Would not change a thing
ALEX's P o V
~~~~
Deceiving her into thinking that I am a robot, would never be justified. But if I would be given an opportunity to go back in time, I would still do it, not because I loved lying to her. It was hard for me too just as how it was to her when she learned the truth. We were both tortured by it. But I reckoned that pretending to be her robot boyfriend was actually the best mistake that I made in my life; it came with its own perks. One of it was that it gave me an opportunity to be part of Shantal's life. She let me in without any prejudice in mind and that was how I was able to see her other side that she did not dare allow other people to know.
Over the years of seclusion, Shantal opted to spend her days in solitude. She trusted no one other than herself, thus
ANONYMOUSThey stayed like that, hugging each other and finding comfort from the warmth coming from each of their own bodies. Until Shantal pulled away again. She was the one who first broke the contact for the second time around. At first, her face was blank. It was not showing any hint of emotion other than just being cold in plain sight so Alex was worried for a second. But then, it did not take that long before Shantal's expression started warming up. She smiled and insinuated to Alex about how they should not lose hope."We still have time until the next board meeting."Right after saying that, Shantal looked away and focus her sight staring into a distance and from the side view, she looked like an ethereal fairy that was in deep contemplation. Before he knew it, Alex found himself staring and drowning to her attractiveness. Meanwhile, Shantal could feel Alex's eyes boring
AccidentAlex and Shantal wasted no time and started driving to the location indicated at the email; that was despite the fact that there was no way for them to know for sure how credible the source was.One was because they were not in the liberty of time to waste. They were at their wits end and they have to accumulate as much useful data as they could that they could use to their disposal once Mathilde made its move against them. Besides, Shantal also reckoned that this was the best way to prove Code Zero's credibility. If the other party indeed happened to possess some useful information, then it was a great catch. But if it was proven that the email was a sham, then at least, they have known earlier and prevented themselves from possibly wasting more of their time in the futureIn the car, Alex caught Shantal staring at him while he was busy driving behind the steering wheel."What? Is that f
GHOST TOWN"By the way, did I happen to send you butterflies down there?"Out of nowhere, Shantal threw Alex an unexpected question which caught him off his guard."What are you talking about"Alex tried to feign ignorance when in fact, he obviously knew what she was talking about."Oh come on, I have no idea that you are this cute when blushing."Shantal teasefuly prodded Alex on his ribs and as if she was not yet contented at only doing that, she also started played on Alex's hair; messing around it and on his face, even pinching his cheeks."Hey. Don't distract me while I am driving."Alex said in false sternness so as to interdict Shantal from messing around with him while he drove. He tried to swat her hand away and off his face when the other party was about to touch him again. But h
He's all I needSHANTAL's P o V~~~It was while when I have my head rested against Alex's chest that I came to a realization; having him close to me was good for my mental health. For some reason, knowing that he was around gave me a sense of security. His presence alone give me peace of mind. It was like whenever I am with him, I feel so strong and I could do everything.I don't know if this kind of mentality was healthy for me in a long run. To be honest, I am scared that I might end up too reliant to him. The last thing that I would want to happen was for me to become dependent to another living soul. However, in the meantime, I guess it was not that bad to keep this pace either. Especially at this point where I badly needed some
ALEX's P o V~~~If there was one thing that I could do for the rest of my life, that would be trapping Shantal to my embrace and inhaling her scent.Why would I need drugs if I have Shantal? Her smile alone could send me to bliss and her touch was my ecstasy. I am addicted to her. She was the kind of intoxication that I would never wish to get sober with.I could cuddle her all day long and I swore that I would not get tired of it at all.I can do this all day!In fact, she could ask for all the cuddles and hugs and I would be more than willing to give it all to her. If I had to expend all my energy until its last drop just to sat
Ain't be the reason of our downfallSHANTAL's P o V~~~~I am someone who would not back down without a fight! I would rather have then kill me in the midst of a fight; but I would never not lock horns to whoever or whatever that wanted to stop me and come on my way. No amount of struggles could make me change my mind and weakened my resolve. I would always stand tall in the face of adversity.No matter what the odds, I would see to it to stand for what I believed could be beneficial to me in the long run. There was no way I would allow myself to be the one receiving the shorter end of a stick. If one tried to take advantage of me, then by all means, let the hell break lose because I would rather be the initiator of a turmoil than be silent and let myself get defeated. Because for me, that was the definition of loser.Besides, I would never do
Is he a fluke??? Or do we floutALEX's P o V~~~First and foremost, Shantal and I both knew well enough that we were not at the liberty of time, to begin with. We have no time to waste. As such, as soon as she heard a news from an anonymous informer, she answered to its summon right away.Many might think that we were too naive to listen and believed to whatever some unknown character hiding behind a pseudonym and could not even trust us enough with his or her real identity. However, as of now, Code Zero was all that we could get and the fact that the other party mentioned how they have something that could potentially saved 1096 was just too enticing for us not to take the risk. Code Zero's emergence right at the perfect timing when we needed an additional head the most, might have sounded too good to be true. But I believed in Shantal
When did the change happen?SHANTAL' P o V~~~~I did not know that I am staring at Alex, until he pointed that out to me."What? Is that fascination to see me drive too?"He said with a smug smile pasted on his lips. He might have said it in a roundabout manner, but I could tell base from his facial expression that the fact that he caught me gawking at his wholesome face boosted his ego one way or another. Well, I would not take that away from him. It was true that he was a head turner and his handsomeness could put anyone on a trance."Yes, I must admit that I really find this fascinating."I have no intention of denying it, in the first place. That was why, my reply came shortly after he asked his question. However, my honest answer ended up catching Alex off his guard. I pretended not to see it to save h
"Gosh it's good."Harold said when he got to taste how refreshing the drink was. When he looked at the other two guys, he saw them gesturing to their head but he did not give them much attention."Yes.Sam repeated the same thing with a voice and face devoid of emotion."Something needs fixing."Harold told Sam afterward and so Sam fought back to urge to do and eye roll before replying flatly to him."Okay."This time, Harold noticed that Rico and Michael still keep on doing the same thing so he asked them instead,"What? Is your scalp itchy.""No."The two answered in unison. Jodi on the other hand who was watching all of this farce unfold right before her eyes, could not help but let out a sigh."You sure are made for each other."She said to no one in particular and it was also as seemed she was only talking to herself."Anyway. Michael, I need you to go to Casterly."
"I am right here. Respect my existence."Michael insinuated afterward before he sarcastically added,"Do you guys want be to get you a room instead?""I should not have fallen asleep that night."He muttered to himself as he recalled the night Jodi asked Rico out for a date. He believed that if only he was not asleep that time, then maybe Jodi would also consider dating him.On the other hand, Rico seemed to be out of it and oblivious of him."Lover."The other party mumbled to himself as he observed the tarot card in his hand.'"I did not know this will happen. I feel so lonely."Michael muttered to himself out of despondency and while he was in the middle of self pity. Someone walked into the room.They though the one arrived was some random girl who was in full glam and obviously had just gone to salon for her touch up when it decided to have some coffee."Wow! I told her she would be pretty."
"That robot was sometimes human and sometimes a robot for me and that was why others who can't understand my situation mistakes me as someone who hallucinates and believe a robot as a human just because I am treating it just like one. But for my opinion, my situation was no different from those who loves their pets so much, they even considered them as their child and called themselves as furparents.""My emotions were input into that robot and that person. That is how this miracle happened. That fact completely changed the way I view things. This will be yet another scoop for the reporters present. Nordstorme Corp will go from financing mergers and acquisitions to investing in futuristic industries that involved human sensibilities. Just like what Alpha Tec Inc pioneered years ago.""This is your first change in business strategy in 15 years. Do you have anything mapped out?"One of the reporters raised a question just like what a normal press conference should
On the flip side, just like what Shantal assumed, Mr. Takashi with Mathilde's instruction called for an emergency meeting on that afternood. Which happened to coincide to the time when Shantal will hold her press conference.Moreover, since Mathilde would not be able to make it there since she was still held in prison, her secretary presided the meeting."We shall begin the emergency board meeting."Secretary Ye declared loudly and her voice reverberated in the room. Jiro was also there along with other board members."The agenda is the dismissal of Director Shantal Nordstorme and the cause is as you were all informed. An illness."She continued while everyone was silent and anxiously prayed so they could ever this meeting once and for all. On the contrary, Mr. Takashi was nodding his head on the side and though he was anticipating for this day come.Mr. Takashi nodded his head toward Secretary Ye to signal her to start it once and for
In there, Jodi found a list of shares under her name as well as a soft copy of memorandum of renunciation address to Shantal with her name on it and it was then that Jodi realized that her mom had already long planned about it ahead of the time.As it turned out, Mathilde was thinking of using her influence to oust her cousin out of the position.In addition, inside the flash drive she also found an old email account with records of bunch of emails and it took Jodi more than four hours to go through all of them.But by the time she finished reading the exchange of chats Mathilde had with her hitman, Jodi's eyes was bloodshot.It was unsure if this was cause by her prolong exposure to the screen or if it was exhaustion that was doing this thing on her body, but when she get up from her chair, Jodi balled her hands into a fist.She slammed the door shut behind her back as she left the office and on the screen, the last conversation
It was late in the evening when Jodi received a call out from nowhere. When she checked that registered on the caller ID, she was surprised to see Jiro's name.Truth be told, he was the least person he would expect to contact her. After all, the two of them never talked to each other for ages.Jiro used to be a good friend of hers as well. Just like how she and Shantal were cousins, Jiro and and Zorens were first cousins too so naturally all four of them get to know each other and as a child, they eventually became acquaintances in no time.Besides, since Zoren's parents were a family friend of the Nordstorme they often had an opportunity to hang around during their childhood.However, ever since the day Zoren committed suicide due to the incident regarding the Nordstorme controversy, Jiro also stopped communicating with them.So this made Jodi wonder what had come to Jiro to decide and phone her at this time of the night.But
"In other words, she wants me to become director and cover up all his shortcomings?"Mr. Takashi insinuated after his contemplation. He did not exactly declined the offer this time, unlike before. Although he also did not directly implied that he would do it.Nonetheless, Secretary Ye considered his response as a good sign. At least, the other party was no longer adamant at turning them down.So with the same insinuating manner, she answered him back."That would make it easier for you to do your duties once you become a director. All that was left for you now is to leave Ms. Shantal Nordstrome no other choice but to step down and abdicate the position of board directory to your hands.""Ousting her is not enough. He will just come back. We must make sure he loses the will to come back."Out of nowhere, Mr. Takashi declared with conviction and for a second, the secretary was taken aback by this.One moment, he almost drove her a
"You told Jodi about everything?"Mathilde asked her secretary as soon as the two of them were finally allowed to have some private conversation within the prison hall where she was currently detained. Panic was noticeably present on the other party's face when she raised her question. Meanwhile, the secretary remained silence yet that was all enough for Mathilde to guess her response and not long after that, her shoulders dropped on the side when the realization hit her."I guess she was bound to find out about it sooner or later."She muttered under her breath with despondent undertone.An exasperated sigh escaped Mathilde's lips afterward. But then, she suddenly tenses up when she recalled about something else.Leaning towards the other party all the while grabbing a hold to the iron bars, Mathilde looked around her warily first to make sure that no ears were on them.Only when she confirmed for the umpteenth time that no one was listenin
Adelaine Smith's P o V~~~~While Jodi and I were driving down the road looking for any sign of the robot, I received a call and when I checked who it was, I found out that it was Amanda so I accepted the call right away."Ms. Smith, the robot just got on the bus number 707."I heard her voice telling me the moment it picked her call"Great! Thank you for the information."I replied and not long after that, she hung up on her because I reckoned that it would be best if I could relay this news to the other search parties. In this way they would also know where to start looking. Of course, the first one that I tried to call was my lady boss. However, to my dismay, I was only redirected to the voice call feature of the phone.'The number you have dialed is busy at the moment. Please try your call later or leave a message aft