The Alpha For Her

Chapter 9

From the balcony off her bedroom, Jennifer watched the sun rise over the hills. This time there was no cosmic spectacle, just a slow, persistent change in the colors of the sky as it faded from black to azure to powder to the blue that she had always known. She shook her head, thinking how such simple joys as sunrises and sunsets were always there to inspire and awe, and yet she could probably have counted the times she had lingered to watch one.

She breathed deep, the fresh, sea scented air still glowing in the tingling of the night’s bliss, knowing that she could never see another sunset the same way again. She was determined, from that moment on, to catch as many as she could and so relive the feelings.

They had lain, cuddled for a long while, silently gazing at one another as would teenagers on the night of their first real passion. They had taken pleasure in pleasing, and the look of contentment in Flint’s eyes was another thing that she wanted to capture in crystal.

But, after that night’s rapture, something had changed in Jennifer. A part of her wanted to be greedy; to stay with the man and shower him with affection, and then wake up in his bed and smother him some more. But something else told her different. Something told her that she should capture and hold the crystal moments, and relish what she had. To have asked for more would have been like setting herself up as she had done so many times.

He had asked her to stay, joking how that his bed was softer than the tile. But Jennifer knew that she shouldn’t, she couldn’t risk damaging the crystal. So she kissed him tenderly, gathered her clothes, and went quietly to her room.

She slept soundly, but woke early. The love and sweat had dried on her, and she felt like a lovely, ravaged mess. She lingered in the shower, feeling all tingly, and that feeling lasted.

She had coffee with Billie, and they chatted lightly about Jennifer’s dinner. But Billie didn’t probe. Jennifer’s phone toned with a text from Lois, telling her to meet her after breakfast. She wondered why, but shrugged it off.

Breakfast was, again, poolside. Jennifer sat with her fellow threes. Bree and Aaron eager about the announcement of the puzzle winners. Vera was her uninterested self. When the time came, Jennifer thought that Bree and Aaron looked like teenagers awaiting the announcement of class president. They actually looked crushed when Candy’s team won. Jennifer chuckled; that was two in a row for the woman. As it turned out, Jennifer’s team had the correct answer, but had lost by ten minutes.

“If you had joined us from the beginning,” Bree said, “we could have won. Why did it take you so long to find us?”

“Sorry,” was all she said.

As Candy returned to her table with her group, she passed Jennifer, smiled smugly and stuck out her tongue. Jennifer crossed her eyes at her.

Then came the announcement for the next competition. They were to design a high school core-curriculum for students who wanted to be entrepreneurs. They were to work in groups of four, and they were allowed to self-select. Heads in the crowd darted, and people surreptitiously pointed. This time, however, they would have two days to prepare, and then they would have to make a general presentation, and be judged by a panel of experts.

“Oh, and one other thing,” Flint said, “to sweeten things up a little, there will be an actual prize with this one; one million dollars.”

The room sat stunned.

“As usual,” he added, “if you have any questions, answer them yourselves.”

The day’s list of seminars and discussions were announced, but it was clear that that wasn’t what was on people’s minds. When Flint left, people started searching for their friends. Aaron and Bree disappeared without a word. Vera and Jennifer sat, sipping their coffee. A moment later, Billie popped up, grinning and looking at Jen. Jen smiled and offered her a seat.

“A million dollars,” she said.

“That’s two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand each,” Vera said. “Bas*ard.”

“What?”

“Don’t you see what he’s doing?” Vera replied, looking up from her device. “He’s just turned this place into cut-throat central.”

Billie sat back. Jennifer wondered. In her fit of indignant pique, she had called him a sadistic manipulator. She tried not to think that her initial assessment might be true. Still, people seemed frantic. One argument had already broken out. Lots of teams had disappeared. She looked at Vera and Billie. Vera was back tapping her screen. Billie had a strange look on her face that seemed a mix of longing and defeat. Just then, Candy appeared.

“So, whadda ya say?” she said in a poor Mick Jagger impersonation as she took a seat, “Wanna get the band back together?”

Billie instantly brightened.

“I need to find Lois,” Jennifer said. “Oh, look, here she comes.”

“Candy,” Lois said brightly. “Congratulations. That’s two in a row.”

“Third time’s a charm.”

“Let’s hope so. Meanwhile, Mr. Dryzek would like to see you.”

“Oh, my. Is this my interview?”

“You’re gonna love it,” Jennifer said, winking.

“Jennifer,” Lois said, “if you would, please meet me at the front door at ten o’clock.”

“Oh – ‘kay.”

“Thank you. Candy, if you would follow me.”

“Keep my seat warm,” Candy said as the two left. “A million buckaroos.”

“Why does Lois want to meet you?” Billie asked.

“Not sure,” Jennifer replied. “But I guess I’ll find out.”

“You’re suddenly so blasé,” Vera said. “You get laid?”

Ordinarily, such a brash comment would have mortified and insulted Jennifer, and so she was surprised at how it didn’t faze her.

“I got a green flash,” she replied.

“A what?”

“An atmospheric phenomenon. Soul changing.”

“You also had dinner with Flint last night. How did that go?”

“It was lovely. I got to meet his daughter, Alaiah.”

“Really?”

“Yes. She’s quite charming and…”

“And? What?”

“Just a weird notion,” Jennifer said. “Let me think it over.”

“Okay,” Billie said. “So, where do we want to work?”

They all agreed that poolside was best, so armed with laptops, notepads, and tablets, they began. They started by trying to discover what a core-curriculum was – that is Jennifer and Billie did. Vera lounged, claiming that she was thinking. They ignored her.

But soon enough, Jennifer had to go and meet Lois. Billie closed shop to go to a panel discussion. Vera napped.

At the front portico, Lois met Jennifer in a golf cart.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“To begin your coaching,” Lois answered as they rolled into the vine groves.

“My coaching…oh, I forgot. I – where?”

“The studio.”

The studio was a house set at the foot of the hills and nestled among wild Monterey pines. The scent was intoxicating. The house was a low A-frame, and Lois led Jen around the back. There was a small yard with a path that led into the trees. The path had a little curved foot-bridge that crossed a small brook. Jennifer heard distinct and delightful water splashing softly.

“Oh, look,” Flint said, standing by the bridge. “I have a waterfall too.”

Jennifer’s heart did a small flip when she saw him. He was dressed in jeans, a tee-shirt and sandals, and yet he stood as confident and as proud as he did in his dinner formal. Jen took a breath.