Page 95 of The Love Hack

‘And therefore, the board has decided that now is the time to launch a dedicated technology portal, alongside the main Max! and Fab! sites. We’re thinking of calling it Future!, but that’s still under discussion.’

What?

‘It will be a wide-ranging brief’ – Greg was smiling, actually smiling – ‘covering not only how we can keep our readers abreast with new and emerging technologies, but also lifestyle elements such as gaming and wearables.’

What was he saying? I looked at Ross and he looked at me, but he seemed no longer worried but only mildly surprised.

‘Of course, the editorial lead on the project will need to have in-depth knowledge of all those facets of the world of tech. Ross, you’ve delivered outstanding work in your role as Max!’s technology editor. I know you’d be the perfect fit for the role.’

And the perfect fit for other things, I thought, stifling a nervous giggle.

‘Wow,’ Ross said. ‘Thanks, Greg.’

‘However, the scale of the brief means it’s not a job for just one individual. The decision has therefore been taken to appoint a joint editorial team of two to spearhead the project.’

Oh. So that’s where this is going.

‘Lucy, since you came on board at Max!, I and the rest of the management team have been impressed by your talent and energy. You were given the opportunity to launch Ask Adam, and you did so to the best of your ability. Then, when expectations weren’t quite being met, you were given the challenge of turning it around, and you did that, too. But I know your heart has always been in technology, so we’d like to offer you the opportunity to join Ross in heading up this new venture.’

‘But what about—’ I began.

‘Of course, this would leave a vacancy to continue the Ask Adam column. I’m aware that it’s been your baby, Lucy, and we’d hope and expect you to be an integral part of the recruitment process. We thought perhaps a man…’

I felt light-headed with shock. Six months ago, this would have been a dream come true. The axe that had been about to fall on me would have been lifted – there’d have been a thrilling new opportunity where before there had been only the prospect of joblessness and penury.

I’d have bitten Greg’s arm off for it.

But that was six-months-ago Lucy, not the person I was now.

‘Greg,’ I said. ‘I don’t want the new job. I’d love to work with Ross on it – anyone would – but I want to carry on with the Ask Adam column more.’

‘You do? But it’s a very exciting opportunity, Lucy. Have you thought this through?’

I took a deep breath – maybe the deepest I’d ever taken in my life.

‘Yes, I have,’ I said. ‘And there’s something I need to tell you, as well.’

I looked at Ross, who returned my glance with a smile so warm he might just as well have stretched out and squeezed my hand under the table.

‘Over the past few months, I’ve been using artificial intelligence to help me out with the Ask Adam replies. I felt overwhelmed by the increased frequency of the columns, and I didn’t think I could cope on my own. So I got GenBot 2.0 to point me in the right direction and compose a first draft of some of the replies. Then I edited them. Except?—’

Greg was watching me, intrigued. ‘Go on, Lucy.’

‘Except I ended up changing the algorithm, so the answers the bot came up with were actually more like what I’d have written myself. That’s what happened with the most recent column, the one that went viral.’

‘Fascinating.’ Greg leaned forward, his hands pressed together under his chin like a church steeple. ‘So you’d say that the percentage of Adam – or rather Lucy – versus AI has increased over time?’

‘Exactly. And I’ve learned something, Greg. I’ve learned that sometimes men – Adam’s readers, that is, not necessarily all men – need gentle guidance, a hug and a handhold. And sometimes they need tough love and to be told when they’re being dicks.’

‘I think actually that is all men,’ Ross said, and Greg chuckled.

I smiled indulgently at the two of them having their man moment together.

‘And I believe I can do that,’ I went on. ‘I understand men so much better now than before. I don’t need the artificial intelligence any more. I can do it on my own. But it’s helped me – it’s made me better at being Adam. And all the men who’ve written to Adam over the months – have helped me, too. They’ve made me better at being me.’

The Lucy who Greg had first met – who Ross had first met – would never have dared to make such a soul-bearing little speech. I half-expected them to hastily change the subject, or even laugh at me, but they didn’t.

They both looked at me with something on their faces I didn’t quite recognise, until I did.

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