The Alpha For Her

“I like,” Lisa said as she flipped through one, “that the plus size catalogues are finally using plus-sized models.”

Jennifer glanced at Lisa. The woman was what the online acronyms called a BBW. But the blonde still had a figure, and she had a right to see someone like herself in the pics, rather than some impossibly perfect Victoria Secret bombshell.

“I agree,” Jennifer said, sipping and thinking of how she might have had a small hand in that. “Oo, look at this.”

They were looking at the new swim suits.

“So, was that really Flint Dryzek?” Lisa asked.

“I don’t know. Who is he?”

“Who is he?” Lisa asked, staring at Jen.

Jen just looked at her, blankly.

“Selfie-Nation?” Lisa suggested.

Then it hit Jennifer. He was that California gazillionaire whose new social network had overtaken Facebook, handily. It seemed that as people grew lazier and more self indulgent, they got tired of typing, and so leapt at the opportunity to tell their stories, or brag, or disrespect via selfies and pics.

“I knew that I knew that name,” Jennifer said.

“So was that really him?”

“I told you, I don’t know. I’m sorry, but this tankinni simply does not work in coral. Eww.”

“What if it is?” Lisa asked. “What do you think he’d want?”

“I don’t know, and I am not going to find out; I’m sure that it’s either a prank or a scam.”

“What if it isn’t?”

“Mr. Dryzek can leave a message. You know how many scam calls I get a month? Besides, what kind of name is that: Flint? Sounds like a porn star.”

“Let’s not get adolescent, please.”

“Oh, now this paro is very nice,” Jennifer said showing a pic. “Very nice indeed. But they should have it in teal, I think. I should write them.”

“Put it on your blog,” Lisa said, taking up Secrets in Lace. “Let your fans write them.”

Jennifer chuckled, figuring that Lisa was right. In the past few years, she realized, she had quietly made some significant changes in the cosmetic and fashion world. Her blog, Jenny’s Gems, had millions of followers, and if she would make a suggestion about a foundation color or an eye-shadow tone, the products would hear, and, more often than not, take her suggestion.

That became part of the game. Brand names would listen to her followers, and then Jennifer would find their ads on her site. She had even started to include fashion tips, casually mentioning a new line or style. And as their ads came in, she would openly use their names in her make-up tutorials. It was a tidy little feedback loop, and Jennifer was a master at dropping names so offhandedly – or sometime so excitedly. No communications were ever made between her and the companies, but the relationship was real.

Of course, there was that time when Mary Kay courted her. They had even paid for her trip to one of their conventions where they made interesting offers. Jennifer responded politely, telling them that she’d consider their offers – once they had expanded their lines to include more choices for women of color.

“I don’t know,” Lisa said, leafing through the Secrets catalogue. “What is it about retro lingerie that appeals so much?”

“Well, first,” Jennifer said, analytically, “they use plus size models. That was very big during World War Two, when girdles were actually functional.”

Lisa giggled.

“But,” Jen added, “it’s all in the photography and make-up. Just look at those pretty Rosie-the-Riveter types, all toned to look almost bronze; chubby, middle aged white chicks made to look exotic.”

“But it works,” Lisa said. “Do you think that one of those corsets would work for me?”

“Depends on what you want it to do. Sure, it’ll take off a couple of inches. And it will even improve your posture. You’ll look different, but you’ll still be you. That’s what I learned about make-up; you can put on all the glitz you like, but that’s just the veneer. The inside doesn’t change. I knew this girl in high school–”

“Oh, sh*t. Look at the time.”

“I’m sorry,” Jen said. “Do you need to go?”

“No,” Lisa said. “It’s almost two!”

“What – oh, that. Like I said, it’s either a scam or–”

“I know. You said. But, you listen to me, Jenny-Jen – think about it. If it’s a scam, then you’ll spot it quick and that’s the end of it. If it’s a prank, what’s the big whoop? The prankster gets his jollies, and maybe some bragging rights online for a day or two, and where’s the harm?”

Jennifer didn’t want to go there and so simply shrugged.

“But,” Lisa said, pointing with the catalogue, “if, maybe, just maybe if it is Flint Dryzek…”

“What would he want with me?” Jen asked.

“That’s just it – you don’t know. Take the call.”

“I am not taking the call.”

“Tell you what,” Lisa said, leaning in, “if it turns out to be a prank or a scam, pizza is on me tomorrow night. Piccolos.”

“And if it’s real?” Jen said, chuckling. It was Lisa’s turn to shrug. Jen shook her head, saying, “I am not taking the–”

And then the phone rang. On the first ring, Jennifer’s heart skipped a beat. On the second ring, Lisa looked at her. On the third ring, Jennifer looked away. On the fourth ring, Lisa picked up the phone.

“James residence,” she sang lightly.

“Good afternoon,” a smooth voice said. The phone was still on speaker. “This is Flint Dryzek. May I speak with Jennifer James?”

“Just a moment, please.”

She handed Jen the phone. Jen moved to end the call. Lisa batted her hand away, and the phone fell onto the coffee-table.

“Hello?” Flint said.

“Jennifer,” Lisa whispered through clenched teeth. “Take the call!”

Jennifer flopped back on the couch, rolling her eyes. Lisa nailed her with her gaze of steel. Jen took up the phone.

“Hello,” Jennifer said, lightly. “Mr. Flint?”

“Dryzek,” the phone spoke. “Flint Dryzek.”

“Oh, I am so sorry,” Jennifer said. “Do forgive me, Mr. Dryzek. I am in the middle of remodeling my living room, and my brain is so scattered.”

“Home improvements. How challenging. How’s it going?”

“It’s getting there. But you know how things can be.”

“I do.”

“Really?”

“Ms. James,” he said, almost amusingly, “I worked my way through my undergrad…handyman, painter, that sort of thing.”

“Really,” Jennifer said, matching his tone. “Then perhaps you might tell me the best way to remove hideous wallpaper.”