A rookie reporter with modest ambitions x a power-hungry, sadistic senator
To secure the services of a certain professional lobbyist for Senator Clarence Morton, rookie reporter Zhong Qin, who had no particular skills to speak of, spent three grueling weeks on K Street in Washington.
After getting the lobbyist's verbal agreement, she rushed back to her rented room and stayed up all night writing an article for Mr. Morton.
Before dawn, Zhong Qin walked the rain-soaked streets to deliver her manuscript to the office in the Capitol.
Mr. Morton's secretary received her in the outer office. No offer to sit, no tea or coffee. A brief verbal thank-you, and he was already seeing her out.
As she turned to leave, Zhong Qin glanced at the closed office door. A faint sliver of light shone from beneath it.
The secretary carried the manuscript into the office and handed it to Clarence.
A tall, resolute man stood by the window, his figure swallowed by darkness, beyond the reach of the dim desk lamp. Only the cigar between his fingers glowed.
"You don't need to show it to me. From now on, her articles can go straight to print."
The secretary put the manuscript away and couldn't help asking, "Is that K Street guy really that important to us? And Miss Zhong..."
"Of course not. I don't need that person at all."
Clarence turned around and said each word distinctly:
"This was nothing more than a test of her obedience."
But even Clarence Morton, who knew all there was to know about power and manipulation, could let his guard down.
He could even forget that a game of conditioning is always played both ways.
*The title is inspired by the gray rhino and the black swan.
Click to see a power-hungry senator fall in love for real.
Theme: Love is a game of wits
