Cougars (13 page)

“Yeah I did. He admitted that I was the first mature woman he'd ever been with and he never knew that it could be so good. Anyway, now he won't stop calling me and I may have to change my damn phone number. So I wanted to ask you, have you ever had one of your boy toys get a little too hooked?”

“I can honestly say no, that hasn't happened,” Tiffany answered. “It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that we're just having fun. In fact, I tell the young men flat out I'm a Cougar who likes to play. College guys understand that and take it for what it is: A mutual agreement to have intimacy without intricacies. But it sounds like your friend is totally sprung.”

“Well, I've sprung his ass in another direction and the hell away from me,” Jasmine said with all seriousness. “So have you heard from Millie?”

“Yeah, I talked to her the other day. I'm surprised she hasn't called you and filled you in on all of her drama.”

“Did something happen?” Jasmine asked.

“Shit, a whole lot has happened, she—”

“Oh shit!” Jasmine interrupted Tiffany. “Girl, I've been on this phone with you for too long. I have to rush off to a meeting with my boss. I'll call you back later.”

“Okay,” Tiffany said, fully understanding Jasmine's urgent departure.

Jasmine grabbed her ink pen and writing pad and rushed out of her office. She decided to run up the two flights of stairs to Helen's office instead of waiting for an elevator. When Helen's assistant saw Jasmine approach her desk, she hung up the phone.

“I was just about to call you,” the assistant said.

“Sorry about that. Is she waiting for me?” Jasmine asked.

“Yes. Just go on in.”

Jasmine walked into Helen's office and found her sitting at her desk reading documents.

“There you are. I thought you'd forgotten about me,” Helen said as she got up and closed her office door for more privacy.

“No, I didn't forget. Time just got away from me, that's all,” Jasmine explained.

“That's because you enjoy what you do and time seems to fly when you've found your passion.” Helen sat back down at her desk.

“I want to thank you for recognizing my team and the work we've done,” Jasmine said as she clicked her ink pen and prepared to take notes.

“There is no need for that. This meeting is more informal. I have two things I'd like to discuss with you.”

“Okay.” Jasmine listened attentively.

“As you know, we have an open chemist position that we need to fill. I've received a number of inquiries and selected the resumes of four applicants.” Helen handed Jasmine a folder filled with the background information on the candidates. Jasmine took a moment and glanced at the contents of the folder.

“One guy is from Berkeley. They have an excellent chemistry program out there,” Jasmine said as she flipped the page and looked at another person's qualifications.

“It's funny you should mention that one. He comes highly recommended from a close friend who teaches there. However, he doesn't have as many years in the field, but if he passes the grade and we discover he's the best pick of the crop, I want you to assign him to your team.”

“Oh really,” Jasmine said, trying not to sound surprised.

“Yes. Whichever candidate is hired, I want them to work under your direct supervision. I believe that you have a certain flare for nurturing young talent. You have a unique gift for bringing out the best in a person. I also want you on the hiring committee.”

“When do I start?” Jasmine asked.

“The process will start next week. I'll have my assistant forward the schedule to you. I believe the first person will be the woman from GlaxoSmithKline. She's scheduled to present a seminar on the research she's been doing.”

“Great, I'll make sure that I clear my calendar.” Jasmine felt good about being included in the process.

“There's something else. A rather special project I want you to begin working on. It's a rather complex idea, but I want to see if you and your team can come up with a pill that will do for women what Viagra has done for men with erectile troubles. I want you to create an aphrodisiac for women.”

“An aphrodisiac for women?” Jasmine repeated what she'd heard just for clarification.

“Yes, I know. It's an idea that's very cutting edge. However, if we can come up with a compound that has the ability to unlock the mystery of arousal in women, it would be something so revolutionary, so ground-breaking and radical that the scientific community would have to salute us for our innovation. Our investors would love it because it would be a blockbuster pill that industrialized nations would purchase in large quantities.”

“Research on this is going to be a risky business, don't you think? I mean, shouldn't we be working on finding cures for more life-threatening illnesses?” Jasmine asked.

Helen smirked and leaned back in her chair.

“Jasmine, finding a cure is one thing, but creating a pill for someone with a chronic problem is another. For example, let's take asthma. There is no cure for it, only an abundance of medications designed to relieve the symptoms. We're living in challenging times. The landscape is littered with small biotech companies who aren't paying for patents or royalties. They're just rolling generic drugs off of a conveyor belt and putting up only a small amount of money to cover the cost of distribution and marketing to the public. You and I both know that the drugs they're selling in the marketplace today are at least fifteen years old. There has been no real breakthrough in anything since the invention of penicillin. It's going to take small biotech companies like ours to do the real innovative work because the big boys are too antiquated, strictly structured and too regulated to do anything meaningful.” Helen stood up and walked over to her window and pulled back the drapes. “Do you know that there are millions of women out there who can't achieve an orgasm?”

“I've heard stories, but I've never thought much of it,” Jasmine answered honestly and thought about discussing it with her girlfriends at some point, “That's because all of the focus has always been on men. They knew that with age the very essence of their manhood would fade away. When they happened to stumble on Viagra, it immediately became a successful pill that men wanted. However, they were only thinking of themselves and not women. They figured an erect cock was all a woman needed. But as you and I know, that's only a small part of the equation. Wouldn't you agree?”

Helen turned to meet Jasmine's gaze. “Yes,” she answered as she listened intently.

“If science can develop something that a woman can take which stimulates arousal to the highest degree, we'd change the way men and women relate to each other and we'd own the patent to it.”

“Creating something like that, would, without a doubt be very pioneering,” Jasmine said as her mind began to think of a good place to start.

“Yes it would, and if created, it would provide us with the money-making pill the company could make billions off of. I wish I had thought about doing this earlier in life, because I don't want to have to wait fifteen years to see it hit the market.”

“Well, I guess I'd better start thinking of the best way to approach this.” Jasmine said.

“Yes, you should, but I want you to start on this
after
we've gone through the hiring process. I also need you to keep me apprised of your progress once you've started.”

Helen nodded her head in a gesture to let Jasmine know she was more than serious about the project.

“Okay,” Jasmine said.

“That will be all. I have a meeting with a senator I must prepare for. Damn blood-sucking politicians,” Helen murmured under her breath.

Jasmine then stood up to leave.

“Oh, and Jasmine… Great job on the creation of the antibiotic. Hopefully it will change the way doctors treat respiratory infections. Our investors were pleased.”

“Thanks,” Jasmine said and then exited her office.

Travis arrived at Chicago's Midway Airport on a balmy afternoon. He walked off of the aircraft and began heading toward the baggage claim area. He stopped briefly at the concession shop to pick up a newspaper, then continued onward toward the baggage claim area. Once he retrieved his luggage, he headed outside where he hailed a cab and gave the driver the address to Alex's downtown condo. As he rode along, Travis picked up the newspaper and began reading an article about the pharmaceutical industry that had caught his eye. A local female senator named Yolanda Cobb was up for reelection and there was a commentary about her going around soliciting campaign contributions from local pharmaceutical companies, one of which he had an interview with. He read the article with interest and intrigue, primarily because Senator Cobb was also reported to have close ties to pharmaceutical regulators.

This has scandal written all over it. But then again Illinois is known for shady politicians
, Travis thought to himself. He turned the page and saw an article about the impeachment of the Illinois state governor for trying to sell a senate seat.

A
SHORT TIME LATER
, the cab pulled in front of Alex's house. Travis paid the driver, grabbed his luggage and headed inside. Alex lived in the South Loop area of Chicago in a residential
community called Central Station. The development looked out on Grant Park, the Museum Campus and Soldier Field Football Stadium. The Chicago Lakefront, Buckingham Fountain, and Navy Pier were all within walking distance or just a short cab ride. Travis used the key that Alex had sent to him earlier to gain entrance.

“Hello,” Travis called out just to make sure Alex didn't have a change of plans and was still at home. After hearing no response and glancing around he knew that his friend was indeed out of town.

Alex had a flare for art. He liked to collect unique items such as tribal masks, glass figurines, and sea shells whenever he traveled someplace exotic. The decor of his home reflected his unique sensibilities, but it wasn't over the top. He had beautiful hardwood floors throughout his unit and a see-through glass stairway that allowed the downstairs and upstairs areas to interrelate. Travis pulled his suitcases into the spare bedroom, then went into the kitchen where he'd found a Post-It note from Alex that read:
My home is your home. Best of luck on your interview.

Travis set the note on the countertop and opened up the refrigerator. He grabbed himself a beer, twisted off the cap, and took several long gulps until he finished off the bottle.

“Damn, that was good,” he said aloud. He went back into the bedroom and retrieved his laptop, then sat down at the kitchen table, booted it up and went over his presentation notes for his seminar in the morning.

W
HEN
T
RAVIS
ARRIVED AT THE BIOTECH FIRM, he was escorted into an auditorium where there were several people waiting on him. He shook hands with everyone on the committee and thanked them for the opportunity. Travis was nervous and anxious, but eager to get started. After a little setup time, he began his presen
tation which he delivered masterfully. Next, he had taken a few questions from the committee and was thanked for his time.

By the time Travis had made it back to Alex's place, he received a phone call from the biotech company much sooner than he'd expected. He thought it'd take at least several days for them to call him back, however, he was scheduled for a formal interview in two days. Travis spent the next forty-eight hours really doing more research on the company so that he'd be able to answer questions intelligently.

When he returned for the interview, he was placed in a special conference room. He'd anticipated a single interview by multiple people, but was surprised when a woman entered the room.

“Hello, Mr. Adams,” greeted a stunningly beautiful woman with a set of alluring eyes that looked very familiar to him.

“Hello.” Travis stood up to shake her hand. “I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name.”

“My name is Jasmine.” She smiled before taking a seat. For the life of him Travis couldn't pinpoint why she looked so familiar.

“That was quite an impressive presentation you gave yesterday,” Jasmine said as she threaded her fingers together into a prayer position and placed them on the tabletop.

“Would you like something to drink before we get started? Coffee, tea, or water?”

“No, I'm fine. Thanks for asking.”

“Okay then,” Jasmine said as she opened up a folder with a form inside that she planned to fill out during the interview process. Travis kept gazing at Jasmine and her features, trying desperately to search his memory of when and where he'd seen her. Even now her voice was starting to sound so familiar.

“I'm going to begin by telling you a little bit about me,” Jasmine said.

“Yes, please do.”

“I'm one of the head researchers here. I have my own team and we've been doing research on a variety of drugs.”

“Yes, I've learned that you and your team are about to get a new antibiotic approved for the marketplace. Congratulations,” Travis said.

“I see you've done your homework.” Jasmine smiled.

“I'm very good at researching things.” Travis laughed.

“So I see,” Jasmine commented.

The interview was scheduled to last one hour, but ended up taking an hour and a half. By the time Travis left he felt confident, but didn't want to jump up for joy just yet; he knew from experience that nothing was guaranteed.

On Friday evening Travis decided to head over to a mix-and-mingle gathering hosted by a company called Blackfitandsingle.com taking place at the Shedd Aquarium Museum. He'd heard an advertisement about the event on the radio and thought it would be an excellent way to unwind after his grueling interview process. He put on his black pinstripe business suit and a nice shirt without a tie. He hailed a cab so he wouldn't have to walk. When he arrived, the place was crowded with people who appeared to have just gotten off from work. Travis really wasn't on the prowl; he just wanted a drink and a little casual conversation. After navigating his way through the crowd, he finally found the bar. He ordered a beer and then stepped out onto the terrace where it was much cooler. There was a magnificent view of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Travis leaned forward and rested his elbows on the concrete railing and watched as lovers strolled hand in hand along the path below him.