The Alternate Girlfriend by Declan Conner
About The Alternate Girlfriend:
Deceit is the oldest sin as Doug Carter will discover
Doug Carter, is blessed with autism and a brilliant mind, but his sheltered upbringing have led him to a life of isolation. When asked to beta test an AI pen pal site, he sees it as the perfect solution - an AI construct that can't cheat on him and fulfills his desire for a loyal lifetime partner.
Using AI, he creates a pen-pal on his computer in the image of his ex-girlfriend, Doug's reality becomes blurred as the trial takes a dangerous turn when they offer to extend the trial with a humanoid in the image of his ex-girlfriend. And when those with a connection to him start dying in mysterious circumstances, all signs point to Doug as the culprit.
As he races against time to uncover the truth, Doug realizes that his isolation may have been his worst mistake yet. With childhood enemies resurfacing and his own past coming back to haunt him, he must confront the deceit that has been lurking in the shadows all along.
Excerpt:
Doug Carter took a sly look at his friend sat beside him, wondering if he could keep a secret.
The day he sat there among the students at his graduation from university in San Francisco, it was as though he were at a Fourth of July firework display, waiting for it to ignite, and he held the touch paper.
Excitement at his graduation aside, he was beside himself at the good news he’d kept inside his head, and was busting a gut to tell his girlfriend, Donna. It was just as hard for him to have kept the life-changing news from his one and only friend, Gregg, for fear Donna would find out before he could talk to her. Doug shuffled on his seat. His skin crawled as the allotted time approached to make a move to the podium.
“You okay?” Gregg asked.
Doug held out a hand. Fingers shaking.
“Just a little nervous. I’ll be fine.”
Having said that, and with a distaste for crowds, he was just thankful that the audience of students was behind his back, and he’d managed to get a seat on the front row. All the same, anxiety overcame him at thinking all eyes behind him were focused like laser beams at his brain. Gregg nudged him in encouragement to join the line leading to the stage. It took a second more forceful nudge with an elbow to his arm to get him to move. His legs were leaden as he waited in line, nerves on edge for what was to come.
It was his turn to climb the steps and on over to the podium. Doug lowered his head. Cheeks burned like a furnace, while following his footsteps to the podium, fingers trembling. Handed his BSc diploma in computer sciences, he turned to the assembled students and family members, holding his diploma aloft. In the sea of faces, he couldn’t see Donna, but he did pick out the huge grin on Gregg’s face as he gave him a thumbs-up. His chest puffed out in pride at the applause, despite the clapping offending his hearing. At the same time, he sensed his cheeks still rouged in self-conscious embarrassment with all eyes on him. He stepped back down the steps and on over to Gregg, thankful that his ordeal was over, with his insides still tremoring.
“Well done buddy,” said Gregg and they clasped each other’s hand, then shared a shoulder nudge.
“Thanks.”
Presentation over, and after a final motivational speech from the principal, he stood and threw his cap in the air along with the rest of them. An immense sense of self-worth and achievement encompassed him now that the ceremony had concluded. He turned to Gregg, unable to keep his secret any longer before he might implode.
“Hey, guess what? The day couldn’t get any better. Got a job as a programmer at an international accountancy firm. I’m to work in their computer software sales division. Unbelievable salary and perks.”
Amazon
About Declan Conner:
Comments
Post a Comment