The Sweet Sea’s C-Suite

“Technically, they’re not whales. They’re a type of dolphin,” Trainer Marigold Mettleman pointed out. Her blonde hair looked like wheat blowing on the breeze and her blue eyes seemed like sapphires just polished.

“Orca means something like the kingdom of the dead. Maybe that is where they got their dark distinction as killer whales. And they’re definitely not blackfish,” she continued.

Sweet Sea Aquarium CEO Dephina Timmers looked at the hammerhead sharks gliding under the modified, temperature controlled boardroom table.

She had brown skin with a broad face and high cheekbones. Kinky hair and brown eyes solved the equation of her head and face, respectively. She looked around her. It was not the standard boardroom, and this was no ordinary aquarium C-suite. The meeting required the top brass as well as the trainers. Some came from San Diego, others, Orlando.

Now, at the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware, the executives and trainers continued to confer.

Here’s the choir you just preached to, Mari’,” Dephina said, holding out her arms with open hands indicating the other members of the board and staff members.

“Just thought we needed a reminder,” Marigold said.

“Point taken. Who’s next?”

Trainer Noxton Derry cleared his throat. He had dark features and intricate cornrows.

“We must get at least one. There'll be no diving or swimming with him or her. The professionally trained staff looked at the sharks, too,” he replied.

“If we can just get an orca in here, in a big enough tank with full amenities, we should have a beautiful set up. We can introduce therapists to ensure that the animal is well taken care of mentally.”

“Mentally? You mean like Dr. Sam?” Dephina raised an eyebrow.

Next, trainer Simone Harringberg spoke. “Yes, although we’ll have five Dr. Sams. Many other animal psychologists can now detect if the orca is in pain or is feeling out of sorts. They also provide optimum care by ensuring that the orca will continue to be a vital mammal in captivity.”

“Confinement, really, no?” Dephina asked.

Simone shook her head. “We simply say they are captives like the other creatures to remind ourselves that these beasts of the sea ought to receive huge tanks, be provided the best diet, and to be offered excellent service to cater to their needs.”

“Okay, got that. I’m still looking for the hook, so to speak,” Dephina announced.

The gray sharks swam among orange sponges and red coral in the tank.

“Jordan, you’re up,” she said. Jordan Vinder was the CTO of Sweet Sea. He was about five feet eight and had light features and green eyes that looked like cut jade.

“Thanks, Dephina.” He tapped a screen and brought up images of kids ranging from six to sixty-six using their smartphones to track a virtual orca.

“This is the model for families and friends of Sweet Sea to follow an orca we’re tentatively naming Koka. So, the guests can come in and discover how fast Koka can swim throughout the aquarium. We’ll have enough square footage added where he or she will be able to swim as freely as possible.”

Dephnia tapped her stylus. “Thank you for that, Jordan.” Then the CFO, Madi Zola, stepped up with a batting average of three hundred winning over her boss. She had long brown hair and an oval face with deep, wide brown eyes. Her little mouth was marked with a cupid’s bow. She smiled showing straight and pearly teeth.

“I think we know the real reason why we’re even considering this orca option: real estate. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland all have aquariums. But do they have any orca? No. Our competitors in this state don’t have them either.” On the screen that Vinder used. Bar graphs moved like treble and bass output on a digital stereo system.

“Here, you will see the revenue streams projected with an orca on the premises. We can say that a thirty percent uptick in ticket sales will result with the introduction of Koka. And don’t worry about the government. We’re going to have enough lawyers to keep us safe from any zoning laws or anything like that.” Some of the trainers smiled and laughed lightly at the concept of having the top of the food chain swimming throughout the aquarium in the face of a statist hooligan. Zola then waved for the image to disappear.

Dephina stood. “I heard what I needed to hear. The bottom line is still the reason why we do this. It’s not the only reason, but it is interwoven into the tapestry of our passion and drive for these sea fauna and flora. I’m on board.”

The room cheered.

Dephina continued. “I just wanted to say that this would have been a much lesser endeavor without all of your input. Go Koka!”