A million and one responsibilities and headaches that came with running a successful multi-industrial corporation and acquiring more for expansion had weighed down Jonathan the past two weeks more than they usually did but the sight of his beautiful wife with her disarming smile and enchanting hazel eyes would always pep him up to face the challenges and defeat the problems of each day. Languidly, he stretched in bed without opening his eyes and groped for the slender form of his wife beside him to draw her in his arms for warm hug but felt nothing but only the soft pillow containing her warmth welcomed his touch. He immediately opened his eyes in slight distress in her absence and noticed that he slept through his alarm clock set at 7:00am. It was now 8:00.

Jonathan wrapped himself in his maroon robe in rush and headed down the breakfast table in the patio where he and Jennifer would often have their quiet breakfast enjoying the early morning breeze in the summer and the hint of fragrant posies as they chat about their plans for the day and the events around their community. He found Jennifer a bit dazed as she pushed the untouched strips of bacon and hash brown around her plate, the slightly crumpled newspaper opened to the Entertainment section lying by her elbow on the table.

"Good morning, darling. Why didn't you wake me?" greeted Jonathan as he kissed her cheek before seating across from her and helping himself with the crispy bacon strips and pancakes.

His voice seemed to bring Jennifer back to the present and she gave Jonathan a flash of the beautiful smile that always made his day.

"I'm sorry, darling. You look so peaceful in your slumber that I didn't have the heart to wake you up knowing you've been working too hard the past weeks," explained Jennifer before taking a sip of her lukewarm coffee. The tepid temperature caught her by surprise which didn't escape Jonathan's observant eye.

"I know there's been a lot on my mind lately but seems like you have more in yours. What's the matter?" asked Jonathan.

Jennifer's thin pink lips turned into a slight smile. "Oh it's nothing really, darling..."

Jonathan glanced at the paper and his frown turned into a sly smile. "Anything about you in the morning paper I shouldn't know about?" teased Jonathan.

Jennifer gave him a mock mortification. "How did you know it was about me?"

Jonathan's smile broadened in amusement. "The paper is opened at the society page, and, you have that look in your eye."

Jennifer was confused, "What look?"

"That contemplative look that says 'Am I really like that? Am I or Am I not?' It rarely crosses your eyes but it does manifest once in a blue moon," stated Jonathan, the amusement still in his eyes.

Jennifer let out a big sigh as she brushed the tips of her well-manicured fingers through her brilliant auburn locks before blurting out in exasperation. "It's this article that kept portraying me as a shallow, dim-witted socialite just because I became an endorser of popular brand of cosmetics. Does that make one superficial? I happen to like that brand of make-up. It's not tested on animals, it's hypo-allergenic..."

"...And it's one of the more expensive brands," smiled Jonathan.

Jennifer gave him a look of mock indignation, "beauty does have a price to pay sometimes". In a weaker voice she continued, "still... still it doesn't mean that people who value their looks are superficial."

"Darling, you are not superficial, and especially not dim-witted, why you have those plaques and trophies in the study to prove that you are one smart lady with penchant for investigative journalism."

With those words, Jonathan got up and kissed Jennifer on the temple, giving her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder.

"That's what bothers me, darling. Some of those plaques of recognitions are quite recent but the writers would choose to make biased, unsubstantiated judgement about me because my cosmetics commercial rather than write about the contributions I made in bringing out the truth or expanding knowledge through my research."

Their conversation was interrupted by their loyal and endearing friend and manservant Max who came out of the kitchen door with their pet Freeway in tow.

"Mrs. H, a phone call for you, the girl says she's calling for a Mr. Dexter Barton..."

Jonathan raised his eyebrows, "The Dexter Barton from TAM Network?"

"I don't know. I didn't want to give you the call since it's so early you are having your breakfast but the secretary—well, I think she's a secretary. She says they are prepared to make a generous donation to Mrs. Hart's charity, the WH Wildlife Foundation, and her boss Mr. Dexter Barton will talk to Mrs. H about it. It's kind of urgent as they have a deadline to make."

Jennifer rose to take the call. "Thank you. I'll take it Max."

Jonathan"s brows furrowed. "What did the call sound like, Max?"

Max took a cigar from his pocket and wiped it on the front collar of his shirt as he sat on a chair beside Jonathan. "I don't know... it sounded important...and yet it felt calculating...and suspicious..."

"Calculating? What do you mean?" Jonathan's furrow deepened as he finished the last remnants of his coffee.

Max lighted his cigar and took a puff before replying. He gave Jonathan's question some thought.

"Well, the woman sounded formal and knowledgeable but there was something in her voice that seemed to imply that I must give the phone to Mrs. Hart because they are holding the aces in this card game...as though they knew Mrs. Hart wouldn't say no..."

Jonathan eyed the contemplative Max, "Wouldn't...or couldn't say no, Max?"

They both stared at each other for a moment in silence as Jennifer came back and sat on the chair with a very puzzled look in her eyes.

"What's it about, darling?" asked Jonathan.

Jennifer suddenly burst out laughing. She was laughing so hard she couldn't utter another word and tears were lightly brimming in her hazel eyes.

"I've gotten the most preposterous and highly outrageous proposal from the Vice President of TAM Telvision Network..."

Jennifer managed to utter amidst the laughter that haven't subsided.

"So it is The Dexter Barton? What does he want? I told them I'm not interested to buy their tv station."

Jennifer slowly calmed down. "No,darling. They are not telling me to talk you into buying the network. They offered me to be a part of their reality show 'I'm a Celebrity, Take Me Out of Here.' "

Jonathan eyed Jennifer. He wanted to look serious especially since it only occurred to him that he might have overlooked signing some important papers in their New York Office when he went there yesterday morning but his wife's news was just too fantastic and outrageous that his eyes began to slowly crinkle in a suppressed laughter.

Max looked at them in confusion. "What's so funny? I think that will be great. It's one of the top-rating tv shows in the country today. I'll call my friends now from the 'hood and tell them to watch out for Mrs. Hart."