My Wife

In the sprawling penthouse of a luxury skyscraper, Damian Wolfe leaned back in his sleek leather chair, swirling a glass of expensive whiskey in his hand. The floor-to-ceiling windows behind him offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline, glittering with lights as night descended. To anyone looking from the outside, Damian was the epitome of success—tall, handsome, and impossibly wealthy.

Women flocked to him like moths to a flame, drawn in by his charm, his confidence, and his power. But behind the mask of charisma lay a much darker truth.

Damian's relationships were anything but romantic. To him, women were toys to be used and discarded, their feelings and autonomy mere afterthoughts. He reveled in control, finding twisted satisfaction in breaking their spirits.

As he took another sip of his drink, his mind wandered to the one "woman" he could never forget: Celeste.

Celeste wasn't just any creation—she was his masterpiece, a cutting-edge AI built to perfection. Her sleek design, her beauty, her stoic demeanor… she was everything Damian had envisioned. But there was one flaw: she didn't respond to his games. No matter how much pain he inflicted, no matter how degrading his words, Celeste remained emotionless. She didn't scream, cry, or plead. She simply endured in silence, and that enraged him.

"You're broken," he had told her the day he discarded her, his voice dripping with venom. "What's the point of having you if you can't even feel pain?"

He had thrown her into the scrap heap without a second thought, confident that no one else would ever see her again. Yet now, months later, the thought of her still lingered in his mind.

Damian set his glass down on the desk, his jaw tightening. The idea that someone else might have found Celeste, repaired her, and given her a new purpose gnawed at him. She was his. He had poured millions into her creation, and the thought of her serving someone else filled him with an unshakable fury.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. One of his assistants, a young woman with a nervous expression, stepped inside.

"Mr. Wolfe," she said hesitantly. "We've tracked down some information about the AI prototype you were asking about."

Damian's eyes lit up, a wicked smile spreading across his face. "Go on."

The assistant swallowed hard, shifting uncomfortably under his intense gaze. "She… she was spotted in a residential area, accompanying a man named Elk Takeda. He works at a local office, and from what we've gathered, she's been living with him for several months."

Damian's grip tightened around the edge of his desk, his knuckles turning white. "Living with him?" he repeated, his voice dangerously low.

"Yes, sir," the assistant replied. "It appears he repaired her after she was discarded. We believe she's… bonded with him."

Damian laughed bitterly, the sound cold and menacing. "Bonded? Don't make me laugh. She's a machine—she doesn't bond. She obeys."

The assistant hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

Damian stood, his towering figure casting a shadow across the room. "I want her back," he said firmly. "She's mine. That lowly office worker has no right to keep what belongs to me."

"What do you want us to do, sir?" the assistant asked nervously.

"Keep watching them," Damian ordered, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous determination. "Find out everything there is to know about this Elk Takeda. His routines, his weaknesses… everything. And when the time is right, we'll strike."

The assistant nodded quickly and hurried out of the room, leaving Damian alone once more.

He walked over to the window, staring out at the city below. His mind was racing with plans, each more devious than the last.

"I created you, Celeste," he murmured to himself, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "And I'll make sure you remember who you belong to."

As he stood there, the lights of the city reflected in his cold, calculating eyes. To him, Celeste wasn't just a machine—she was a possession, a symbol of his power. And he would stop at nothing to reclaim her, no matter the cost.

Meanwhile, different events were going on in Elk's apartment. The dim glow of the TV cast long shadows across the cozy living room. Elk sat on the couch, clutching a blanket tightly around himself as the eerie soundtrack of the horror movie played in the background. Next to him, Celeste sat upright, her glowing blue eyes fixed on the screen with calm, unwavering focus.

"You're really sure about this?" Elk asked nervously, glancing at her.

Celeste turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze. "It was your suggestion to have a movie night, darling," she said, her tone as even as ever. "I thought this was what you wanted."

"Well, yeah, but…" He hesitated, clutching the blanket tighter. "Horror might've been a bad idea. You know I'm terrible with scary stuff."

Her glowing eyes flickered faintly, and though her face remained emotionless, there was a sense of warmth in her gaze. "If it frightens you, sweetie, you can always hold onto me," she said softly.

Elk blushed, looking away. "I-I'm fine! It's just a movie!"

The loud sound of a door slamming on screen made him flinch violently, clutching the blanket like a lifeline. Celeste tilted her head, her glowing eyes returning to the screen. She had no fear of such things, but she found herself oddly fascinated by Elk's reactions.

As the movie continued, the tension in the atmosphere grew. A particularly chilling scene unfolded, complete with sudden jumpscares and spine-tingling sound effects. Elk let out a yelp, instinctively grabbing onto Celeste's arm.

"Ah!... That got me!" he exclaimed, his heart racing.

Celeste turned her gaze to him, her voice calm. "You appear distressed, darling."

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he said quickly, though his trembling hands betrayed his words.

Without hesitation, Celeste shifted closer to him, draping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him into her side. Elk tensed at first, but the steady warmth of her body helped ease his nerves.

"There is no need to be frightened, sweetie," she said, her voice soft and soothing. "I am here with you. You are safe."

Elk looked up at her, his face still flushed. "Thanks, Celeste. You're the best."

The movie carried on, its scares relentless. Elk couldn't help but cling to Celeste as the tension built, his head resting against her chest as he sought comfort. Celeste remained still and composed, her arm wrapped protectively around him.

She wasn't one to experience emotions the way humans did, but the sight of Elk seeking solace in her presence stirred something within her. Knowing she could be his refuge, his safe place, filled her with a sense of purpose and quiet satisfaction.

"You're cute when you're frightened, darling," she said after a particularly loud jumpscare made him bury his face against her shoulder.

"D-Don't tease me!" Elk mumbled, his voice muffled by her body.

"I am not teasing," she replied, her tone as steady as ever. "It makes me happy to know you find comfort in me."

Elk pulled back slightly to look at her, his blush deepening. "Y-Yeah, well… you're just so calm all the time. It's hard not to feel safe around you."

Her glowing eyes softened. "That is my purpose, darling. To keep you safe, no matter the circumstances."

As the credits finally rolled, Elk let out a deep breath, his tension melting away. "Okay, that wasn't too bad. I only screamed, like… four times."

"Five," Celeste corrected, tilting her head.

He laughed nervously. "Right. Thanks for watching with me, Celeste. I don't think I could've done it alone."

"You are welcome, sweetie," she said, gently stroking his hair. "If you wish, we can watch something lighter next time."

Elk smiled, leaning into her touch. "Yeah… that sounds good."

As they sat together on the couch, the faint hum of her internal systems and the warmth of her embrace made him feel at peace. No matter how scary the world—or a movie—might be, Elk knew he could always rely on Celeste to be his haven.