Alina Adrift

Chapter 1

The nervous-looking new arrival waited in line for her turn to be driven from JFK Airport. The cabbie nodded to her and went to toss the first of two big bags into the trunk when he grunted. "What do you have in this bag?"

"Half of my everything."

"Eh?"

"Most of what I own is in these bags. I've come to New York to establish my career and there's no turning back."

"Well baby, with an attitude like that you have a chance of making it."

"I'm not a baby; I'm a young lady."

"Eh?"

That drew no response and they drove off to the Manhattan hotel named by the passenger.

"My name's Jake."

"Good morning Jake. My name is Alina van't Hoff."

"An alien eh?"

"No, I was born in Idaho. My parents came to America from Amsterdam shortly after they married."

"And then had you."

"No, I entered this world after my two brothers."

"Ah, the little girl mommy wanted so badly. She must have cried when you headed off here."

"Jake, yes but I don't wish to think about it," Alina sniffed.

"Have a big cry darling. I've tissues here."

Alina said stiffly he must not call her darling. They had not been formerly introduced and besides there was no romantic attachment between them.

Jake mumbled he'd love to remedy that but Alina appeared not to have heard that. She was looking through the windows wildly doing what the cabbie might call gawking.

"We're moving on to the Dutch Highway."

She laughed, "Stop kidding me."

"It's actually Interstate 678 but this local section is called the Van Wyck Expressway after New York's first mayor following the merger of five boroughs."

"No kidding?" Alina said wide-eyed.

"No kidding miss."

"Wow. Thanks for that brilliant piece of information. Oh, you may call me Alina."

"There she is Alina," Jake said proudly.

Alina looked around for a woman but they were on a busy freeway with no pedestrians in sight.

"I can't see anyone?"

Jake pointed. "There she is, the Empire State Building."

"Omigod, stop. My camera is in the trunk."

"Alina darling. If I were to stop now I'd probably be given two years in the pen for bringing New York to a partial grinding halt."

"You're joking."

"Right I'll stop and will see you in court in the morning."

"Oh god no, I can't go home in disgrace."

Jake cackled "Heh-heh-heh."

"What have you been hired to do Alina?"

"I have nothing in prospect yet. I'll be lining up an advertising agency that's in a prime location close to reasonably priced cafes in a safe area with splendid views of the Hudson."

"What are you on Alina?"

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing. Listen babe, you have little chance of finding a job if the recruitment people don't know you or unless you have a triple-A performance rating. Here in the Big Apple we are the best and only hire the best."

"And who do you hire Jake?"

Jake chuckled, and diverted the conversation.

"We'll get a glimpse of the most beautiful lady up ahead."

"What the Brooklyn Bridge?"

Jake laughed and said she had humor. He then said pointing through the haze as they entered an intersection, "There she is."

"Oh Jake, omigod, the Chrysler Building. This proves photos don't lie. She's stunning."

"Thanks," Jake said, beaming.

He made a call on his hands-free phone and eventually was connected to the person he wanted,

"Glen it's Jack. I have someone in my cab looking for a job. See that she gets one in your outfit. Meet me outside in seven minutes."

Because it was a hands-free call, Alina could hear both sides of this intriguing conversation.

"Uncle Jake, I'm a junior exec and anyway we have people who hire people."

"Listen to me, remember that fifty bucks I gave you years ago when you were desperate to take out that shy young babe to a club and your dad would only give you twenty-five? You never paid me back. Well it's payback time now. This babe from Idaho will be history inside a week if we don't rescue her."

"From Idaho. Oh Jesus, is she a great looker, intelligent, street savvy with a track record of working in advertising agency?"

"She's most of that. Her name is Alina van't Hoff, American born to parents from Amsterdam and she's as tall as you are and better looking but with freckles and has a cute pair of puppies and displays an openness that's richly appealing."

"Freckles! Oh great. And by openness you mean cutely naïve?"

Alina squirmed and noticing her movement in the rear vision mirror, Jake grinned.

"Glen do we have a deal or do I have to tell your mom that ten years ago you took a sixteen-year old to a nightclub."

"Please don't do that Uncle Jake. I'll be waiting outside. Remember it's a no-stopping zone."

"Thanks Glen, I knew I could count of you coming through for Alina."

Jake grinned and said, "There you go babe. Glen Armstrong will do his best for you. I'll check your bags in at your hotel."

"I can't allow you to do that?"

"Why not?"

"I... I can't say."

"Look Alina, here's lesson one for a Midwest blued-eyed babe new in New York. If you don't trust someone who you can trust, just who can you trust?"

Alina burst into laughter.

"God you are so cute Jake. You should be a cabbie in movies. Dad said he'd heard New York cabbies were in a league of their own. Answer me this, do you truly love your wife?"

Jake sighed. "Usually I never talk to strangers about my wife and family because some things should be private. But just for your ears, Kitty isn't all that pretty and she's now a bit over-weight but she's given me three great kids and Kitty is my darling."

"That satisfies me Jake because I already was half sure you were a genuine guy. Please deliver my bags to my hotel. I'll give you a hundred bucks."

"Fifty bucks of that will be returned. We Yellow Cab drivers can be heroes when we wish."

"Oh, thanks Jake. I'll catch up with you again and give you flowers for Kitty."

"Oh yeah. Have you any idea how big is Manhattan and how many cabs there are?"

"Just count on it happening Jake. I only sound and act naïve but my brain is anything but that."

"I like your style baby. And I think New York will like you."

Jake pulled up outside a nondescript brown tower that housed Dougal & Hudson Advertising, named after the two guys who'd founded the firm eighty-three years ago. A smartly suited curly blond guy opened the rear door and said, "Welcome to New York City Miss Idaho."

"Oh, hi Glen. Your zip is undone."

Glen looked shocked and ducked back behind the cab door to check.

"Sorry Glen. That was just a little warning not to treat me like a naïve babe from Idaho."

Jake arrived from behind the cab carrying Alina's laptop.

Alina took the laptop, kissing him on the cheek as she would an uncle.

"You are the first person apart from officials at the airport I've met in New York. You truly are an unforgettable character who's given me such a great impression of NYC. Never before have I allowed anyone to get away with calling me babe but it sounded so natural coming from you. You are a great credit to this city's corps of cabbies."

The guys exchanged surprised glances.

Glen looked ever more surprised when Alina said, "Give Jake that fifty bucks you owe him. I don't think Jake will require interest."

Grinning, Glen handed his uncle one hundred bucks and said, "Don't bother with the change. This babe has made me feel ashamed."

"Don't you dare call me a babe," Alina said firmly.

Grinning, he took a step backwards, holding up his hands protectively and apologized.

"Oh, way-out," Jake laughed. "It only confirms to me baby you'll turn out to be a surprise package."

"Please don't get carried away Jake, I prefer to keep level-headed" she smiled, just as the second cop within a minute in a cruiser said via a hailer, "Move your ass cabbie."

"Use the extra fifty bucks to buy flowers for Kitty," Alina yelled to Jake and he moved off waving and grinning.

"Jake told you my aunt's name?" Glen said almost in awe.

"Oh Glen, can you think of any other way I would have gotten her name? May we have coffee now?"

They sat on the 10th floor with views of other buildings and not even a glimpse of the Hudson River.

"What do you have to go to get a view of the Hudson?" Alina asked as Glen's PA arrived with coffee.

She replied, "To move up to at least the 16th floor requires several job promotions."

"Well what better incentive? Even you must accept this room is a hole."

The PA said, "I agree with you Miss van't Hoff."

"Oh, Liz please call me Alina."

Liz said, "Mr Armstrong has the talent to go right to the top of the agency."

Glen, who'd finished his call, colored and looked at his watch.

"Liz in five minutes from now would you please take Miss van't Hoff to Mrs Stockman in HR."

"Don't you mean one of the assistants?"

"No, I mean Mrs Stockman. My uncle might wring my neck if I didn't give this young lady my best shot to get her employed here. Mrs Stockman has consented to do the assessment."

* * *

With the preliminary interview completed, Alina hurried off to reunite with her bags. If her luggage had been stolen as a result of misplaced trust, it would not be the end of the world because her parents had given her $5000 to help with establishment costs. But the loss of personal effects would be devastating.

Alina entered the modest hotel suitable for long-stay residents. She arrived in her room and, just as the receptionist had said, found her luggage already there. She was so relieved and so happy and humming, began thinking of appearing before the recruitment subcommittee next day at 10:30. She also thought the hotel was so clean and the receptionist was smiley and her luggage had remained secure that it must be New York's finest hotel.

* * *

Maggie Stockman called Glen.

"Well it appears you have found us a little treasure."

"What?"

Maggie said kindly, "You don't know anything about our Miss Freckles from Twin Falls, Idaho, do you?"

"Twin Falls? Um, no."

"She's twenty-six with a masters in advertising from Michigan State and has been working in public relations and advertising for a large company in Columbus, Ohio and her references are immaculate and have checked out. She apparently is a top-notch midfielder in women's soccer and was a successful car rally driver until she left that activity after her co-driver was killed when their vehicle skidded on black ice and crashed into a bridge abutment. Her mother is principal of a high school and her father is a motor engineer who modifies car racing motors and the references say although she has no formal training, what she doesn't know about maintaining car and boat engines is not worth knowing."

"Omigod, and here was I thinking you might be able to place her in the accounts department. So, do we have a vehicle servicing workshop?"

"I'm not sure that humor is one of your strengths Glen. However, from my observations I think Miss Freckles would be an ideal companion for you. It's time you stopped running around with these big-breasted bimbos and coupled with a real woman. Aren't you rebuilding a '36 Ford coupe? I read about that in your CV."

"Jesus."

"Yes, Miss Mechanic would be very suitable I'd say. The panel interviews her in the morning. If I were you I'd keep lunchtime free because she'll come to you wishing to celebrate. You won't be her boss because she will be better suited elsewhere rather than Corporate and Professional Organizations."

"Vehicles and Boating?"

"Oh, good boy. Take Murray for a drink this evening and work on him. I've already spoken to him but he's really dubious about having a female on his team working with car, truck and boating clients."

"Yeah right. I'll do that. Maggie you are an angel."

"I really fancy you darling but must remain true to Brad so why not toss a bottle of quality brandy my way?"

"Sure thing. And thanks."

Glen called Murray about meeting for a drink at 6:00 and the invitation was accepted. He called Jake at 2:15 knowing Jake would have finished his shift and would be having lunch.

Jake said unhappily, "Why do you want the name of the babe's hotel Glen? I don't like the idea of you getting into her pants before she's had time to settle in."

"She's likely to get a job with us in advertising, the vehicle and boat team."

"Don't you mean the fashion and makeup team?"

"This little honey drives rally cars and fixes motors."

"Jesus. she'll be great working on your Ford rebuild."

"Oh, I hadn't thought about that."

His uncle laughed and said liar.

"Come on Uncle Jake, I need to coach her about appearing before the recruitment panel."

"Very well on one condition and that's you don't refer to her as a babe. That exasperates her."

"Okay. it's demeaning anyway. She's not babe."

"I suggest you take a very close look at her son. I recognize a real babe in hiding when I see one. She's at the Marlin."

"Thanks, put me on to Aunt Kitty."

"She's on her phone talking to daughter Kate, telling her about the big bunch of flowers I brought home for her."

"Well done uncle. Be careful, she'll think you're developing a heart."

"You smart-mouth asshole and remember to drop those fast women you run with and concentrating on wooing Alina."

Glen was soon speaking to Alina.

"How did you get this address?"

He removed his sunglasses and said smoothly, "I needed to talk and twisted Uncle Jake's arm. I heard about your preliminary interview and you go before the panel in the morning. I need to coach you."

"Okay, but not right now. I'm just out of the shower."

"Ooh, what are you wearing?"

"Glen!"

"Oops, though with you being in advertising you can't blame me for having a creative thought."

She giggled and said he was fresh,

,

God his grandma used that word in that context about guys. What planet was Alina from, the same as Jake who was probably the first person in fifty years to use the word woo?

"I'm taking your potential boss out for a drink at 6:00. What say we do this over dinner at 8:00?"

"And then what?"

"I'll then go to my shoddy apartment in a former warehouse but it's what I call home. You'll want me to do that, won't you?"

He heard her take a big breath.

"Well actually after a couple of drinks and if you are articulate and impressive. I'm not sure what I'd want you to do."

"Do you do it on first dates?"

"Glen!"

"Oops, there goes me being creative again. Let's just set the date at 8:00. There will be restaurants in your area."

"There are a couple just opposite."

"Good."

"Glen I have this growing feeling I should reward you."

"I don't want to pressure you Alina. Just sit on it."

"Oh god," she squeaked.

Glen put down the phone thoughtfully and patted his dick affectionately. What a surprise, for some reason he'd pictured Miss Idaho as being virtuous. That was now changed to being a careful person. He decided not to tell Alina about his Ford rebuild project that was barely underway. It was advisable to keep a few things up his sleeve; women liked being surprised.

* * *

Alina sat opposite, face a little flushed after a martini and being into her second glass of wine. The top of her floral dress was scooped and Glen was aware he was gradually seeing more and more of the top curvature of those puppies.

He'd studied her face, discounting the freckles and could see the skin appeared flawless and her eyes were Arctic blue, quite stunning really. Her nose was in perfect balance, the mouth was generously wide but it was the chin that was the thing. It was square cut, with an absence of visible under hanging flesh, the feminine version of the jaw of an athletic man.

Yes, take away the freckles as Jake had probably done and think about that firm jaw line and yes, it was a beautiful face and if she didn't want to smear it in make-up and have skin tightened, then so what?

"You're staring."

He jolted from his visual excursion.

"Not at your breasts."

"Oh, and what's wrong with them?" she asked, juggling them and making Glen's eyes almost pop.

She giggled.

"You don't mind if I look at them occasionally?"

"Of course not. That's why they're there."

Jesus, a woman who knew breasts had more than one purpose. Glen had to stop himself from panting.

"Are you sexually active?" she asked.

Glen jolted.

Jesus.

"I'm of Dutch ancestry. The Dutch are a pragmatic people."

"Oh, I didn't know that," Glen said swallowing.

"I have a lovely body."

"I... perhaps I guessed that."

"And you?"

"Ah... um... I have been told my chest is great."

"I knew it would be. And your legs Glen?"

"Um, apparently they look strong."

"And is there anything else that looks strong?"

Glen's hand shot out for the wine bottle in the cooler. They both watched his shaking hand pour.

"Glen I'm sorry, I've been playing with you."

"I... I know."

"And you're not offended?"

"Of course, not because I'm used to women talking to me sexy-like but that coming from you is a bit of a surprise."

She smiled and said he had a false impression of her. "I love having sex."

Glen looked around wildly but found fellow diners were not evacuating the restaurant in horror or even looking appalled.

"Alina, please."

"Oh yes, sorry. It's the alcohol moving my thoughts through my mouth. And, uh, my mind thinks I need sex; I haven't had it for almost three months, and during that time you've been the only guy to appeal to me."

"Sh-shall we go," Glen said holding up a hand and a waitress hurried over.

Outside, they stood nervously.

"My courage has deserted me," Alina said.

She couldn't have said anything better to her hero. Glen said stoutly, "Please allow me to escort you to your bed, ah, to you room."

"Oh, thanks kind sir. I was in desperate need of kind action. Please hook my arm with yours."

As the door of her room closed, Alina said she needed a pee and excused herself.

Glen thought how the hell would he pull this one off and then had his confidence tumble. Oh fuck, she'd gone to the bathroom and was now climbing through the window to escape and summon the authorities there was a guy having sexual fantasies in her room.

He groaned.

The bathroom door opened and Alina came into the bedroom totally nude and said in surprise, "Aren't you undressed yet?"

Glen shed his clothing in world record time.

She looked at his almost full erection and he thought she looked disappointed but he remained confident, knowing what you did with it was what really mattered.

They kissed and gradually pressed in against each other and Alina adjusted so his dick stopped crushing itself against her thigh.

That felt much better, for both of them.

Their tongues entwined.

"Oh god, this is heavenly," she said for a short breather and to wipe away drool.

Glen saw the swollen breasts with aroused nipples and went at them like a dog after a fleeing cat.

"Omigod," she groaned and presumably to avoid the risk of being considered aloof and not participating, she grabbed his dick and began jerking it.

Not wishing to shoot far too soon, feeling he was near, Glen pushed her away, grabbed her under the knees and around the shoulders and threw her on to the bed.

She yelled something but blood echo was roaring in his ears so he didn't hear. She appeared to be closing rather than opening her legs but he handled that and pushed in without a problem, making him think so that's why she'd been expecting a big dick.

"How's that?" he asked as their groins clashed, taking him fully home.

"You bastard," she yelled. "I was asking you to wear a condom. I have no idea where you have been."

Oh crap. Think quickly, he urged his brain.

"I only use condoms if I don't trust the woman and I believe she's not a slut."

"Ooh, thanks Glen. I was hoping to appeal to you. I'm on the pill."