Page 68 of A Perfect Disaster

“No,” I cut in emphatically. “I’m just saying she hides her planning behind her charisma. And outsiders might mistake that naturalness for a lack of control over more serious matters.”

Julianne sets her tablet aside.

“Interesting. You’ve both identified weaknesses based on the perception of the role, not on technical competence.”

Maika lets out a slow sigh.

“I suppose we’re experts at putting on a show.”

I open my mouth, but I can’t get a word out. Immediately, Arturo resumes the questioning.

“Let’s analyze your work together in Naples. Helen, what did Maika contribute beyond the protocols?”

The conclusion is immediate.

“Without a doubt, emotional management,” I admit. “My role was to divide the pier into sections, negotiate the docks with the port police, and establish safe flow lines. But Maika took the pulse of the crowd. On an overcrowded pier, crowd psychology is a top logistical priority.”

Julianne gives a slight smile of approval.

“A very accurate description.”

“It wasn’t in my notes,” I admit.

“It shows,” Maika murmurs, a faint curve on her lips.

I give her a warning look. She almost smiles fully.

Arturo brings up the same question from across the table.

“If Helen hadn’t established strict boundaries, the pier would have been an unmanageable mess,” Maika admits. “She knows where to draw the line, which access points to close, and when to stand firm against local authorities to prevent overall security from collapsing. I can convince a customer to wait for a bus; Helen ensures the physical space so that bus can maneuver safely.”

I lower my gaze to the table, aware that if I maintain eye contact with her, our bosses will read all too clearly everything that’s going on inside me.

Julianne clasps her hands together.

“Your coordination at the Naples dock is the most solid performance we’ve recorded since we set sail from Marseille.”

Maika and I exchange glances at the same time. “Oh my God. Since Marseille.” The amount of things these two must have gone through while monitoring us.

“But… that doesn’t negate the risk factors,” Arturo warns. “Your shared history can act as a powerful catalyst for performance if managed with maturity, or as a source of instability if you allow it to interfere with decision-making.”

“We’re working on that last part,” I assure him.

“Sometimes,” Maika replies.

“Sometimes is better than never, isn’t it?” I say, and my gaze locks with hers.

Maika smiles. And Julianne clears her throat, bringing us back to the agenda.

“Let’s consider the final scenario. If you were required to recommend your colleague for the senior management position, what would your argument be?”

My heart rate is spiking. This has gone way beyond an assessment; it’s an emotional endurance test. Every phase of my plan for humanity… going to hell.

Maika places her palms on the table.

“I would recommend Helen because the shipping company needs a leader capable of maintaining stability when the system is faltering. Because she knows the internal regulations better than anyone else in the fleet, because she doesn’t rely on luck for an operation to go well. And because, even though she believes her greatest virtue is control, her true value is that she cares so much about the safety of this ship that she is incapable of leaving anyone unprotected.”

I’m running out of arguments. Arturo turns toward me, and that makes me swallow hard.