Page 3 of Real Scale Blazer
Professor Harrison harrumphed beside them. “If you’ll excuse me, ladies. Dr. Quinn, do consider what I said about conventional methodologies.”
Quinn barely noticed him leave, too focused on Gerri’s mysterious statement. “What kind of opportunity?”
“The kind that involves unexplored territory and a planet in need of your specific expertise.” Gerri held up a hand at Quinn’s startled expression. “Before you dismiss this as crazy, hear me out. I have connections with various... let’s call them off-world communities. One in particular is experiencing significant geological instability. They need someone with your skills, Dr. Quinn. Someone who can think outside the box and isn’t afraid of unusual circumstances.”
Quinn barked out a laugh. “Off-world communities? As in aliens?” She glanced at Lydia, expecting to share an amused look, but her friend was leaning forward, completely engaged.
“I prefer to think of them as people with unique cultural and physical differences,” Gerri replied smoothly. She produced a business card that seemed to shimmer with an iridescent quality Quinn had never seen. “The Paranormal Dating Agency isn’t just about matchmaking. We facilitate connections of all kinds—professional, personal, and sometimes both.”
“Dating agency?” Quinn’s voice rose enough to draw looks from nearby partygoers. She lowered it quickly. “I’m not looking for?—”
“Of course not,” Gerri cut in with a knowing smile. “You’re focused on your career. But wouldn’t it be nice to work somewhere your brilliance is appreciated? Where your gender isn’t a barrier to respect?”
The words hit uncomfortably close to home. Quinn thought of all the times she’d been talked over in meetings, her research dismissed or stolen, her expertise questioned despite her impeccable credentials.
“This is fascinating,” Lydia chimed in, her green eyes sparkling with excitement. “Could I come too? Quinn and I work best as a team.”
“The more the merrier.” Gerri’s eyes twinkled. “Sometimes the best adventures are shared with friends.” She pulled out another shimmering business card. “Think about it. Call me when you’re ready to explore possibilities beyond Earth’s boundaries. The worst that could happen is you get a paid vacation to another world.”
THREE
Before Quinn could formulate a coherent response, Gerri was swept away by other party guests, leaving behind her mysterious cards and an air of possibility that Quinn couldn’t quite shake.
“Well,” Lydia said after a moment, examining her card with fascination. “That was...”
“Completely insane?” Quinn supplied.
“I was going to sayincredible.” Lydia grabbed Quinn’s arm. “Think about it! A whole new world to study, geological formations no human has ever seen?—”
“Aliens, Lyd. She’s talking about aliens.”
“So? You dated Brad from the chemistry department. After him, aliens would be an upgrade.”
Quinn couldn’t help laughing. “That’s not exactly a high bar.”
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of polite conversations and avoided debates about geological methodology. But Quinn couldn’t stop thinking about Gerri’s offer, or the way the business card seemed to pulse with possibility in her clutch.
The next morning, Quinn stared at the shimmering business card on her desk, its surface catching the basement office’sfluorescent light in ways that seemed to defy physics. She’d tried to dismiss Gerri’s offer as ridiculous, but something about it kept nagging at her.
A stack of papers dropped onto her desk with a loud thud, making her jump. James Foster loomed over her, his expensive cologne overwhelming in the small space.
“Need you to review these before the board meeting,” he said, already turning to leave. “Just check the calculations, nothing major.”
Quinn flipped through the papers, her blood pressure rising with each page. This was her research—her entire monitoring system proposal, rewritten with James’s name on it. He hadn’t even bothered to change her original wording in most places.
“These are my findings,” she called after him. “My entire proposal for the Highland Development site.”
James paused in the doorway, his smile condescending. “We’ve been over this, Sam. You do the groundwork, I present to the board. That’s how it works.”
“That’s not how it works. That’s how you’ve made it work because no one stops you.” Quinn stood, her chair scraping against the floor. “I’ve spent months developing this monitoring system. I’m the one who identified the fault line risk.”
“And I appreciate your... contribution.” His pause made the word sound like an insult. “But the board responds better to a more experienced voice. You understand.”
“More experienced?” Quinn’s laugh held no humor. “I have a PhD from MIT. I’ve published more papers than you’ve probably read. The only thing you have more experience in is taking credit for other people’s work.”
James’s smile hardened. “Careful, Sam. That attitude isn’t going to get you very far in this industry.”
“It’s Dr. Quinn,” she snapped. “And this ‘attitude’ comes from years of watching men like you build careers on women’s work.”