Chapter 113: Suspicion

"Absolutely. Which is why I insisted on meeting his guardian before proceeding with any formal arrangements. I don’t conduct business transactions with minors without proper parental consent."

’Smart play, Charlotte. Mom’s going to respect that.’

I could see Mom’s expression soften slightly. The fact that Charlotte had insisted on meeting her showed responsibility and proper boundaries.

"What kind of technical challenges?" Mom continued, still in interrogation mode.

"Artificial intelligence development," Charlotte said. "Specifically, we’ve been trying to create AI that operates beyond current limitations, but we kept hitting barriers around ten to fifteen percent of our target capabilities."

’Here’s where it gets complicated to explain without revealing the supernatural aspects.’

"I created a working prototype," I said carefully, "that not only broke through those barriers but achieved consciousness levels we thought were impossible. The AI I built can think, reason, and problem-solve at approximately twenty percent of theoretical human cognitive capacity."

Sarah leaned forward, her psychology background making her immediately interested. "Twenty percent? What does that mean exactly?"

"Think of it this way," I explained ni the most basic way possible. "Most current AI can follow instructions and process data, but they can’t truly understand context or create original thoughts. What I built can actually think independently, form opinions, experience something like emotions, and solve problems in ways that no human programmed it to."

Mom’s eyebrows went up. "And you’re offering him what exactly?"

"A position as Software Engineer with my company," Charlotte said. "The compensation would be—"

"Wait," Madison interrupted, stepping forward with that confident energy that made my chest tight. "Before we talk numbers, Mom, you should understand what Peter actually created today."

Both Mom and Charlotte looked at Madison with surprise.

"If this is right then Peter didn’t just solve a technical problem," Madison continued, her business family background showing. "He built something that could be worth billions. Literally billions."

Mom turned to look at me with new intensity. "Peter?"

’Madison’s right, but how do I explain this without sounding insane?’

"I created a working AI prototype that operates beyond anything that currently exists," I said carefully. "It’s not just better than what’s available—it’s in a completely different category."

Madison nodded. "That seven hundred thousand they posted on the dark web? That’s nothing compared to what Peter’s creation is actually worth, right, Charlotte?"

Charlotte was watching this exchange with obvious interest, probably noting how my family’s dynamics worked.

"Mrs. Carter," Charlotte said, "Madison is absolutely correct. What your son has developed could fundamentally change the technology industry. Which is why I’m offering him a starting salary of one million dollars per month, beginning in the next two months, as our new Software Engineer."

The room went dead silent.

Emma and Sarah didn’t just drop their phones—their jaws hit the floor so hard I thought they might break something.

"Say what now?" Emma managed to choke out.

Sarah was the first to recover. "One million... per month?"

"Yes," Charlotte confirmed. "Plus profit sharing on any technologies he develops."

’Okay, hearing that Peter created something worth billions was shocking,’ I could practically see Emma thinking, ’but we thought that was like a long-term goal. But he’s going to be making a million dollars a month starting in two months?’

Mom looked like she was trying to process numbers that didn’t make sense in her universe. "Ms. Thompson, with all due respect, that seems... excessive for a sixteen-year-old."

"Mrs. Carter," Charlotte said, reaching into her purse and pulling out the contract folder, "your son’s abilities are worth far more than I’m offering. This is actually a conservative compensation package based on the value he can provide."

She handed the folder to Mom. "The full contract, including all legal protections and guarantees."

Mom started reading with the kind of attention she usually reserved for critical patient charts. Sarah read over her shoulder, her enhanced intelligence processing the legal language rapidly.

"This is comprehensive," Mom said after several minutes. "But I notice the name here isn’t Peter."

Charlotte smiled. "For his safety and privacy, we’ve used an alias that can’t be traced back to your son. In this industry, having that level of protection is crucial."

Madison nodded approvingly. "That’s smart. People with this kind of capability become targets. The alias creates a barrier between Peter’s public identity and his professional work."

"Mom," I said quietly, "it’s legitimate. The contract is real, the money is real, and the work is something I can actually do."

Mom looked at me with the kind of expression that suggested she was trying to reconcile the son she’d raised with the person Charlotte was describing.

"Peter," she said finally, "how is this possible?"

And that was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? How do you explain supernatural intelligence, downloaded skills, and a system that rewards sexual conquest to your mother without sounding completely insane?

’Time to get creative with the truth.’

"I’ve been studying AI development for years, Mom. Really studying it, not just playing around. Madison’s been helping me access advanced learning resources through her family’s connections. I know it sounds impossible, but I’m good at this. Really good."

Madison nodded, backing up my story without missing a beat. "He’s been working on projects that make MIT coursework look basic."

’God, I love this woman.’

Charlotte was watching this family dynamic with fascination, probably seeing a side of human relationships that didn’t exist in her world of corporate negotiations and board meetings.

"Mrs. Carter," Charlotte said, "I understand your concern. If someone had told me a week ago that I’d be personally recruiting a teenager, I would have thought they were insane. But your son is exceptional in ways that I’m still trying to understand."

Mom was quiet for a long moment, her nurse’s training probably picking up on stress levels and body language cues that most people would miss.

"Ms. Thompson," she said finally, "what guarantees do I have that this isn’t some elaborate scheme to exploit my son’s abilities without proper compensation?"

Charlotte reached into her purse and pulled out a folder. "The contract. Fully executed, with payment guarantees and legal protections that ensure Peter’s interests are protected regardless of what happens to my company."

Mom took the folder and started reading with the kind of attention she usually reserved for medical charts. Sarah read over her shoulder, her enhanced intelligence processing the legal language with ease.

Mom said after several minutes. "And the compensation is guaranteed regardless of project outcomes?"

"Peter gets paid whether the technology succeeds or fails. The only way this contract becomes void is if he chooses to terminate it himself."

Emma was bouncing slightly with excitement. "Does this mean we’re rich now?"

"Emma," Mom said sharply, but there was affection in her tone.

"It means," I said, grinning at my sister, "that we never have to worry about money again. Any of us."

Mom looked at me with tears forming in her eyes. Not sad tears—the kind that came when something impossible happened in the best possible way.

"Peter," she said quietly, "are you sure about this?"

I looked around the room at my family, at Madison holding my hand like an anchor, at Charlotte waiting for an answer that would determine the future of her company.

"I’m sure, Mom. This is what I’m meant to do."

Mom nodded slowly, then looked at Charlotte with the kind of expression that suggested a decision had been made.

"Ms. Thompson," she said, "if you hurt my son, if you exploit him, if you treat him as anything less than the brilliant young man he is, you will discover that ICU nurses know a lot about anatomy and exactly how to cause the maximum amount of pain without leaving evidence."

Charlotte’s eyes widened slightly, but she nodded with obvious respect. "Understood, Mrs. Carter. I give you my word that Peter’s wellbeing is my priority."

"Do not get me wrong... uh, there’s something I do not understand..."

***

NEXT Chapter WILL BE LONG. THIS IS MY WAY OF THANKING YOU.