His Billion Dollar Contract

Prologue

"Good morning, Alejus."

My artificial intelligence robot or AI robot greeted me as I walk down the stairs.

"G'morning, Plinth." I greeted back at him.

"Your breakfast is ready. I already prepared your favorite green tea and Argentinian meat. Enjoy."

Suddenly, I stopped from walking and looked at the dining area where my meals are all set.

"Plinth, you know that I'm gonna be late right?"

Hindi siya umimik at tinignan ko na lang siya ng masama. The robotic sound surrounds the living room.

"I am sorry, Alejus." He apologized in nervous tone.

"Tss." Umiling ako. I must punish him but I can't because I'm running late for the meeting.

"Are you having an emergency?"

He started panicking again. This AI robot is confused about human feelings. Hindi ko pa kasi naeencode ito sa kanya at kailangan pa namin ng subject for that algorithm.

"Plinth, I'm running late for a meeting and that meeting is very important. I have no time to explain to you how I feel. Just fix the meals. I'm leaving." I discussed.

"I am sorry, Plinth. Take care." His robotic voice surrounds the room.

Naglakad na ako palabas ng main door and tap my right hand on its biometrics. Bumukas ang pinto at nakaready na din sa labas ang sasakyan ko.

I'm hell of a high-tech. I invented Plinth for household companions or what you call househelp and now we'll gonna develop Plinth's prototype. I'm a computer engineer who develops AI for the betterment of the world.

When I arrived at the building, they all looked at me. Tss. Whenever I enter this building, everybody is looking at me and they seem like nervous. Well, they should be.

I rode in my private lift and a few minutes I got in the room.

"Alejus!" Siarra clang up on me and greets. "You are late. How come?"

Nahinto ako sa kakalakad going to my table at hinarap siya.

"I know that I'm late. H'wag mo nang ipamukha."

I walk towards my table and put my bags on top of it. I lossen my neck tie because it's too fit.

"Don't talk to me like that again, Alejus."

Pinandilatan ko siya ng mata and just focus on my attention turning on my macbook.

"Instead of arguing with me like that, why don't you introduce me to our subject?" I gritted my teeth while still looking at my laptop.

"Fine. She's here."

"What?"

I ask in disbelief.

"I said she's here. Let me introduce her to you." Siara's irritated voice roamed around my office.

And before I could speak, the door from a private entrance to my office opened and a young tall lady, dress in white, with a pale-white skin, wearing her heels and red lipstick came out. Kumunot ang noo ko and look at Siara and she's smiling wide at her.

Humawak ako sa sintido at tumayo, thinking to stop my big sister being involved in this contract. She shouldn't be here.

"Hi," she speaks.

Oh, okay. Her voice is kinda angelic and her face too. She looks very young and innocent. Damn it. How can I work with that?

Lumapit na ako sa kanila and Siara just introduce her to me. We shook hands. Naupo kaming magkakaharap sa mahabang mesa sa loob ng office ko and Siara just smiled at her.

I cleared my throat.

"Alright. I'm sure we're gonna discuss about the contract immediately. This will be quick because I have a meeting to attend to." My big sister told as she prepares the paper works for me.

"Siara, can I talk to you for a sec?"

Tumingin siya sa akin ng naiinis at bumuntong hininga. Tumayo na lang ako tsaka sumunod siya. We walk far away from the woman she brought to me.

"Are you crazy? She is she." I shrug my shoulder. She throw me a serious and irritated look.

"Of course she is she, Alejus. Stop being feminist. She's intelligent." Pinandilatan niya pa ako tsaka tumingin sa malayo.

"She's intelligent? Why did she agree with this if she's intelligent? You know the consequences, right? And you recruit her to this?" I argued. I would say that she looks intelligent, really. But she shouldn't agree with this whoever she is.

"My god, Alejus! She got nothing to lose, okay?! Women have strong emotions than men so she's best for the subject. You better stop being feminist and start working with your project! Come on." Mahihina niyang pagalit.

"Plinth won't work with her." I whimpered. She started walking back to her.

"Plinth is different. Come on."

Wala na akong nagawa kundi ang bumalik sa upuan at harapin ang babaeng nakuha niya kung saan. I never expected that our subject is a woman. Hindi niya sinabi na babae pala ang kinuha niya.

Siara is my big sister. She's not biological. Ampon ako. She got me when I was eight and ready to take my life and end it but she saved me and become my guardian angel that time. And now, she's being the devil to me.

"Alejus? Hey? You there?"

I was taken aback when she talks.

"Oh, yeah. What about it?"

Naayos ko pa ang kwelyo ko at umayos ng upo and looked at the woman. Nakalimutan ko agad ang name niya because all I think that she shouldn't be here.

"Let's begin discussing about the contract." Siara announced.

"Johanna, are you ready?"

I looked at her.

Johanna. A very bright and unique name for a woman like her.

She looked tense and nervouse as she lift her head to nod.

Damn it. I'm very detail about her. What is wrong with me?

"Alright. Clause number one." My sister Siara started. "The contract must be private. You, Alejus, and me are the only ones who know about it. The contract should not be discussed publicly."

She swallowed and bite her lower lip. Damn it. I should be getting out of this room now. I know it won't work.

"Alejus, focus."

"Alright."

Hindi na ako umimik at nanatili na lang na nakaupo habang nakikinig sa binabasa ni Siara kahit pa naiinitan na ako sa hindi ko malamang dahilan. It felt really hot when I know the ac is on.

"Alejus and the subject, Johanna, must stay in Alejus' high-technology mansion in two months for the project development. Alejus and the subject, Johanna, must work according to the rules."

Yeah, that's why I don't wanna do it with her. I don't wanna lose the pair of her almond brown eyes in her angelic face.

"The contract should be done in two months." After reading it, Siara focused her attention to me.

"Alejus, there's no turning back. I know you won't failed me and the Corporation. You must done it especially we're involved here and it's a billion dollar contract."