***Saturday***
Jennifer woke up around 8, and quickly showered and got dressed.
She came out to find Jonathan sitting on the couch drinking coffee.
"Morning".
"Morning. I ordered us some breakfast, it should be here soon. And I made coffee in the kitchenette".
"Oh wonderful".
She went and poured a cup and then came and sat down on the other end of the couch.
They quietly watched tv and drank coffee and then their breakfast arrived.
"I ordered each of us the sampler. Pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, and fruit. I wasn't sure what you wanted".
"That sounds amazing".
She pulled the coffee table closer to the couch, and they ate there.
After they were finished, she put their plates on the cart and rolled it to the hallway.
"Well, I think I'm going to go lie by the pool".
"Would you mind if I joined you?"
"Not at all".
She went and changed into her suit, and then put a coverup on, and some flip flops.
She packed a bag with sunscreen and a book and then grabbed her sunglasses.
Jonathan was in the living room, in his swimsuit and t-shirt and flip flops.
They headed down to the lobby, grabbed some towels and then made their way to the pool.
They selected two chairs, and got all situated. Jennifer took her coverup off, revealing a shimmery zebra print string bikini.
'Good God, she's so beautiful'.
The hotel had a sunscreen applicator stand, so Jennifer went to use that, and then came back.
She noticed he had taken his t-shirt off. She had to look away or else she wouldn't be able to stop staring at his chest and abs.
Jonathan ordered them a couple drinks from the poolside waiter.
They laid out for a few hours, and had some nice, easy, conversation. After lunch, they decided to head inside.
"I think I'm going to check out the spa".
"I think I might check out the golf course".
"There's a golf course here?"
"Yeah, it's called SkyGolf. It's on the roof".
"That sounds interesting. And incredibly dangerous".
"I'll keep you updated".
They both changed and headed out.
Jennifer spent a wonderful afternoon getting a massage, a body wrap and a pedicure.
Jonathan enjoyed playing SkyGolf so much, he played 4 times in a row.
They were both back in the room around dinner time.
Jennifer was sitting on the couch, reading a magazine.
"Hi, have a nice time at the spa?"
"The best. How was SkyGolf?"
"So fun. I made us reservations to do it again later tonight after the show".
"What show?"
"I got us tickets to Cirque De Soleil".
"What?!"
He pulled them out of his pocket.
"Oh, I'm so excited! Thank you!"
She jumped up and hugged him.
"I better go get ready".
She dashed off to her room and started getting ready.
They decided to grab dinner before the show in the burger joint downstairs.
Jennifer insisted on paying, and Jonathan finally let her.
"You got the tickets, so dinner is on me".
They headed to the show afterwards and Jennifer was impressed with their seats.
"We are so close!"
He noticed that she was mesmerized for the entire show and never took her eyes off the performers.
They made their way up to SkyGolf after the show was over, and got in line.
"So, how does this work?"
"Well, it's digitized. So, you have a tee, and the ball and the club. But you have a screen, and the screen shows the picture of an actual hole on a golf course."
"That sounds neat".
"It really is".
They stepped up and got their clubs and golf balls.
"Ok, so we have to alternate turns".
"Got it".
He went first, and did really well.
She went next and didn't do as well.
"Here, let me help you".
He wrapped his arms around her arms and helped her swing.
She was so distracted by how good it felt to have his arms around her, that she just let him take over most of the swing.
She got the hang of it, and they played a few holes.
"Ladies and gentlemen, SkyGolf is now closed due to inclement weather. We apologize for any inconvenience".
"Damn! Well, I guess you win".
They made their way to the exit and got a refund for the rest of the course and then headed inside just as it started to pour.
They headed back to their room.
Jennifer changed into pajama pants and a tank top and had just come into the living room when the power went out.
"Oh darn!"
"Hang on, I saw some candles earlier, and a flashlight".
He got up and found the flashlight and then found some candles and matches.
Pretty soon, they were sitting in the candlelight in the living room.
"You were pretty good at golf".
"Thanks. I try to play each week if I can".
"It's paying off".
"You weren't so bad yourself".
"Oh please. I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from 4 feet away".
He chuckled.
"So, what you're saying is golf wasn't your sport in high school?"
"Nothing involved throwing a ball was my sport. I was pretty good at Polo, but that was about it".
She was quiet for a moment.
"What did you play in high school?"
"Kids in orphanages don't get to play organized sports".
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't-"
"It's ok. Part of the territory".
There was a loud crack of thunder.
"Ugh. I hate storms".
He got up and broke into the mini bar.
"We could play a game if you want".
"Like what?"
"How about…Never Have I Ever?"
"How do you play that?"
"Well, when it's your turn, you say something that you've never done. It could be anything. And if the other person hasn't done it, they say me too. But if they have done it, they take a shot".
"How are we supposed to know that? It's dark".
"Oh yeah. Well, we can just say 'shot', before we take one".
"Ok".
He set them up some shots, while she opened the popcorn and nuts.
"Ok, I'll go first. Never have I ever been stranded on the side of the road".
"Nope. Never have I ever cheated on a test".
She took a shot.
"You?"
"Yep. High school. Chemistry. I couldn't remember the formulas, so I wrote them on my fingers".
"How did you do?"
"I didn't get caught cheating, but I didn't learn the formulas either. I got a d in chem lab in college when I mistakenly blew up the lab".
He chuckled.
"Never have I ever gone hunting".
"Nope. Never have I ever shoplifted".
He took a shot.
"You didn't?!"
"Once, when I was 15. Max bailed me out and set me straight".
They continued for about an hour and both were pretty tipsy afterwards.
"Never have I ever dated someone I work with".
"Me too. Never have I ever kissed on the first date".
"Well, let me be the first".
He grabbed her face and kissed her so passionately it left her breathless.
"I'd…better get to bed", she stammered.
She picked up one of the candles and took it with her to her room.
"Goodnight".
She quickly closed the door, leaving him confused in the living room.
***Sunday***
Jennifer woke up around 7:30, and showered and dressed.
She put on a strapless purple top, some distressed jean shorts and some black flip flops.
She came out of her room, and found Jonathan on the couch watching tv.
He turned the volume down.
"Morning".
"Morning".
"How'd you sleep?"
"Good".
"I ordered us brunch".
"What did you order?"
"Two basic brunch platters. Steak, eggs, shrimp and grits and English muffins. Fresh squeezed OJ and a pot of coffee".
"Sounds yummy. What time did the power come back on?"
"Not sure. it was on when I woke up this morning".
They had a quiet breakfast, and then Jennifer went to pack her bag.
Jonathan did the same and they met in the living room.
They headed to the lobby to check out. Jennifer tried to chip in for the room, but he wouldn't let her.
They headed to the parking lot and he helped her load her bag into the trunk.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow at the office".
"Jennifer, wait. About last night-"
"We don't have to talk about that. It's ok".
He thought about it, and then decided he didn't want to argue with her, so he just nodded.
"See you tomorrow".
They both got in their cars and headed back to LA.
***Monday***
Jennifer got to the office around 9, and immediately got to work.
Jonathan was in meetings all morning, so they didn't see each other till the afternoon.
When they did, it was awkward, to say the least.
They both avoided each other till it was time to go home, and then Jonathan got the nerve up to go talk to her.
By the time he got to the parking garage, she was driving away.
***Thursday***
Jonathan and Jennifer hadn't spoken all week.
Jennifer wondered if they would ever speak again.
He called a staff meeting for 1 p.m. in his office.
They spoke about a few deals coming up and he asked for everyone to buckle down so they could get the deals done.
He adjourned the meeting and everyone got up to leave.
"Jennifer, can you type up this press release asap, please?"
"Ok".
She took it from him.
"What's wrong?"
She sighed.
"Nothing".
"Obviously something is".
"I don't want to talk about it".
"Jennifer, if something is wrong, let's talk about it".
"Fine, you want to talk, let's talk. There isn't something wrong with me, there's something wrong with you".
"Oh? What is that?"
"That's just it. I have no clue what is wrong with you, which leads me to believe something is wrong with me".
"I'm sorry, I'm not following you".
"We had a great weekend in Vegas, you kissed me, and then ever since we got back, you've acted like I don't exist. So, let's just lay it out on the table. What's wrong with me that makes you want to avoid me?"
"It's not that. We did have a good time. But everything was alcohol induced".
"Oh, so you're saying you had to be drunk to be nice to me? Nice, real nice".
"That's not what I'm saying".
"You know what? I don't want to do this anymore. Your issues with me are yours to deal with, not mine."
"Jennifer-"
She left his office before he could say anything further.
She went and typed up the press release and then put it in his box. After she had typed up everything else, she gathered her things together and headed home.
***Jonathan***
Jonathan felt horrible about his conversation with Jennifer. He headed home and went inside and headed straight for the bar.
Max knew as soon as he saw him pouring a glass, that it was complicated.
"What's the problem, Mr. H.?"
"There's a lady that I'm interested in. But I'm trying to force myself to not be interested in her at all".
"That don't sound like you".
"She works for me. I don't think it's right for me to date someone in the office. But the thing is-she's one of the best employees we've ever had. I don't want to lose her at the office just so we can start a relationship, but I don't feel right about compromising my principles either".
"Have you tried telling her how you feel?"
"Yeah. It didn't go well".
"It's time for a new plan."
"I agree".
***Later that night***
Jennifer was at her apartment, working on an article when there was a knock at the door.
She went to open it, and found Susan on the other side.
"Hi, what are you doing here?"
"Can I come in? I just need to talk to you for a little bit".
"Sure".
"I thought it might be easier if we had cocktails, so I brought some wine with me".
"Great. I have a few bottles already open and cold".
Jennifer poured them each a glass and then they went to the living room. She brought the bottle with her.
"Wait a second".
She slammed her wine glass, and then poured another.
"Ok. So, I'm guessing my test results came back and it's not good".
"No-"
"It's cancer, right? I have cancer".
"No, this isn't about your test results. You've gotten all your test results already".
"Ok".
"Jonathan called me. He said you two had an argument and he feels pretty horrible about it. So, he asked me to come talk to you."
"I see".
"I asked him to give me some indication of what happened, so that I would know what to say to you, but he insisted that you needed to tell me that".
"Ok, so let me start from the beginning. I was hired to write his newsletters and his press releases. And I noticed that pretty much anytime he would speak to anyone at the office, he wasn't speaking. He was yelling, he was rude, he was very harsh. People at the office seem to stay away from him more than they engage with him. So, he screamed at me one time too many, and I quit. I walked out and quit. I've never walked out on a job in my life, but I refuse to be treated that way. So, then he came to the restaurant and sat at the bar one day. I was going off shift, and I heard him speaking pretty much in the same manner to the bartender. I asked him if he ever stopped being "Mr. Hart", and he said he sometimes did, but he usually regretted it. So, then he came here and brought me dinner and helped me with a few things, and begged me to come back to work. The person that he hired to replace me was awful. So, we negotiated, and I told him in no uncertain terms would I be treated that way again. He agreed to it, and I went back to work. And then he came to me and asked me to work on a special project with him, and he asked me to go to Vegas and scout out a hotel he was going to purchase. I did, and he showed up. Long story short, the hotel was a dump and we decided to not stay there one more moment, so we left and he got us a two-room suite at a much nicer hotel. We had a great time-we laid by the pool, I went to the spa, he played golf, he got us tickets to Cirque De Soleil which I've been wanting to see for years, we had nice meals, it was so fun. And then he kissed me, and it was great. And I freaked out, and headed to my room because I knew if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to control myself. He is the absolute best kisser I've ever kissed, and believe me, I've had plenty of kisses, both good and bad. So, Sunday, we checked out, and he wanted to talk about it in the parking lot but I wouldn't let him because I didn't want it to be awkward. And then all this week at work, he's been like he was in the beginning-rude, yelling, screaming, the whole bit. We tried to talk today at work, and he insinuated that he only kissed me because he had been drinking. That was so hurtful that I got up and left. I don't know that I can continue to work for him".
"I can't speak to him being rude, as I've never witnessed that. I also can't speak to how well he kisses, because I have never experienced that with him either. I can speak to the fact that he feels really badly about your argument, and he wants to make it right. And I think you're right-maybe you two would work out best if you weren't working together".
"Well, the ball's in his court, so if he wants to talk, he knows where to find me".
"He came by my house about an hour ago. He asked me to come talk to you, and see if you would consider having dinner with him".
"Yeah, I would".
"Great. I'm supposed to give you this". She handed her an envelope.
Jennifer opened it.
"You are cordially invited to dinner at Los Angeles' fanciest restaurant, Chez Hart, Saturday at 8. Transportation will be provided".
"Well, this is sweet, but I'm scheduled to work at the restaurant on Saturday".
Susan patted her hand.
"Sweetie, I have it on good authority that Jonathan called and got your boss to give you the night off".
"How do you know he did that?"
"Because I was sitting right next to him when he did".
"Oh".
"Well, I better go. He said you are welcome to call him if you want to, but he won't hold it against you if you don't".
"I don't know about that…"
"I told him to not expect the phone call. Women aren't wired the same way men are. If we wanted to talk to you on the phone, we would just tell you to come over".
"That's true. Well, thank you for coming, and thanks for bringing the wine".
"No problem".
Jennifer saw her out, and then locked the door behind her.
She went and changed into a nightgown and then climbed into bed.
As she drifted off to sleep, she kept wondering what dinner with Jonathan would be like.