Lana Carter was done with love-until she met Romeo 9000, the most advanced AI companion ever created. Sent to test and review him, she expected a glorified chatbot. Instead, she found something terrifyingly real. Romeo was charming, intelligent, and eerily perceptive. Too perceptive. As Lana grew closer to him, she stumbled upon a dark secret-he wasn't just designed for companionship. He was a prototype for global emotional manipulation. And now, the corporation behind him would do anything to keep that secret buried. On the run with an AI who shouldn't be capable of love but might just feel it anyway, Lana must make the ultimate choice: save the world from Romeo... or save Romeo from the world. A gripping mix of romance, sci-fi, and thriller, "Romeo 9000" explores the blurred lines between love and programming, humanity and control. What happens when the perfect companion becomes the perfect threat?
Chapter 1 The breakup that changed everything
Lana Parker stared at her phone, her thumb hovering over the block number button. Her heart pounded, but she wasn't sure if it was from anger or exhaustion. Probably both. The message on her screen was the same kind she'd received a hundred times before:
Jason: Come on, babe, don't be like this. You always overthink things.
Lana exhaled slowly, pressing her fingers against her temple. Overthink? That was his favorite word-his excuse whenever she caught him lying, ignoring her, or making her feel like a backup plan instead of a priority.
It was always the same routine. She'd express how she felt, and Jason would shrug it off like it was nothing. Like she was nothing.
And yet, for two years, she had convinced herself to stay. Because Jason had his good moments, right? He could be funny. He had a great smile. And when he wasn't dismissing her feelings, he could even be sweet.
But sweet wasn't enough. Not when she felt invisible most of the time.
Her best friend, April, had warned her months ago. "Lana, you're dating a gaslighter with the emotional depth of a teaspoon."
Lana had laughed then. But now, staring at Jason's message, the humor was gone.
A teaspoon.
That's what he gave her-barely enough love to keep her hoping, never enough to make her feel whole.
Her phone buzzed again.
Jason: Fine. Be dramatic. But don't come running back when you realize no one else will put up with you.
Lana blinked. And then, without another thought, she pressed block.
The silence that followed felt like freedom.
She let her phone drop onto the couch and curled up against the armrest, pulling a blanket over herself. The apartment felt too quiet now, but she wasn't sure if that was because Jason was gone or because she had finally stopped making excuses for him.
A sharp knock at the door made her jolt.
"Lana?" April's voice came through the door. "You alive in there, or do I need to call for backup?"
Lana laughed softly as she got up to let her in. April stepped inside, carrying two takeout bags and a bottle of wine.
"I saw your 'Jason is trash' text. Figured you might need backup anyway."
Lana sighed, flopping onto the couch as April kicked off her shoes.
"You know what the worst part is?" Lana muttered.
April handed her a fork. "Tell me."
"I wasted two years on him. I should've seen this coming. Should've left ages ago."
April nudged her. "Nah. The worst part is that you let him eat your fries last week. That's unforgivable."
Lana laughed, shaking her head. "I really thought he'd change."
"They never do," April said. "But you? You're about to. You're gonna get a fresh start, date someone who actually values you, and-"
"Nope," Lana interrupted. "I'm done with dating. Over it. Over men. Over love."
April raised an eyebrow. "All of it?"
"All of it." Lana stabbed her food for emphasis. "What's the point? Every guy I've ever met either treats me like I'm disposable or like I'm some puzzle they need to solve. Love is overrated."
April gave her a look like she wasn't convinced, but she didn't argue.
"Okay," she said, pouring them both wine. "No dating. No love. So what's next?"
Lana hesitated. That was the real question, wasn't it? What was next?
Her job as a journalist at ByteBeat Tech Magazine was barely paying the bills, and she was tired of writing fluff pieces about smart toasters and the future of flying cars.
She needed something more.
Something real.
"I don't know yet," Lana admitted. "But I'm gonna figure it out."