His Cybernetic Secretary

2. Xavier

The top floor of Holden Minerals belonged to Xavier Holden. Not because the company had given it to him, but because he had earned it.

The walls of his office were made almost entirely of glass, offering a sweeping view of the city far below. Beyond the skyline, transport lines cut through the industrial districts where Holden Minerals processed uranium, gold, platinum, diamonds, and a dozen other resources that had made the Holden name synonymous with obscene wealth.

A billion-dollar empire.

And at its center sat a man who looked as though he had been carved from the same stone his company pulled from the earth.

Xavier Holden didn't look up from the documents spread across his desk. "The Asian delegation lands in forty-seven minutes." His voice was calm, almost bored.

Dante Holden leaned against the edge of the desk opposite him. "Forty-six now."

Xavier's eyes lifted.

Dante grinned.

There were very few people in the world who could grin at Xavier Holden without immediately regretting it. Dante was one of them. Technically, Dante was the elder brother by mere minutes but It had never mattered. To this day nothing had come between them.

They had been born on the same day, within minutes of each other, and their mother had died bringing them into the world. Xavier had never stopped believing that he was responsible, and Dante had spent his entire life trying to convince him otherwise. Neither had succeeded.

"You've read the proposal?" Xavier asked.

"Three times."

"And?"

Dante shrugged. "They want uranium."

"They want access to our uranium."

"Same thing."

"No." Xavier finally leaned back, his expression remained impassive, but his eyes sharpened. "They want access to our uranium, rare-earth deposits, and mineral-processing infrastructure. In exchange, they offer technological patents, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and access to their cybernetics division."

Dante's smile faded slightly.

"AlumiCorp."

"Among others."

That name carried weight. AlumiCorp was one of the most advanced technology companies on the Asian continent. Its work in artificial intelligence, robotics, neural interfaces, and cybernetic enhancement had already begun attracting attention from governments and corporations across the globe.

The first stage of the Holden-AlumiCorp arrangement had already begun.

AlumiCorp needed human subjects.

Holden Minerals had resources.

More specifically, Xavier had resources—and an almost limitless supply of people desperate enough to sell pieces of themselves for money.

Xavier had authorized the expansion of AlumiCorp's cybernetic enhancement trials beyond its own continent, and he had yet to ask for anything in exchange. It was his best bargaining chip, and he hadn't lost a minute of sleep over it.

Why would he?

People did miserable things with their miserable lives every day. If they wanted to gamble their bodies for money, that was their choice. If AlumiCorp wanted test subjects and Holden Minerals could provide them, that was business, and business was the one thing Xavier understood better than anyone.

"You don't care what happens to the subjects," Dante said. It wasn't a question. Xavier's gaze returned to the paperwork.

"I care what happens to the agreement."

Dante sighed. "There he is."

"Who?"

"The human being buried somewhere under all that paperwork."

"There is no human being buried under anything."

"That's depressing."

"It's efficient."

Dante shook his head, his long shag tousling about his eyes. Women adored Dante It was practically a corporate hazard.

He was enormous, broad through the shoulders, handsome in a way that made people stare twice, and possessed the irritating ability to make almost anyone feel comfortable within minutes of meeting him.

Employees loved him, executives trusted him, women wanted him and men wanted to be him. Xavier had once described his brother's greatest talent as being distracting and Dante had simply grinned that stupid lopsided grin the ladies undressed for, considering it a compliment.

The office door opened, their secretary hurrying inside carrying a leather folder. "I'm sorry, Mr. Holden. I have the documents for the delegation." Xavier held out his hand.

She placed the folder in it and briskly walked out. He stood, and opened it, clearly expecting certain documents at the forefront. Silence.

Dante watched his brother's face. Nothing changed. That was usually when people should have started running. Xavier flipped through the papers once. Then again. "This isn't the delegation proposal."

Faster than Dante could blink his brother was moving towards the door. Melissa was a great secretary and had lasted almost 6 whole months, everyone was pleased with the work she did. And Dante really liked teasing her, watching the red creep into her cheeks and chest, that voluptuous chest he would sneak peeks at whenever she was focused on her work. “Whoa, whoa,” he said just as quickly moving to block Xavier’s path, his steps gaining more ground considering he was almost 6” taller than his baby brother. “I’m sure it was an honest mistake, and her first one if I might add,” he said, hands in his pockets, pressed against the door a sheepish look on his face.

The rage on Xavier’s only got worse. “Since when do you care who I keep around?” And then his eyes narrowed. “Maybe you’re the reason she made the mistake in the first place,” he said, low, almost venomous.

Dante just shrugged. “Maybe, little bro,” he knew Xav hated that nickname as much as he hated “Xav”, and prepared for a ribs jab that didn’t come. Xavier just pushed past using the left door, taking only two strides to make it to Melissa’s desk.

“Pack your things and leave your key card at the front desk. You’re done here.” He said coldly, Melissa’s eyes widening and filling with tears.

He then straitened his tie, smoothed his suit jacket and walked back towards his office.

Dante simply gave Melissa a look, mouthing “I am so sorry” as she packed her things into an office supply box. She didn’t even respond, picking up her purse she walked out.

That was the third secretary in a year. He really liked that one. Sighing, Dante headed down to reception to retrieve the candidates folder, inwardly promising himself he would no longer fraternize with the help..