''Dr John Tanner'' Diana began her briefing ''Or Dr Jack, as he prefers to be called'' .
As she spoke, she turned and looked at the image of the man displayed on the screen behind her. In his mid-thirties, blonde haired, lean and suntanned – said to be handsome by human standards. There were things about this Dr Tanner that she didn't understand and that bothered her not a little.
''Formidably intelligent – doctorates in Applied Physics and Micro-electronics. One of the brains behind the Orion project''.
Which was why she'd gone to meet him, of course. And been both intrigued and annoyed.
She'd been on a score of these visits before, meeting leading scientists/inventers/entrepreneurs and was expecting what had become the standard meet-and-greet, usually with food she couldn't eat, followed by a self-congratulatory tour of the premises. A lot of nonsense that could distract from her real objective – studying the host of the day and deciding what to do with/about them when the right time came.
Dr Tanner seemed to have gone out of his way to do anything other than what she'd been expecting. To start off with, he'd piloted his own plane up to meet the shuttle on its way to his HQ. The way he was flying – his antics really – seemed to be intended to suggest that he was a better pilot, his plane more manoeuvrable than the shuttle. The most irritating thing about that was he was probably right.
''Show-off'' Steven muttered half under his breath.
When the shuttle landed, it had been Christine Lockwood who was there to meet them, a dark-haired, expensively dressed woman who introduced herself as ''Dr Tanner's Executive Assistant''. So far as Diana could tell (not an easy thing with humans), she might be a couple of years younger than her boss.
Tanner himself, when he'd finished whatever had occupied him at the plane, strolled over to meet them. His eyes seemed to be on her all the way, sizing her up, Diana thought. She had to take deep, calming breaths, to stop her head crests rising in response to what her species regarded as aggression.
That being said, he turned out to be excellent as a guide, pitching his explanations at a level that was nearly always right. Christine Lockwood joined in every so often, with some apt comments. Diana made a point of studying the body language between the two humans – Lockwood might make a useful 'incentive' to co-operate. She concluded that – although they were obviously close – on first name terms for instance – it didn't include physical intimacy.
After the tour, he'd managed to manoeuvre her to one side slightly and asked her to have dinner with him in a couple of days' time.
She considered for a moment. It would be useful from a professional point of view. She'd need to take more of the antidote to certain ingredients in human food, which was a nuisance. But if she could find out what his weaknesses were it would be worth it.
Coming back to the present, she gave her audience a brief outline of Tanner's background. ''He spent his early years in what American's call the 'Bible Belt' – basically a collection of religious fanatics. It's only effect seems to have been to put him off the idea of worship. His university professors seem to have regarded him as brilliant but egocentric.
In business terms, he can be ruthless. He started out as an employee at Grenville Electronics, quickly became a partner, then ousted his senior colleague. It's now Tanner Grenville. Mt Grenville no longer has an active role at the company.
A large number of female companions over the years, but his only enduring friendship seems to be with his Executive Assistant, Christine Lockwood.
I will be conducting a further, in depth study of this subject – with a view to either co-option or conversion. Possibly both''.
In other words, she reminded herself, she was going out to dinner.
X
She'd seen many women come and go, over the years. She'd known, within seconds of the first meeting, that this alien woman, Diana, was going to be the next one.
Assuming it was possible.
Was she jealous? Not one wit, although casual acquaintances often assumed she would be. She had her 'friends', Jack had his.
It was ambition, not attraction, that had brought them together.
She'd known poverty – real poverty – in her early years and didn't want any more of it. When they first met, they'd recognised that hunger for success, for getting on in life, in each other. It had been natural that they'd join forces.
She'd helped behind the scenes, while he took control of the company – reshaped it into some larger, more prosperous. If some people thought less of her because of it, she'd done little more than toss her head at therm. It was the outcome that mattered – didn't they realise that their wages had gone up?
Truthfully, she rather liked the alien woman - although she wasn't so sure about her male companion. The best that could be said about him was that he was stand-offish – maybe a bit of a xenophobe?
She hoped that Jack would let Diana down gently, when the time came.
Meanwhile, she had to get her assistant to make the dinner engagement. Somewhere discrete.
X
When he'd watched the shuttle disappear into the distance – making a further analysis of it on the way, he headed bacvk towards his office, leaving Christine to have the restaurant booked.
It had been an interesting afternoon.
For a while, he stood by the window, thinking about it.
The phone rang.
He didn't rush or dawdle while heading towards it, but it wasn't the best timing.
''Yes?'
''It's me''. Obviously. No one else could go straight through from the caller's number.
''I'm having dinner with her three nights from now''.
''Watch your ass, pal''. Darkly humorous.
''I'd rather watch hers''.
On a short laugh, the caller hung up.
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.