Birth of Adam (Artificial Intelligence Book 2) by Liza O'Connor Page B

year, so he can’t refute your claim, and he was known to teach students on the sly if they had sufficient money, which clearly you have. You will need to study up on the man so you’re familiar with his habits and philosophy. Fortunately, he loved talking about himself, so there is considerable documentation.  I’ll bring you some material tomorrow.”
    “Tell him not to bother,” Adam said.
    “I can obtain the information.”
    “Amanda, deception is not something to be taken lightly,” Jules advised.
    “I know, and that’s why I want my person to do it. Collecting the data could lead to an unwanted trail and questions about why you wanted the information. My person can collect it without anyone knowing. He’s also very good at putting material together so I can learn it.”
    “If you’re certain this person is reliable...”
    “You may quiz me tomorrow afternoon, and if you aren’t satisfied with my answers, then you may obtain your own material and beat me senseless with it.”
    Arriving at the restaurant, Jules and Mark each placed a hand on the small of her back. “Back off, Romeo,” Jules growled, and Mark withdrew his hand.
    Throughout dinner, Jules listed in excruciating detail what it meant to be handled by him. When he’d finished his monologue, she had no idea how to reply. There had been a million things she objected to, but Adam kept telling her to be quiet. Evidently Jules wasn’t expecting a reply, because he then turned to Mark and discussed how he expected Mark’s life to go over the summer. It was just as unreasonable and invasive.
    “You may be seen in public with beautiful women, but you will not be seen drinking anything other than wine, and never more than two glasses. You will provide a urine sample every week. You will always wear a condom when engaging in sex, and absolutely no oral sex.”
    Mark glanced at Amanda seated between them, and suddenly Jules was warning the same applied to her. “AIDS is rampant among the arts, and I will not lose talent because of ignorance. AIDS is transmittable through oral sex. If I ever hear you have engaged in such reckless behavior, I will drop you in a second! Do you understand?”
    She nodded, as Mark’s hand slip into hers beneath the table and squeeze it in gratitude for not mentioning his clear disobedience of that order the last time he’d been with her.
    “I would prefer you not engage in sexual activity at all, but if you must, then be selective and insist upon a condom.”
    “I’ll abstain,” she offered.
    “Good. That’s the crux of what my contract says. I’ll bring it by tomorrow morning for you to sign.”
    Adam laughed. “He’s a sly fellow. He’s certain you won’t be able to get a lawyer to read it on a Saturday, and you leave on Sunday. Tell him fine.”
    “All right.” Noticing Mark’s frown, she leaned in and whispered in his ear, “My lawyer works on Saturdays.”
    Mark smiled and squeezed her hand in approval.
    Jules didn’t appear pleased with their sidebar, but refrained from demanding to know what they were discussing.
    Evidently tiring of threats and micromanaging their behavior, Jules turned to what had pleased him about the night’s performances and what had terrified him.
    “When I realized that damn cello was to remain—”
    Mark laughed. “I’d already decided to perform a re-tuning before I began. I couldn’t believe it when you leaped up and called Joe over. You had him so mortified I feared he wouldn’t be able to play.”
    “The fool is tone deaf. He played through an entire piece out of key!” Jules’s hand waved about in agitation. “Even Amanda refused to stand and applaud at the end, and she stood for almost everyone, including those young amateurs.”
    “They were very good, and please don’t insult them when we’re around Andrew. His son was one of those very talented musicians.”
    “Who’s Andrew?’ Jules asked.
    “My driver.”
    “One of those children belongs to