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“Oh, he’s mad,” Kalani said. “Mad he didn’t think to reanimate his ahi first.”
Pala punched Kalani’s shoulder in a way that was clearly playful but with enough power that Jayna knew it had to hurt. Kalani laughed it off and gave Pala a quick slap to the back of his head.
“I’m happy for you,” Pala said. “Though I’m glad they’re updating the rules to close that loophole in the future.”
Kalani said, “I’ve been looking for you. There’s a streamer who wants to do an interview with the winning mermaid. I told her I’d keep an eye out for you.”
Jayna had spent nearly four hours doing interviews after her win, and several of the streamers had expressed interest in doing an in-depth follow-up. “Really? Who is she with?”
Kalani shrugged. “Mondialist or something like that.”
It was a stream she hadn’t even heard of, and she felt a twinge of disappointment. But every bit of publicity helped, so she put on her best performance smile. “Okay. Where did you say they are?”
“I’ll show you.”
Jayna followed Kalani through the crowd, grateful she had decided to wear the silky dark-blue floral print dress she and Emmaline had found during their shopping adventure. It was an amazing look for her. Sid had told her so the night they nearly wore matching outfits to dinner.
The thought of him warmed her despite the cooling action of her u-suit.
Kalani led her to a small, well-lit canopy that had been set up over a couple of folding chairs. An attractive woman with shoulder-length blond hair wearing a simple but well-tailored pant suit stood and motioned for Jayna to join her.
“Jayna Cooper?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Wonderful!” She sat and motioned for Jayna to do the same.
Based on the simple setup, Mondialist was clearly not the most sophisticated streaming show, but the host and her cameraman seemed nice enough, and Jayna was happy to help someone starting out.
“I’m here today with Jayna Cooper—aka Mermaid Aaramere—star of the Sirens of Atlantis show at the Realms of Neptune theme park and winner of the Manutai Merathlon. First, congratulations on your win.”
“Thank you.”
“I understand this is the first international competition for bionic mermaids. That must have been exciting.”
“Yes, it was.” Jayna prepared herself to answer all the same questions about the Merathlon, her career as a mermaid, and some of the controversy around bionic tails and their use in competition.
But the host went in an entirely different direction. “I also understand you are here in Manutai as a guest of Obsidian Hayes, and that earlier this week he purchased the Realms of Neptune. Is that correct?”
She instantly went on alert at the unexpected question. “I am,” she said warily, “and he did.”
“That’s interesting. Why is it, do you think, that someone who makes his money tearing manufacturing companies apart and selling them off for parts would be interested in buying an amusement park, of all things? And why would he then try to turn around and sell it to the park’s employees at cost?”
Jayna had wondered the same things, but her experience dealing with difficult interviewers asking inappropriate questions clicked into place before she could be tempted to speculate. “I have absolutely no idea. I’m just a performer at the park. You need to ask Mr. Hayes to find that out.”
“So, you aren’t worried about him replacing the performers with swimming robots?”
“No. Mr. Hayes has a very good relationship with the performers.”
“He obviously has a good relationship with at least one performer. The two of you seem to have grown quite cozy lately. Swimming hand in hand and singing love songs to each other. Tell me, was that all an act? A way to gain some leverage for your plan to buy him out?” The interviewer raised an eyebrow. “Or are you actually in love with him?”
The question was so ridiculous, Jayna found herself at a loss for words. Of course, she wasn’t in love with Sid.
Or was she?
Maybe not yet, but she had to admit she was well on her way. The question made her realize that she wanted a relationship with Sid, no matter how dangerous it might be.
Jayna broke out in a sweat, despite the cooling effects of the u-suit. She pulled her lips together tight, unwilling to say anything for fear of letting her sudden overwhelming emotion pour out in a very public way. She peered into the crowd, beyond the bright lights, hoping desperately to find Kalani so he could provide her with some guidance.
