Birth of Adam (Artificial Intelligence Book 2) (8 page)

“That was your doing,” Amanda insisted.

“Actually, it was because you had a better mic. They’ve been giving you an old, dead mic that only picks up about half your voice.”

“Yes!” Jules said in exasperation. “I’ve been perplexed about why she sounded substantially better tonight. That’s exactly why. Her tones were considerably deeper!”

Amanda sighed. “You know—I would have been happier believing it was just you.”

“But it proves my point,” Jules scolded. “You need to get along with others. We should start with you rooming with the other girls.”

“I strongly recommend against it,” Mark said. “The probability of Amanda making friends with those particular girls is very slim. They intensely dislike her.”

“Do I even know them?”

“You have a history class with one of them, Amy.”

“Oh, her. Yeah, there won’t be a friendship there.”

“Casey and Carol were at the party you called in. Their parents took away their cars and they came damn close to losing their grants.”

“They would have preferred I let them die?” Amanda shook her head in disgust. “Well, I’m not making friends with idiots who are pissed off because I saved their lives from their own stupid actions. And what about the other girl?”

“That would be Beth, my ex-fiancée,” Mark replied.

“Why does she hate me?”

Mark grimaced. “She blames you for our breakup.”

Jules had been quiet until now. “I thought you said nothing was going on between the two of you.”

“There isn’t, but not for the lack of trying on my part, and Beth noticed I was trying. Worse, she could see this wasn’t just one of my screw-arounds, so she broke the engagement and told me to kiss off.”

“And you didn’t think I should know about that?” Jules demanded.

“I called you the day Beth broke up with me,” Mark reminded him.

“Yes, I know that. What I meant was, didn’t you think I would want to know Amanda was the reason Beth broke up with you?”

“It’s not Amanda’s fault. It’s not like she gave me the least bit of encouragement. Far from it.”

“It doesn’t really matter.” Jules glared at Amanda. “You need to make friends with Beth. And you and Mark cannot be roommates!”

Mark cringed. “You might want to lower your voice a bit.”

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me Beth received a grant and, more to the point, how did she receive a grant?”

“She’s a last minute replacement for Ellen Sims.”

“What happened to Ellen?” Jules asked, suddenly very worried.

“She kind of lost it this week and tried to kill herself,” Mark replied in a voice so low that Jules had to lean forward to hear.

“And that’s why I don’t count on talent until it has seasoned,” Jules declared with anger. “What a damn waste!”

He glared at Amanda. “You will room with Beth and become her friend.”

“Well, she broke up with Mark, which means she has some sense, so I’ll give it a try,” Amanda replied.

Mark shook his head and sighed.

When Jules arrived at Amanda’s dorm the next day, he discovered the driver from the night before carrying boxes into the dorm. He asked the security guard which room was Amanda’s, and the man handed him several boxes as he stated her room number.

Upon a loud kick on the door, Amanda rushed to the door and opened it to a deliveryman. She removed the top box and laughed when she saw it was a very angry Jules Bavard. “Have you taken up moonlighting for UPS?”

“No, but evidently your driver from last night has. What the blazes is going on here?”

“Well, Adam believed my wardrobe was unacceptable for European tastes, so he ordered me more clothes than the plane can carry. My instructions are to remove them from their boxes and place them in the trunks, and he’ll see they’re delivered to my rooms in France. Thank God Claire has already gone home for the summer, or there would be no room to remove the boxes and sort the clothes.”

Andrew entered with another load of boxes. “That’s all in the truck, but there must be more, because none of these appear big enough to be trunks.”

“I hope there aren’t more,” she replied and searched the boxes. “Open that box and see if there’s a trunk inside needing to be built.”

Andrew shook his head but did as she asked.

Removing the final boxes from Jules’ hands, she smiled. “Do you have a contract for me?”

“Sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

“Well, I seriously hope you didn’t have me change my age and memorize all that stuff about Doskoff for nothing!”

Jules handed her the contract and told her where to sign. She unstapled the contract and fed it through her printer/fax machine. She returned to opening boxes and placing clothes on Claire’s bed and putting packing materials in one corner and empty boxes in the other.

Jules walked to her closet and studied her sweaters and jeans. “Is this your old wardrobe?”

“Yep.”

“What do they call this? Vintage Wal-Mart?”

He turned his attention to the pile of new clothes.

“If you have any complaints about my new stuff, talk to Adam. He is now responsible for seeing me fashionably dressed.”

“These are acceptable. However, once you’ve signed the contract, I will decide what you will and will not wear.”

“Are you buying my clothes for me?”

“No, but you will purchase what I say.”

Amanda laughed. “Don’t count on that remaining in the contract, because I think Adam likes his new job.”

“It’s Saturday. You’re never going to get a lawyer to review it in time. Besides, I do not negotiate. My contract is final.”

Amanda walked over to her laptop and printed off the revised version of the contract. She handed it to Jules. “Adam is a fast reader,” she explained. “Here are his revisions. Hopefully your lawyer works on weekends.”

Jules glanced through the pages and the myriad changes. “Give me Adam Webb’s phone number.”

Jules’ phone rang. When it appeared that he planned to ignore it, Amanda told him it was probably Adam calling him. He answered the phone, then left the room.

Amanda was helping Andrew unfold the compactable trunks when Jules stormed back into the room.

“Your ‘friend’ is just about to ruin your promising career before it begins!”

Amanda continued working on the trunk. “I’m very sorry to hear that.”

“Stop playing with the damn box and attend to your future!”

Amanda sighed and looked at him. “Can you truly not accept the changes he made to the contract?”

“No, I cannot!”

She rose and approached him, taking his hand in hers and leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. “Well, I am honored you wanted me.”

“That’s it? You’re going to throw your career away just like that?”

“There’s only one person in this entire world I am certain puts my welfare before anything else, and that’s Adam. He knows how much I want a career, but he also knows what I need to be happy. The only person I will ever give control of my life to is Adam. However, he is most reasonable to work with and very helpful. For example, he’s already changed my age, and I even have a new passport and driver’s license. Will you not at least try working with him?”

“Get him back on the phone,” Jules said.

Jules’ phone rang, and he stormed into the hall to continue negotiations.

Andrew smiled at her. “First trunk is ready for packing.”

She started to dump the clothes into their new home and was immediately scolded by her phone.

“Shouldn’t you be negotiating with Jules right now?”

“Another part of the program is doing that. I’ve got the more difficult job of teaching you how to pack.”

His British tones resonated so beautifully, she almost melted.

Under his precise instructions, Amanda carefully rolled her new clothes and packed them so that every space of the trunk was utilized. She was exhausted when she finished packing the second trunk. Lying down on the bed, she sighed with relief. “Nap time.”

She woke to an earthquake—an annoyed earthquake.

“Print off a copy of this contract and let’s sign it,” Jules ordered.

She smiled, and he yelled at her. “You will never allow anyone to see this contract, and if you do, I will drop you in a heartbeat.”

Adam spoke through her ear bud. “He can’t do that, but allow him to bluster a bit.”

“Yes sir,” she replied, then kissed Jules on the cheek. “I’m still happy you’re going to represent me. Even though you are very grumpy, I like you, and I believe you care about making great musicians, not just famous ones.”

She printed off two copies of the contract, signed both, and handed them to him.

He signed the contracts as well, and she asked Andrew to witness.

Andrew not only witnessed but notarized them as well.

“Why would you be a notary?” Jules demanded.

“I guess so I could witness the contract,” Andrew replied. “I’ll go get a cart for these trunks, Miss Amanda, and take them on over to the airport so we don’t have to worry about them tomorrow.”

Jules waited until Andrew had left. “That is not a hired limo driver!”

“You may be right. Adam may have retained him full time after he did such a nice job last night. He probably doesn’t live in the ghetto anymore either. Will that cause a problem with his son’s scholarship?”

“Probably,” Jules said. “Which is why, no matter how well-intentioned your friend is, he can still make mistakes for which you—or in this case Andrew’s son—will have to pay.”

Adam assured her Andrew’s son Martin had a new scholarship, which would pay for his family to accompany him to France to train at the same school she’d be attending.

“You’re an amazing person!” she said aloud, then realized Jules thought she was talking to him. “I’m glad you’re going to help guide my career.”

“Before you arrive in France, I want you to read the original contract I gave you, because to all appearances I need you to follow that one.”

“I’ll read it,” she assured him, and walked him to the door.

***

Amanda had just collapsed from exhaustion, face down on her bed, when Adam informed her she had more company.

“Send them away!”

“I would if I could, but Andrew has gone in search of a cart, and I don’t think you want me to ask security to throw this unwanted guest out. It would probably make the evening news.”

Amanda rolled onto her back just as the door opened and Chad entered, closing the door and locking it behind him. He removed his baseball cap and smiled. “Surprise!”

Her heart lightened at the sight of him. “It certainly is! Come and have a seat anywhere you can find it.”

He stared at the mound of boxes occupying most of the room. “It looks like a war zone in here.”

“Last-minute shopping for my summer in Europe.”

“Aren’t you supposed to wait and shop over there?”

“I won’t have time. I’ll be working too hard on my music. So what brings you here?”

“I had a promotional gig in Norfolk and thought I’d drop in and see how you were doing. You look...tired.”

“I am. I went to a recital last night and ended up singing with a superb violinist in the encore, then we went out for a late dinner to celebrate, and now I’ve got the best agent in the industry representing me.”

“That’s great,” he said without interest. “Sounds like things are turning around for you.”

“Life looks good at the moment,” she replied, and yawned.

“I should let you sleep,” he said, and walked to the door. He unlocked the door and pressed his head against it. “I’ve got good news, as well. I’m getting married once the season is over.”

“Wow!” she said. “That’s great. What’s she like?”

“She’s beautiful and classy. Everything a man could want.” He smiled. “She’s a classic debutante with helmet hair.” His smile faded as he stared at Amanda. “There was a time I hoped you and I could... But the hard fact is our lives aren’t compatible. I need a woman who likes the limelight.”

“And she does?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Then she sounds perfect for you.”

“Don’t,” he snapped.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t act like you don’t care.”

“Would you feel better if I cried?”

“I shouldn’t have come. I should have told you in an email.”

“Well, I’m glad you came and told me in person. Later, when you think back on this, you’ll be glad you came as well.”

“I hope so,” he replied. “Because right now I just feel like shit.”

“Don’t. You’re right. Our lives are incompatible. You’re retiring and I’m just starting out.”

“Great. Make me feel like I’m a hundred years old,” he complained.

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

He returned to her and pulled her into his arms, kissing her with hard and angry passion. She pushed against his chest to break the kiss, but he was too strong.

When he finally pulled back, he seemed sad and miserable. Not the happy, soon-to-be married fellow he claimed. “Let me love you one more time.” He tried to kiss her again.

She turned her head away and pushed against his chest. “No, stop.”

“Amanda, please!”

“Let me go! I don’t want this. Let me go!” she cried, angry she lacked the strength to stop his hands from unbuttoning her jeans. “Stop it, Chad, I’m saying no! Stop it!”

Finally, her words seem to register, and he stepped away from her just as Mark entered the room. “Leave her alone!”

Chad barely seemed aware of Mark’s presence. Instead he focused on Amanda. “I just wanted to give you something to remember me by.”

“By raping her?” Mark demanded, and ran to Amanda. “Are you okay?”

Amanda leaned into Mark’s arms. “This is my boyfriend. You need to go now. If it’s any consolation, now I wish you hadn’t come. Why couldn’t you let us end well?”

“That’s what I was trying to do,” he said, and stormed out of the room.

“Son of a bitch,” Mark yelled with belated bravery. He sat her on the bed, gathering her into his arms. “You need to take self-defense lessons.”

Before she could agree, he burst into tears. “I’m so sorry!” He buried his face against her shoulder. “I’m so sorry I forced you against your will. When I heard the fear and panic in your voice and came in to find that bastard trying to remove your clothes, all I could think of was what I’d done to you.”

“It’s all right,” she whispered, and petted his silky, blond hair. “Everything’s all right now.”

“It’s not all right. I want to make it up. How can I make it right?”

“Just lie down and hold me,” she said. “Just hold me.”