Page 127 of Altius
Taking offense was useless. My health was unreliable, even on the best of days. I couldn’t promise that I wouldn’t need more unexpected time off in the future. But I could appeal to her ego.
“Being an official consultant for Redwing will lend credence to my research project and gain positive press for the fellowship program.”
“Cal and his team are more than capable of securing such benefits. Without your help.” She fixed me with a probing gaze. “You do realize you’re just collateral, don’t you? To sweeten the deal for Cal. He’s the one Redwing wants.”
I refused to take her bait.
“I fail to see how my involvement would make the offer more appealing to Cal.” I straightened my glasses. “As you said, he doesn’t require my assistance. Does he?”
“But you require his.” She planted her elbows on the desk and leaned forward. “Tell me…” Her lips coiled upward, reminiscent of a snake about to strike. “How was your week together—inVermont?”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
My confusion was genuine. I hadn’t applied to any schools or hospitals in Vermont. Hadn’t traveled there in years. Nor had Cal been out of the state for months, at least not since my fellowship started.
“Drop the pretense already.” Dr. Sethi gave a derisive sniff and angled her computer monitor to face me, displaying my calendar for the third week of December.
The time off I’d blocked for my heat overlapped perfectly with three other calendars, all statingPTO – Vermont.
Calendars that belonged to Cal, Wyatt, and Alijah.
“Quite the coincidence,” she said with a delicate sneer. “If I’d known you were so…well-traveled, I would have denied your heat leave request. On legitimate grounds, I might add, since you couldn’t be bothered to submit the paperwork on time and you’re clearly on more than collegial terms with several university employees.”
Shifting back in my chair, I studied the woman before me.
Was she trying to get me to admit to violating my fraternization agreement, thus giving leadership an excuse to boot me off the football team’s medical staff? That would’ve been one surefire way to shut me up about the ongoing pheromone intimidation.
Too bad I’d already signed the Redwing consulting agreement.
Now, I was an empowered pest, with Owen’s express permission to keep pushing. They couldn’t silence me unless they wanted a call from Redwing’s legal department.
Or was this personal?
She might have misinterpreted Cal’s outreach to Verray shareholders and board members as the groundwork for a belated power grab rather than an attempt to help Heather secure the VP position. He was even taking a select group of key board members out to dinner tonight to lobby on her behalf.
Either way, I didn’t take kindly to threats.
“Heat participants are confidential,” I said. “But I’ll apologize again for the timing—”
“I didn’t ask for excuses.” Dr. Sethi dug a nail beneath her thinnest mating band, the motion sharp and unforgiving, like she was picking at an old wound on her finger. “You should have covered your tracks better.”
I wanted to count her rings, to finally know how many mates she had. Instead, I forced myself to focus on the engraved glass nameplate on her desk.
“Don’t mistake my words for advice,” she continued. “They’re not. It’s a warning.”
She regarded me with unprecedented intensity.
“It would have served you better to keep your head down. To do precisely as you were told. Meddling in the business affairs of Redwing BioTech doesn’t constitute genuine research. Andyour refusal to adhere to designation norms has damaged your prospects with the university.”
My anger came to a controlled boil.
“While I appreciate your guidance, I don’t see how myprospectsare any of your concern. I applied for the sports medicine opening because I wanted the experience, not because I feel entitled to the position. I know how I compare to other candidates. But I’ll still attend my interview and answer their questions to the best of my ability—and be thankful for the opportunity, because that’s all I want. The opportunity to try.” My tone was perfectly professional despite the acid on my tongue. “Just like your daughter.”
She flinched. “Heather has nothing to do with this.”
“Oh? I wonder what my media contacts would be more interested in,” I interjected, eyes drifting over the numerous diplomas and awards dotting her office walls. My gaze settled on a formal portrait of Heather and her pack. “Knowing that my fellowship program director invaded my privacy…or that she exposed her nephew's embezzlement to secure a promotion for her daughter?”
She reared back, eyes wide, mouth agape—as if I’d struck her. Her manicured nails dug into the desktop. “Are you threatening me?”
