by Ali Vali
“My best interest at heart,” she said through gritted teeth as she balled her hands into fists. “Have you actually listened to yourself lately? At least when you’re not lying about everything you tell me? When did you become an old Southern plantation owner who needed to sell his daughter off to the best beau that came a-calling?” She let loose a string of curses but didn’t let them slip out of her mouth. “Concentrate on what you know, Dad, and it’s obvious I’m not high on the list.”
“Would you like to slap me too?”
“Tonight isn’t the time to tempt me, believe me. Do you want to explain why I found out I’m being replaced by meeting my replacement outside? Why tell me all that crap in the office yesterday about listening to what I want?”
“Because I know you, and I know what’s best for you. It’s time for you to take possession of the office your mother had decorated for you. The future of our company doesn’t need to spend her time with all the roughnecks on our payroll.” He moved to stand in front of her. “You know your brother won’t be able to carry the load.”
The door had obviously opened and closed, but neither of them had heard Frankie come in until he snorted at their father’s proclamation. Her father loved them both, she’d never questioned that, but he had definite ideas about his children that weren’t as progressive as his drilling agenda. Her love life and Frankie’s wheelchair were two places she wished he’d evolve and pick his knuckles up off the ground.
“Yeah, Viv, my brain is attached to my legs so we need you to come save the day.” Frankie pushed his way in and stared at their father as he opened his mouth. “Save it, Dad. I’m never going to convince you about anything having to do with my capabilities so don’t waste any more air on the subject. The house is stuffy enough with all the assholes you invited over tonight.”
“This isn’t a family-owned company anymore, so you two can have fun at my expense, but if you don’t start taking the company and your place in it seriously, someone who’s not a Palmer could be in the big chair.” Winston picked up a binder on the desk and dropped it next to her. “These are the new leases the board wants to bid on, and with Triton almost on line, that’s the next task for both of you. If you get it done, you’ll prove to them you deserve the position when I’m ready to retire.”
“I was able to get you Triton without being chained to a desk, since Frankie did all the contract negotiations. That’s how we work best.”
“We’ll expect you on Monday,” Winston said, as if he’d just joined the conversation and hadn’t heard anything they’d said so far. “And I’m bringing Steve in on this one. He’s ready to move up.”
“You do realize he’s not a Palmer, right?”
“He will be if he marries into the family.”
“Tell me where you’re registered and I’ll be happy to send a gift,” she said, refusing to give him the last word.
*
Kai opened and closed her hand, trying to calm the tingling after the temporary shock wore off. The shell around Vivien Palmer’s neck had her markings, but that wasn’t the surprise since she’d put them there. She was stunned that it was still around Vivien’s neck. She’d done it only a few times before, and the gifts had always come back to her when the children had felt they’d outgrown them. Leave it to her mothers to find her a job with the children she’d interacted with years before. Her mothers weren’t kidding; she wouldn’t have trouble finding them.
The markings had allowed her to tap into their experiences so human interaction wouldn’t be so difficult and she could blend into the crowd. That was kind of a strange concept since her ancestors had populated the planet since prehistoric man had walked the Earth, and they’d been responsible for helping mankind’s society evolve as well as making them a little less hairy.
“Are you new to the area?” Marsha asked, as if the silence in Vivien’s absence had gone on too long.
“Yes, I arrived recently. Have I caused a problem for Miss Palmer?” The anger that coursed through Vivien was so strong she wouldn’t have needed the markings to figure it out. She needed to figure out why Vivien’s thoughts had been silent to her if she still wore the shell. “That’s not what I had planned for my first day.”
“Have you met Viv’s father?” Marsha looped her arm through hers and led her inside.
The group gathered didn’t glance at them, so Kai studied the large, impressively well-stocked saltwater fish tank that took up a wall in the room where everyone was mingling. “I’ve only talked to him on the phone, but he was very persuasive. After a few conversations he convinced me to move here and that the staff would love me.” She nudged Marsha closer to the glass so she could see Winston’s collection. “So much for that, huh?”
What would it be like to be caged forever, even if the trap was as beautiful as this one? The tank was masterfully done with its fake coral but live anemones, and she found the leg of a platform coming down at an angle humorous. Some of the colorful fish flitted through the rocks as if still trying to escape, so she guessed they were the newest additions. The ones who perched somewhere and barely moved their fins had evidently figured out their fate.
“Winston’s pride and joy,” Marsha said as she placed her hand on the tank, which made her red fingernail polish stand out. “He’s caught a majority of everything in here.”
From her first moment in the water at birth, Kai had been in tune with the shark’s spirit more than any other. Even though scientists on the land found them unthinking eating machines, their egg-sized brains could process a lot, and the small bamboo shark swimming in circles at the top of the tank dove down when Kai put her hand next to Marsha’s.
She could sense his frustration that was slowly turning to madness, and she tried to ease the despair by temporarily linking their spirits. “He’s beautiful,” she said as the small striped shark bumped the glass with his tail fin. He reminded her of Ram and Ivan’s antics.
“I’ve never seen him do that or known it was a him,” Marsha said. “I guess I should’ve since Winston named him Mike after the LSU mascot.”
“Damn thing’s got a screw loose,” a man said from behind them. “Winston says he tries to jump out whenever the tank’s open for feedings and cleaning. Whoever heard of a shark with a death wish?”
“Sharks, no matter their size, are wild at heart, so maybe he prefers death over confinement,” she said, and took some of Mike’s sadness when she removed her hand.
“Fish are too stupid to know they’re in a tank.”
“Stupidity isn’t a trait common to only fish, but since you think you know better than me on the subject, we’ll agree to disagree. Stupid or not, I’ll side with the fish.”
“Learn who all the players are before you go calling people stupid,” the man said menacingly. “And with an attitude like that one, you won’t have much of a future in the oil business.” The man laughed, she was sure at her expense.
“By future, do you mean keeping my opinions to myself so people will like me?” The man took a small step forward when Marsha laughed, but it didn’t concern her. Whoever he was, he was handsome, with his thick blond hair and his blue eyes that reminded her of her mother’s since they were a similar shade. His, though, seemed almost dead and held none of the warmth she always found in her mother’s. “Maybe that’s why I’m a fish lover.”
“I’m a fish lover too, especially when they’re battered and deep fried.” The guy was the only one who laughed. “Mostly they’re just a pain in the ass because environmental groups try to shut us down every time a dolphin gets the sniffles.”
“I’ll explain later how dolphins really aren’t fish, but have you considered there’s a way to make everyone happy? You can do business that doesn’t come at the expense of the fish and vice versa.” She tapped the glass, smiling when Mike swam to that spot. “Think of this as a small example.”
“Well said, young lady,” an older gentleman said as he put his hand on her shoulder. “That’s the kind of
talk we want out there when it comes to the company. We love the environment and want everybody to know it.”
“Should I have the fish sticks taken off the menu in the cafeteria, Winston?” the younger man asked as he glared at her. “Or should I have T-shirts emblazoned with Fish Lover on them made up?”
“Kai Merlin, sir,” she said, offering Winston her hand. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
“Glad to have you.” Winston gripped her hand and seemed pleased when she didn’t flinch. “What are you drinking?”
“Water’s fine.” She looked at Vivien and the man in a wheelchair who’d followed Winston into the room. The last time Kai had seen Vivien’s little brother he’d been a small but bright boy whose hand had closed over the shell as she’d marked them. She’d given him the greatest wish his mind had asked for at the time—the actual memory of running.
The shell at her neck warmed, and she knew instantly he hadn’t removed his either. That was why she’d never received any of their thoughts—their bond had linked the gifts she’d given them to each other, and their connection was so strong it would block anyone else from their minds. That’s how it was with her mothers and the other life mates who’d found their true partner. But close siblings could also develop the kind of communication through the necklaces as Vivien and her brother obviously had.
Vivien gazed at her with her hand at the base of her throat, and her brother copied her actions. Had they figured out why their thoughts were so clear to each other? Vivien faltered first by breaking eye contact, and Kai could sense only curiosity now, and something else she couldn’t decipher.
“You didn’t follow my advice,” Vivien said when Kai and Marsha stepped closer to the siblings. “And don’t be fooled by his Boy Scout routine. Winston’s not a fan of sea life except when it’s dropped into that tank.”
“It’s obvious to me after tonight that I’m not as lovable as my parents think I am. Usually I’m pretty good at meeting people and making new friends.” She accepted the glass the waiter brought over on a tray and took a sip. “I also don’t want to take something away from you that clearly you’re not ready to let go of. Would you mind passing my apologies to your father? I doubt I’ll be missed, but in case I am.”
She had to get out before the negativity that filled the beautiful house ruined her mood. Everyone there seemed to have an agenda to protect what was theirs and was willing to fight whoever to gain a bigger slice. Navigating this morass for months was as appetizing as eating rotten fish.
Outside, the night had cooled and she felt better after a deep breath. It was hard to believe her mothers hadn’t put any of the Palmer-family problems in their report. These people were broken, and they’d added others to their lives that would never allow them to heal. The only two truly loyal to each other were Vivien and her brother, but that wasn’t enough to overcome everyone else’s plotting and scheming.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be.” She turned with her helmet in hand to face Vivien. “There’s no law that you have to like me, and I’m not that indispensable to your business, so I quit. If it’ll make you feel better you can fire me. Either way you don’t have to worry about me.”
“Firing you would be a mistake on my part, and quitting won’t allow us to get to know each other,” Vivien said and seemed to drop whatever crap she was carrying. “Again, I’m sorry for being so rude. My disagreements with my father have nothing to do with you, and please call me Vivien.”
“Is this job important to you?”
“The job’s actually boring as hell,” Vivien said and smiled. “It’s boring but important, but I do like doing it on Triton in deep water.”
“You’re a fish lover too then?”
“I’m more of a water lover and have been ever since I was a little girl, but I love fish too. So many things are still undiscovered down there.”
“Then you should keep the job if only to be where you love. I’ve always believed beautiful tanks like your father’s suck the joy out of the fish unfortunate enough to get caught and dropped in, and I have to guess that’s what that big corner office will eventually become to you.”
“How do you know there’s a corner office waiting for me?”
“Your father told me, since he warned me this job was as high as I’d go in the company. I didn’t mind that because I believe people, like sharks, are wild at heart too, so we should do what’ll make us happy.”
“You thought the people in there were wild at heart?”
“Some tame more easily than others. Orca whales aren’t fish, but they’re taught to do tricks when their greatest talent is killing.” She put her helmet down and walked Vivien back to the door. “Take care of yourself and don’t let anyone tame your wild side.”
“Please stay. My father’s given you my job, but it might be fun to go out with you and teach you a few things.”
“Are you sure? You can still do that while I work for someone else.”
“I’m positive,” Vivien said, letting her go first.
They entered together, and the ass who’d given her a hard time watched them as if she might run off with Vivien, a woman he’d obviously claimed for himself. “Who’s the guy next to your father?”
“Steve Hawksworth, but please ignore him. He likes to spout off about things he thinks will make my father like him even more than he does.”
“Then the company already has a cheerleader, so you don’t need another one,” she said and laughed, glad when Vivien joined in. That was too much for Steve, it seemed, and he walked rapidly toward them.
“So you’re the new drilling supervisor,” Steve said as he stepped between them. “I’m surprised Winston invited you tonight.”
“I’m sure he’s subjecting you to the hoi polloi since we’re instituting some changes to the original design and he’s anxious to start.” Vivien’s anger was starting to burn, but this time Kai couldn’t blame her if it was directed at Steve.
“Changes? What changes?” Vivien asked, making Kai rethink who she was mad at.
“Enhancements might be a better word. You and your team did a great job on Triton’s design, but sometimes even great designs have room for improvement.”
“There’s no way Winston’s taking a chance that Triton gets set back,” Steve said louder than necessary, considering he was standing right next to her. If he thought that’d intimidate her, he’d make more progress screaming at Mike in the tank. “He’s already upset with how little time we have left.”
“He didn’t sound upset during our initial talk, but I didn’t realize he had to clear changes through you. I thought he ran the company.”
“He does, but I know what he expects, and it’s my job to give it to him.”
“Hopefully he’s not expecting a blow job next,” she said, and Vivien, Franklin, and Marsha laughed. Steve would be happy in a fish tank. He’d swim around preening for his owner in the confined space because, unlike most, he had no imagination or curiosity as to what lay beyond the glass. “Mr. Palmer’s lucky to have you, but sometimes a person doesn’t need or want something because it’s either an unknown or it’s new. Once he knows otherwise, he realizes there’s something better. That’s why I’m here.”
“Snake oil never took off because people learned quickly it was a sham,” Steve said and laughed. “Before too long you’ll be swimming in crazy circles like Mike, and you’ll gladly leave once Winston takes a bite out of your ass for costing him money.”
“Dinner’s ready,” Franklin said, as if to stop Steve before he really got going.
“Let’s enjoy it then before it’s my ass on the menu,” Kai said, her eyes locked with Steve’s. “I’m sure whatever comes out of the kitchen has to be better than that.”
“I wouldn’t take that bet,” Marsha said as she took her arm again.
Chapter Seven
“I checked her credentials, and Kai Merlin already knows how to do her job,” Winston said loud eno
ugh for Vivien to have to take the phone from her ear. “If she needed a sitter she’d still be in the North Sea dodging snow and rain.”
“I’m not asking you, Dad. I need to pack my stuff and clear out my quarters for her, so I’m going. Besides, the crew told me she doesn’t start for another three weeks, so I might not even see her, and someone has to check the progress made since I was last out there.” She sped through traffic, trying to reach Marmande Shipyard on the river before she missed Kai. She’d called that morning to ask what time Kai’s helicopter was leaving for the rig and was told they had no record of arrangements for Kai’s transportation since she technically didn’t start until the beginning of the next month.
Her early call to the guy in charge of setting up things like that had made her curious enough to find out how Kai was getting out to Triton, and she’d asked him to phone her when he found out. It took him an hour, but he finally got an answer from the downtown hotel where Kai was staying. Kai’s sailboat was moored at the pier the Marmandes used for the large fishing cruiser Mac Marmande, the owner, kept to indulge his passion for deep-sea fishing. She also wanted to ask Kai how she knew the Marmandes.
“When will you be back?” Her father’s patience was as short and nonexistent as a Louisiana winter, but she couldn’t live her life strictly for his also-elusive approval. She could hear his frustration, but it didn’t bother her like it once had since nothing she said or did broke through the fog of the illusion he wanted her to be, and that in turn widened the divide between them. “The team’s ready to go on the new plans and your input is vital.”
“Frankie’s got everything you need to get started, and it’ll take weeks to hurdle the barriers the feds have erected, so don’t worry that I’m putting you behind schedule. I know better than to think my happiness and priorities come before the company.”
“Everything I’ve done has been for you and Franklin, so stop with the melodrama.”