***Susan's***
Jennifer arrived at Susan's house, right on time for the dinner party. It was going to be hard to see Jonathan there, but she was determined to just get through it.
"Hi, come on in".
"Hi, thanks for having me".
She saw Mandy across the room and immediately went to speak to her.
"Hey, we need to chat when you get a second".
Mandy nodded.
Jennifer headed to get a drink and then came back to the living room.
Mandy came over to her.
"Let's go on the patio".
"Fine".
They stepped out on the patio, and Jennifer began to tell her what was going on.
"So, the date I had, we've been secretly seeing each other ever since. This person doesn't want to be in the press, so all of our dates have been out of town. This person hasn't even introduced me to their family. And last night, we broke up".
"I'm sorry, sweetie. What caused the breakup?"
"I did it. I'm so tired of hiding this relationship and hiding how I feel about this person. I mean, I haven't introduced this person to my dad, but my dad lives in London. Not exactly a hop, skip and a jump from here. This person's family lives in town and they won't introduce me. So, I asked them a few weeks ago if they were ashamed of me and they said no, but nothing's changed. So, I suggested that next week, this person and I attend an event downtown, at a restaurant, and they balked, and I pushed the issue and then I had to give them an ultimatum, and I said either we go public or we're done, and they hesitated, so I said we're done. And now I'm just miserable."
"Have you tried talking to them?"
"We spoke today, but it didn't go like I wanted it to".
"Just give it time. I bet you anything they are feeling as horrible about everything as you are. Maybe in a few days when both of you are calmer, you two can talk it out".
"Am I wrong to want the secrecy to end?"
"Not at all".
"Thank you".
They headed back inside.
"Ok everyone, let's eat".
Jennifer purposely sat as far from Jonathan as she could, so she wouldn't be forced to stare at him all night long.
After dinner was over, they all moved to the living room to have an after-dinner drink and dessert.
The conversation turned to the Miss X column.
"I loved the dating series that she did. She had such good advice, like "Show a girl you don't care and she will chase you; show a woman you don't care and she will replace you".
"Oh yeah, I loved that one too. My favorite was 'flowers mean call me, candy means can we date, jewelry means I love you".
Jennifer stayed quiet and didn't let on that she knew more about Miss X than the others.
"Jennifer, what story are you working on now?"
"I'm not sure. I was given an opportunity to travel, but I'm not sure I want to take it. There are some things I need to figure out. If I take it, I'll be consumed with that and I won't be writing anything. If I don't, then I'll probably do a story on something I've been thinking about for a while-something along the lines of domestic violence".
"That sounds interesting".
Laura and James offered to host the next dinner party, and then everyone started leaving.
Jennifer and Mandy walked out together.
"Hey, you love to travel. I know you. You would never turn down that assignment".
"It's complicated".
"What is it? Come on, you can tell me".
"It's just….pinky swear".
They pinky swore that it would stay between them.
"I'm Miss X".
"What?!"
"Shhh! Keep your voice down! It's a rotating column, and I have done the rotation as Miss X twice now. If I went on the assignment, it would be a tour as Miss X, I would be exposed, and I'm not ready for that".
"Yeah, that's tough. Well, I hope you can figure it out. I think you would be great at it".
"Thank you".
"I'll call you tomorrow".
Mandy turned and headed to her car.
Jennifer saw Jonathan's car parked behind hers, and remembered that they were supposed to spend the night together.
She wiped the tears away as she drove off. She never saw Jonathan standing in the darkness waiting to speak to her.
***Jennifer's apartment***
Jennifer had just changed into some pajamas when she heard a knock at the door.
She went and answered it and found Jonathan on the other side.
"Hi, may I come in?"
She nodded and stepped back.
She locked the door behind him and sat on the couch.
"I just wanted to tell you-if you are considering not taking the travel assignment because of me, don't. I don't want you to turn down something you'll regret just because we broke up".
"That's not it".
"Can I ask you something?"
"I suppose".
"Why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Why did you write about me in the paper today? And before you deny it, I know you are Miss X, Jennifer".
"Wait a minute. How do you know that?"
"I heard you talking to Mandy".
"I see".
"So, why did you do it?"
"Jonathan, I didn't write about you. I mean, I admit that I had you and I in mind when I wrote most of my Miss X columns, but I didn't write the one about you today".
"Jennifer, you are the only one who could have".
"Except I didn't."
"I better go".
"Wait, what about us?"
"What about us?"
"Well isn't that why you came over?"
"Jennifer, in order to get the benefits, you have to be a friend first. And friends don't betray other friends' confidence and publish it in the paper for all to see".
"Jonathan, I DID NOT write that column! If you would just let me explain-"
"Fine. You have 5 minutes".
"Miss X is a rotating column. I did the dating ones, not the business ones".
"Who is doing the business ones?"
"I have no idea, my boss doesn't tell us who is assigned to Miss X each week".
"So, you expect me to believe that I came here last night and told you all about my business predicament and then we had a fight and you broke up with me, and then my business predicament ended up in the paper today and you aren't the one to blame?1? I'm supposed to believe that".
"You're supposed to believe the truth, and the truth is I didn't write that column! My last day as Miss X was yesterday".
"I'm sorry, I just don't believe you. It's too much of a coincidence for you to not be responsible."
"I've never lied to you before, Jonathan".
"Jennifer, like I said. It's just too coincidental".
"Let me ask you something. Did you only come over here to yell at me?"
"Did you only write that story to hurt me?"
"For the last time, I DID NOT write that story!"
"And for the last time, you are the only one who knew about that deal besides me. And today, it was printed in your paper, under a surname that I just not more than an hour ago heard you admit to using. I'm not a journalist, Jennifer. You are".
"I don't appreciate being called a liar".
"And I don't appreciate finding out I can't trust someone I'm in a relationship with".
"Fine. Then it's official. You and I have no relationship whatsoever".
"I don't think we have to go that far".
"Oh, I do. I refuse to be anything with someone who refuses to be seen with me in public and who refuses to trust me even though I've given them no reason not to".
She got up and walked past him and opened the door as the tears began to fall.
He hated to see her cry.
He got up and walked over to her.
"I never meant to make you cry. I hate to leave you like this".
"Goodbye Jonathan".
He left without another word.
***Three Months later***
Jennifer had basically made a complete and total turn around after she and Jonathan broke up. She accepted the travel assignment, and then the deal fell through, so she decided to quit the paper and write freelance so that she could travel whenever she wanted to. She was living her best life, dating a little bit of everyone. She was in the papers more than Jonathan ever had been. It killed him to see her out with other people, but he had let her go, and he told himself he only had himself to blame for that. She was cordial to him at mutual get togethers, but they hadn't had any time to talk together at all.
He was sitting at his breakfast table, looking at the paper. Max noticed that his mood shifted when he saw her in the paper.
"Pretty lady".
"Yeah, she is".
"Do you know her?"
"I did. We were together a short while, it didn't work out".
"Call her. It's obvious that she means a lot to you".
"How can you tell that?"
"I know you, Mr. H. I can tell. Call the lady. Be heartfelt, be honest, and tell her the truth".
"And what if she won't listen to me?"
"If you're honest and heartfelt, she will It's like this, Mr. H. Men know things, women feel them. if you are being honest and heartfelt and really mean what you say, she will feel that it's real and she will listen to you. And if she doesn't, at least you can say that you tried and you won't have any regrets".
"You're right Max".
He picked up his plate and took it to the sink, and then headed to his bedroom.
He came back a few minutes later with a suitcase in his hand.
"Ok Max, I'm off to my business meeting in Chicago. I'll see you in a few days".
***Jennifer***
Jennifer was headed to the airport, and running late. She had decided to take a solo vacation, to a spa in Chicago. Peace and quiet, massages, shopping and relaxation were all she had in mind for the next 5 days.
She had just turned on the highway when someone hit her from behind and took off. Her car started sputtering, slowed down, and smoke began to pour out from under the hood as the airbags popped out all around. The inside of her car was a mess, too. Her purse had spilled everywhere, and so had her coffee. Her phone had flown into the dashboard and the screen was all smashed.
"Damn! Damn, damn, damn".
She managed to get it pulled over to the far-right lane, but it wouldn't go any farther.
She got out and popped the hood, and stood there, with disgust on her face.
People were honking at her and giving her the finger, which made her feel worse.
Finally, a man pulled over and tried to help her.
"Thank you".
He tried to push it but couldn't. He turned the engine off and told her she would need a tow-truck.
"Do you have a phone I can borrow?"
"No, I'm sorry".
"Ok, well thanks, anyways".
"You can use mine".
She turned and saw Jonathan standing there.
"Thank you".
He took her hand and led her back to his car and called her a tow-truck.
They leaned against his hood.
"Tell me what happened".
"I was driving to the airport and a black truck slammed into the back of me. My airbags started popping out, and it started sputtering, and wouldn't go, and then smoke started coming out".
"Are you ok?"
"I think so. It all happened so fast".
He picked up the phone and called Max.
"Hey, can you come to the PCH and 15th street? A friend of mine was in an accident and is stranded. Can you come sit with the car till the tow-truck comes?"
"Sure, I'm on my way".
He hung up.
"Damn. I just missed my flight".
"Where were you headed?"
"Chicago".
She sat down on the curb.
He went and sat next to her.
"What if I told you I could still get you to Chicago?"
"Jonathan, I can't accept that."
"Jennifer, you don't know what I'm offering yet".
"Let me guess, you're offering to buy me another plane ticket".
He made a buzzer sound.
"Wrong, try again".
She smirked at him.
"Ok, I give up. Tell me what you are offering".
"I own my own plane, remember? And it just so happens that I was heading to the airport to fly to Chicago myself".
"I see".
"You are more than welcome to tag along if you'd like".
"Won't that be a little awkward?"
"I'm willing to bury the hatchet if you are".
She thought about it and nodded.
"I'd like that, thank you".
"You're welcome".
Max arrived, so Jonathan helped Jennifer up and she started getting everything out of her car.
Jonathan put her bags in the backseat of his car, while Jennifer gave Max instructions.
"I was driving and some man in a black truck slammed into the back of me. The airbags popped out, then the car started sputtering, and then smoke was all over. I managed to get it over to the right, but it won't go any farther. Here is my phone number, the mechanic can call and leave a message about whatever they find on my answering machine. I'll be back in town in 5 days, and I'll deal with it then".
"Got it".
"Max, this is Jennifer Edwards. Jennifer, this is Max Brennan".
"Nice to meet you. Thank you so much for your help".
"Nice to meet you too. I got this, Mr. H., if you want to head out".
"Thanks Max".
He went and opened the door for Jennifer, and then walked around to the drivers' side of the car, where Max was standing.
"Heartfelt, Mr. H. None of that macho stuff".
"Got it. I'll be in touch, Max".
He slid into the drivers' seat, and drove them to the airport.
As soon as they pulled up and parked, they gave their bags to the baggage crew and boarded the plane.
He gave her a short tour of the plane, and then they made themselves comfortable.
Just after they took off, he grabbed a remote and hit some buttons. A tv screen appeared, and in just a few seconds, they were watching the news.
"Good Morning America ok with you?
"Anything's fine".
She lightly smiled at him.
She dug a book out of her tote bag, and started to read.
'In today's headlines, the cold-war is heating up. We will have an official statement from the president in a few short minutes. Also, is the future of the NFL in jeopardy? We talk to an insider about what's really going on with contract negotiations. And Miss X revealed! The column in the Los Angeles Times that has taken everyone by storm, and has taken on topics ranging from dating to business to housekeeping tips, has become a national sensation. Angela D'Amico has come forward to reveal that she is in fact, Miss X. We will talk to her live in just a few minutes'.
Jonathan instantly realized where he knew Angela from. She was the wife of one of his executives. He also realized that there were 4 or 5 other people at the office who were present for that meeting, who could have told the columnist the information.
Before he could say anything, the phone rang.
"Hello? Yeah, she's right here. Hang on".
He moved the phone to his chest and looked at Jennifer.
"Max wants to know if you have a preferred mechanic".
"I don't have a mechanic at all. I have no idea who to use".
He spoke into the phone again.
"Tell him to take the car to LA Motors, on Wilshire. Ask for Danny".
He hung up the phone.
"I've used them several times. They are really good".
"Thank you".
She got up and headed to the bathroom.
When the show started again, he turned up the volume.
In her interview, Angela D'Amico revealed that she was the Miss X behind the housekeeping columns, and the business columns, but not the dating ones.
The anchor held up a copy of one of the columns.
"Yes, that was the first one I wrote. The previous columnist wrote about dating and romance. When I took it over, I decided to write about the business world and working mothers and housekeeping. This article was about Hightown, Incorporated, a little architecture firm near Napa Valley. My sister worked for them, and the way they treated her was just plain awful".
He turned the tv off.
Jennifer came and sat back down again, and picked up her book.
"Jennifer, I owe you an apology".
"Ok".
"I'm sorry I didn't believe you that you didn't write the column about me, and I'm sorry I didn't trust you. I also sincerely apologize for calling you a liar. You have no reason to believe that I'm really sorry, but I really am truly sorry for not believing you".
"I believe you. And I appreciate your apology".
He turned back to the tv, and she turned back to her book. They were quiet the rest of the way to Chicago.