Artificial Mates - Chapter 46

“You’re sure you’re ok?” asked Demos for the thousand’s time when we got on the Transfer. Since this letter episode, both of my mates have been concerned. Even if I hate to admit it, I left bad for them. I never wanted to drag them in this mess. Like I was sure I could take it to my grave.

“I’m fine,” I answered dryly. He peeked at me then went back to the speeding scenery.

“It’s just that the sudden news of your mother’s illness should…”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I cut in and face away.

“You’re not going to visit her?” he inquired. His twenty questions were getting on my nerves. I had no plans of telling him anything about my past. It was dead to me, so why did he had to keep poking around?

“No! I’m not,” I exhaled. There was a silence but I was expecting for his next assault.

“Why?” I rubbed my forehead in a sign of irritation. Clearly, he didn’t understand the first time I told him I didn’t want to talk about it.

-Please, I want to understand

I took a deep breath and faced him. He won’t let go unless I spit it.

“Demos, my family and I aren’t on good terms… If you can call it that,” he nodded as he listened.

-And?

“What do you mean And?” I narrow my eyes at him.

-Tell me what happened?

-I also want to know

Those two were giving me a headache. A beeped notify that the Transfer will soon reach my stop. I sighed in relief to Demos’ dismay.

“Oh, look at that! We are already here,” I smiled at him.

-Liliane, you can’t run away from us. You know you can’t lie to us.

“I’ll see you tonight,” I quickly moved to the door and waved him goodbye before stepping off. He nodded with a frown. What the hell was I doing?

-Liliane, I don’t like when you shove me away

Sorry, Demos. Right now I needed so alone time to think. I strode down the tunnel happy that I escaped from his interrogation. Instead came face to face with Anna waiting by the front door. I completely forgot about that issue. Her head sprung up when she caught sight of me in the crowd. Shit! There’s no running away. I gave her a crooked smile and pressed on to meet her at the top of the stairs. Demos messed things up between us now I have to make it right.

-What? This is your own mess. You lied to the poor girl. Clean your own shit. The way you keep running from your responsibilities is the reason you have drama in your life.

“Shut up!” I muttered under my breath before turning to Anna.

“Hi, Liliane,” she bounced on her feet. I quickly shoved Demos away and gave her my brightest smile. I just hope it didn’t look fake.

-Your mask will crack and it will be your own damn fault!

“Hi,” I answered her ignoring Demos’ comment. We marched inside with the other employees in silence. Mr. Ramdin stood in front of our office with a grave face. What now? Demos already pissed me off, Anna won’t speak to me without that awkward thing between us and now Mr. Ramdin has bad news. My life’s awesome. I was already tired this early in the morning.

“Girls, Davis from administration called me today. He had that the quality control section didn’t once make an error this week. After the mess from last time they kinda woke up from their hibernation,” actually that was good news. So why was he pulling the long face? He cleared his throat eyes darting from me to Anna. “They love it so much, that they think of transferring you both to our branch in Telson,” I mouth dropped open.

“But…I can’t,” I whispered. Mr. Ramdin sighed and shook his head.

“I know, I’m not happy either. Now I’ll have to find someone to replace you and it will be hard to get such a good employee. Apart from the recent events, we never had issues with you,” he kept shaking his head.

“Will we get a raise and lodging?” Anna rubbed her hands together. My head sprung in her direction, was she already considering the offer? I couldn’t, not when Demos was working in Level twenty and Grant had so many friends here. Moving away will mean I have to start all over. I couldn’t. Mr. Ramdin consulted this bracelet and scrolled down his mails.

“There no lodging but there will be a significant raise,” he sighed. “I would understand if you take the offer. However, please stay,” he said with pleading eyes. “Note that I can’t offer any raise or rent. I can only offer a friendly workplace,” he smiled to help swallow the pill. I gave a glance as she nodded.

“I’ll think about it,” she answered and went to the door leaving me to deal with Mr. Ramdin. He turned to me. I shifted nervously.

“I’ll think about it?” I copied Anna’s response.

“Ok, and thanks for the good work. Just send me a message. I’ll be out of town the next two days,” he turned around and walked away. A new job. A transfer. A new start. A way to run away from my responsibilities. Why not and I’ll get extra money.

-Liliane, please reconsider it.

“But you said I had money issues,” I hissed. I was lucky I was alone in the corridor. Talking to myself may contribute to sending me back in those freaking institution for the mentally ill. The happy house they called those damn things, more like hell hole!

-Liliane, if you doing it only to not face your problems then it’s not good. However, if you really want it then we will not opposite your decision.

I sighed feeling a major headache crawling up my skull.

“Alright, damn it your persistent! I’ll talk about it tonight. Happy now? Please leave me alone else I won’t get any work done. What the hell! Aren’t you like busy with your patrol agent job. Don’t you have some criminal to beat up?” I whispered to empty space.

-I don’t like your tone. I’ll correct it tonight. You need some serious education.

I frowned at these words. I didn’t like when he speaks with such authority.

-I’m your mate. I deserve some respect.

-Please, don’t fight. I don’t like it

“Ah! Whatever,” I exhaled and storm in the office. Anna looked up at me.

“That ring is new,” my eyes dropped on the golden band around my finger. Guilt punched me in the guts. It was less than 24 hours that we were official and I’m fighting with Demos.

“I… synced with them. We… are official. I’m sorry for not telling you. I-I was scared you would judge me and call me a freak,” I muttered as I sunk in my chair.

“Are you kidding me?” she twirled around in her chair. “Why would I call you that?” she sounded offended. I lowered my head.

“Sometime before you came here, I had an issue with some guy here. He was a creep and Demos kinda put him in his place. Since then he spread rumors about me being an artificial freak. And… it didn’t stop there… he followed me home and assault Grant. I had to send him for repairs,” Anna gasped with horror.

“Oh my god, that’s horrible,” I shook my head.

“I’m sorry for lying,” I stared at my hands on my lap. Anna got up and came to stand in front of me.

“I don’t think you’re a freak. If anything, you’re lucky,” she looked away blushing. “I heard that artificials are really good in bed,” she laughed. I lifted my head to find her smiling Anna was back to her cheerful self.

-Interesting conversation

“Please, can you leave the ‘good in bed’ part out of any future conversation. Since we’ve synced we share a permanent link. It’s weird to speak of them when they can hear everything” I added a little annoyed.

“That’s amazing!”

“It’s not, it’s annoying. I hear their constant nagging all day long,” I said.

“Really that’s so cute. Like they can tell you sweet words all day,” she clearly wasn’t listening and went on playing her own little movie in her head. Damn it.

-I love you

-I love you too. I would like to do that ‘good in bed’ part too

“Ah! Shut up!” I blushed. Anna looked up with surprise. “Oh, sorry I was talking to them,” her smile spread across her face.

“What did they said to make your blush to your ears. Please, tell me,” I turned to the screen.

“We have work to do, quit slacking,” I shouted.

“Yes, Madame,” she laughed.

-Liliane, know we are here whenever you need help.

-Please, rely on us. Share your pain with us.

“Ok, thanks,” I whispered then went back to my list of task for the day.