The handsome, young man in the seat next to her introduced himself as Gerard, a psychologist on his way to give a lecture on sexual practices and their influence on the Japanese and French aristocracy. Although the stewardess offered samples of several fine, French wines and Gerard pressed her to try some of his, she refused. Over five-star cuisine, they had several intriguing conversations. Slide fifty-seven from his presentation was particularly intriguing. He was cute and his accent was to-die-for; nevertheless, in the middle of the night, she turned down an opportunity to try out slide fifty-seven in the bathroom. “I'm flattered, but I need to be focused when we land. However pleasant, that would be a distraction.” Instead, she read the UN Bill of Human Rights and Plato’s Republic, taking copious notes. In the morning, as Gerard picked up his carry-on to leave the plane, he handed her a card with only a phone number. “You are more adept than we suspected. I am authorized to offer you one million dollars a year to work for a winning team.”
