I prefer to use my acting name

Thinking fast, Alex says, “Bigbone is my acting name, of course. I prefer to use that around here. Who knows what I’m going to do with the rest of my life, and I might want to keep my real name unassociated with porn. And my real name isn’t Rider — it’s Slider.”

The receptionist raises an eyebrow. “You might as well have kept Slider as your professional name. It sounds just as dirty.”

Alex groaned inwardly. It wasn’t his most creative effort, but he hoped it would be good enough. “Please let Mr. Wainright know I am here for my appointment.”

The receptionist smiles and presses a button on her desk. “Tyler, your next appointment is here.”

“I’ll be just a few more minutes,” comes the response, but the voice is definitely feminine. “Please have him wait.”

“We are all on a first name basis here, Alex Rider/Slider/Bigbone. You might want to drop the ‘Mister’ with Tyler, either way.”

This is definitely not Alex’s finest moment.

Just as he is about to take a seat, he hears a voice in his head. “Alex! I’ve got some news for you,” says Smithers. “Can you talk?”