Adelle relaxed back in the chair, keeping eye contact with the client across from her.
"Neat trick," he said, after listening to Adelle explain what the Actives were.
"Tricks are illusions, Mr Connell. Constructed to deceive," she replied. "What we offer is truth."
"A rare commodity." He raised his eyebrows.
"Hence the exuberant price tag," Adelle told him.
Mr Connell leant forward. "I've been with a lot of women, Ms DeWitt, not bragging, it's just what you would call truth. And not one of them turned out to be who they said they were. Your services may be expensive, but at least this time, I'll be the one telling the girl what to lie about."
"Oh she won't be lying to you, Mr Connell," Adelle assured. "Everything you want, everything you need, she will be. Honestly. And completely."
"Well," he grinned. "That would be something new."
"There is, however, one small problem," Adelle said.
"I thought everything was good with the background check," Mr Connell replied.
"That's not our concern," Adelle said, standing up. "Your engagement has been flagged as a moderate risk to our Active. Nothing serious. Our company policy requires a small additional fee. Against any... unforseen complications. "
She handed the small slip of paper to the client and he laughed nervously, eyeing the cost.
"Small, huh?" he asked.
"To my employers, very."
"Well," he replied, digging his chequebook out of his back pocket. "If this girl is everything you promised, it'll be worth it."
"Just make sure you return her safe and sound," Adelle said, with a hint of warning in her tone. "Otherwise there will be additional costs."