Chapter 4: An Accident

Ella gave Red a quick tour of the laboratory. At first, she spoke quickly and tried to shorten her description of the equipment they were using, thinking that the CEO did not have enough time. She also thought that Red might not appreciate the scientific concepts behind each equipment. However, Red turned out to be genuinely curious and asked her some detailed questions that sometimes also made Ella stop to think and remember.

“I didn’t realize that you would be so interested in the works of a pharmaceutical scientist,” remarked Ella after describing how the laboratory equipment worked. “I hope I didn’t bore you talking about my work.”

“On the contrary, I find you quite intriguing,” said Red, locking eyes with Ella.

“You mean my work,” said Ella, bowing her head and looking away. She swept a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “My work is quite intriguing.”

“I meant what I said,” replied Red, not looking away from Ella.

Ella started to blush and shook her hands in the air. Then, she clasped her hands tightly in front of her. From the corner of her eye, she saw Red take a step towards her, closing the gap between them. Not knowing what to do, Ella picked a flask from an apparatus. In doing so, her hand bumped into a glass vessel, causing its liquid contents to spill to the floor.

Ella gasped as she saw the clear liquid splashed onto Red’s leather shoes. “Oh, no!” she cried. “Please let it not be acid!” Then, to her horror, she saw the pale discoloration just starting and the acrid odor rising from the spill. In her panic, she immediately ran to the corner and grabbed the chemical spill kit. She poured the neutralizing agent over Red’s shoes and the spill before placing absorbent material on the floor.

“I’m sorry!” cried Ella as she saw the leather soaked in liquid and the slight discoloration on the surface. “You need to remove your shoes and let’s get you washed at the emergency shower,” said Ella pointing to the emergency facilities nearby.

Red simply observed what Ella was doing and stayed in the same spot, smiling at the panicking research scientist who kept placing absorbent materials on the floor and on his shoes. “It’s alright, Dr. Garcia,” he said.

The door to the laboratory opened, unknown to Ella who was still busy containing the chemical spill that she had accidentally caused. A slender woman wearing a loose lab gown burst into the laboratory and walked briskly towards Red and Ella. Matt closed the door gently and quickly followed the woman. The woman wore a red dress underneath the slightly translucent lab gown that was larger than her size. She was tall and walked confidently on her high heels. In her hands, she held a small thermal bag.

“Are you sure you didn’t get acid on your foot? I have to insist we wash it with water, just in case.” Then, looking at the discoloration on Red’s shoes, she said, “I do hope shoe polish can fix that.”

“Those shoes, my dear, are from Milan while the pants are from Paris,” said the woman in a clear voice. “You don’t ‘fix’ those shoes with shoe polish nor could you buy those pants with your salary.”

Ella looked up at the woman who just spoke and saw her heart-shaped face framed in the hairnet that Matt had her wear. A few wisps of her hair, dyed a glistening platinum blonde, peeked out of the unflattering head garment. Ella could see however that even with the loose lab gown and the lousy hair cover, she exuded confidence and beauty in the way she spoke and held herself. Ella imagined the woman to be comfortable walking on the catwalk during a fashion show or being interviewed on the stage of an international beauty pageant.

Matt forced a cough and looked at Ella. “This is Freya, Mr. Kazor’s secretary,” said Red.

“Executive assistant,” said Freya, correcting Matt. Then, she looked at Red. “Are you alright, Red?” she asked.

Red helped Ella stand up next to him, avoiding the mess of absorbent material that she scattered on the floor. “I’m alright, Freya. Dr. Garcia was just helping clean up this mess that I made,” he lied.

Freya breathed a sigh and raised her chin as if to express her disbelief or disgust. “Well, they probably would have been better prepared for the havoc you just caused had you followed my advice to come here later in the week rather than postpone at the last minute that very important meeting with the senator.”

Red laughed heartily. “And would have bored myself to sleep!” he said. “As I said before, the honorable senator belongs in a boxing ring and not in the political arena. Besides, this is more important than anything that you could have scheduled for me.” Red looked at Ella, forcing her to look away.

Freya rolled her eyes but did not reply to what Red just said. “I brought the specimen as you asked. I would have brought it to the car this morning had you told me we’re coming here. Here…” she raised the thermal bag slightly before turning to Matt and handing it to him. “… Just test it with your serum as I told you earlier. I have to go and see if I can buy something to replace those shoes and that suit that Mr. Kazor just ruined.” She emphasized the CEO’s name as she spoke as if to blame him for all the trouble that she had to endure.

Freya turned around gracefully like a fashion model and walked straight for the door, her hips swaying with her long arms. Matt, still carrying the thermal bag under his arm, sprinted to the door and then opened it awkwardly for Freya with one hand.

“Thank you,” said Freya, nodding her head a little at Matt. “Make sure you take care of that,” she said, referring to the specimen in the thermal bag before leaving the laboratory.

Matt lingered a few moments at the door, looking through the glass and following the graceful figure of Freya as she walked away. Then, Matt returned to Ella and Red and said, “Nice–”

“Matt!” Ella interrupted the assistant researcher. “Can you help us here, please?” Ella pointed at the absorbent material on the floor.

“What happened here?” Matt asked as he took a plastic bin for chemical waste.

“Sorry…” began Red.

“No,” said Ella, stopping Red from speaking. “I did this. I accidentally spilled chemical to the floor.”

“Oh!” said Matt, carefully picking up the wet absorbent material using chemical gloves and placing them inside the bin. “Looks like it’s a strong acid you spilled there, Elle. Hydrochloric acid, I think.”

“Is it?” asked Ella, concern evident in her voice.

“Yes. Good thing you acted quickly or it would have been worse. Too bad for Mr. Kazor’s shoes and pants though,” Matt said as he looked at the CEO’s pants that had started to tatter at the edges.

Ella was horrified and she insisted taking Red to the emergency shower. She helped him remove his shoes as well as his socks that were likewise discolored by the acid and had him wash his feet thoroughly.

“Are you sure you’re not feeling any pain, any burning sensation anywhere in your legs?” Ella asked Red, seeing no sign of injury or chemical burns on his skin.

“I’m perfectly alright,” said Red, smiling at Ella. “And that is a nice foot bath you’re giving me,” he added.