Tag: Resolutions (Page 1 of 2)

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. 

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

The hum of conversation ebbed and flowed across the hall, punctuated by laughter and the clinking of glasses. Tobias stood among the suited men, his posture increasingly relaxed and confident. At the same time, Graham lingered at the edges of the crowd, his unease growing with each passing moment. With every step he took, the event felt more like a performance, the camaraderie between the men polished and hollow, their smiles too sharp to be genuine. 

“Tobias, Graham,” Max said, stepping forward, its glowing eyes fixed on them. “To further reinforce alignment and harmony, I recommend a public display of partnership. A shared gesture will signal your unified commitment to progress.” 

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

The second Tuesday of the new year dawned cold and gray. Graham sat on the edge of the sofa, scrolling idly through his phone, his lips pressed into a thin line. His group chat, where his friends joked and gossiped about everything from work to weekend plans, was conspicuously silent. 

A pang of guilt festered in his gut as he thought about the brunch Max had canceled, but every time he tried to type an explanation, his Shield buzzed, stalling his thoughts like a broken-down car. 

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

On Saturday morning, Tobias moved through the kitchen like a man on a mission, cracking eggs and buttering toast with a mechanical focus. He barely noticed Graham fumbling at the coffee machine, his movements slower and less confident. 

“Tobias,” Max’s voice cut through the quiet hum of the kitchen, “please reduce whisking intensity by 10% to ensure optimal egg consistency.” 

“Noted,” Tobias replied instantly, adjusting his motion. 

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

By the time Friday evening arrived, the first full week with Max felt like a lifetime compressed into a blur of schedules and precision. For Tobias, it had been a revelation. His mornings now began with an unshakable sense of purpose, each day ticking along like the inner workings of a finely tuned watch. His productivity at work had skyrocketed, thanks partly to Max’s recommendations for streamlining his routines. 

For Graham, the adjustment had been more grueling than revelatory. Each day, Max meticulously laid out his tasks: laundry, cleaning, organizing, and preparing small supportive gestures for Tobias. The schedule felt overwhelming at first, but by midweek, Graham couldn’t deny the results. Surprisingly, Max’s insistence on allocating exactly 45 minutes for Graham’s creative freelance work had been spot on.