Page 4 of Fake It For Glory

“You seem like a very agreeable man.” She flashed a sexy smile. “I never believed the story.”

“Thank you,” I said, feeling just a little uncomfortable. “Anyway, my tech will take the initiative and handle everything from booking dentist or doctor visits to making sure the person actually shows up. Not to mention the benefits for school.”

“School?” she repeated. “Are you suggesting students can use your tech to write reports and do their math?”

I grinned. “Definitely not. There will be failsafes to prevent that from happening. I’m saying it can help with time management. Students these days have tests, extracurricular activities, clubs, sports and so on. The assistant can budget time for studying and keep them on task for a project due at school while keeping their extracurricular activities straight. This is also going to be very helpful for parents juggling several kids’ schedules along with their own work. It is an expert at helping you manage time and figure out when to work hard and when to take a break.”

“And you’re sure you can’t program it to make a mean martini?” Esther joked.

“I’ll leave that to the others,” I replied easily. “My goal is to make time management a little better. I want to help people feel better in general. It’s not an extra pair of hands or a maid. It’s a coach, assistant, parent. Whatever you might need a little help with.”

She laughed. “Can it help me quit smoking?” Her laughter filled the studio, with members of the audience joining in.

I smiled, really feeling it in my toes. I appreciated the valid questions and a chance to talk about my tech. “It can.”

“You’re joking,” she said, eyes narrowed skeptically.

“I’m not,” I said.

“Please tell me more.” Esther made the gesture for me to continue.

“I’ve programmed the assistant to help people quit smoking. It can give reminders, track progress, and provide motivation. And if you slip up, it won’t judge you. It will just help you get back on track.”

Esther’s expression softened. “That’s actually really impressive. How did you come up with the idea?”

I didn’t like talking about my personal life—ever. “It’s just one of those things I thought could be helpful. Like I said, I have assistants. I know I would struggle without someone reminding me where to be at a given time or about a project I want to work on. It’s all about staying motivated and on track. I mean, how good does it feel to reach a goal?”

The audience clapped while Esther kept her practiced smile in place. “I think you might have convinced me to embrace all of this new technology. As long as I don’t have a beautiful robot checking out my boyfriend or making me look bad.”

“No robots here,” I assured her. “Just the tech. But who knows what the future holds?” I added with a playful wink. “Maybe we’ll have robots that can make martinis and help you quit smoking at the same time.”

This elicited a round of laughter from the audience, and I felt a sense of satisfaction wash over me. This was why I did what I did, to make people’s lives easier, to help them reach their goals, and to spread a little bit of joy.

“Tell me, what are we calling this wonderful gift?” she asked.

The audience went completely quiet. One of the camera operators slowly moved, telling me my face was front and center. “Lox,” I answered with a smile.

The audience erupted into cheers once again. Esther laughed. “Fitting.”

As the show wrapped up, I made my way backstage, greeted by the rest of the production team. I had survived another television appearance. My publicist and assistant rushed over.

“You did great, Jensen,” Carl, my publicist, said and patted me on the shoulders.

Susan, my assistant, handed me my phone. “Good job. The car is waiting. You have that podcast in twenty.”

“Do we have time to get something to drink?” I asked as I was gently guided toward the back door.

“I’ll have something delivered,” Susan answered.

“I’ve got the questions the interviewer will be covering,” Carl said.

They ushered me into a limousine. Susan gave me a cold bottle of water while Carl started giving me the right answers to the questions. I couldn’t imagine trying to navigate my life without Susan, Carl, or the team that kept me moving forward through the day. I wanted everyone to have the same advantage I had when it came to having some help staying on track.

“Coffee?” Susan asked.

“What?” I blinked trying to switch from the answers Carl was grilling me on to what Susan was saying.

“Do you want your usual coffee?” she asked. “I’m having it delivered to the studio.”

“Oh, yes, please,” I said, nodding. “Thank you. In fact, buy some for everyone. Donuts too. Or fruit. Whatever you think would be best.”

She nodded as she speed-typed on her phone. “Done,” she said and put the phone down before turning her focus to what I was wearing.

Susan had been with me from the start. The woman was no-nonsense. Her hair was always in a tight bun and I was pretty sure she was only a few inches shorter than my six-three stature, but I couldn’t say for sure. She always wore black heels and some shade of gray pant suit or dress suit. She didn’t take shit from anyone. She came off as cold and unfeeling and no one would dare fuck with her, but I knew she was really a big softie inside. She had a soft spot for me, but she wouldn’t hesitate to kick my ass if she thought I was stepping out of line.

“Thank you,” I said, smiling. “Seriously, thank both of you guys. You know how I hate this stuff.”

“Of course,” Susan replied. “That’s what we do.”