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“Thanks,” Jayna said. But worry gnawed at her insides. “Do you think Sid will be okay with that clip?” She needed to capitalize on her exposure while she was still fresh and exciting. But she didn’t want to jeopardize her relationship with Sid in the process, and the clip’s humor came at his expense.
Brianna winked at her. “He’ll hate it. But it’s posted to my stream, so he won’t have any reason to be upset with you. Besides, we’ll follow it up with mermaid party videos once those tails get here, and he’ll forget all about it.”
It was fun to see Brianna’s excitement about becoming a mermaid for the day and sharing the experience with the rest of Peter’s guests, but Jayna wasn’t reassured. “You don’t think the first video will hurt his reputation score, do you?”
Brianna pursed her lips and gave Jayna an appraising look. After several long seconds, she looped her arm through Jayna’s and said, “Let’s get some air.”
Instead of leading Jayna out onto the deck, she waved her free hand and the wall of the cabin split in two. It unfolded outward from the side of the hull and a balcony formed. Brianna seated herself on the integrated contoured bench and patted the spot next to her.
After a moment’s hesitation, Jayna dutifully sat.
“What do you know about the Cerulean Order?”
“They’re a philanthropy group,” Jayna said. “We’ve applied for financing through one of their programs that might help us with the employee buyout of Realms, and they sponsored a couple of Jubilee Service Day activities.”
Brianna nodded. “I’m impressed you convinced Obsidian to host the mermaid day instead. I enjoy seeing that fun-loving side of him, but he usually hides it now. I think he’s worried the Cerulean Order won’t approve. For as long as I can remember, Obsidian has wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and be part of the Order.”
“Ah,” Jayna said as the pieces fell into place. “He needs to improve his reputation score before he can apply.”
Brianna’s response practically overflowed with dramatic sarcasm. “One does not simply apply to the Cerulean Order. One must be invited.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s what made it so hard when he learned an invitation had been approved and then rescinded.”
“What happened?”
“You’ve heard of Crystal Hadden-Steen?”
Jayna’s gut tightened at the memory of her ‘interview’ with Crystal the night before. “Let me guess—Crystal’s attacks got his invitation cancelled.”
Brianna nodded. “The way she trashed his reputation and cost him membership in the Order hurt more than her relationship with Peter.”
Jayna’s eyes widened. “You mean, Crystal and Peter…?”
Brianna nodded again.
The animosity between Sid and his stepbrother suddenly made a lot more sense.
The sound of a motor and shouts of greeting filled the air. Brianna stood and pulled Jayna to her feet. “Come on. It’s time for you to meet some people.”
She led Jayna out onto the yacht’s rear dock where a group of young, beautiful people were exiting a water limo. Jayna’s eyes went wide as she recognized several as upper-list celebrities. Brian Robson, Violet Turner, Rémy Leclair, and a half-dozen other equally glamorous people boarded the yacht, greeted Brianna, and only gave Jayna the briefest acknowledgment before ignoring her.
A second limo pulled up alongside the yacht, and the process repeated itself.
Feeling awkward and invisible, she was about to slip away from the growing crowd when she heard a woman say, “It’s Mermaid Aaramere!”
Jayna turned to see Viti Sachar headed straight for her. The woman was just as beautiful in person as she was in her films, with deep brown skin and long flowing black hair pulled into a tall ponytail.
Viti stopped just short of Jayna and raised an eyebrow. “You are Mermaid Aaramere, aren’t you?”
The experience of being recognized by someone as famous as Viti Sachar was surreal. “Yes, I am.”
Viti squealed and gave her a hug. “You are amazing!”
“Thank you,” she said, still feeling a bit starstruck.
Viti turned to the others and said, “Guys! This is Mermaid Aaramere, queen of the sea!”
Jayna wasn’t sure what to make of this introduction, but when the others noticed Viti’s interest in her, they became interested as well. She met actors, musicians, athletes, and streamers.
A beautiful model named Mae Mirae cocked an eyebrow and asked, “If you’re a mermaid, where’s your tail?”
