Coffee Cup Dreams (A Redpoint One Romance) by J.A. Marlow

cafeteria, and
then back to the maintenance platform. It went by in a tired blur.
And it brought a new fear.
    The station was so huge she didn't see how she
would manage to keep from getting lost. Corridors, maintenance
travel pods, mass-transit cars, elevators, all leading in different
directions. She desperately wished for a map to help her
out.
    Arthur answered any question she had, but
there was a reserve not there before. He was upset about something,
she could tell. Somehow she had a feeling he wouldn't be so open to
answering that question if she came up with the courage to ask
about it.
    "An adventurous first day," Arthur said,
pouring himself a cup of vile-looking coffee after they returned to
the maintenance platform for the last time.
    How could he drink the stuff so late in the
day? "Yes, but informative."
    "Does that mean you will remain with us
another day?"
    Tish frowned at the question, not having
expected it. "Of course. Any reason I shouldn't?"
    He shrugged, taking a sip of the coffee and
cringing. "As Ricardo mentioned in his blatant way, some people
don't survive past the first day. Find the station and work
conditions unacceptable."
    Other than getting her clothes caught on
piping, the day had consisted of a lot of walking and looking.
Certainly nothing to be alarmed by. Or maybe some had seen the same
movie as her and thought the bots creepy or dangerous? That
wouldn't explain the ones that didn't stay earlier than the spring
when the movie premiered.
    One of the bots ran by her with a small box
held above its body in two hands, heading towards one of the
storage rooms off one of the corridors. It beeped and hummed as it
moved, as if satisfied and content with its work.
    Nah, how could anyone think the bots were
dangerous?
    Tish took a rag and wiped down the coffee
spots on the counter. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow. After a
good night's sleep, of course."
    He started, almost spilling his coffee. He
didn't look at her as he said, "Need anything from your
locker?"
    She wanted to ask what was wrong, but instead
she grabbed her coat and luggage keys from her locker.
    When she rejoined him he continued to avoid
looking at her. Only stared at his coffee as he said sharply, "I
need a bot."
    One of the normal-sized bots raced past her
feet to position itself next to Arthur, gazing up at him with both
eyestalks.
    "Guide Tish Douglas to her room."
    The bot whistled an acceptance, turning back
towards her. And still he didn't look up at her as he said, "I hope
you are satisfied with your apartment. Your next shift will start
at eight hundred hours. Meet me here at the main maintenance
platform. Have a good night."
    And without a glance at her he walked towards
one of the other rooms.
    She frowned after him. What had she done wrong
now that he wouldn't even look at her? Or did he regret their close
quarters in the access corridor when she got stuck? She didn't like
that thought. She knew she wasn't a raving beauty, but surely she
wasn't that repulsive.
    "Or maybe it's because I work for him," she
mused to herself, staring at the door he'd disappeared
through.
    Which made sense. If he was anything like his
brother, Arthur would have a strong sense of right and wrong. She
was the first to admit working romances didn't work. Look at what
happened with her and Walt, even with her having worked at his
company for only a short time as a temp.
    Either way, it was depressing.
    The bot gave one long whistle, ending on a
high note, moving towards her. She stepped aside when it appeared
to be on a collision course with her legs. It headed towards one of
the main corridors, whistling back at her in an obvious tone that
said "follow me." A hatch open on its back and up rose a pulsing
red light.
    The bot stopped, turning tightly in a circle,
chirping at her.
    "Okay, okay. I get it," she said.
    So, the thing wanted her to follow it. So long
as it headed for her luggage and a place with a shower and a bed,
she was happy. At