11. Dante
1438 Words
Chapter 11
Dante
Dante Holden had never met a woman he couldn’t charm.
It wasn’t arrogance.
Okay, it was absolutely arrogance. But there was evidence to support his confidence.
At six-foot-four, broad-shouldered and built like someone had designed him specifically to make expensive suits look unfair, Dante got attention everywhere he went. Women noticed him. They always noticed him.
So when Xavier asked him to pick up the new cybernetic secretary from the private terminal, Dante had volunteered immediately.
Mostly because he was a good brother.
Obviously.
And not at all because he was curious about what a custom-built cybernetic woman looked like.
The jet door opened.
Dante straightened his jacket. Then she stepped inside. His smile faltered.
Well.
Fuck.
She was stunning.
She wore a fitted black travel suit, her dark hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders. Her face was almost entirely human, save for the delicate metallic detailing disappearing beneath the skin at her temple and the faint silver circuitry visible along her neck.
Her eyes were a super light grey.
Clear and Far too intelligent.
She looked directly at him.
“Dante Holden?”
“That depends who’s asking.”
“I’m asking.”
He grinned.
“Then yes.”
“I was informed you would be transporting me to Xavier Holden.”
“I am.”
She walked past him and took the seat across from his.
That was it. No smile, No second glance, Nothing. Dante followed her into the cabin.
“Not even going to say hello?”
“I already did.”
“You said my name.”
“That was confirmation of identity.”
He stared at her.
“Right.”
She returned to the tablet in her hands.
“I think we’re going to get along.”
“I don’t.”
Dante laughed.
“I like you.”
“I know.”
He paused.
“You know?”
“I can monitor your facial expressions.”
“That feels mildly invasive.”
“You volunteered to pick me up.”
“That feels unrelated.”
“It isn’t.”
Dante laughed again. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had been this completely unimpressed by him. He poured himself a drink.
“Want one?”
“No.”
“Champagne?”
“No.”
“Something stronger?”
“No.”
“Coffee?”
“No.”
“Water?”
“Yes.”
He poured her a glass.
She accepted it.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
A few seconds passed.
Dante leaned back.
“So. You’re the famous secretary.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have a name?”
“Yes.”
He waited. She continued reading. Dante waited longer.
“Are you going to tell me?”
“No.”
He grinned.
“Okay. I definitely like you.”
“I know.”
He shook his head.
“This is going to be fun.”
“I don’t believe that is your decision.”
“Oh, sweetheart. Everything is my decision.”
She finally looked up.
“Your brother disagrees.”
Dante’s grin disappeared.
“You’ve met Xavier?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know that?”
“I reviewed his profile.”
“Of course you did.”
He studied her. There was something fascinating about the way she spoke. She wasn’t rude, not exactly. She simply didn’t bother with the social games regular humans used to soften uncomfortable truths. Which, Dante decided, made her hilarious.
“So what’s it like?”
“What?”
“Being enhanced.”
“Efficient.”
“That’s not exactly poetic.”
“I wasn’t designed for poetry.”
“Pity.”
“Why?”
“I was going to ask you to write me something romantic.”
She stared at him.
“I can.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
Dante smiled.
“Go ahead.”
She didn’t even blink.
“Roses are red. Carbon is black. My mission is Xavier. Please get out of my way.”
Silence. Dante nearly choked on his drink. She watched him.
“You’re amused.”
“Very.”
“Good.”
He wiped his mouth.
“Okay. You’re definitely coming to dinner with me sometime.”
“No.”
“You didn’t even think about it.”
“I didn’t need to.”
“Dinner isn’t a dangerous activity.”
“My system prioritizes Xavier Holden.”
“I’m aware.”
“I don’t believe you are.”
Dante leaned forward.
“So what exactly happens if you decide you don’t want to work for my brother?”
“I don’t make that decision.”
“Because you’re programmed?”
“Because he is my designated objective.”
Something about the clinical way she said it made Dante’s amusement fade.
“You really can’t deviate?”
“Not from my primary objective.”
“What if someone offers you something better?”
“Define better.”
“Money.”
“No.”
“Power.”
“No.”
“Freedom.”
She paused, Dante noticed.
“Freedom?”
“Is not currently relevant.”
He didn’t like the answer.
Before he could ask another question, she glanced at her tablet.
“You’ve spent forty-three minutes attempting to seduce me.”
Dante’s jaw dropped.
“I have not.”
She looked at the screen.
“Forty-four.”
“You’ve been timing me?”
“My systems monitor behavioral patterns.”
“That is deeply unfair.”
“You’re welcome to stop.”
Dante laughed.
“Okay. Fine. I surrender.”
“Thank you.”
He settled back into his seat for approximately thirty seconds, then he looked across the cabin.
“You know, for someone who can’t deviate from her objective, you seem to enjoy tormenting me.”
Her lips curved.
“Perhaps.”
“There she is.”
“Who?”
“The woman underneath all the machinery.”
She studied him.
Then her expression became strangely serious.
“You should be careful, Dante.”
“Why?”
“You might make the mistake of thinking you understand me.”
His smile faded.
She looked back toward her tablet.
“I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Dante stared at her for a moment.
Then he laughed softly.
“Xavier is going to hate this.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to drive him insane.”
“That isn’t part of my programming.”
“No?”
“No.”
She glanced up.
“But it may be a side effect.”
Dante grinned.
“Oh, I definitely like you.”
“I know.”
The remainder of the flight passed surprisingly quickly. Dante eventually stopped trying to charm her… Mostly.
She spent the hours reviewing information about Xavier, his company, his schedule, his security protocols, and the residence she would soon occupy.
Every question eventually returned to him.
Xavier Holden. Her target. Her employer. Her objective.
Dante watched her quietly.She was funny, Sharp, beautiful without even trying.
And completely unlike anyone he’d ever met.
He’d boarded the plane expecting a little entertainment. Instead, he found himself strangely protective of her. Maybe because beneath all that flawless technology was a woman who was about to walk straight into his brother’s carefully controlled world.
And Xavier had no idea what was coming. Dante glanced at the clock.
“Two hours.”
She looked up.
“Until we land?”
“Yes.”
“You seem disappointed.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
He smiled. “Maybe a little.”
She returned to her tablet. “That’s unfortunate.”
Dante laughed. Then he looked at her again. Were the corners of her mouth turned up slightly?
“Are you excited to meet him?”
Her eyes remained on the screen.
“My systems indicate that I am.”
“And what do you indicate?”
For a moment, she said nothing. Then she looked toward the darkened window.
“I think I’m curious.”
Dante smiled.
“Now that’s interesting.”
“No.”
“What?”
“It’s not.”
“Why not?”
“Because curiosity is permitted.”
She turned toward him.
“Wanting something else would be a problem.”
Dante studied her. Then he leaned back.
“Something tells me, sweetheart, problems are exactly what you’re about to give my brother.”
She smiled faintly.
“I hope so.”
And somewhere ahead of them, Xavier Holden was waiting for the woman who was about to become the biggest disruption his perfectly controlled life had ever known.
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