I smiled at the thought. We could watch a movie and just hang around tonight. The image helped me go through the afternoon. At three pm, I sent a message to Grant via EWink since it was radio-silence through the link.

Liliane: Grant I just finished here. Are you coming to pick me up?

Demos: I finished earlier; I’ll arrive in five minutes

I blinked at the message. That was strange.

Liliane: ok, I’ll wait at the platform. Anna will be with me.

When I finished typing, I realized that I haven’t told Anna I was dating two different persons. She will freak out when she finds out. I sprung to my feet and got my bag.

“Mm…Anna let’s hurry to the station,” she looked up from the screen then nodded. She took a couple of minutes to switch off everything. I fidgeted as I waited. I ran down the corridor and down the stairs while she tugged behind. Why did she have to be so slow? I gave a quick glance over my shoulder to find her panting. I felt a little sorry for poor Anna who had to run to catch up. As I reached the tunnel leading to the platform, I was out of breath too.

“Liliane!” called Anna behind me. “Wait! Where is Grant? Isn’t he coming today?” guilt punched me in the guts. I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from spilling my secret. It killed me to lie to her. I paused waiting for her to join me.

“Mm…he’s busy. Someone else will pick me up,” I smiled with relief. At least it was half-true. She shook her head with a frown. We reached the platform as Anna’s Transfer to level twenty 21 left.

“No!” she shouted waving at the vehicle as disappeared around the corner. My heart sunk. It meant only one thing. Anna and Demos will meet. My heart attempted to escape through my mouth. I swallowed to press it down.

“You were right, I should have run faster,” she pouted. I let out a nervous laugh.

“Transfer from Level twenty is now entering,” said the bored voice over the speaker. I shifted on my feet trying to find a way out of this situation. Hide in the toilets. No. Demos, please behave. I don’t want Anna to freak out, I prayed hoping he was listening. I knew he did. Please. Pretty pleas.

The high-speed vehicle eased to a stop in a loud hiss. The door opened spilling its flow of passengers on the platform. I searched for Demos’ tall figure among the crowd and quickly spotted him. I didn’t dare wave in his direction. I didn’t know what to expect and that scared me.

“Is your friend there? You know, I can wait till your Transfer arrives, it’s not a problem,” offered Anna. She was killing me with kindness. I felt like a terrible human being. I watched as Demos took his time to close the distance being us. Anna’s mouth hung open when he towered in front of us.

“Liliane,” he said with a voice to melt knees. He held out his hand for me to take. The jerk was going to make it difficult for me. My cheeks were burning when I looked up at him.

“Hand!” he ordered with clear impatience. Anna watched us through narrowed eyes. I crossed my arms over my chest as a sign of rebellion. He sighed and turned to Anna.

“Hi, I’m Demos and I’m her boyfriend. The other one,” I gasped at him. How dare he?

“Wh-what are you doing?” I shouted. He turned to me with a frown.

“If you really care you shouldn’t lie to your friends. And I don’t like hiding. I’m your mate deal with it,” I was stunt wordless. He shifted his attention back at Anna who had paled in front of Demos. She appeared tiny next to him.

“Let me explain so there’s no misunderstanding. Grant and I are a pair we were made for Liliane. Even if many don’t approve we have already synced and we’re happy. Liliane holds you dear and I thank you for supporting her. However, she can be a pain in the ass sometimes, just bare with it,” he said. I wasn’t expecting this I guess neither did Anna. Her eyes darted from me to Demos. She cleared her throat in an attempt to cut the awkward silence that has settled between us.

“Mm, I think I’ll give you some space,” her voice a pitch too high. “I’ll see you…mm…tomorrow,” she walked to the far side of the platform without looking back. I slapped his arm.

“Jerk! What have you done?” tears stung my eyes. “She’s my friend. Why did you have to be an asshole?” I sniffed. He pulled me against his chest, I didn’t resist his embrace. I couldn’t.

“She’s your friend. She said she’ll see you tomorrow. Have some confidence,” he lay a kiss on my forehead.

“Why the hell didn’t you answer me all day? I was lonely,” I buried my face in his chest.

“Sorry we were preparing a surprise for you,” he frowned at me. “Here I was so happy to see you and you called me a jerk and an asshole. How am I going to make you pay?” he gave me a crooked smile that made my heart leap inside my chest.

“I don’t like public humiliation,” I pouted.

“Was it good to lie to her?” he said. Guilty sent me flying into the ropes. My eyes dropped to my feet.

“No, I’ll talk to her tomorrow,” he leaned and kissed my hair.

“That’s better,” he whispered and his voice make delicious shivers crawled down my spine.