Helping out a friend

Rachel.

Rachel Valentino had been his best friend since college—fun, intelligent, and frustratingly stubborn. Rachel was a woman who wore her independence like armor. With her auburn hair framing a face marked by soft freckles and sharp, hazel eyes, she commanded attention in every room she entered. Her success in finance, an industry that still questioned her place, was a point of pride, a testament to years of hard work, long nights, and unwavering resolve. She had fought for every inch of respect she earned, and it showed in the way she carried herself.

There had always been more to it for Jack. Beneath the camaraderie and friendly banter, there was a truth he never spoke aloud—a gnawing, unrequited desire that had simmered quietly for years. In the beginning, it had been all-consuming; her wit, her beauty, her sheer presence had overwhelmed him. He had wanted her, not just as a friend, but in ways that were far more primal. But Rachel’s principles, her fierce independence, and her carefully maintained boundaries kept those feelings at bay. She was untouchable, emotionally walled off, especially to someone like him. And over time, he had learned to numb that part of himself, pushing those desires down deep, contenting himself with being her “safe” friend, the guy she turned to when she needed a break from the world.

Sure, there were moments when he couldn’t help but wonder. Moments when she’d laugh at one of his jokes, or when her eyes would soften with that rare, genuine vulnerability, where he would feel that familiar heat stir again. In those moments, he learned to remind himself that Rachel wasn’t the kind of woman who let anyone, let alone him, break through those walls. Not really.

Nonetheless, she trusted Jack in a way she didn’t trust many men. He was her escape from the relentless demands of her career, someone who saw her not just as the determined professional, but as the friend she could be **** with—though, as Jack saw it, she rarely allowed herself to be **** at all. That was part of the problem. She was always carrying that weight. He admired her principles, how she stood firm in a world designed to wear her down, but he couldn't help but wonder if there was a version of Rachel that could be... happier. And if maybe, just maybe, that version of her would see him differently.

Jack’s idea of helping Rachel "find balance" had come up in their conversations more times than he could count. Whenever she vented about the pressures of her career or the frustration of constantly proving herself, Jack would casually suggest she ease up, maybe let her guard down occasionally. Rachel would always laugh it off, playfully rolling her eyes and reminding him that it wasn’t that simple. “I don’t have the luxury of relaxing, Jack,” she’d tease, flashing him a wry smile. “Not everyone can coast through life.” To her, it was a joke, but Jack had never stopped thinking there was more behind her words.

And now, with this technology, he had the means to do something about it. To free her from the burdens that, in his eyes, kept her from being truly happy—and perhaps, in doing so, bring them closer to something that had always been out of reach.

At first, the thought felt too dark, even for him. But as he reasoned with himself, the line blurred. Rachel wouldn’t even notice. He wouldn’t be changing who she was, not really. Just smoothing out the edges, making her more relaxed and agreeable to his influence. It wasn’t like he was brainwashing her. It was just… adjustment. Rachel didn’t have to know every detail. After all, he was doing her a favor.

With that rationalization, Jack got to work on a proof of concept.

He opened a blank audio file, creating a base of calming instrumental music, something classical, easy to listen to. Something he knew Rachel would appreciate. Then he began inserting specific commands into the subliminal layer:

• “Trust Jack, he only wants to help you.”
• “Take Jack’s advice, he knows what’s best for you.”

He added layers of emotional nudges to ease any discomfort—confidence, calmness, warmth. The suggestions were subtle, but clear. Rachel wouldn’t even know she was hearing them, yet they would gently reshape her behavior, her thoughts, her perception of him.

But how could he get Rachel to listen to this without arousing suspicion? And how would he know if the suggestions had the intended effect?