***Jonathan's House***
Jennifer pulled up to Jonathan's house and parked on the driveway.
She went and rang the doorbell and Jonathan let her in.
"Great timing. I just got back myself. I'm going to go change out of these clothes. Food's in the kitchen".
She went and poured him a scotch and herself a glass of wine and then headed to the kitchen.
Max had left a note that he was gone to a poker game.
Jonathan appeared in the kitchen a few minutes later.
She handed him his scotch.
"You read my mind".
He drank his scotch and then kissed her a few times.
They ate together on the patio, and then went inside and curled up on the couch.
She sort of wedged herself behind him and started rubbing his shoulders.
"Ohhhhhhhhh".
"Feel good?"
"You have no idea".
He turned the tv on, while she massaged him.
"So, are we going somewhere this weekend?"
"We were going to. But now that the deal fell through, I don't think I should go where I can't be reached."
"Ok, so we can just stay here in town and be together here at your house, or at mine".
"Jennifer, I'm probably going to have to work all weekend. This weekend might not work for us".
"Oh. Well alright".
She finished massaging him and then he leaned back against her. They quietly watched tv for a while.
She got up to go to the bathroom and then came back. He pulled her into his lap.
"Don't be mad about this weekend".
"I'm not".
"I promise, I want to spend time with you. But there's just so much on me right now".
"I understand, Jonathan. It's ok".
She climbed off his lap, grabbed her wine glass and headed to the kitchen.
She rinsed her glass and put it in the sink, and then came back to the living room.
"Walk me out, darling?"
"Sure".
They walked to the car and he embraced her.
"I hate to see you leave mad, Jennifer."
"I'm not mad."
"So, why are you going?"
"Because I have things to do".
"Alright. Well drive safely".
She leaned up and kissed him.
He opened the door for her.
"Call me when you get home?"
She nodded.
He gave her a final kiss and then she got in the car and drove away.
***Jennifer's apartment***
Jennifer came inside, ran a bubble bath, and then grabbed the phone and climbed in.
She dialed Jonathan's number, and then leaned back.
"Hello?"
"Hey. I'm home".
"I'm sorry I wasn't more attentive tonight. This failed deal really has me thrown for a loop".
"I understand, it's ok".
"Can we try again for another night?"
"Sure".
"Sweet dreams, darling. I'll see you in the morning".
"Goodnight, Jonathan".
***The next day***
Jennifer got to the office, and went straight to her office. She went and filled her water bottle and her coffee cup, and then went back to her desk. She got started on everything that was due that day, and just tuned out everything else. She turned on her radio, to kill the silence.
A couple hours later, the receptionist rang her desk.
"Hello, this is Jennifer Edwards".
"Hi, this is Lexie. You have a delivery at reception. Is it ok if I send him up?"
"Certainly. Tell him 12th floor, 1st door on the right".
"Yes ma'am".
A few minutes later, a young man was bringing in the biggest bouquet of flowers she had ever seen.
"Hi, where would you like these?"
"Oh, just right here on the desk is fine".
She signed his clipboard and then he left.
She looked at the bouquet. It was about 50 white fresh roses along with 50 pink foxgloves in the most stunning crystal vase she had ever seen.
She grabbed the card and pulled them off the holder.
She realized there were two cards.
This vase is authentic Waterford Crystal. Hand wash only.
'Interesting'.
She opened the other card.
Still working on Colorado. Email date?
She sat down and opened her email.
So, I guess you're mad at me. I promise I won't work late tonight and I promise we will take a trip as soon as we can. Hope you love the flowers.
She typed her response.
I'm not mad, I'm disappointed. But I'm dealing with it. I've also been busy working on the files and my article. And yes, I love the flowers. Thank you. What did you mean by email date?
A few minutes later he had replied.
What I meant was, I want nothing more than to run into your office and grab you and kiss you. But I can't. I want to have lunch with you today, but we might get seen. So, instead of a lunch date, we have to have an email date.
She took a sip of water and then typed her response.
Is there anywhere in this building that doesn't have cameras? Also, you could…if you wanted…have Deanne call me and ask me to come to your office with a specific file and then we can shut the door and you can tell Deanne that we need to not be disturbed…just a thought.
A few minutes later, he replied.
There's a vacant office on the 7th floor. And the stairwell doesn't have cameras. Darling, I'm going to bring something to your office. If anyone asks us about it, I'm helping you with a computer problem. See you in a minute.
She signed out of her email and moved her flowers to her filing cabinet behind her desk.
A few seconds later, he came in her office.
He cracked the door behind him.
"Hi".
"Hi".
He sat down at her desk, and quickly downloaded something.
"What's that?"
"A chat window. This way we don't have to keep emailing back and forth and refreshing".
"Great idea".
She took his hand and led him to the corner of her office in the alcove away from the door and the window.
She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss.
"Want to have dinner tonight?"
"Sure. I can pick something up for us and then bring it to your house around 7".
"Perfect".
She kissed him once more and then he headed back to his office.
They chatted here and there while they worked the rest of the day, and then Jennifer sent him a final message.
Headed home. Key will be under the mat. Come on in when you get there. Muah.
***Jennifer's apartment***
Jennifer had just changed into some comfy clothes and poured herself a glass of wine when she heard Jonathan coming in.
"Hey, it's me".
"Hi".
She went to him and kissed him a few times.
"Dinner is being delivered".
"Great. I picked up some of your beer at the store on my way home. Want one?"
"Yes, please".
She got him one and opened it, and then they went and cuddled up on the couch.
"I ordered a new tv this afternoon. It should be here in about an hour".
"Perfect".
"So did you decide for sure if you are working all weekend?"
"Yeah, I am. I think I'm going to work late Friday night, and then work several hours on Saturday. Depending on how well that turns out, I might be able to not work on Sunday".
"Well, I signed up for a late bar shift Friday night, and a double wait shift on Saturday."
"You working Sunday?"
"Not at the moment".
"Well, then what if I meet you here Saturday night after you get off at the restaurant, and I'll make sure that I can take off on Sunday and we can spend Sunday together?"
"I'd love that".
She leaned over and kissed him several times.
"I know you're disappointed we can't go away this weekend, but I promise I'm working on it".
"Jonathan, I'm fine. Honest. And since I'm working three shifts, that means 3x the tips, that can be spending money for when we do get away".
"Want to be my non-date next weekend to the Hart Industries Charity Dance?"
"Define non-date".
"Well, we would arrive separately, share a few dances, sit separately, and leave separately and meet up somewhere private afterwards".
"Interesting. Is it formal?"
"Yes, it is".
"So, if I'm your non-date, who is your…date-date?"
"I won't have one".
"Good answer".
"Think you can take off at the restaurant?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, I already am off on the weekends. If I want to work a shift, I just call and see what's available".
There was a knock at the door, so she got up and got it.
"Hi, delivery for a Jennifer Edwards?"
"That's me".
"Sign here, ma'am".
She signed his clipboard and then he brought in her tv box.
While the door was open, another young man appeared.
"Hi, delivery for Jonathan from La Scala?"
"That's me".
He took their food to the kitchen, while she was opening the tv box.
"Darling, can you come help me lift this, please?"
"Sure".
They lifted the tv up on to her tv stand and got it in place. She got it all hooked up and then tried it out.
It worked perfectly. She was so excited.
They decided to pick a movie and eat dinner in front of the tv.
She took their trash to the kitchen when they were finished, and then came back and sat with him.
When the movie was over, they went to the bedroom to cuddle for a bit.
He kicked his shoes off and stretched out on the bed next to her.
"Darling, can I ask you something?"
"Certainly".
"Are you seeing anyone else?"
"No. Are you?"
"No".
"So, how long do you want to hide us?"
"I don't know, really. Ideally, it would have to be until you don't work for me anymore".
"I just want to scream to the world that you're my boyfriend, but I can't. And that makes it exciting, and fun, but it's so hard when I see you at work and I can't just touch you".
"I know. it's hard for me too".
"It's more exciting than fun, though".
"Yeah, it is, isn't it?"
He gave her a slow, romantic, tender kiss that made her toes curl.
She broke the kiss and started kissing his neck.
"Want to stay the night?"
"Yes, but I shouldn't".
"What do you mean?"
"Baby, if I were to just come over, eat dinner with you, have sex with you and then go home, then it would seem like all we have is a physical relationship. I don't want us to only have a physical relationship. I want us to be together when it's right for us, and when we can take our time and make it perfect, because you deserve that".
"Darling, no matter when we are together, I'm sure it will be perfect".
"I am too. That's why I don't think it should be tonight".
"Fine".
She eased out of his arms and headed to the kitchen.
He came and found her a few minutes later drinking water.
He went to wrap his arms around her but she moved away.
"Jennifer, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings".
"You didn't".
She set her glass down and then leaned up and opened the cabinet and got out some headache medicine.
She quickly took two pills and then put the bottle back.
"I have a headache and I'm going to bed. You can see yourself out. Thanks again for dinner".
She headed to the bedroom without another word.
He picked up his jacket and saw himself out.
***The next day***
Jennifer was at Hart Industries by 8:30 and had finished all the files Deanne gave her by 10.
She went and turned them in and then went back to her office.
She worked on her article the rest of the day and actually got it finished.
Around 4:30 the chat window he had installed on her computer popped up.
Can you please bring the Westchester Electronics file to my office please?
She quickly typed back.
I finished all the files this morning and turned them all into Deanne. If you want one, have her bring it to you.
He typed back a few minutes later.
Can you come to my office please? I have a new file that I need to go over with you.
She typed back Fine.
She got up and went to his office and closed the door behind her.
"Have a seat please".
"No thank you. I prefer to stand. I won't be here long".
"Fine".
"The file, Mr. Hart."
"What about it?"
"That's the only thing you and I are going to discuss. That is why you wanted me to come in here, isn't it?"
"Fine. You got me. There's no file. But I do want to talk to you".
"Well, unless it's business related, I don't want to talk to you".
"5 minutes. That's all I'm asking".
She thought about it and decided that it would just be easier to let him talk to her so she could go back to her office. Just because he talked to her didn't mean things had to change.
"Fine. Talk. But I'm holding you to your 5 minutes".
He went and locked the door and then came back and leaned against the desk.
"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. That wasn't my intentions at all. I was trying to say that you deserve more than what it would have been last night. I never meant to imply that I didn't want to be with you".
"Funny, you weren't acting like you did want to either. This was a mistake. You and I just aren't going to work out".
"Jennifer, come on. We said we would give it a shot. What happened to that?"
"We did give it a shot. And you promised me we would go out of town and we would take trips and we would spend our weekends together. And we spend one weekend together and nothing happened, and then all of a sudden you're not taking me on a trip and you're working all weekend and then you turn me down and say I deserve better. And you know what? You're right. I do".
"Ok, wait a minute. I realize that it looks bad when you lay it all out like that. I promise you, it's not really like that".
"Oh? Are you questioning my intelligence again?"
"No, I'm not. I'm saying I still want to take you on trips, and I still want to spend weekends with you, but some things came up. I sent you flowers telling you I was still working on Colorado, doesn't that count for anything?"
"I don't need a trip to Colorado, Jonathan. I was in your arms last night, I was awake and I was willing, and you humiliated me. You made me feel like I'm nothing, because you didn't want me."
"I do want you. I've been telling you I want you".
"Then why did you leave last night?"
"Because. The last thing in the world I would ever do to you is to put you at risk. And as crazy as I am about you, I know that if you and I were together, once, we would definitely not be able to stop there. And I didn't have any protection with me, and I refuse to disrespect you by sleeping with you without the proper precautions. Plus, like I told you last night, I want us to take our time and really enjoy it and I want it to be perfect, and we didn't have the perfect setup last night".
"Why didn't you just say that?"
"Well, I tried. It just came out wrong and then you were so upset with me when you headed to bed, I figured I better let you cool off first".
"Yes, you should have".
"Why don't you go home and get all dressed up and let me take you to dinner?"
"So you can reject me once again? Plus, I thought you didn't want to be seen with me, remember?"
"Baby, come on. I'm trying here".
"Just trying to follow your lead, Jonathan. Secrecy is what you wanted, right?"
"Yes, it was. Fine, what if we don't get all dressed up, and I find us a dinner spot up the coast a little ways?"
"One dinner?"
"One dinner".
"Fine".
"Go get your things, I'll follow you to your apartment and we can go from there".
"Why don't you just come pick me up in an hour?"
"I can do that".
She got up and headed to her office and got her things together and then headed home.
***Jennifer's apartment***
She came inside and quickly changed into a black sleeveless jumpsuit and some red heels. She put on a red necklace and a red bracelet and a pair of red hoop earrings.
She sprayed on some perfume, and then went and poured herself a glass of water.
Jonathan knocked on the door right on time, and she let him in.
"Hi".
"Hi. You ready?"
"Yeah, just let me put this glass in the sink".
She set her glass in the sink, and then grabbed her purse and her keys.
"Ok, ready".
They headed to the elevator and then out to the parking lot.
He opened the door for her and helped her in the car.
They had a quiet ride at the start.
"Jonathan, can I ask you something?"
"Certainly".
"You said we were going up the coast. But this is down. Up is back the other way".
He chuckled.
"I did say we were going up the coast. But I didn't say I was driving us, did I?"
"Well, when you said you were going to pick me up, I just assumed".
He reached over and patted her hand.
"Trust me. I promise you'll enjoy it".
They pulled up to the airport, and pulled around and parked right next to a large plane.
"Ok, this is it".
"This is what?"
"Darling, we are taking the company jet somewhere".
"There's a company jet?"
"There is".
He went around and opened the door for her, and then walked her to the plane.
"No luggage, we'll be back tonight".
They walked up the steps.
"Jack Wilmont, this is Jennifer Edwards. Jennifer, this is Jack Wilmont, my pilot".
"Hi, nice to meet you".
"Nice to meet you too, ma'am".
They headed into the cabin.
"So, this is the cabin. Seats 20. Seats recline, we can watch tv or movies. Full bathroom and mini kitchen right there, and through that door, is a bedroom and full bath".
"Wonderful. This is very nice".
"Thank you".
They got seated and he showed her how to recline the seats.
Jack came and told them they had clearance and would be taking off in 10 minutes.
"Thanks Max".
Jonathan went and got them some wine.
"Here's to a lovely evening".