Chapter 1

When Boss Sterling threw an AI training manual onto my desk, he said something that changed everything. “You’re being laid off. Before you go, teach this AI how to maximize our profits. Once it’s ready, you’re done.”

I did exactly what I was told. I fed the system every bit of tax evasion data, every fake ledger, and every recording of him verbally abusing the staff from the last five years.

Thirty days later, the AI went live right on schedule. The tax fraud was reported. The CEO was fired. The recordings of his tirades went viral across the internet.

From start to finish, I was simply following his orders to the letter.

When I walked into the conference room, Brenda from HR and Boss Sterling were already there.

Brenda wouldn’t meet my eyes. Sterling was leaning back in his leather chair, his phone glowing on the table.

“Sit,” he said, not even looking up.

I pulled out a chair and sat with my back straight, waiting for him to drop the axe.

“Landon, you’ve been with this firm for three years now,” he finally looked at me, though he was staring at me like I was just another line on a spreadsheet.

“Your performance has been adequate, but the company needs to streamline operations and maximize efficiency.”

He tapped his phone screen a few times.

“We’ve invested in a state-of-the-art AI system. Starting tomorrow, your position will be handled by the machine.”

I looked him dead in the eye. “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious,” he snapped.

“Brenda will go over the severance package with you. It’s the bare minimum required by your contract.”

He shifted his attention back to his phone. “Any questions?”

“None,” I replied.

He stood up and slapped me on the shoulder with a fake, heavy grin.

“I’m giving you a choice, Landon. Stay for thirty days, train the AI, and I’ll give you your severance plus an extra month’s bonus.”

“If you refuse, you can walk out today with absolutely nothing. Your choice.”

I stared at him in silence for a moment. Then I stood up and walked out of the room.