My heart sinks. “Trouble?”
My father stares straight ahead at the screen. “Tell us.”
Wesley nods. “We’ve lost five percent of market share to Malice Media in the last quarter alone.”
“Damn it,” my father says. “How?”
Wesley lifts a shoulder. “Their software is more complex than ours, and the crystals that run their computers are stronger. While our platform uses advanced AI technology to analyze our users’ emotions in real time, Malice is doing the same while adding thoughts and experiences directly. They’re getting more followers and, more importantly, users who share content.” Several lights bloom on the screen.
“Whoa,” Nico mutters. “That’s some power they’re amassing.”
“I’ve been trying,” I say, my mind reeling. “I have been appealing to deeper emotions lately.” Our AI is an emotional-intelligence platform that uses advanced AI tech to analyze users’ emotional states. The key is in the real time updates of connections.
Wesley sighs. Numbers and statistics scroll across the screen. “We’re losing power. We need a good seven billion exploding stars a day just to keep us at current levels. We’re not getting that.”
I rapidly think through my options. To like an emote-post or share on our site, a user must click on an exploding-stars icon. One thing I’m not is a computer programmer. However, I am an influencer. “I’ll create a new campaign that’s centered around exploding stars and hints at more than emotion.” I chew on my lip, knowing that my father is set in his ways. “I think we also should look at expanding user engagement.”
“What do you mean by ‘expanding’?” Nico asks.
I slowly inhale. “We all know that we receive energy and power from exploding stars. What if we share it with our users?”
“Share our energy?” my father asks incredulously. “We spend hours upon hours disseminating misinformation about crystal energy and its restorative power. It has taken the four families centuries to convince the public that magic does not exist.”
Nico snorts. “Magic in the conventional sense does not exist.”
I don’t agree. No matter how many scientific principles are applied, our most brilliant scientists have never been able to completely explain how we derive energy from crystals and then use them to basically gain popularity that then enhances our health and longevity. It has something to do with storytelling from the time of the romantic poets to the dawn of the internet, where stories are now shared via social media posts. Who knows what the wide use of AI will lead to for us.
Even I do not know how the crystals work, and I have a stronger connection to aquamarine and rose quartz than anybody ever mentioned in the history books. “Crystal energy is a fact, and I think if we get people to understand the power they wield in creating that energy, they would take ownership and contribute, perhaps enhancing their own health and lifespans.”
Nico shakes his head. “That’s ridiculous. Most of the world has absolutely no idea that human energy can be harnessed via crystals, and we need to keep it that way. Such energy must be a zero sum game—there’s only so much to go around. Keeping that secret is the only treaty among the four families that has stuck for eons.”
That’s true. From the dawn of time, different connections between humans and the Earth’s crystals have created energy for the four ruling families, but the power of that was dying out until the advent of the internet, which then became enhanced via social media. Now the holy trinity is complete with Artificial Intelligence. Social media and AI are only strengthening the capture.
The more energy, the more glamour, the more subscribers—which leads to more money. All are important, but nothing comes close to the health and longer life benefits we glean.
However, Nico probably is correct. We’ve discovered that even by using computers and social media to connect people, there is only so much power to be gathered by the four families, which each set up a social media company at the birth of the new opportunity. At the moment, Aquarius Social is in fourth place. That means three other companies, or rather families, are leashing more power.
Social media is the new magic and it all runs on crystals.
“I still feel there’s a way to turn the algorithms around,” I say, looking at Wesley. “We gain so many interactions from the snide and bitter videos we push. What if we flip that around? I think there’s an untapped market.” There’s a reason people stop to watch puppy videos.
“No,” my father says. “Wesley, go work on the algorithm. I want to have something productive from you by the end of the week.”
Wesley falters. “Yes, sir.” His focus finally shifts to me. “I need you in the lab sometime later this week.”
“Already?” Nico asks.
“Yes. I’ve integrated a thousand more aquamarine crystals into the hardware of our primary AI system, and I need them charged. Alana’s mere presence ups the voltage from my devices.” He grabs his backpack off the floor and saunters from the room.
Nico’s frown darkens his face. He has never hidden his anger that I channel the aquamarine energy more effectively than he does. When my brother died, my connection to the stones strengthened even more. No doubt Nico had hoped for a different result.
My father looks at Val. “Do you have the documents?”
“I do.” She smoothly hands a red file folder past me to my father.
I’m never sure what to make of Val Vicconi. She’s much taller than I am and has an intimidating, statuesque grace. Black hair curls to her shoulders and a perfect peach color tinges her dusky skin above fiercely cut bone structure. Besides being wildly beautiful, her eyes shine with intelligence. She meets my gaze and quickly dismisses me.
To her, I am a bunch of fluff, yet I would bet my best pair of sparkly new Caovillas that she follows me on Aquarius Social and enjoys the sniping between me and the Rendale sisters.
My father flips through the file folder. “This looks good. Thank you, Val.”
Val immediately stands, looking powerful in a red skirt suit with black patent heels. “Very well. Thank you.” She turns and exits the room.
My heart beats faster though I don’t know why. “Father?”
He clears his throat. “We don’t have a choice here, Alana, so you’ll do as you’re told.” He hands over the file folder.
“What is this?” I open it, the blood roaring through my ears, even though I have no idea what I’m about to read. Sometimes my instincts are excellent; other times, especially when dealing with men, not so much. My gaze catches on the heading of the first set of documents. It’s a prenuptial agreement. I gulp. “You’re getting married?”
My father chuckles, a sound as rare as a pink crocodile. “No, you are.”
I rear away from the contract like it’s a hungry tarantula that wants a bite of my flesh. “I am not getting married.”
“You most certainly are.”
Nico grunts. “I’ve been telling you that she’s not a pawn.”
“No,” my father snaps. “You’re not going to jump in and act like Greg. You’re her distant cousin, not her brother.”
