***A few days later***
Jennifer was at her desk, working on her story. She was in the zone, research wise. The phone rang, and she absentmindedly picked it up.
"Hello, this is Jennifer Edwards".
"Hi, you busy?"
"Actually, yeah, a little".
"How about dinner tonight?"
"I don't think so, Greg. I think I just want to go home and relax, and take a hot bath".
"I see. Well, I got a guy getting us tickets for the opera this weekend. He's supposed to call me and tell me what show it is. I'll call you when I find out".
"Ok, I'll talk to you then".
He hung up, and she got back to work.
She worked till about 6, and then headed home. She picked up Chinese food on the way home, and stopped and got a new bottle of wine.
She was so ready to relax and unwind.
She came in her apartment, and went to the kitchen. She found two almost empty bottles of wine in the fridge, and put them on the counter.
She poured herself a glass, and then grabbed an egg roll out of her dinner and went to run the bath.
She turned on some music and lit some candles and sank into the bath.
About a half-hour later, she got out and put on her nightgown and made herself a plate.
There was a knock at the door. She went and used the peephole, and then opened it in surprise.
"Hi, I thought we agreed not to do anything tonight".
Greg came on in.
"I know you said you didn't want to have dinner, but I didn't want to eat alone. How long will it take you to get ready?"
"I'm not having dinner with you tonight, Greg. I meant that".
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about how you are always putting me down, always criticizing me, my choices, blaming things on me that are clearly not my responsibility, and you aren't considerate of my feelings. This relationship isn't going to work out, Greg."
"Oh, come on. You're just being overly sensitive".
"See, that's what I mean! I'm not being overly sensitive. This is how I feel and what I want, and there's nothing wrong with that".
"Yeah, but what about what I want?"
"Sometimes in life, you have to compromise. And you have to do what the other person wants to do".
"We have always done what you wanted to do".
"No, we haven't. You and I go to a restaurant, and you pay more attention to the TV than you do to me. You asked me what show I wanted opera tickets to, and you told me to pick the show. I told you what show I wanted, and you told me no way. You even yelled at me in Oregon because you forgot your jacket. I'm not psychic, Greg, and I'm not responsible for your jacket. You are a grown man, carry your own jacket".
"Jennifer, I apologized for those things. You know I don't mean the things I say. Come on, let's go to dinner".
"I have dinner here".
"Well you can eat it tomorrow or some other time".
"I don't want to, I want to eat it tonight".
"What is it?"
"Chinese, from Fu Chow's".
"I don't want Chinese".
"I don't recall inviting you to have any".
"Are you really going to throw us away? We are so good together".
"I'm not throwing anything away. I'm ending our relationship because you are too critical of me".
"Critical how?"
"You criticize my outfits, you criticize my hair, you made a comment about my waistline at breakfast in Oregon. You criticized the nickname a little girl gave me. For God's sakes, she's a little kid. If it's not up to your impossible to meet standards, you criticize it. And you are so afraid of failure, that you project your personal failures on to me. That's no way to live and that's not the kind of relationship I want".
"Where is all this coming from? You've never had a problem before. You say I criticized you, but you didn't say anything at the time".
"I did, you dismissed it. Look, I'm hungry, I'm tired, and I want to enjoy the peace and quiet. So, if you will kindly go-"
"You are going to regret this, Jennifer. You haven't heard the last of me. You will see just how big a mistake this is".
"Goodnight, Greg".
She closed the door behind him after he left, and went and poured another glass of wine.
She was in bed early that night, and she dreamed of Caroline all night long. In this dream, Caroline just kept hugging her and telling her "It's ok".
***A few days later***
Jonathan was at his office, when the phone rang.
He spoke for a few moments, and then hung up.
He buzzed for Deanne to come in.
"Deanne, I need to be in New York, Thursday -Sunday. Please call Jack and make arrangements for him to fly me".
"Right away, Mr. Hart".
He picked up the phone, and called the florist that he always used in New York.
He ordered some flowers to be sent to Jennifer, and then got back to work.
***Jennifer***
Jennifer was working at her desk when the flower delivery came in.
The intern brought them to her.
"Thank you".
It was a gorgeous clear glass vase, with yellow roses, yellow and white gladiolus, and purple lilacs and purple tulips. She dug for the card and read it.
"Dinner Thursday night? Would love to see you. Please call me-Jonathan".
She picked up the phone and called him at the California office.
"Jonathan Hart, please".
"One moment".
"Hello?"
"Jonathan, It's Jennifer. Thank you for the lovely flowers. They are so pretty".
"You're welcome. I hope you are agreeable to having dinner on Thursday".
"Yes, I am. Where would you like to go?"
"Wherever you want is fine with me".
"I'll make a reservation and surprise you. I'll pick you up at 7. Let's just say it's Casual dressy, and if that changes, my secretary will call you".
"Great, looking forward to it. It was wonderful to talk to you, Jonathan".
"I've enjoyed talking to you as well".
They hung up the phone and she decided to go to lunch.
She started gathering her things when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Come outside with me, we need to talk".
She looked up. It was Greg.
"No thank you".
"Jennifer, I just heard you make a date. You broke up with me two days ago and you are already moving on? How is that fair?"
"It's completely fair. That's what break up means, Greg".
"We had something special. We were good together. You cannot just throw it away and move on to someone else."
"I didn't throw it away. I simply said no thank you".
"I'm not letting you do this, Jennifer".
"You don't have a choice, Greg. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm famished and I'm going to go have lunch".
She left him standing there in the lobby.
An hour later, she walked back in.
She headed to her desk and her heart fell when she got there. Her gorgeous flowers from Jonathan had been dumped and the vase smashed all over her desk. The water was mainly poured all over her desk chair.
She put her things down and cleaned up the mess. She wasn't able to salvage the flowers, as the blooms had been cut off.
She decided to involve her boss.
She went and knocked on her door.
"Jennifer, hi, come on in".
"Hi, can we chat a second?"
"Sure".
"So, I think I have a problem, with one of the guys from sales. His name is Greg Scolari."
"Yes, I know him".
"Well, he and I have been dating, and two days I told him I was no longer interested and he didn't take it well".
"I see".
"Then today, he heard me on the phone make a dinner date with a friend, and he tried to strong arm me into coming back to him and when I wouldn't, he got angry. I left him in the lobby and went to lunch. I came back and the flowers that I received this morning, were destroyed all over my desk. The vase is broken, the water from the flowers is poured out all over my chair, and the blooms of every flower were cut off".
"That's a little extreme".
"I was wondering if you could make a rule or a policy that the Sales guys aren't allowed in the newsroom or something."
"I cannot do that, but HR can. You are welcome to go talk to them".
"Ok, thank you".
She went and filed a complaint with HR, and they took her statement.
She went back to her desk and got to work, and left at 5. Normally, she would walk home, but today, she chose to take a cab.
She had the driver drop her off in the front of her building.
"Hi Miss Edwards".
"Hi Charlie!"
Her doorman opened the door for her.
"Charlie, do you have someone who can walk me to my door?"
"Right away, Miss Edwards. Michael, please accompany her to her apartment".
"Thank you Charlie".
Michael walked her to her door and saw that she got inside ok, and then went back downstairs.
Jennifer went inside and ordered dinner, and went to take a bath before it came.
As soon as she started relaxing, she heard loud music. It was coming from the apartment next door.
She knocked on the wall a few times, but she got no response.
The worst part was, it played the same song over and over. "Baby Come Back", by Player.
Off and on, she heard other tenants go buy and bang on the door, but nobody answered.
She tried to block it out the best she could, and then finally at 10:01, it cut off.
"Interesting that they cut it off right before they get a noise violation from the building staff".
She was just about to climb into bed when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Baby, it's me. I know you miss me, come on, tell me you miss me".
"Tim, how did you get this number?"
"I have my ways. I'll tell you how I got it, as long as you promise to come back to me".
"No, thank you".
"We need each other, baby. Please?"
"No, Tim, goodnight".
She hung up and went to sleep.
***Thursday***
Jennifer left work at 4, and went straight home to get ready for her dinner with Jonathan.
She had decided to wear a green cocktail dress with a black vine pattern on it, and a short black jacket, and some black heels.
She curled her hair, and put on the jewelry that Savanna always told her was the "sparkliest".
He showed up right on time.
"Hi, come on in".
"Hi. You look gorgeous".
"Thank you".
He had a suitcase with him, that he left by the door.
He had brought her some more flowers, so she went to put them in water.
As soon as she locked the door, they started walking towards the elevator.
As soon as they passed the apartment next to hers, the music started again.
"What is that?"
"I'll explain in the cab".
He put his arm around her in the elevator, and she didn't fight it. She felt so comfortable around him, and hoped he felt comfortable around her as well.
They got into the cab and she turned to him.
"So, I apparently have a new neighbor with a loud stereo. For the past few nights, they have played loud music over and over again until one minute past the cut off".
"The cut off?"
"Yeah, the building will give you a noise violation if you play loud music past 10 p.m., but it has to be for a solid 30 minutes of time after the cut off. This person keeps cutting off the music at exactly 10:01."
"I see".
"So, where are we going?"
"Well, tonight we are going to dinner at Babcock's."
"Oh, I've wanted to go there for a long time".
"And tomorrow night, I have two tickets to the opera, and I was hoping that you would like to go with me".
"Certainly. What opera?"
"Gutterdamen".
"Oh, Jonathan! That's my favorite opera! Of course, I'll go with you to that".
"Yeah, I was thinking you would. I remember Caroline telling me it was your favorite".
"Good ole Caroline. I miss her so much".
"Yeah, she and Patrick were amazing".
Their cab pulled up to the restaurant and they only had to wait about 3 minutes for their table.
He ordered a white wine for her and a red wine for him.
"So, how long have you and Greg been friendly?"
"We aren't anything anymore. But it was about a month or so".
"Oh, I'm sorry".
"It's quite alright. It was for the best".
She perused the menu and then decided on grilled chicken with a garden salad and some lemon basil rice.
Jonathan ordered a steak and baked potato.
Their dinner conversation was easy, comfortable, and free from awkwardness. It was almost reminiscent of their date in London.
After they were done eating, they ordered some champagne, and then went to dance.
She fit in his arms like she was meant to be there, and they shared several dances.
They decided to walk back to her apartment, and they linked hands as they did.
"I'm so glad we had dinner tonight, Jonathan".
"Yeah, I'm glad too. I think I might have to just work out here more often".
"I'd love that".
He walked her up to her apartment and unlocked the door for her.
"Thank you. Would you like a drink?"
"Yes, that would be lovely".
"I have wine and the ingredients to make a martini, and about a half bottle of champagne".
"Martinis sound good. Would you mind if I used your phone?"
"Not at all".
"Thanks".
He made his business call, and then joined her in the kitchen.
She handed him his martini.
"Jonathan, you told me at Savanna's party that you were having flashes of memories. Have you had any more of those?"
"Some. They are mostly of you and me and the kids. But I haven't had any of just you and me, and that's what I want most of all".
"I think it will come in time".
"I hope so".
They sat on her couch and she kicked her shoes off and curled her legs up underneath her.
They chatted for another hour, and then Jonathan set his glass down.
"Well, I guess I'd better go find a hotel".
"You aren't staying at the Penthouse?"
"No. It's being painted".
"You're welcome to stay here".
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive".
They headed to bed soon after.
She stood up and took their glasses to the sink.
He followed her.
"Jennifer, I appreciate the offer to stay here tonight, and the last thing I want to make you is uncomfortable. So, I think we should keep things just friends tonight".
"I didn't expect anything different".
She leaned forward and hugged him.
"I'm glad you are here, it's nice to see a friendly face".
They broke the hug a few minutes later, and headed to bed.
Just before they fell asleep, she rolled over to him.
"Jonathan, will you do me a favor?"
"Sure".
"Will you hold me?"
"Yeah, I can do that".
He wrapped his arms around her and held her all night as they slept.
***Friday morning***
Her alarm went off at 6:45, and Jennifer instinctly reached over and hit snooze.
"We have to get up".
"I'll go start the coffee, and you can have first shower".
"Deal".
She went and started the coffee, and then waited for him to turn the shower on.
After he was out of the shower, she slipped in behind him. About 30 minutes later, they were both ready to leave.
"Thanks for letting me crash here, I appreciate it".
"You're welcome. Thank you for a lovely evening last night".
"Anytime".
They headed out and he hailed her a cab when they got downstairs.
She gave him a quick hug and then got in.
"I'll see you at 6 tonight".
Jennifer got to the office and headed to her desk.
She put her things down and went to get some coffee.
"So, did you enjoy your little date last night?"
She turned to find Greg staring at her.
"Hi Greg. How are you?"
"I know that there's no possible way that you had a better time with him, than you did with me".
She didn't respond.
She continued to pour her coffee and then headed to her desk.
"Have a nice day, Greg".
She walked back to her desk and sat down and got to work.
Every time she looked up, he was staring at her from across the newsroom.
Finally, around 11:30, she went to HR.
She told them how he won't leave her alone, how he's been staring at her across the newsroom, and sneaking up behind her.
"Ok, we will talk to him about giving you more space. But we cannot ban him from the newsroom because he works here too".
"I understand".
She went to lunch right after that, and then worked till 4. She headed home to get ready for the opera.
She chose a long midnight blue sparkly evening gown and black strappy heels.
Jonathan showed up right on time. He had on a dark gray suit that Jennifer thought made him look very handsome.
They had a quick dinner before the Opera and were in their seats as soon as the doors opened.
He was a good sport, but he didn't understand one thing that was said.
They took a cab back to her apartment and he insisted on walking her in.
"So, did you find a hotel?"
"Yes. I have a room at the Hilton".
"That's a lovely place".
He had just opened the door for them and was about to close it behind him when Greg burst in.
"I should have known you were out with him! Like he could ever give you what you say I can't. Give me a break".
"Greg, I am not doing this with you. Please leave".
He mocked her and kept walking towards her.
Jonathan put himself between her and Greg.
"Hey, the lady asked you to leave. This is her place, she has that right. So why don't you just go?"
"I don't have to answer to you at all. Do you know what a slut she is? She had a dinner date with someone last night, and now tonight, she's out with you".
"I beg your pardon!"
"For your information, she was out with me last night. And you watch your mouth when you talk about her".
"Better yet, don't talk about me at all. Just go".
"How dare you go to HR about me? What, it's not good enough that you break up with me, but you want to get me fired too?"
"You have been asked to leave me alone and you won't. That's on you, not on me".
"I don't have to leave you alone. I want you in my life, you don't get to choose for me that you won't be".
"I don't want you in mine. I have every right to make that choice".
"I'm not going to tell you again, leave, pal".
"Why don't you just butt out?"
"That's funny. I haven't started butting in, yet. And I'll do whatever Jennifer wants me to. It's her apartment, not yours. You have no rights here, so just go".
Greg dropped his head, and then reared back his fist and punched Jonathan in the face.
Jonathan returned the punch, and knocked him to the ground. Jennifer called the lobby and asked for security.
Greg got up and rushed Jonathan and shoved him down on the couch and punched him a couple more times and then banged his head very hard against the wall.
Security came in and took Greg out.
They took him down to the lobby and called the police.
Jennifer got Jonathan a cold rag and tried to get his nose to stop bleeding.
"I'm sorry, Jonathan".
"It's ok. Can you call a cab? I think my nose is broken".