The Alpha For Her

Chapter 7

Billie danced up to Dryzek’s table as if she had just been voted the Prom Queen. Her new boyfriend, Billy had some friends who rooted for her. Candy took Jennifer’s hand, and the two strolled to the head table.

“So,” Candy said to Dryzek, crinkling her nose. “What do we win?”

“The adulation of your peers,” Dryzek said.

He held their hands up, and the people stood and clapped and cheered.

“Is that it?” Candy asked below the applauds.

“What were you expecting?” Flint asked.

“Not sure.”

“I think,” Billie said, “that it’s just so cool to win.”

“There’s the spirit,” Flint said. “But, I’ll tell you what. I was planning another competition. This one is going to be in groups of four, and I was thinking that we’d do something random. Tomiko.”

The woman reached under the table and drew out a silver soup tureen. She held it above her head. The crowd murmured.

“In that bowl,” Flint said to all, “are slips of paper marked one through four. Everyone will get to grab a number, and those with like numbers will be a team.”

“Another absurd challenge?” Candy said.

“No,” Dryzek said. “This one’s a logic puzzle.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because this is my way of finding leaders.”

“Solving a logic puzzle is not a sign of leadership,” Candy said. “It’s a sign of logic puzzle solving.”

“It’s not in the result,” Flint said. “It’s in the approach. And so, as your prize, you three get to pick a number first.”

“Huzza.”

Tomiko held the bowl above their heads, and one by one, Candy, Jen and Billie drew numbers. Candy drew a four, Billie a one and Jennifer a three.

Flint wished them luck, and then left. Tomiko went from table to table, and people drew lots. There was cheerful and excited confusion as everyone milled about seeking their teammates. Jennifer was a little disappointed that she wouldn’t be working with Candy and Billie again, but that was the way things went. She was about to join the searchers, when Lois tapped her shoulder.

“Mr. Dryzek would like to see you,” she said.

“Is – is this my interview?” Jen asked.

“Yes. Follow me please.”

She looked to Candy, and held her breath. Candy winked and crossed her fingers. Jennifer flowed Lois back into the mansion.

Flint’s office took up the north wing’s western corner. It was large, spacious, airy, and had windows that were darkly tinted so that the view was merely a hint of what was beyond. Jennifer saw her reflection in those windows, and quickly turned away.

The room was much more Spartan than Jen would have imagined. It was done in white with a hint of cooling blue. There was a large, sleek, modern desk in a light buff color, but with nothing on it – not even a computer screen. Flint’s chair was an elegant contrast in black leather, and before the desk were three smaller versions. There was a couch that was placed with a view of the water, and a small table on the opposite wall with a silver coffee service. Flint was pouring a cup. As Jennifer stepped inside, Lois silently closed the door behind her, leaving Jen alone with the man. Jennifer silently watched him pour a second cup.

Somehow, she thought that there, in that sparse seat of his kingdom, he looked different. He wasn’t the distant imposing figure who she had seen from afar during meals. There he was Mister Dryzek; a man of wealth, power and control. Here, he was a guy pouring coffee, and that guy seemed suddenly so much more approachable. Jennifer almost relaxed, but then she thought about set-ups, and so refused to open herself up to yet another fall. She decided to open, but guardedly.

“I loved your submission,” he said turning to her and smiling.

And that smile was so clear, sand bright, and looked so sincere, that Jennifer almost let herself melt. Almost.

“Really,” he said. “It was quite creative, and I was particularly taken by the fact that the three of you enjoyed the task so much. I like that. I like that a lot. I stopped to check on everyone, and the one constant was the stress. You three were bubbly. That was so refreshing.”

“Thank you, Mr. Dryzek,” Jennifer said.

“You can call me Flint,” he said. “If I can call you Jennifer.”

“Jennifer. Jenny. Jen. Even JJ. Whatever you like, Mr.—Flint.”

“Thank you. Coffee?”

“All those interview guides tell you to never accept coffee or water or such, and I’ve never understood why. But, since you have a cup already poured – I take mine black.”

“I think,” he said handing her a delicate, china cup, “that they warn you against that because you’d probably be nervous enough. A cup of hot liquid in your hand could spell disaster.”

“That makes sense,” she said sipping. “Oh, my. This is good.”

“So,” he said, walking toward the couch. “Let’s sit down. Chat a while.”

He pressed a button on the coffee table, and instantly the tint in the windows disappeared. Jennifer stood in awe at the sight. The windows seamlessly wrapped the corner, and there was a stunning view of the ocean, churning and dashing the jagged rocks with its slow, rolling fury. Jennifer was drawn to the magnificent fit of nature below.

Then she startled as the room was filled with the sound of the waves crashing, the wind streaming and the gull cawing.

“Oh, my,” she said, half mesmerized.

“This,” Flint said, “is nature’s stress relief. Who needs pills or therapy when you have such grandeur.”

“If you have such grandeur,” Jennifer said, thinking about flying and her pills. “I live in Connecticut, and Long Island Sound is ways away from me. But I do have the cutest little waterfall that flows into a lovely pool in the woods by my house. That does the trick too.”

“Must be nice. Please sit.”

Jennifer joined him on the couch. He sat at the end by the window, so that, sitting opposite, Jennifer had a view of him and the ocean beyond. Flint touched another button, and the sounds of the sea faded to just within hearing.

“So,” he said, sitting back, crossing his legs and draping an arm on the couch. “Tell me about yourself.”