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

The following day, the apartment was tranquil. Tobias sat at the dining table, sipping a cup of coffee while reviewing Max’s updated schedule on his tablet. He was already dressed in a perfectly pressed gray suit, the subtle pinstripes catching the soft glow of the morning light streaming through the apartment’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Across the room, Max stood motionless near the kitchen counter, its eyes dimmed as if in standby mode. 

Graham shuffled into the room wearing a loose sweater and a pair of joggers. His hair was slightly disheveled, and he rubbed at his hazel eyes, which were still heavy with sleep. “Morning,” he said, heading to the counter to pour himself a cup of coffee. 

Tobias glanced up from his tablet. “Morning. You slept in.” 

“It’s Saturday,” Graham replied, leaning against the table as he took his first sip. 

Max’s glowing eyes brightened as it came out of standby mode. “Good morning, Graham,” it intoned smoothly. “I trust you slept well?” 

“Well enough,” Graham replied, watching Max stand beside Tobias. 

“Today’s schedule has been optimized for maximum productivity,” Max continued. “Would you like a summary?” 

“Not particularly,” Graham said, setting his mug down with a smirk. 

“Tobias?” Max asked, tilting its head slightly. 

“Yes, let’s hear it,” Tobias said, setting the tablet aside. 

“Your day begins with a joint breakfast,” Max began, its tone calm and precise. “I have selected a high protein menu to support physical and cognitive performance. Following breakfast, Tobias has allocated two hours for personal and professional development tasks, while Graham will attend to household maintenance.” 

Graham raised an eyebrow. “What kind of household maintenance?” 

Max turned to Graham. “Laundry, tidying, organizing, and small repairs. I can assist if needed.”  

“You mean chores,” Graham spat. 

“It is not just chores, Graham,” Max said. “It is about creating a more streamlined environment.”  

Graham crossed his arms. “And personal development is what, exactly?” 

Max ignored the edge in Graham’s voice. “Reading leadership books, practicing public speaking exercises, and journaling about long-term goals.” 

Graham looked at Tobias, almost pleading. “So you get to improve yourself, and I get to fold socks? 

“Graham,” Max interjected, “these assignments align with your resolutions. Tobias seeks to maximize efficiency in his professional and personal life. You aim to be a better partner, which includes maintaining a harmonious living environment.” 

“Yeah, harmonious,” Graham retorted. 

Max tilted its head. “Efficiency requires delegation. This distribution of tasks ensures optimal progress toward your stated goals.” 

Tobias nodded, his expression resolute. “See? It’s not about chores versus development. It’s about alignment.” 

Graham sighed. “I thought weekends were for relaxing.” 

“Relaxation has been scheduled for 3 p.m.,” Max replied. 

Tobias chuckled. “See? Max has it all figured out.” 

As the morning progressed, Tobias dove into his personal development schedule with vigor. Max had suggested a series of tasks aimed at sharpening his leadership skills, including an hour of reading from a curated selection of books on management and communication. Engrossed in a sleek hardcover titled The Power of Delegation, his notebook lay open beside him, filled with meticulous bullet points and underlined passages. Occasionally, he practiced phrases out loud, his voice calm but commanding. 

“My team looks to me for clarity and direction.” 

“Let’s circle back once we’ve gathered more actionable data.” 

“Our results speak for themselves, but our potential speaks even louder.” 

Meanwhile, Graham was in the bedroom sorting laundry. The rhythmic motion of folding clothes aided his focus, and he lost track of time meticulously pairing socks and hanging shirts. When he finished, he glanced at the piles of neatly folded items and sighed. 

“Efficiency,” Graham muttered. “More like OCD.” 

Max appeared in the doorway, its glowing gaze tracking Graham’s progress. “You’ve made excellent headway, Graham. The method of folding shirts I showed you has saved an estimated 2.7 minutes on this task.” 

“Great,” Graham said, his tone flat. “That’s 2.7 more minutes I can spend tidying something else.” 

“Precisely,” Max replied, missing the sarcasm. 

Graham walked past Max, exiting the bedroom for the kitchen. “Toblerone, your robot has a one-track mind.” He hoped that calling Tobias by his seldom-used pet name masked Graham’s rising frustration. 

“It’s not my robot—it’s our robot. And you’re the one who said we needed to stay on top of this stuff.” 

“I didn’t think that meant becoming a one-man housekeeping department,” Graham replied. 

Max entered the kitchen and turned toward Tobias. “Tobias, you are scheduled to complete a ten-minute reflection exercise following your reading session. Shall I prepare the environment for optimal focus?” 

“Please do,” Tobias said, closing his book with a satisfied sigh. 

The lights dimmed, and a low, soothing hum emanated from Max’s midsection. He stepped toward Graham with an arm directing him out of the kitchen. 

“If you don’t mind, Graham, Tobias needs solitude to complete his reflection exercise. Please return in ten minutes.” 

“Unreal,” Graham muttered. 

By the afternoon, Tobias had moved on to a journaling exercise Max had recommended. Sitting at the dining table with the sun streaming through the windows, Tobias wrote with careful precision: Long-Term Vision: Efficiency as a Lifestyle. 

Graham emerged from the storage closet, holding a box of old photographs. His hands were coated in dust, and sweat beaded on his forehead. “I found these buried in the closet,” he said, setting the box on the counter. 

Tobias looked up, his gaze flickering between the box and his journal. “What are we going to do with them?” 

“I recommend scanning the ones you wish to keep and disposing of the rest,” Max said. “The space occupied by physical copies of photographs could be repurposed for something more important. Would you like assistance in categorizing the photos, Graham?” 

“No, thanks,” Graham said, clapping the dust off his hands. 

“As you wish,” Max replied. 

That evening, the tension lingered. Tobias seemed energized from his day, his grey eyes alight as he talked about the insights he’d gained from his reading. Exhausted from hours of cleaning and organizing, Graham could barely muster the energy to respond. 

“I’m going to bed early,” he said abruptly, setting his empty tumbler in the sink. 

Tobias glanced at the clock. “It’s not even nine.” 

“Yeah, well, I’m wiped,” Graham replied, heading toward the bedroom. Sitting on the edge of the bed was his hand-knitted blanket. Max must’ve relocated it from the living room at some point during the day. 

Graham couldn’t help but overhear the low murmur of conversation between Tobias and Max in the living room as he slipped under the covers. Graham shifted onto his side, straining to hear the conversation. 

“You have done well today, Tobias,” Max said. “Your dedication to self-improvement is commendable. May I suggest additional exercises to enhance your focus and decision-making?” 

“Of course,” Tobias replied enthusiastically. “What do you have in mind?” 

“A daily meditation practice to strengthen mental clarity,” Max said. “A more structured morning routine, beginning with cold showers to stimulate productivity.” 

“If you say so,” Tobias said. 

“And for Graham,” Max continued, “I recommend measures to increase focus and discipline. His tasks would benefit from stricter adherence to allotted time blocks.” 

Tobias laughed. “I’ve been telling him that for the last fifteen years. Not sure there are any ‘measures’ left to try.” 

“I am programmed to suggest potential courses of action that will help Graham better align with his stated goals. I am confident I can assist him, Tobias.” 

Tobias nodded. “Do whatever you need to.” 

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