Chapter 9: Dock Seven

Lumen Atelier took up the ground floor of a converted bank in the Pearl District.

The showroom had white walls and white chairs and a row of tall glass cases.

In each case stood a companion unit with a card at its feet.

I had been inside twice.

The first time I'd been shaking so hard that the woman at the desk offered me water.

On Saturday morning I walked up to the same desk and put my hands flat on it.

"I want the delivery log for my order," I said.

The young man behind the desk wore a headset and a name tag.

He looked at my face, and then at the door.

"Ma'am, I'd have to ask the owner."

"Then ask the owner."

He disappeared into the back.

Two clients browsing near the cases watched me over the tops of their glasses.

A tall woman in grey came out of the office, with hair the color of steel wool and a smile built from a kit.

"Ms. Haskett. Is there a problem with your unit?"

"Yes. It has a pulse."

The smile held.

"I'm sorry?"

"I ordered it with the pulse off. It has a heartbeat, a scar and an appetite. It eats scrambled eggs."

One of the clients put down a catalogue.

"Our units are custom," the owner said. "Any variation would be within the warranty. If you'd like to return it, we'll refund the full price."

Keep reading free with an account. Start My Sex Robot Has My Enemy's Face from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.