Artificial Mates - Chapter 42

The Transfer stopped at our usual station. Demos got out ahead of me leaving me with my tension. Since we stepped on, I couldn’t help thinking about Anna. What if she stops speaking to me. What if my workplace becomes sour. I wasn’t prepared to relive a bad workplace with rumors and tension?

“What with the mindless chatter,” he tossed at me. “It’s almost painful, even if we are at 5%,” he grimaced. I blinked at his comment unable to comprehend what he was talking about.

-Can you think of something else? We left Anna at the station back there.

I frowned at him.

“I can’t control my thoughts! And how the hell can you both not talk to me all day? I thought that link helps you hear the others’ minds,” I pointed a menacing finger at him. He chuckled and went down the stairs leading outside the station. I hurried behind him angry that he didn’t bother to answer.

-We artificial don’t ‘think’ in the way a human does. There’s a lot of silence. We shouldn’t use the word think. We communicate without words…more efficiently.

I wasn’t sure I understood what he was explaining. Maybe I wasn’t equipped to appreciate that type of talk. He sighed and came to a stop at the pedestrian crossing. I stood next to him and gave him a side-glance.

“So you’re telling me you can block your thoughts?” I asked doubtfully. My question made him chuckled. He leaned and grabbed my hand.

“I just told you, I don’t have endless chatter in my head,” Demos brought my hands to his lips. I quickly averted my eyes since there were people around us. I don’t understand why he kept doing embarrassing things in public. Haven’t I told him I hate public humiliation?

-Is showing you how much I care, public humiliation?

I can’t believe it he kept twisting my thoughts! When the lights turned green, the crowd flooded to the other side of the road. Our apartment building came into view. Demos didn’t let go of my hand and I didn’t want him to.

“So what is that surprise?” I shifted my attention back to him. He gave me a slow smile.

“You’ll see when we can home,” his copper eyes sparkled with mischief. Jil greeted me with her business smile. She winked at Demos as we came closer to the front desk. What the hell? They were flirting right under my nose. My blood boiled inside my veins. I pulled on Demos’ hand and tried to drag him to the elevator. However, he didn’t move at all. He snorted at me making me fume.

“Congratulations Miss. Kerry,” said Jil with the sweetest smile. I narrowed my eyes at her.

“What for?” I added dryly.

“Your sync, of course,” she giggled. I gasped and glared at Demos.

“What’s that, are you a bunch of gossiping old ladies, now?” I shouted.

“Liliane, it’s not like that. Grant just told them,” Demos said with clear irritation. Jil was actually enjoying our little scene. It made me want to bury myself in a hole. Please, can we go? I’m fed up with this, I pleaded. He nodded and waved at Jil who giggled behind us. Her reaction was suspicious. The elevator ride was filled with silence yet not the disturbing type. More like the exciting one. I literally ran to my entrance and was greeted with opened arms when I pulled the door. Grant hugged and kissed me taking my breath away.

“Welcome home,” he smiled then let me catch my breath. I turned to the entrance and found the living room lit with hundreds of tiny candles and a table with a red tablecloth on which dinner was served. I gasped at the view.

“Oh my god!” I turned back to him and took him in my arms. “What is the occasion?” I giggled. Demos came to join us while holding a golden envelope. I eyed it with curiosity.

“Don’t tell me it’s a second bill?” this envelop looked strangely like the previous one Sognare send me. He opened the envelope and extended the certificate like doc.u.ment at me. I let go of Grant and with trembling hand I took it. My eyes rested on the barcodes and serial numbers at the top then went on the first sentence.

“This is to certify that on this 24th September 2231, Miss. Liliane Kerry and Demos [artificial] and Grant [artificial] joined in lawful wedlock…” my voice trailed off. I looked up at my smiling mates.

“What is this?” I waved the doc.u.ment at them. Grant stepped forward and took it from my hand.

“Well, this letter seals our sync legally,” he grinned. I felt sick all a sudden. I needed to sit. Grant grabbed my arm and slowly guided me to the dinner table. It was so beautifully set with red roses on the tablecloth.

“Wait? Legally?” he kneeled to my feet with a timid smile on his face.

“Yes, Syncing is equivalent to a legal marriage,” he simply added.