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Jayna tried to slow her breathing, but Gabrielle’s reassurances weren’t doing the trick.
“They are asking about you, though. I know your training is important, but you need to change and get to the grotto as soon as you can.”
Chapter 3
“Mr. Hayes, are you really going to replace everyone at the park with swimming robots?”
Sid must have answered this same question at least a hundred times, but apparently the message wasn’t getting through.
He fought the urge to glance at his assistant Emmaline and roll his eyes. Instead, he gave the warmest smile he could manage to the group of beautiful but concerned-looking mermaids.
At least, he assumed they were mermaids, given their question, though without the seashell tops and prosthetic tails, he couldn’t be certain. And were they still considered mermaids when they were out of costume?
Sid was in way over his head.
“No, we won’t be replacing anyone with robots. I seriously doubt robot mermaids could deliver anything close to the amazing performance I saw tonight.”
The women visibly relaxed, though the concern never completely left their faces. “Thank you. And sorry about Mermaid Aaramere and her Bionic Cannonball. She usually holds back when there are important people in the front row, so I’m not sure what happened tonight.”
Sid drew in a breath and struggled to maintain his smile. Nearly everyone in the park had apologized for the way he and his team had been soaked. Everyone, that is, except the red-haired mermaid who had done the soaking.
Emmaline put a hand on the nearest woman’s shoulder. “It’s okay. We know that splash was part of the show, and we should have been more careful when choosing our seats.” The borrowed blue park security uniform and plain chestnut-colored hair were very different from Emmaline’s regular look, but they worked well with her medium brown skin and seemed to amplify her reassuring presence. “If you see Mermaid Aaramere, can you let her know we’d like to meet her?”
The young women agreed, thanked Emmaline for understanding, and then left.
As the performers walked towards the food table, they passed Sid’s transition manager, Hazel. She paused to watch the girls, then turned back to Sid and Emmaline. Her sandy blonde hair hung limply around the shoulders of her borrowed green ride attendant uniform, and her mouth was set in a tight line.
“There sure are a lot of pretty girls around here,” she said. “Are you sure this project is going to help your reputation score?”
Emmaline stiffened at the question. Over the past couple of years, she had done an amazing job helping Sid rebuild his reputation. His decision to buy the park had been based almost entirely on her advice, despite Hazel’s many unresolved questions and concerns.
Yet Sid knew Hazel’s concerns were valid. After all, the damage to his reputation had started with an attractive face at a previous project company, and he was determined not to make the same mistake again.
“That’s the reason I put you in charge of the transition team,” he said to Hazel. “I’ll be involved in setting our strategy, but I trust you to work directly with the employees and identify any potential issues so we can steer clear.”
“But an amusement park?” Hazel asked. “Really?”
Hazel was right, and Sid knew it. Emmaline had made a strong case for buying Realms of Neptune, but now that the deal was done Sid couldn’t help but wonder if it had been a mistake.
“True, it’s not our usual manufacturing company. But the fundamentals here will be the same as they have been for every other project,” he said, trying to convince himself as much as Hazel. “Your job is to find opportunities where we can leverage our expertise, improve operations, and build this into a business that can be sold for a profit.”
Hazel’s expression remained skeptical. “I’m glad you feel that way, because I think I found your first opportunity while we were changing into these lovely outfits. Back in the cast show storage room where they keep the mermaid tails, something smelled rather off.”
Sid’s gut tightened. “What kind of off?”
Hazel shrugged. “I’m guessing it was one of the chemicals they use. Maybe it was mishandled or just old and out of date. I think we should have someone come in and make sure they aren’t using anything illegal.”
Sid was not a chemical engineer, but he had enough industrial chemistry experience to make an initial assessment. And the opportunity to leave this awkward reception appealed to him. “I’ll go give it a look. Do you still have the master key?“
“You can’t leave a reception that’s being held in your honor,” Emmaline said.
“Why not? I’ve already met everyone here at least once.”
“You haven’t met Jayna Cooper,” Emmaline said.
“Jayna who?”
“Mermaid Aaramere.”
