Chapter 12 #3
As they ate in companionable silence, Ryland kept glancing at his laptop bag with an oddly furtive expression.
"Something on your mind?" Stephen asked finally.
Ryland hesitated, then reached into his bag and extracted a neatly folded piece of paper. "I've been conducting research," he said, sliding it across the table.
Stephen unfolded it to find a meticulously organised flowchart titled "OPTIMAL RELATIONSHIP PARAMETERS." Below the title, in smaller text: "(For Strategic Non-Denial Implementation)."
"You made a flowchart," Stephen said faintly. "For our fake non-relationship."
"With decision trees for various social scenarios we're likely to encounter," Ryland confirmed, apparently missing Stephen's tone entirely.
"I've included contingency protocols for unexpected situations and optimal response patterns based on established relationship dynamics within corporate environments. "
Stephen scanned the document, his disbelief growing with each bullet point:
- Public Interaction Protocol: Maintain physical proximity of 0.5-0.75 metres in shared spaces. Occasional brief physical contact (duration: 2-4 seconds) at transition points (e.g., arrivals, departures).
- Communication Framework: Eye contact frequency increased by 27% above baseline. Utilise personal references in conversation ("how was your evening?" etc.) when others are within audible range.
- Lunch Algorithm: Share meals 2-3 times weekly in visible locations. Optimal days: Tuesday, Thursday, potentially Friday.
- Emergency Response Plan: If confronted directly about relationship status, deploy deflection strategies rather than explicit confirmation or denial. See Appendix C for scenario-specific scripts.
Stephen looked up to find Ryland watching him, very still. "Is it inadequate?" the alpha asked. "I consulted several peer-reviewed papers on relationship psychology and added appropriate modifications for our specific circumstances."
Something warm bloomed in Stephen's chest, a peculiar tenderness he hadn't expected to feel.
Because Ryland hadn't just created a tactical plan.
He'd put actual thought and research into how to make this arrangement work for both of them, complete with careful boundaries and consideration for Stephen's comfort.
"It's not inadequate," Stephen said. "It's actually rather sweet."
Ryland's brow furrowed. "Sweet is a subjective qualitative assessment that lacks precise parameters. I was aiming for 'comprehensively practical.'"
"Well, you've achieved both." Stephen carefully refolded the paper. "Though I think we can probably manage without consulting the flowchart for every interaction."
"Improvisation introduces unnecessary variables," Ryland pointed out. "The flowchart ensures consistent behavioural patterns that will reinforce the narrative without requiring explicit falsehoods."
"I appreciate the ethical distinction," Stephen said. "But perhaps we could simplify? Just act like we're comfortable with each other. Which we are, actually."
Ryland considered this, his head tilting. "That's unexpectedly straightforward. Comfort suggests natural behavioural adaptation rather than performative approximation."
"Exactly." Stephen nodded. "Just be yourself. With perhaps slightly more tolerance for my presence in your personal space."
"I find your presence in my personal space significantly less disruptive than 97.
3% of the human population," Ryland said matter-of-factly.
"Your movement patterns are predictable, your scent is non-irritating to my olfactory processing, and your conversational content has a high signal-to-noise ratio. "
Stephen bit back a smile. "I think that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."
"That seems statistically improbable given your evident intelligence and physical attributes." Ryland paused. "That was another compliment, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Stephen confirmed. "It was."
Ryland nodded, filing this away. "I should return to the lab. Liv texted seventeen minutes ago to inform me that the calibration process has reached a 'critical juncture,' which typically means she's modified the experimental parameters without authorisation again."
As Ryland gathered his materials, Stephen noticed several colleagues watching them with undisguised interest. He reached out and briefly touched Ryland's wrist, just above his watch.
"See you later?" he asked, pitching his voice just loud enough to carry to the nearest tables.
Ryland blinked, glanced at Stephen's hand, then at their audience. "Yes," he replied, his voice dropping a register. "The server room at seven? I'll bring dinner."
A perfect response. Specific enough to sound legitimate, vague enough to maintain plausible deniability, with just the right hint of intimacy to feed the rumour mill.
Perhaps Ryland didn't need that flowchart after all.
As the alpha walked away, the whispers started up around him. For once, they didn't make him want to crawl under the table or flee the building. Instead, he felt a strange sense of power. Let them talk. Let them wonder.