Page 31 of Song of Lorelei
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Lila didn’t lose her job over the mermaid field trip fiasco. Lorelei never would forgive herself if she had. But there was a cost. Although Lila would remain in charge of the mermaid lab, her access was restricted to 9:00 to 5:00 business hours, and she had to be escorted by either security or a fellow team member anytime she worked with Nireed.
Babysat in her own lab.
It was humiliating.
“Phil, this is ridiculous,” Lila seethed. They’d been summoned into his office the moment he arrived. “How many times do I have to tell you that Nireed’s not a prisoner? I didn’t do anything wrong by giving her the mental health break she needed. You try being cooped up in a tank day after day, month after month. There’s a reason why animals in captivity have shorter life expectancies. If anything, it’s in your best interests to allow…”
Phil cut her off with a curt remark. “I’ll be the judge of that. This isn’t up for discussion, Dr. Branson.”
Lila sat back hard in the chair next to Lorelei’s, arms crossing her chest, fuming.
Lorelei leaned forward. “Why isn’t it up for discussion, Phil?” She spat out his name as if laced with poison. “The team didn’t twiddle their thumbs waiting three months to get signed consent from Nireed for nothing. And you agreed to the plans for an intersectional anthropological study. Now it’s straight biology. When exactly did you decide Nireed no longer has personhood?”
“Miss Roth, you forget you’ve no authority on this subject. Allowing you access to the mermaid lab was a huge oversight, one that’s affected your ability to do your actual job as Museum Director, but we won’t be making that mistake again.”
Digging her fingers into her chair cushion, Lorelei left crescent shaped dents in the leather, but steadied her breathing. She had to remain calm. If she lost her cool, she’d transform right in front of her boss. “I can do both.”
“It didn’t sound like it to me when you visited my office two days ago to put in a hiring request.” His fingertips touched in that annoying steepled pose. “I admire your work ethic and determination, Miss Roth, believe me, I do. But it’s plain to see that you’ve been overworking yourself. Stressed and exhausted isn’t the face our patrons should see on opening day.”
Blinking back the angry tears that threatened to spill from her eyes, Lorelei clamped her mouth shut, and folded her hands in her lap. That way, she didn’t reach across the desk and throttle her boss.
“You keep dodging our questions,” Lila managed through gritted teeth.
“Frankly, I don’t care. You answer to me, not the other way around.” Phil gestured behind her. “If you don’t like the way things are done here, there’s the door.”
Siren song tickled at the back of Lorelei’s throat. Just the barest hint of a melody, but Lila grabbed her wrist and squeezed hard. Her eyes flared wide as she sternly mouthed “don’t.” Lorelei gulped, quieting.
Lila didn’t need to explain for her to understand. Just because Lorelei could compel people to do what she wanted, didn’t mean she should—even if their boss was being a major tool. That was a nasty slippery slope to go down, and she didn’t fight this hard for control over past year to be wholly seduced by the power of her own song.
When Lila didn’t get up, Phil continued, “Staying? Good. Now look, I know you’re upset, but we’ve got to stay the course. We’re doing cutting-edge marine research here, and we’re very close to being recognized as number one in the country, and on track for the entire world. Think about that. This mermaid study is our golden ticket to keep doing the important work our scientists have already been doing for a long, long time. I don’t need to explain to you how our research-driven advocacy has led to positive wins for marine life and the health of our oceans and the planet at large.”
Accreditation. World-wide recognition. Continued, cushy funding. That’s what this was all about. That’s what changed. Greed masked by job security and environmentalism.
Lila made eye contact, her lips pressing into a thin, hard line. She’d figured it out, too. But with a small shake of the marine biologist’s head, Lorelei stayed quiet. There was nothing they could say to change Phil’s mind, especially if the board shared this sentiment, which is where it likely originated. They would have to regroup and plan later.
Phil took their silence as acquiescence. “Good. I’m glad we’re all on the same page now. Dr. Branson, if you don’t mind, I would like to speak Miss Roth about a museum matter. There’s no need for you to stay for that. I’m sure you have plenty of your own work to do.”
That was it. Conversation over. And a rude dismissal. Lorelei clenched the arms of her chair, the wood creaking under the pressure. Lila shot her a warning glance, and Lorelei relaxed her grip. She was going to have to keep it together for both their sakes. If she lost her temper and outed herself, Lila would be left alone to deal with the fallout.
And it was Lorelei who got the marine biologist into this mess in the first place with last year’s flesh-eating problems. She could hold it together for ten more minutes.
Without another word, Lila stormed out of their boss’s office. When she was gone, Phil announced that he hired someone for the Assistant Museum Director’s position.
“Hired someone? What—already?” It had been barely two days since she put in her request. “Why wasn’t I involved in the decision-making process?”
“Had to move fast. You need help and the board wants to move up the grand opening to September 16, with a soft opening for staff, friends, and family the weekend before. September 15, we’ll unveil The Osprey memorial…”
Lorelei cut him off. “That’s barely a month away! If anything, we need more time, not less, to get up and running.” All their previous plans revolved around the date they’d picked in mid-October with the board’s approval. Not to mention, September 16 was the day before the anniversary The Osprey sank—of which Lorelei was the only survivor. How did Phil and the board of directors expect her to be in any kind of shape to host such a huge event? She could manage a memorial unveiling for her lost crewmates. After all, it was her idea. But she was going to be an emotional wreck those few days.
“Your new assistant thinks it’s doable. And it’s good timing. The tourists will be back for the fall foliage. School will be back in session for field trips.”
It made sense from a shrewd business standpoint, but Lorelei was one frayed nerve away from ripping her hair out. Or his. “But I have to onboard this new person. I don’t know what they are capable of, what their qualifications are, or how we’ll work together. I don’t know anything about them.”
“She’s got fifteen years of corporate experience, and I can vouch for her personally. There’s no one more capable and hardworking than Carrie Prior.”
Lorelei sat back in her chair with a hard thump. Sucker-punched.