Page 24 of Fake It For Glory

JENSEN

Istepped into the dimly lit private club, the soft hum of conversation and clinking glasses filling the air. The place had an air of exclusivity, the kind of spot where you needed a secret handshake just to find the bathroom. The scent of expensive cigars wafted through the air.

The club had a cigar room, and while there were air purifiers throughout the lounge area, it was still present. It was part of the ambiance of the place.

Only a select few were allowed membership in the club. Either you had to have money, which was my case, or you had to come from money. There was an actual pedigree request.

The lounge had no windows. It added to the mysteriousness of the place. It took my eyes a second to adjust. I scanned the lounge area that was set up with overstuffed chairs and couches. I didn’t see Christian and turned my attention to the table area to find him.

Spotting him at the corner table, I made my way through the crowd. Christian, with his signature goofy smile. He was staring at his phone, telling me he was texting someone. I slid into the plush leather chair across from him.

“Am I interrupting?” I asked dryly.

He grinned and put his phone away. “Nope.”

The waiter approached, and we placed our drink orders. As we waited for our beverages, Christian leaned in with a mischievous glint in his eye. “So, I’ve been hearing some wild stuff about this Lox AI program you’ve got cooking up. You’ve been keeping busy, huh?”

I chuckled, leaning back in my chair. “You know me, always working on something. But yeah, Lox has been my baby for a while now.”

Christian’s curiosity was palpable. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “I’ve heard it’s the next big thing, man. Everybody’s buzzing about it. What’s the deal?”

I couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. I was proud of my project. “Well, let’s just say Lox is going to change the game, Christian. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”

He raised an eyebrow, a sly grin forming on his face. “Can you give me a little taste, or is it all hush-hush?”

I laughed, shrugging it off. “I wish I could spill all the beans right now, but we’re keeping it under wraps for a little while longer. Trust me, though, it’s going to be worth the wait. I don’t want to release it until it’s absolutely perfect. I don’t want to be the guy having to explain bugs and issuing forced updates to fix what should have been handled before it ever hit the market.”

“I get it,” he said. “It’s cool. To be honest, that whole AI thing freaks me out a little.”

“It’s not scary,” I said with a laugh. “Robots are not going to take over the world.”

Our drinks arrived and we both took greedy sips before I went back to the topic at hand. “But seriously, Christian, Lox is going to be revolutionary. It’s not just another AI program. It’s an interactive experience. You can talk to it, ask questions, and it will respond like a human being.”

Christian’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No way. That’s insane.”

“It is,” I said, excitement building in my chest. “And that’s not even the best part. Lox is designed to learn from its interactions and improve over time. It’s like having a personal assistant that actually understands you.”

Christian leaned back in his chair; his mind clearly blown. “Damn, man. I can’t wait to see it in action. You really outdid yourself this time.”

I grinned, feeling a rush of pride. Christian was one of the toughest critics I knew, so his praise meant a lot. “Thanks, man. It’s been a lot of hard work, but I really think it’s going to be worth it. What about you? You’ve been off the grid the last couple of weeks.”

His face lit up and I knew what was coming my way. “I’ve been seeing a new lady lately. She’s something else.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh yeah? What’s she like?”

Christian loved women. I didn’t think he had ever met a woman he didn’t like. He fell in love every other week. We couldn’t be more different when it came to the dating world. He was outgoing and easy to talk to. He had the one thing I lacked—charm. It came so easy to him.

Christian let out a hearty laugh. “You know how I like a little adventure in my life, right? This girl, she’s a real firecracker. I met her at a buddy’s birthday party out in Montana a few months back. She’s got that wild spirit you’d expect from a Montana girl.”

I couldn’t help but grin, picturing the scene. “A Montana cowgirl, huh? Sounds like trouble.”

He nodded, his eyes lighting up with a mix of excitement and bewilderment. “Trouble and then some! She’s hell on wheels, Jensen. I mean, she’s the kind of girl who’d challenge a tornado to a wrestling match and win.”

I chuckled, genuinely curious now. “Is this the one?”

“I wouldn’t say that, but she’s definitely something,” he said, grinning.

“Tell me more.”