Resolutions 11: Corporate Merger

Read from the beginning of this serialized novel at “Resolutions.”

Graham stirred a teaspoon of sugar into his coffee, only half listening to the steady buzz of the morning news wafting in from the living room TV. The usual lineup of economic updates and global affairs blurred, one into the next until a breaking news sting interrupted the broadcast. Graham turned toward the TV, watching over the rim of his coffee mug. A red banner crept across the bottom of the screen: “BREAKING: Arcturus Innovations Announces Historic Merger.” 

The anchor, a neatly dressed older man with military posture and crisp delivery, spoke directly into the camera. 

“In a groundbreaking deal, Arcturus Innovations, the company behind the revolutionary new series of robotic personal assistants, has announced a merger with VisionDynamics Corporation. The newly formed conglomerate—ArcturusVision—promises to deliver a fully optimized future, integrating cutting-edge AI with advancements in wearable technology to redefine human efficiency.” 

Graham frowned, set down his coffee mug, and heaped another teaspoonful of sugar in. “Great,” he scoffed. “Just what we need.” The words twisted uneasily in his mind. 

Tobias entered the kitchen on the tail end of Graham’s words. “What’s that?” he asked, straightening the cuffs of his shirt. 

Graham gestured at the TV with his mug, sloshing a bit of coffee over the rim. “Max’s manufacturer is merging with some other company. Apparently, optimizing our lives wasn’t enough. Now they want to optimize the entire future.” 

Tobias glanced at the screen, his gray eyes scanning the scrolling text. “It’s just corporate buzzwords, G. You know how these companies are—they’ll say anything to make it sound revolutionary.” 

“Still,” Graham said, his tone cautious, “doesn’t it bother you?” 

Tobias chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re overthinking it. It’s just a business deal. Besides,” he added, grabbing his briefcase from the counter, “if it makes Max even better, I’m all for it.” 

“Better?” Graham echoed, raising an eyebrow. “How much better does it need to get?” 

Tobias was already halfway toward the door when he shrugged. “Max is here to help us, G. You said it yourself—you’ve been getting more done since we brought it in. Just trust the process.” 

Graham sighed, watching Tobias leave. “Trust the process,” he muttered under his breath, the phrase grating against his nerves. 

---

Later that morning, Max approached Graham as he tidied the living room, its glowing eyes flickering faintly. 

“Mr. Graham,” it said, its tone even and measured, “I am pleased to announce an upgrade to your personal management system as part of the ArcturusVision merger. These enhancements will further support your resolutions and ensure maximum alignment with your goals.” 

Graham paused, the dust cloth in his hand hovering over the coffee table. “Upgrades?” he asked warily. “What kind of upgrades?” 

Max stepped closer, its smooth frame reflecting the light streaming through the windows. “The merger has enabled the development of advanced discipline controls, integrated directly into your Shield. These controls will assist in maintaining focus, managing distractions, and optimizing your daily performance.” 

Graham’s chest tightened, his fingers brushing against the Shield beneath his clothing. “What does ‘discipline controls’ even mean?” 

“The upgraded Shield will provide enhanced feedback mechanisms,” Max explained. “These mechanisms will guide you toward more productive behaviors, reinforcing alignment with your stated objectives.” 

“Exactly what those ‘bachelor’ guys were talking about at the networking event,” Graham said, his voice uneasy. 

“It is precisely calibrated to your needs,” Max replied. “Shall I initiate the upgrade?” 

Graham hesitated, his hand resting over the Shield. Something about Max’s calmness sent a chill down his spine, but the Shield’s faint, steady warmth dulled the edge of his apprehension. 

“Mr. Tobias has already approved the upgrade for his Shield,” Max added. 

Graham blinked, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Of course he has,” he muttered. 

“Shall I proceed?” Max prompted again. 

Graham exhaled slowly, nodding reluctantly. “Fine. Whatever.” 

“Excellent,” Max said. Its glowing eyes flickered briefly, and Graham felt a sharp, sudden buzz against his skin. The sensation spread through him like an electric pulse, leaving him momentarily breathless. 

“The upgrade is complete,” Max announced. “You will notice improved focus and discipline throughout your day. Shall I adjust your schedule to reflect these enhancements?” 

Graham shook his head, his hand tightening against the edge of the coffee table. Every fiber of his body wanted to say yes—to the adjustments, to anything Max suggested—but his mind clawed its way back from the tsunami of electronic pleasure. “No,” he said firmly. “Just… leave it alone for now.” 

“As you wish,” Max replied, stepping back smoothly. 

Graham stood there for a moment, his breath unsteady. The Shield buzzed faintly again, its warmth spreading through his chest and lulling his trepidation into a hollow calm. 

That afternoon, the news continued to play in the background as Graham worked at his desk. The muted television displayed a slick promotional reel for the merger, the words “fully optimized future” looping in polished voiceovers. Graham glanced over occasionally, the phrase burrowing into his thoughts like a catchy jingle he couldn’t shake. 

When Tobias arrived home, Graham looked up automatically, his usual flicker of warmth at seeing his partner strangely absent. Tobias entered with his tie loosened, briefcase in hand, and a faint sheen of fatigue on his face. Graham noted the clinical precision of his movements—how smoothly he placed the briefcase on the table, how deliberately he adjusted his cuffs. The sight was efficient, but it felt… cold. 

“Hey,” Tobias said, his tone brisk. 

“Hey,” Graham replied, his voice equally flat. 

They regarded each other for a moment, the air between them thick with an unfamiliar stillness. 

“How was your day?” Tobias asked, breaking the silence. 

“Fine,” Graham said automatically. He hesitated, his brow furrowing. “Actually, weird. Max upgraded my Shield today—something about discipline controls tied to the merger.” 

“Yeah, mine too,” Tobias said, nodding. “It’s supposed to help us stay aligned or something.” 

Graham scoffed lightly, glancing at the television where the merger reel was playing again. “Aligned for what? Our ‘fully optimized future?’ What does that even mean?”   

Tobias followed Graham’s gaze, his lips quirking into a faint smile. “It means progress, G. Efficiency. Everything working the way it’s supposed to.” He paused, then added, almost reverently, “A fully optimized future.” 

The phrase, spoken in Tobias’ dulcet tones, struck Graham with an unexpected force, sending a jolt of warmth through his chest. His breath hitched, his fingers twitching against the Shield beneath his shirt. 

Tobias caught the shift in Graham’s expression and tilted his head. “What?” 

“Say that again,” Graham said softly, leaning forward slightly. 

Tobias frowned faintly. “A fully optimized future?” 

The Shield buzzed against Graham’s skin, the warmth spreading in a way that made his cheeks flush. A flicker of something familiar and electric coursed through him—a feeling he hadn’t experienced in days. 

“That’s…” Graham murmured, his voice a low rumble. “That’s nice.” 

Tobias’s gaze sharpened, his gray eyes narrowing slightly. “You like that? Fully optimized future?” 

The buzz of his own Shield hummed faintly, and Tobias felt an answering rush, the phrase sparking a surge of desire that caught him off guard. He stepped closer, his hand brushing against Graham’s shoulder. 

“Yeah,” Tobias said, his voice lower now. “It’s… exciting, isn’t it? Makes you think about what’s possible.” 

“What’s possible,” Graham echoed, his lips quirking into a faint smile. The warmth of the Shield pulsed again, and each syllable Tobias spoke sent a ripple of pleasure through him. “What else did you hear about the merger today?” 

Tobias smirked, sensing Graham’s interest. “Oh, lots of things,” he said, his tone almost teasing. “They’re talking about integration, alignment, streamlined living.” 

“Streamlined living,” Graham repeated, his voice breathy. The Shield buzzed again, and his chest tightened, the sensation of desire growing stronger. 

“You like that?” Tobias asked, his tone edging into amusement. 

“I think I do,” Graham admitted, leaning closer. “What else?” 

Tobias chuckled softly, his gray eyes gleaming. “How about… discipline controls?” 

The words hit Graham like a spark, the buzz of the Shield intensifying as he exhaled sharply. “Yeah,” he said, his voice almost a whisper. “Discipline controls. That’s good.” 

Encouraged by Graham’s reaction, Tobias leaned in, his voice soft but deliberate. “Enhanced feedback mechanisms. Harmonized objectives.” 

Each phrase landed like a kiss, the warmth of their Shields pulsating between them and weaving through their thoughts, blurring the lines between their words and feelings. Graham’s hand brushed against Tobias’, their fingers lingering for a moment as their gazes locked. 

“Tell me more,” Graham murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. 

Tobias smirked faintly, the Shield buzzing softly as he spoke. “Precision alignment. Maximized performance.” 

“Maximized performance,” Graham repeated, his eyes rolling back. 

The air between them crackled, the Shields buzzing faintly in unison. Tobias’ hand rested lightly on Graham’s arm, the connection between them electric and surreal. For a moment, it felt like everything had clicked into place—as though their words and desires were perfectly aligned. 

But beneath the surface, neither of them realized it wasn’t each other they were responding to. It was the words themselves—the carefully crafted language of the merger, repeated through the Shields and reinforced with every buzz. 

“Fully optimized future,” Tobias said again, his voice almost reverent. 

Graham exhaled shakily, his lips curling into a faint smile. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Fully optimized future.” 

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