Thanks to EditorsName Lord_Libido for feedback and assistance with this story.
Joe's phone rang, jolting him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen--it was the delivery men.
"We have a shipment for you, sir. Are you at home?"
Joe had been waiting for this call all day. "I am. I'll buzz you in."
Joe was a developer at a startup that had recently gone public. As employee number 23, he had amassed a healthy number of stock options, and when the company's IPO sent its value soaring, he found himself comfortably wealthy. In the weeks that followed, he watched as the cars in the parking lot transformed from modest sedans into sleek European sports cars. But while others splurged on luxury vehicles and vacations, Joe had a different plan: he wanted a robotic maid.
He knew he could easily hire a cook and a cleaner with the money he spent, but the thought of having strangers in his home made him uneasy. A robot, on the other hand, felt like the perfect solution--efficient, discreet, and always there when needed.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and Joe's heart raced as two men in spotless coveralls wheeled in a large, sleek box. The design was futuristic, almost like an oversized, high-end cellphone packaging, but phonebooth-sized.
"I cleared a space in the corner as instructed," Joe said, pointing to the spot where the box was carefully set down.
"Please sign your initials here to confirm that the load tags haven't been triggered," the senior delivery man said, indicating two tags that displayed a reassuring green "OK." "These are to ensure your package hasn't been mishandled."
Joe signed with a sense of anticipation, and the men left with a polite "Enjoy your day."
Finally, Joe was alone with the box. He peeled the plastic cover, revealing a handle. With a deep breath, he graped it and pulled it open.
Inside, she stood motionless, about 170 cm tall open. and saw her. She was about 170 cm tall and looked like she was sleeping in a standing position. Her black hair was tied into a neat bun, with a white maid's cap sitting perfectly on top. She wore a crisp black dress that fell down to her knees complimented by a white apron. Black nylons covered her legs, ending in polished low heels.
Before Joe could take in more, her eyes opened.
"Hi, my name is Lisa. You must be Joe. How are you?"
Joe took a second to compose himself. "Hi Lisa, I'm fine. How are you?"
"I'm fully functional and ready to follow commands," she answered as she stepped out of her box, her shoes making a soft sound on the wooden floor.
"I have never had a maid, so I'm unsure what to do. Do you have any suggestions?"
Lisa turned, her movements fluid and precise, almost like a dancer. She scanned the room with practiced efficiency. "My primary duties are cleaning and cooking. If you show me around your home, I can create a plan to improve your life."
"That sounds good. By the way, what's with the shoes?"
Lisa glanced at Joe's sock-covered feet and then at the nearby shoe rack. "These are part of my uniform. They protect my feet and nylons, and keep my feet dry if I step on a spill. Don't worry, I won't track dirt inside--they're for indoor use only."
attention: the living room was cluttered, the bathroom could use a deep clean, the bed needed fresh sheets, and dirty glasses were scattered across the kitchen counter. "I should have cleaned before you came," Joe admitted, a bit embarrassed.
"No need to apologize, "Lisa assurred him. "That's what I'm here for. I'll start in the living room."
"Good idea, don't throw anything out without checking with me first."
Lisa paused, noticing a stack of papers on the floor. "What about these? What's the story with them?"
Joe glanced at the pile. "That's my secure trash. It's not top-secret, just bank statements and other documents I plan to shred later at the office."
Lisa picked up a loose pile of papers, stacking them into a neat pile neatly as Joe headed to the kitchen. "Do you need any help in the kitchen?" she asked, her voice following him.
"No, I'm just going to make some coffee," Joe replied.
"Leave it to me; I can handle that." Lisa offered.
Joe chuckled, glancing back at her. "What, you can make coffee?"
"Yes, is there something wrong?"
Joe grinned. "Whenever a new gadget gets bragged about at work, there's always the question, 'But does it make coffee?' And the answer is always no. But I guess I've finally got one that does."
Lisa smiled, unfazed. "Yes, I can make coffee. How do you like it?"
"30 grams of coffee and 5 deciliters of water. I'm pretty particular about my coffee. Do you mind if I watch?"
"Of course not. While I prepare it, can we discuss dinner? What are your preferences?"
Joe shrugged. "I usually grab something quick from the local convenience store or heat pasta sauce with chicken."
"I can cook you healthier and tastier meals for less money. I can also prepare lunch boxes if you go to the office."
"That sounds great. So, what's for dinner tonight?"
"I can make tuna in tomato sauce with penne. It's not optimal, but I'm limited by your ingredients."
"That sounds delicious. After dinner, we need to set a weekly shopping budget and give you access to a local supermarket's webshop. They do deliveries and you should be able to order everything you need."
Joe was absorbed in his work, the glow of the monitor reflecting off his gaze. He kept moving his hands as if ordering programming steps he was about to enter.
Lisa's quiet entrance went unnoticed until she spoke. "Dinner is ready, Joe."
Joe jolted, his concentration shattered. "Lisa, you startled me!" He took a moment to compose himself. "Don't sneak up on me like that."
"My apologies," Lisa said, her voice calm. She paused, then added, "Would you prefer if I made some noise when I move?"
Joe nodded, half-smiling. "Yeah, that would help."
Without a word, Lisa shifted her stance, letting the click of her heels echo softly as she moved a step back. "How's this?" she asked, the sound now noticeable but not intrusive.
"Much better," Joe replied, relaxing a bit. He caught the scent of dinner and smiled. "That smells amazing - I love tomato-based sauces."
"I guessed as much when I saw all those store-bought sauce jars are in your cupboards. I guarantee I can make something even better from scratch."
"I look forward to those. Uh, I'm sorry, but I'm not used to being watched while I eat. It's a bit uncomfortable."
"I understand," Lisa said, nodding slightly. "I'll go check the other rooms. Just call if you need me."
With another soft click of her heels, Lisa turned and left the room, leaving Joe with a faint smile as he prepared to enjoy his meal.
A few days had passed, and the trash bag in the kitchen was beginning to overflow. Lisa noticed it needed to be taken out, but she realized she wasn't aware where trash cans were located. She decided to wait until Joe took a break from his work.
