DECEMBER NINTH
RUBEN KING
PLANET EARTH
YEAR 2075
“I’m glad you came.”
The man facing Ruben smiled, a forced kind of smile. It made Ruben uncomfortable.
They were sitting at each side of a table at a restaurant anyone that wasn’t a millionaire would have called fancy.
“Well,” Ruben said. “Unless you lied about what you told me, I’m certainly glad to be here.”
“I hope you’re not accusing me of being a liar, King.” There was an undertone in his voice, something that sounded slightly like a threat.
Ruben, being a man that rarely took risks, scared of conflict, hurried to ensure him that; “No, of course not, Matteo. I’m just… worried, that’s all.”
“And you have every right to be,” the man, Matteo, said. “But you know me, right?”
Ruben himself wouldn’t say that he knew Matteo, rather was aware of his existence.
“Of course,” he said, anyway. Just to be sure to keep the man on his side.
An AI appeared at their table.
“More wine, my sirs?” it asked.
“Yes,” Matteo said. “Be quick.”
The AI obeyed, poured down perfect amounts of red wine into the glasses. Matteo watched it closely, eyed it as it rolled to another table.
“Last time, it spilled,” he said, clearly unsatisfied.
“The programmers have had a lot on their minds lately,” Ruben excused, he himself a programmer. It was a job that paid well, even though his millions didn’t come from his nor his wifes hard work: their shared funds came from their families wealth.
Ruben snapped out of his daze.
“So,” he said, while things were still nice. “Is your deal still on?”
Matteo laughed. He laughed the same way as he smiled.
“Yes, King, it certainly is.”
“And you guarantee me and my family a secure spot on that ship as it lifts?” He asked, and couldn’t help but raise his voice towards the end of the sentence, driven by the urge to get his children the best.
Of course, Ruben King was a - what other would call - coward of a man, but when it came to his family, he knew no limits.
Especially after what he had done to them now.
There was nothing he regretted more.
“Now, there's no reason to get all upset. I’ve told you, I’m a man of my word, your spot is secured.”
Ruben finished off his wine.
“Well then”, he said.
“Not so fast.”
Ruben stared at Matteo. All he wanted was a simple promise, told at the very moment. All he wanted was his family safe, off the earth.
“You’ll have to pay.”
“Oh,” Ruben let out a shaky breath he didn’t realise he had been holding. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Whatever you say.” Matteo seemed rather amused, but Ruben didn’t want to ask more questions. “Seems like we’re done here then.”
Matteo rose from his seat, and Ruben was fast to do the same.
And so Ruben King shook hands with a man unable to smile.
