"You? Why would you want me to write about you?"
"Well, it's a long story, but basically every now and then the board of directors has me do something about myself so that they can show potential investors and clients who runs the company. It's usually some lame video or cheesy article. I don't want that anymore. I want something real, something that is straight to the point, but shows them they are dealing with someone honest, intelligent, and trustworthy".
She nodded.
"I suppose I could fly out for a few days. I have a policy that I follow, that has always worked well for me in the past. I am known for my copious amounts of research, and I typically will get more information than I need, and then pare it down. I never print anything inflammatory or unfavorable."
"I trust you. I am happy to answer any questions that you might have as long as I can proof it before the board sees it".
"Certainly".
She dug a card out of her purse and handed it to him.
"Set it up with my editor, so that it's official. He'll say yes, but you still gotta go through him".
"Will do". He took the card from her and his fingers brushed hers as he grabbed it. They both felt it, but neither of them said anything.
An officer came by on foot and knocked on the glass. Jonathan rolled it down.
"Sorry folks, bridge is completely closed. As soon as you can, please turn around, might be another 45 minutes, could be as long as 4 or 5 hours if you stay. Turning around is your best option".
"Thank you, officer".
He rolled the window back up, and then rolled down the privacy glass between them and the driver.
"Driver, as soon as you can, turn around and we will try to figure something else out".
He picked up the phone and called the bar, and the bartender found Paige.
He handed the phone to Jennifer.
"Paige? Hey, it's me. Listen, Jonathan and I are stuck in traffic, the bridge is closed. So if you can get home, meet us at our apartment….Ok, perfect. See you as soon as we can get there".
She handed the phone back to Jonathan.
"She's taking the last ferry and said she will meet us back at our place".
"Sounds great. I am so sorry to have taken up your evening. I hope you didn't have plans?"
"The only plans I had were to relax in my pajamas. You're fine".
The limo started to move again, and they were able to go around the block and then head back to Jennifer and Paige's apartment.
They arrived back at the apartment in about 40 minutes, and Jonathan paid the limo driver extra and sent him on his way.
They came inside the apartment to find Paige and another guy sitting and laughing on the couch.
"Paige, this is Jonathan, Jonathan, this is Paige".
They shook hands. "Nice to meet you".
"Jennifer, this is Owen. I met him tonight and thought he would be perfect for you".
"Hi Owen, it's nice to meet you".
Jonathan looked at Paige.
"Well, the bridge is out, so we can go somewhere uptown, if you are still up for it".
"To be honest, I am beat. What if we just hung out here tonight, and the next date, if you are game, is my treat?"
"I am definitely fine with that. I can order us some pizzas if you'd like".
"Certainly".
Owen spoke up then. "We could always play some beer pong, if anyone's interested. Or darts".
Everyone was in agreement, so they placed their pizza order with the pizzeria across the street.
Paige went to the kitchen, to get everyone some wine, and Owen went to help.
He was going in the kitchen as she was coming out, and they collided, spilling red wine all over Paige and the floor.
"Oh no! Jennifer, do you have a mop?"
"Yes, I will get it".
"Paige, I am so sorry".
"Oh, that's alright. Accidents happen".
Jennifer mopped the floor, and Jonathan began to look for another bottle of wine. Owen wiped the wine off the door and the wall, and Paige went to take a shower.
Jennifer went and poured the mop bucket into the sink.
"Here, let me help you".
Jonathan leaned down and lifted the bucket for her.
"Thank you".
"Certainly".
After she had finished cleaning up the mop and the mop bucket, Jonathan turned to her.
"We have a problem. We are out of wine".
"Oh, no problem. Let me see if Paige has any in her kitchen".
She came back a minute or two later.
"Nope. I will just run down to the liquor store on the corner and get some more".
"I tell you what-you shouldn't go alone. I will accompany you. We can get some more wine, and pick up the pizza while we are out".
"Perfect. I will run tell Paige".
She went to Paige's side, and stuck her head in the shower and told her where they were going.
"Ok, see you in a few. Get some cash out of my purse".
"We will settle up later".
She and Jonathan headed out. Owen was on the patio, on his phone.
They walked downstairs and stopped at the liquor store first.
"What kind of beer do you like?"
"I am a Miller Lite guy. But I am not particular".
"Owen had a Heineken in his hand when we walked in. Guess we should get him that and what you want, and wine for Paige and me."
"Do you drink beer?"
"Every now and then. If I do, it's Michelob".
"Michelob is good. Corona is good too".
They grabbed some beer and a few bottles of wine, and Jonathan refused to let her pay for it.
"You don't have to do that."
"It's fine, if we had made it to the bar, I was planning on buying all of our drinks and food anyways".
"Well thank you, you are very kind".
He let her carry the bag with the beer, and he took the heavier one with the wine. They crossed the street, and picked up the pizzas, and headed back to the apartment.
"I wouldn't have pegged you as a beer drinker".
"Really? Why not?"
"You have this air of class and sophistication around you, and I had you pegged as a wine and champagne girl".
"I like those too, but sometimes, you just need beer".
"I agree".
They came back in to the apartment, and found Paige and Owen chatting on the couch.
"Food! I am starving! Thanks, Jennifer. How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing. Jonathan paid for all of it".
"How very kind of you, thank you".
"Sure, no problem".
Jennifer played hostess, and got everyone plates and cups.
"We could eat outside, it's perfect weather".
"Sounds good to me".
"Fine with me".
"Certainly".
Owen and Paige took the pizzas outside to the balcony. Jonathan followed them and grabbed some pepperoni. Jennifer took them plates and cups and went back to get napkins. She was coming back with the napkins, when Owen lifted the pepperoni pizza to switch it out with the cheese pizza, lost his balance and dropped both pizzas over the side of the balcony.
He quickly turned back to everyone.
"I am so sorry. Let me order some more".
Paige was laughing, and Jonathan looked heartbroken. Jennifer was irritated.
Owen went to order some more pizza, and came back a few minutes later.
"They are closed. How about Chinese?"
Jennifer was the only one who hadn't gotten any pizza.
"It's alright. I will just find something in the fridge".
She headed to the kitchen. Owen and Paige stayed on the patio. A few minutes later, Jonathan came into the kitchen.
"Are you alright? You can have my other piece of pepperoni if you want".
"I'm fine. I will just have a salad".
She didn't have a lot of salad ingredients, so her salad wasn't that big. It didn't take her long to eat it at all.
Just as she finished, Paige and Owen came in, and Owen set up the beer pong.
"Girls against guys?"
They were all in agreement.
"First one to make the other team drink all their cups wins".
Jonathan went first for the guys, and sank a cup, so Jennifer drank it. Paige went first for them and missed. Owen went next and missed. Jennifer went and did a trick shot. Her ping pong ball touched the rim of all of their cups and went straight into the middle one.
"You are kidding me. How did you do that?"
"It's all in the wrist. Drink up boys, girls win".
Jonathan loosened his tie, and took it off. He picked up a cup and drank it, and Owen took a cup and drank it. It took them about 20 minutes, but they finished their cups.
"How about some Darts next?"
"Sure".
Jennifer went and got the dartboard and hung it up, and got the darts out.
Paige and Jonathan teamed up, and Jennifer and Owen teamed up.
Paige was a little tipsy, so she missed the dartboard each time. Jonathan got 2 bullseyes. Owen got 2 fours, and Jennifer got 2 bullseyes.
"Congratulations".
"Thank you".
"Let's do a tournament now. See who is the overall winner."
They all agreed, so they all got 4 darts. Jonathan went first, and got 3 bullseyes and a ten. Paige went next and only got one dart on the board. Owen got 2 darts on the board. Jennifer got 3 bullseyes and the last dart was exactly on the line of the ten or the bullseye.
"That's a bullseye".
"No, that's a ten".
"It is not. It's a bullseye".
"No, it's a ten".
"Do-over?"
"Fine".
They took the darts out, and did a do-over. Jonathan got 3 bullseyes and an 8. Jennifer got 3 bullseyes and a ten.
"Congratulations".
"Thank you, you were a worthy opponent".
Paige and Owen got comfy on the couch, and turned on a movie. Jonathan and Jennifer sat on the other couch.
After about 20 minutes, Paige and Owen were passed out. Jonathan and Jennifer were all into the movie. Jennifer got up and turned the lights off, and made it as dark as possible.
After the movie was over, Jennifer turned the lights on, and she and Jonathan went and sat on the terrace.
"I love coming out here looking at the skyline at night".
"I can see why. It's beautiful".
She turned to him. "Allow me to apologize for Paige. She usually doesn't pass out like that".
"Oh, that's alright. She had a good bit to drink, it's not a big deal".
"Well hopefully, the next time you take her out, you two can have a real meal together and nobody will tie up the bridge and you can really get to know her".
"Perhaps. I am planning on going home in 2 days though, and she was pretty clear that tonight was the only night she was free. So, next time might be a while".
"Well, she's a great girl if you can get to know her".
They sat out there a little longer and then went back inside, to find that Paige had gone to bed. Owen was putting on his jacket.
"Thanks for a lovely evening. I just put Paige in bed, she's out like a light".
"Thank you, Owen, it was nice to meet you".
"I'll call you".
He kissed her cheek and then headed out.
Jennifer started straightening up, and Jonathan helped.
"I know I was here to meet Paige tonight, and things didn't go as planned, but it was lovely meeting you though. Thank you for a pleasant evening".
"You're welcome. Thank you for making the evening pleasant".
She grabbed the dart board off the wall and put it back in the box, with the darts. She went to the hall closet, and was struggling to get it on the top shelf.
"Here, let me". He took it from her and slid it to the top shelf.
"Thank you. Hang on, right there".
She disappeared into her room to get the step stool she had borrowed earlier. Suddenly, he heard a crash.
He ran in there and found her on the floor, under a pile of boxes.