Another Aryanna & Dexter Excerpt

The sound of tinny wedding chimes stopped him cold. Dexter stiffened and turned. It was a damned Bioexpa drone. He’d heard it a few times around the office when others had gotten married. He hated that damned company with a passion. Whenever they sent their drones into his office, productivity dropped. The person matched became useless for the rest of the day. Likewise, with those coworkers in close proximity. They sat around gabbing and giggling. Essentially doing nothing. It was disgusting.
     But that wasn’t the only reason he hated them. They’d transformed his mother into a person he didn’t recognize. It was ironic. His mother used to give him her attention sparingly. Some would call it neglect. Now, she sought him out often and invited him to dinner at least once a week. However, the changes in her made him uncomfortable. He declined her dinner invitations and avoided her in general.
     And there was their refusal of his business offer. Fucking idealists.
     Dexter scowled as the drone came flying into his office. As he was alone with Brent, a married man, he figured this one had a screw loose. He crossed his arms over his chest, watching as it flew toward him.
     A circular beam of blue light shot out of the bottom of the drone. “Dexter No Middle Name Sloane, please place your left hand into the beam of light,” said an electronic voice.
     “The fuck you say!” The shocked words exploded from him.
     “Dex, I didn’t know you’d registered.”
     “I didn’t.” The drone repeated its command since his hand remained safely tucked away beneath his arm.
     “Better do as it says or it’ll be here all day.”
     “Not if I beat it to death.”
     “Aren’t you at all curious as to who it chose for you?”
     “No.”
     Brent sighed. “You can be such a stubborn child.” He rounded Dexter’s desk and pried his hand out from beneath his arm.
     Dexter fought him but as soon as his hand was out the drone zipped into action as though realizing it had a reluctant subject and needed to perform its required mission quickly.
     “Identification verified. Dexter No Middle Name Sloane, you are hereby married to Aryanna Melisandre Kirk. Her contact information has been sent to your communication slate. Please make arrangements to meet and begin your probationary cohabitation period.”
     His knees went weak. Aryanna? How was this possible?
     “Please do not move as you are fitted for your wedding band. You will feel a slight warming sensation.” Dexter went as still as a stone, not wanting to fuck this up.
     A thick silver band with a thin blue strip of light circling its center appeared on his ring finger. “You may withdraw your hand. For questions or further information, please visit the Bioexpa Data Match website.” And then the drone left as quickly as it had arrived. If he had a chair, he’d have collapsed into it. He stared at the ring in wonder until his vision misted over.