Brave New Worlds

urge to punch him. It takes four this time, so I miss hearing yet another version of the "If It Wasn't CraveTech It Would Be Someone Else" speech.
    ". . . anyway, it's all just using the chemistry of cravings," he's saying when I'm calm enough to tune back in. "the fact that you have to buy whatever it is you're craving is an indirect consequence. "
    "An awfully profitable indirect consequence. " I stab at a carrot.
    "Yes, but see, that's the thing: the next big leap in the field is to skip straight to the buying part. We've been doing some promising work with what happens to brain chemistry when avid consumers watch successful commercials. "
    "So you're trying to synthesize a drug that will make people go out and buy MaxWhite toothpaste. "
    "Or a pair of NeoNikes. Or an H5. "
    "Oh my God. "
    He unleashes his Boy Genius grin. "Yeah. Pretty cool, huh?"

    I report for my first day at CraveTech two weeks later. No one mentions that I'm dating the CEO, so I assume it hasn't gotten out. Still, I make a point of flirting back—and being overheard—when the cute young thing from Amazon-FedEx Kinko's makes her rounds.
    I'd told Tom up front that I was applying for the job. He was encouraging, but made it clear he would keep his nose out of it and leave things to Avery. I never see Tom around the marketing department—he seems more interested in making things than selling them, which I find endearing. If only he weren't making such awful things.

    I flop down on Sandra's futon, narrowly missing a cat.
    She puts mugs of tea on the table while I fish an envelope out of my shoulder bag. When she sits down next to me I place the envelope in her hands.
    "Information," I say, "and lots of it. " She takes the data card out of the envelope and peers at it as if she can actually make sense of what it contains.
    "This is all of them?"
    "All the formulas set to come out over the next six months. I've included a release schedule so you'll know which ones will be hitting the street first. "
    "The counter-formula team is gonna love this. "
    "They'd better. That little card represents a month of my life spent smiling at banalities and pretending to care about other people's kids. "
    "So you're ready to quit. " She sounds relieved.
    "I'd love to, but I don't think I can just yet. I still haven't found anything about this BeMod stuff. Tom keeps going on about it, but as far as I can tell it hasn't surfaced in R&D. "
    "Isn't it weird that he seems so serious about BeMod but you can't find it at CraveTech?"
    I laugh. "So you think he has some other lab where he's developing chemicals he can use to rule the world?"
    "Maybe not rule the world. . . just make a shitload of money, which is close enough. "
    "You're serious, aren't you?"
    She shifts uncomfortably on the futon. "It just seems like he's been awfully specific about this BeMod stuff, and it hasn't turned up where you'd expect it. "
    "So what are you suggesting?"
    "I think it's time you broke up with him, and maybe quit CraveTech, too. "
    "But if this BeMod stuff is in development somewhere, we'll need to get our hands on it and start on a counter-formula as soon as we can. "
    "That's true. "
    "And how do we do that if I don't keep seeing him?"
    The cell leader finally overcomes the college buddy. "Just be careful. Don't get too attached to him. "
    I pick up the data card, two gig worth of corporate espionage. "Does this seem like I'm too attached?"

    I arrive at Tom's place in a foul mood. He doesn't notice. Dangerously oblivious .
    We're still in the foyer when he starts in about BeMod.
    "I read a fascinating study on endorphins today. Apparently you can stimulate—"
    "Can we please talk about something other than biochemistry?" I drop my bag on the floor.
    He looks surprised and a little hurt. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was boring you. "
    "You're not boring me. " I reach for his hand as we head into the living room. "I just think we have more in common than an interest in BeMods and DC Comics. " I haven't gotten around to telling him I prefer Marvel.
    He stops and pulls me back toward him. "I love you. "
    "See, there you go—I love me, too. Something else we have in common. "
    "Oh for God's sake," he sighs, collapsing on his down-filled couch. "I'm trying to be serious. "
    "I know. " I sit down next to him. "I'm sorry. I just need a little more time. "
    "Okay. A little more time," he says, kissing my forehead and then my neck.
    It's so easy to kiss him back.

    The next time I