Dahlia- Birth of an AI Read online

  Yeah, that whole paragraph is a bald-faced lie, I totally noticed all of that.

  We slipped into the limo, which took us north through the city, to the posher section of Chicago where I myself had lived most my life. Not that I was rich, my parents were, they were always very clear about that, I had to earn my own way. I didn’t even have a car. Granted, they had paid for my college tuition, my books, my dorm, and my college food card expenses, but I’d needed to get a part time job for spending money.

  So… I guess I was only half spoiled then? Regardless, now that I’d graduated the free ride was over.

  We were silent for most of the ride, and Lia mostly looked out the window. I got the odd impression she was nervous, but then she’d barely met me, was taking me to her brownstone, and no one else would be there for ninety minutes. Maybe she was having second thoughts?

  Either way, I wasn’t an asshole, and despite a few surreptitious looks I knew where the line was, even during a date I didn’t touch without permission, and she was my boss and this wasn’t a date. It wasn’t a thing, at least not for me.

  If she was having second thoughts, she didn’t say anything out loud about it, and her slight but warm smile came back as we pulled up to her home.

  Chapter Two

  The home office was nice, professional. Hard wood desk, floor, and wood shelves that held IT security books as well as the classics of literature. It was nice, and the chair was comfortable as I read through the NDA. She left me in the room for about an hour, which was long enough to go over it. I wouldn’t recommend most people signing an NDA without a lawyer to go over it, but I was familiar enough with them to tell this was a boilerplate NDA, with a couple of exceptions.

  I couldn’t talk about company secrets, techniques, code, any code I developed while hired, and all that usual stuff.

  But when she returned to check on me at around eight-thirty, I had a few questions.

  “Lia, what’s this part about experimental hardware I agree to use and never mention to anyone?”

  My boss nodded, “You’ll have to sign to find out. You can always quit, if you refuse our security measures, but you’ll still be bound by the NDA not to talk about it. Obviously, you’d be fully briefed before using the technology, and could then refuse.”

  I nodded, curious as hell. I guessed it could wait.

  “Medical checkups?” I asked with a raised eyebrow, then answered my own question, “After I sign, and if I don’t like it I can refuse and lose my job… right.”

  I grabbed the Cross pen on the desk, twisted it open, and signed the NDA. I slid the paperwork across the desk and then closed the pen and put it back in the holder.

  She smiled, “Excellent. We don’t use swipe cards for access to our building. They’re bio-implants, cutting edge stuff, and perfectly safe. That’s also why there are medical checkups, obviously we don’t want the implant health judged by a hospital where word would get out. The same technology is used for logging on computers, level of network access, and data access. It’s why social engineering or hacking didn’t work, it’s literally impossible for one of our employees to give away a password. In fact, when the idiots call up saying they’re from tech support and need their password to fix something, all my employees know they’re lying, because we use highly encrypted key pairs for login. Sit down at your desk, and your computer detects the implant and logs you in.”

  Holy shit, kind of like a smartcard, but… more.

  “Alright, does it do anything else?”

  She tilted her head, “Besides building and systems access? That’s not enough? Well, it has the potential to do more, but that’s all we ask of our employees. There are options to hook it up to your own bank accounts, use it for wireless pay systems, and other advancements.”

  “GPS?”

  She laughed, “No, that would be a privacy issue, it also isn’t a bug, audio or video.”

  I raised an eyebrow, “Is that possible?”

  She nodded, “It is, but it isn’t something we need to do. You’ll have it installed tomorrow, or Friday when you go fill in your W-4, other hire paperwork, and get a tour of the building.”

  “Not a GPS or a bug, so what did you mean by other advancements?”

  She said, “Medical monitoring of your health from heartrate to blood pressure, and a number of other health related measurements like blood sugar and the like. But as I said that’s a voluntary service we offer, and the information will only be seen by our doctor, but you aren’t required to submit to that in order to stay employed, just like the banking and payment systems.”

  I nodded slowly, “Great, anything else I should know before the party starts? Or before I go in tomorrow?”

  She shook her head, “Lots to learn about the company of course, but no more caveats to qualify yourself for employment. Is it safe to assume you’re still onboard?”

  I smiled, “Absolutely, can I ask why it does all that other stuff?”

  She grinned, “Sure, it all falls under the NDA. You know Fortress Security is a sub of our parent company, Innovative Solutions?”

  I nodded, “I have heard that, but I don’t know much about the parent company, not that I didn’t look before meeting you for our interview, information is scarce.”

  She smiled, “Call it a test pilot, the parent company will shortly be opening a new sub company called Horizon Biomed Technologies. The implants are a big part of that, and they’ll be able to interface with hospitals and doctor offices eventually, interface with the current med-software databases on the market, as well as hold a comprehensive health file locally. So, your doctor will know what you’re up to with a hospital visit, or if you move, a doctor in a new town won’t have to send for your record history.”

  “That’s fascinating, I’ll help test it, as long as my data stays secure and inside the company.”

  Lia chuckled, “I think we can guarantee that.”

  Yeah, given the world’s hackers failed to penetrate their network, much less read their data, I supposed they… we, could.

  She nodded, “The other three company executives are here, would you like to meet them?”

  I said, “Of course.”

  She said, “They’re in the kitchen, follow me.”

  She led me out of the home office, down the hall, and into the kitchen where I froze. I felt like I’d been shoved into the twilight zone, and it really didn’t compute.

  I mean, I wasn’t a sexist person, I fully respected Lia and she must’ve been doing something right, the company was taking the world by storm. She was gorgeous, young, and beautiful in a girl next door way, but also a CEO. My mind stretched that far easily enough.

  But when I got to the kitchen I felt like I must’ve just walked into the playboy mansion, as I saw the four of them together for the first time. The company’s leadership were all female, all hot in their own way, but the really shocking thing was they all looked not a day over eighteen, and still held the blush of youth on their young and nubile bodies and beautiful faces.

  Lia waved to a five foot four woman, with dark tanned skin, an exotically beautiful face framed by liquid midnight black hair that hung in tight curly ringlets down her body to the small of her back. She had stormy gray eyes. If her face was exotically attractive, then her body was built for sin, with bountiful breasts that were at least a D cup, if not bigger, and a tiny waist that flared back out to her sexy hips. She was more waspish than hourglass. She was wearing painted on jeans and a clingy red t-shirt, obviously the company parties were casual.

  Lia said, “This is Emma Jones, she’s in charge of our medical and security implant division.”

  Emma smiled, and she looked sultry doing it with her exotically long eyelashes and pouty lips, but she wasn’t trying to be sultry, I didn’t think. She just… was, effortlessly so, just standing there. I imagined she was sultry and exuded sensuousness in her sleep.

  “Nice to meet you, Paul. Welcome aboard.”

  Fuck, even her v
oice was exotically hot, phone sex operators the world over would cry themselves to sleep at night if they could hear her voice. Lia’s voice was beautiful too, but more comforting and alluring, than sexpot alluring.

  “Thanks, I’m happy to be here,” I managed to get out without tripping over any words, or otherwise making an idiot of myself.

  Lia waved to the second beauty, who again looked completely different but was a ten in a different way. She was the shortest of the four, at five foot one, and had long bright red and wavy hair down to her ass. Her face had a mischievous beauty with high pronounced cheekbones, a button nose with freckles, and very fair skin. Her eyes were a brilliant green that effortlessly caught and held mine. Her body was petite with soft curves, with the exception of her C cup breasts that looked far too large for her five foot one lithe frame. She also had on a casual red sundress, and black shoes with two-inch heels.

  “This is Bellona Anderson, she’s in charge of our physical building and overall systems security.”

  Bellona said softly, “Paul, it’s my pleasure to meet you finally. Please call me Bell.”

  Her voice was higher pitched than the other two, cute, but not so high it was annoying, quite the opposite in fact. It sounded… sweet and kind, was the best words I could come up with to describe it.

  “The pleasure is mine, Bell. Finally?”

  Bellona blushed, and then explained, “I’m the one that noticed your superior penetration attempts, even if you didn’t get into my systems. I’ve been wanting to meet you ever since, and we’ll be working closely together on the projects you’re assigned.”

  Oh, that made sense. I was also sure I was the only one in the room that noticed the childish IT language innuendo, about failing to penetrate her systems. Usually I wasn’t so crude in my mind, but in my defense I was a little overwhelmed in that moment, surrounded by four beauties that were totally off limits, younger than me, and all tens in different ways.

  I smiled, “Good to know.”

  Last but not least, Lia waved at the third woman who could grace the cover of any teen magazine out there. She had brilliant golden blonde hair that fell in tight curly ringlets down to the small of her back, and the darkest and most vivid blue eyes I’d ever seen outside of colored contacts. She was five foot seven, willowy, with B cups and the lithe curves and the toned legs of a dancer. Her face had an innocent heart shaped beauty to it, added to her lithe body her whole impression was one of wholesome innocence yet devastating beauty.

  Lia introduced her, “Last but not least meet Mia Smith. She’s in charge of our marketing, social networking, and our charitable efforts in Chicago and around the world.”

  Yeah, I could see that, I thought I’d buy anything from Mia, anything at all. She was beyond stunningly beautiful, and had an innocent face that immediately lent credibility, and I hadn’t even heard her voice yet.

  Mia said, “Welcome Paul, I’m sure your presence will enrich our lives and the company.”

  Her voice was rich and warm, but also filled with an innocent authority. It instantly put me at my ease.

  “Thanks Mia, I’m happy to be here, and it’s a pleasure to meet all of you.”

  Lia asked, “Do you want a beer?”

  I smirked, “You just want my honest opinion.”

  Lia’s eyes narrowed while Bellona and Emma giggled.

  I added, “Sure, why not.”

  Bellona winked, and said sweetly, “That’s the spirit.”

  Emma said in her teasing sultry voice, “He’s taking this first meeting better than most,” then looked me in the eyes, “You’re not gay, are you?”

  I laughed, “Nope, just respecting my bosses.”

  And extremely glad they couldn’t read my mind.

  Mia said to Emma, “Behave.”

  Lia nodded, “Not that there’s anything wrong with being gay…” she trailed off.

  Emma rolled her eyes, “Of course there isn’t, my point was… oh, never mind.”

  I took a sip of my beer, it was going to be a long night, and I had eighteen more people to meet. I just hoped my eyes would keep behaving even after I was a little buzzed, all four of them were drop dead gorgeous, to be crude, eights to tens depending on taste.

  I didn’t discriminate my tastes by hair, eye, or skin color, they were all unbelievably hot and young to me, and I reminded myself, in charge of the company and off limits. It was a bit surreal, but I didn’t doubt the evidence of my own senses.

  It was also undeniably strange, their youth more than their looks or sex, I mean. Those latter parts were remarkable, but they didn’t make a difference to me. It was that most successful companies aren’t typically run by eighteen-year-old men or women. But I ignored it, it was my dream job, and I’d be making a ton of money, so what if my employers were a little odd?

  I learned the exotic Emma was kind of blunt, and political correctness was something she obviously just didn’t care about, at all. The sweet and innocent golden blonde bombshell Mia, seemed to be just that as the night went on, sweet and innocent I mean. Bell, or Bellona, seemed to be just as sweet as Mia, but also had a mischievous teasing aspect that matched her mischievous beauty.

  Lia, I had trouble pinning Lia down. She seemed matter of fact one moment, nervous the next, then playful, or sly. I was sure all four women were just as complicated and three dimensional as Lia as well, I just needed to get to know them. I was sure I would, the one thing they all had in common were they were open and friendly in their own ways.

  I had also probably drunk a little too much beer that night, and things were getting a bit fuzzy toward the end of the it. Lia kept plying me with beers, and since she was technically underage, I wondered if it was possible for an adult to be charged with corrupting a minor, when it was the minor getting the adult drunk.

  Anyway, the party was fun, and all the rest of my coworkers were laid back. I did find out I would be spending most of my time with the sweet and teasing Bellona. If my other co-workers had been surprised the company was led by four young ladies who could easily make it as models, they’d long since gotten over it since they’d started at the company.

  It was a relaxed atmosphere and comfortable night, and I felt good about my decision to join the company, not just for the job but the people I’d be working with.

  And… if it all fell through, I could always sue Emma for sexual harassment. Not that I would, but it was an amusing thought, and true enough.

  Lia came over and sat next to me on the couch, “How’s the night going?”

  I replied, “Fantastic. Thanks for the welcome aboard party.”

  I also managed to get my hand to ignore the impulse to reach out and touch her, prove the beautiful CEO in front of me was actually real, and not some surreal fantasy dream I was having back home in bed. I still couldn’t make sense of four eighteen-year-old women running a worldwide and wildly successful company.

  But really, it wasn’t a sexist thing, maybe ageist, but not sexist.

  I shook my head to clear it, or wake up, but nope, she still looked like the proverbial hot girl next door.

  Lia patted my leg, “You drank a lot.”

  I chuckled, “You made me.”

  Lia snickered, “You could’ve said no.”

  I shook my head, “Can’t disappoint the boss on the first day.”

  I was joking, or maybe even flirting a little, the former was fine, I’d have to watch the latter.

  Lia smiled, “Good to know. Still, the party’s ending, and I don’t feel comfortable sending you home in your shape. I have several guest rooms, you can go home to shower in the morning, on the way in to fill out the paperwork and get the implant.”

  Right, the super implant, I really wanted to see the specs and code on that thing.

  “I’m fine.”

  Lia shook her head, “You’re really not. Let’s both avoid a ticket, or jail. Don’t feel self-conscious, it’s happened before, and it’ll happen again.”

  “That�
�s right, you want… umm, okay, I’ll stay. Thanks, I don’t want to be any trouble on my first day.”

  Lia smiled gratefully at my redirect, I’d been about to spill the beans about how she wanted everyone drunk so she could get real feedback, instead of the politically correct crap employees told their bosses in the corporate world to stay under the radar.

  She tilted her head, “This way.”

  I got up and followed her though the house, mostly steadily, but after standing I realized I really had gotten drunk, luckily I wasn’t an obnoxious drunk. I felt a bit wistful, and foolish, when she led me inside a room, and then closed the bedroom door as she stepped out. The bedroom was a decent size, with wood floors, an oak framed queen-sized bed, and night tables. There was a dresser and mirror along the far wall with the window next to it overlooking the small backyard, and my own attached bathroom.

  I stumbled into the latter, and I took care of business, then I went back into the room and passed out on the bed, fully clothed and splayed out on the covers.

  Chapter Three

  I woke up once during the night to make another deposit. Beer was only rented, never owned. I’d made it halfway to the bathroom in a bleary-eyed shuffle before I realized I’d been under the covers when I’d woken up, and in nothing except my boxers. I glanced at the dresser, and I saw the rest of my clothes folded up perfectly and laid out. Not just the pants, shirt, and tie, but my socks too.

  It was bizarre.

  I wasn’t even sure what to make of that, as I took my leak and headed back to the bed. I was a little turned on by the idea of Lia or one of my other hot bosses undressing me, but at the same time I hardly knew them, and the idea creeped me out a little bit. It was also inappropriate, not that I’d have said no to any of them in this life, but I’d been stone cold passed out when it’d happened.