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“All right I get it,” Frank said but he made no move to reach for any of the papers.
“Sir, can I please have the forms now?”
“Oh,” Frank said, leaning back on his chair. “I thought your father would be coming in to sign the forms.”
Ariadne swallowed a wave of pain. “He’s not coming.”
“Why not?” one of the other men asked.
“He’s dead,” Ariadne said. “He died a few months ago and I completed his design in his absence. The patent will be under his name but I will sign it.”
“That is simply not possible,” Frank said.
“Why not?” Ariadne exclaimed, her brows knitting. This couldn’t be right.
“You’re a woman. Now I don’t know who sent you here and under what notions but you can’t have a patent under your name. And say I even take pity on you and allow it, you will have no means to pay for it.”
“But—” he had given her the impression that she would be able to do so. Ariadne realized with a sinking feeling that he was merely toying with her. With fingers shaking in rage, she took out her small purse. “I have fifty pounds.” She wouldn’t beg but maybe she could sway these corrupt men.
At her words, the men started laughing again. “Fifty pounds?” Frank asked. “I don’t know who sent you here but if this is a sick joke—”
“Frank,” another one spoke up before he could finish. “We may have fun with her just yet. Admittedly she’s not pretty but that doesn’t matter as everything under the skirts remains the same, irrespective of the female.” He sent her a lecherous gaze. She couldn’t believe the audacity of the man. He must be of her father’s age.
“I beg your pardon,” she sputtered. She stood up from her chair. “I have written a long report on the objectives of the device and its utilities. This will save the lives of many. Look beyond your vile and narrow thinking.”
“How dare you call me vile?” Frank said. “My friend here spoke in jest. But what gave you the right to walk into my office and demand such outrageous things? A girl getting a patent in her name with not a coin to herself. You’re lucky we entertained you this long. But since you won’t be civil with us yourself, get out.”
“Look at how she’s dressed,” one of the men leered. “She has probably found her way here from the mental institution.”
“That would explain a lot. Asking for a patent for an invention as stupid as this lamp. It looks like any other and even a child can build it,” he said. The clerks burst out laughing again.
Rage filled hot and solid in her stomach as Ariadne stared down at the men in front of her. The searing pain of humiliation rang in her ears and seared her veins. As a woman, they wouldn’t allow her to get a patent in her name and corruption prevented her from getting it in her father’s name.
“You will know of me, yet,” she warned them. Picking up the lamp and her other papers, she walked out of the room.
