“You trying to kill me?” she cried.
“I’m so sorry.” Claire plucked her fabric shears from the cutting table. “Hold still.” She grabbed Alisha with one hand to steady her and inserted one of the blades between the swimsuit and her back. She released Alisha and, with both hands, she snipped.
The wheezing sound filled the room as Claire pulled the tubing away from Alisha’s chest. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
Alisha gasped for air. “Dizzy.” She bent over. Claire guided Alisha to sit on her chair. Examining the deflated ON button, she said, “I paid three thousand dollars for this prototype—it should have worked, damn it.”
Rick rushed to Alisha, shouting, “Are you all right?”
Alisha rounded on Claire, ripping the shoulder strap out of her hands. “You crazy bitch!”
“The pump should have stopped. Did you press it completely?”
“With all my might!”
Claire pulled the tube that ran up the suit’s shoulder strap. “Here’s why it didn’t stop: the switch didn’t release.” She dropped the strap. “You pushed it too hard.”
“Youtoldme to push it harder.” Alisha ripped the tube away.
“I told you toreleaseit.”
“You’re nuts!” She grabbed her robe from the chair, held it to her bosom, and rushed for the door. “You’ll hear from my lawyer.”
Rick shouted at his assistant, “Eleanor, call a doctor.” He caught up to Alisha and put his arm around her shoulder. “Let me help you.”
She smacked her hand against his shoulder. “Get out of my way, or I’ll sue you, too!”
He stepped back, his arms hanging as Alisha ran through the design studio and into the showroom.
“Wait!” Claire headed after her.
Rick grabbed Claire’s arm and dragged her back into her office. “You could have killed her.”
“I’m sorry for what happened, but she’s not hurt.”
“This is your lastinvention.” His tone and sour look made her think he’d stepped in dog poo.
“Don’t be ridiculous. It wasn’t my fault.” She pointed at Alisha. “I must take that suit back to the engineer. We’re almost there.”
Rick dragged his hands down his face. “You’re insane.”
“I am not. I’m trying tosavelives.” Claire’s fingers vibrated with longing to examine the tubing. “Three thousand people drown every year, and that’s just Americans!”
Rick stepped close to her. “Every one of the twenty-three years I’ve employed you, you have created a life-saver swimsuit. Remember the time you spent two-thousand dollars for fabric guaranteed to float? And the cork bra cups that popped out of the suit and floated away? Another grand. How much did you spend onthisdisaster?”
“Uh…” She stepped away from him.
“You’ve been trying to incorporate a life preserver in swimsuits since you started working here. Now this—trying to disguise it as abust enhancer?” He stepped closer. “Today, you nearly killed a model with your deranged idea.” Another step closer. “You’re fired. F-I-R-E-D. Fired!” With the courtesy he’d bestow upon a Neiman Marcus buyer, he opened her office door. “And if she sues me, I’ll sue you.” He scowled. “Now get out!”
“You’re just upset. Tomorrow, you’ll recognize this patent is brilliant.” Claire stood her ground, hands trembling. “I need the prototype.”
Rick grabbed her arm. “You have two minutes to leave on your own before I call security.”
“There’s no need for security. Alisha’s not going to steal the suit.”
“For you! I’m calling security to get rid of you! Now get out!” He grabbed the phone from Claire’s desk.
“But I’m so close. The patent could make you millions. And save thousands of lives. There’s just the switch—a tiny problem.”
