Chapter 8: Ella's Reasons

“What do you mean you’re not going?” asked Nancy once she had recovered from the shock. Matt bent his head to the side and acted like he was hammering himself with his fist.

“Exactly what I said,” replied Ella. “I’m not going to dinner with him tonight.” She said it too plainly and without emotion that made it even harder for Nancy to comprehend what she was saying.

“I don’t understand, Ella. He’s an extremely wealthy man and definitely not lacking in the looks department. What more do you want?” asked Nancy. She could not reconcile Ella’s objection to going to dinner with probably the country’s most eligible bachelor.

“Goodbye, multimillion research grant!” Matt raised his hands as if in surrender, but did not look at his colleagues.

“What is it, Elle? Tell me what’s bothering you,” said Nancy, a look of concern on her face.

“Nothing’s bothering me, Nancy! That’s just my decision. I don’t have to explain myself, do I?” There was an edge in Elle’s voice that Nancy had to withdraw.

“It’s okay, Elle. I respect your decision. I won’t force you to do something you don’t want to,” said Nancy. She realized that it was wrong to pressure Ella. She knew her friend was old enough to make her own decisions and if she said ‘no’ there was probably a good reason why. Ella was also under no obligation to make her reasons known.

“Thanks, Nance!” Ella told Nancy. She appreciated it that her friend respected her decision. Ella then tried to focus on her computer and the work that she needed to do.

As Nancy settled at her desk, Matt turned to her as if to say something. Nancy held her palm towards Matt, stopping him from whatever it was that he was going to say.

“Don’t say anything, Matt. Elle’s made her decision,” said Nancy, also focusing her attention to her computer.

“But– “ Matt still tried to say something but was cut off by Nancy.

“Shut… Up… Matt…” said Nancy, facing Matt to emphasize that she meant what she said.

Matt rolled his swivel chair back to his desk, grumbling softly like a little boy deprived of his toy.

The office went quiet except for the click of the mouse and keyboard. Then, the other lab researchers arrived, crowding their small office.

Ella tried to concentrate, but soon found herself thinking about what had just happened. She knew that she made the right decision. She would not let herself become the laboratory’s sacrificial offering to the wealthy CEO just so they could get the research grant. She did not believe in turning herself into a mere item in a barter that she would not want to participate in. As for the wealthy man, how dare he think that she could be manipulated that easily. How dare he think that he could dangle a carrot in front of her and make her do his every bidding. The particular carrot he was dangling may cost millions, but Ella believed her principles to be worth much more than that. She could not be bought at any price and that’s that! Also, if the CEO truly believed in the value of their laboratory’s research, he should look at the merits of their work, all the good that they could accomplish to advance knowledge in cellular mutation and hopefully, in cancer research. If he were truly a shrewd businessman as they say he is, he should decide based on the benefits of their work and then decide how much money he would grant them.

The door to the laboratory suddenly opened and all of the researchers looked up. An old lady wearing a formal dress entered and smiled at them.

“Good morning, Doc Brenda!” Nancy greeted the old lady and all her colleagues followed suit.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” said the newcomer to all the laboratory staff and researchers, adjusting her glasses as she smiled at everyone who greeted her. She then went to her small cubicle at the corner of the office.

Brenda removed her scarf and placed her bag on her desk. She took a moment to catch her breath before speaking. “Any news today?”

The researchers looked at each other. It was Nancy who spoke. “We had a surprise visitor this morning, Ma’am,” she said.

“Really? Who?” asked Brenda, arranging the items on her desk.

“Mr. Mohred Kazor, Ma’am,” said Matt.

“Mohr, who?” asked Brenda, her eyes becoming like two slits on her face as she stopped what she was doing to stare at Nancy.

“He’s the CEO of Wyvern Minerals, Ma’am,” answered Matt. “He’s the billionaire who had been giving research grants to the university.”

Brenda’s eyes widened and she smiled broadly. “Wow! So, why did he come here? Is he also giving us a grant?” She looked at Nancy.

“We’re not sure, Ma’am,” replied Nancy, avoiding the laboratory head’s gaze. Nancy stole a glance at Ella, trying to sense if her colleague would say anything.

“Why are you not sure?” asked Brenda, her pitch raised a notch.

“He just came to ask us about our work, Doc,” explained Ella. “I guess he wanted to see for himself if it’s worth giving us the grant. He left without saying anything about the grant though.”

Brenda pouted her lips. “We need funding if we are to go to the next phase of your research, Ellanor,” she declared. “You should have done everything to get him to part with his money.”

Ella bit her lip before speaking. “He was quite in a hurry to leave, Ma’am.”

“Shame,” said Brenda, sighing loudly.

“He left me his number though and we have his assistant’s email. I can follow up and submit a formal request,” said Ella.

Brenda pouted her lips and wrinkles formed around her thin mouth. “See that you do, Ellanor. Do everything you can to get that grant.” Brenda’s expression went from calm to fierce and she raised a finger to emphasize what she said.

Ella thought she saw Nancy shrug her shoulders and heard Matt tapping his pen on his desk. She knew her colleagues wanted the grant as well and they did express their dismay earlier. Ella knew, however, that they would respect her decision. She was not sure if Doc Brenda would be of the same mind, especially since a lot rested on the laboratory head’s shoulders to find the necessary funding.

“Yes, Ma’am,” said Ella. Then, she said to herself. I’ll do what I can.