Of course I do. What, did you want a mother-only route or something?

I initial the last page of the revised contract, and sit back with a sigh. The school bell had rung ten or fifteen minutes ago. I'd been stuck in the conference room for well over an hour, and was starting to get exhausted from all the reading. I could have sworn my eyes were stuck from staring at so much small text at close range for so long. Not a word deviated from what Frank had proposed, actually if anything my protections as the prime subject seemed even stronger than he'd hinted at, including an ability to withdraw at any time with any possessions I had claimed plus my mother, all debt free — of course I'd have to take care of them all after that instead of watching the money they needed to live flow in from LaRose.

"So when does class 3-F get started? I didn't see them listed today," I asked, really curious who they might pick out. Frank had hinted that they were going to select people who'd be interesting to me. I had no idea what 'interesting' meant though, in the context of taking their lives into my hands.

"Tomorrow, you can go home now that you've signed. We'll have your first payment transferred into your account—"

I raised my eyebrow.

"Your mother's stipend too, both will be in your accounts within the hour. Then tomorrow class 3-F will appear on paper as well as in concept, and you'll have your first classmate."

My eyes narrowed. "First classmate? Singular?"

"Yeah, we've got our researchers selling to a couple parents right now, and I'll be closing the deal with their kids. A couple other of the best options will get meetings tonight, the whole family gathered together. We've been researching the secondary subjects a while, some for almost as long as we've had our hopes in you. Our approaches are well designed. We expect four of the initial five potentials to accept, but our profiles suggest three will either wait a few days to discuss it as a family, or pretend that's what they're doing to try and get something other than wiped debts. One of the dads is a very very degenerate gambler, we think he'll ask for payment. He'll literally sell us his daughter, how damn backward is that?" Frank leaned back, a glazed smile on his face. "Aren't these times we live in deliciously twisted?"

I wasn't going to say anything. Because of course he was right, even if he was shockingly enthusiastic about it.

"Might end up with two classmates tomorrow," continued Frank, "but we're betting on just one accepting that fast. You'll see why when you meet her. Should have four students by next week, then we'll finalize our approaches for the less **** households and watch you in action," Frank grinned, "we're hoping to see some results from you in a month or two, which is when we'll be able to go after the trickiest targets. Many of them will do anything for guaranteed results, we're expecting some will want to negotiate deals with you directly. We're very excited to see how you navigate that when it comes to it."

"Fine. I get it. Students will come into the class in a trickle. How do I claim ownership? Whether I use directives on them or not, that authority might be useful."

I didn't say it aloud, but I was already wondering how it would work to just tell someone they had to do what I said, and that they would behave a certain way and like it. Would they break under the difference between what I was telling them and the reality of their feelings, or might they suffer a placebo effect of mental indoctrination and love to do what I told them they now felt a deep need to do?

"Your Life Plan app has a special modification. Anyone's collar you scan, or whose chip your phone detects from its wireless signal — and why would you bother scanning when you can get all the info out of thin air? — you can claim if their dropout status is dependent on LaRose. That's anyone whose debt we activate. Want us to pull the trigger on all the faculty? You can grab any of them you want as you go."

"Andrew Vale!" shouted principal Ami Sanada, standing instinctively. She was shaking with anger or anxiety, but she didn't say anything else. She noticed me looking at her and instead pursed her lips and nodded at me politely.

I shrugged and looked back to Frank. "Not right now. I have your number, I'll message you if I change my mind, but I think I'll try to settle into class first. Can't distract myself from making my grades just because of this job."

"Oh hunie bunny, you're so responsible," said my mom, grabbing my right arm and snuggling it.

Fuck. I blushed, she definitely knew not to use my cutesy nickname in public. I looked up at Frank, daring him to stare back. His lips curled up but he didn't laugh, just hid behind his briefcase and pretended to sort some of the paperwork.

Frank coughed. "Yes, he's very responsible ma'am. You've got a great son."

"Don't I know it! So handsome, so responsible, so caring for his old mother—"

"Mom! You're not old. How many times do I have to tell you, 34 is young," I looked at her wistfully smiling face with her beautiful petite nose, red lips made up for work, and long eyelashes, "you're not some old hag like half of the other kids' mothers."

Didn't I know it. Having a mother less than twice my age was trouble in its own right, even if it the advantages outweighed the annoyance — like the annoyance of my peers staring at her perky apple bottom ass, way tighter than anything they had at home even if they had a teen sister. It wasn't that big, but there was no ignoring that shapely yoga-trained ass.

Oh man. Not having my mom come around school for meetings might be the biggest advantage of my new job, and controlling her life plan. I could order her not to go, and the school was in a business relationship with me, they couldn't complain as long as I was being at least sort of responsible.

"Anyway," said Frank, closing his briefcase, "you should go. Go home, have a nice lunch on your new wage. Maybe buy your mother something nice. You don't have anything to worry about until tomorrow, when you start your classes — Ah! — do keep in mind you might not have a teacher yet. We're really trying to get someone enthusiastic with our plans, but we're approaching candidates carefully. You were our priority obviously, so probably a few days until we can pick the perfect teacher. You'll have textbook readings and stuff though to get you started."

"Uh huh." I was skeptical, I bet that if anything they had a teacher in mind and they'd been rejected, or something else even more unexpected had happened. Had any of the staff died over break? I didn't think so, but I decided to check later. Deaths, marriages, or even dropouts from another source could have messed project HAREM up.

"Come on mom," I said, taking my mother by the arm, "let's go home. I feel like I need a power nap after all that damn small text."

"Yes dear, there's hours yet until I have to go to work. We can stop by the market on our way home."

"Sure," I said, smiling at her widely, "I'll make anything you want. What do you feel like?"