"Look, I was just-"
"Just what? Trying to get me sued for libel? Trying to get me arrested?"
"No, nothing like that."
"You had no right to take my story that I worked on, and the stories that my reporters worked on, and change them without any regard to what effects it would have on us. You had no right to sneak around my building, and to use my machines without asking!"
"You're right, I'm sorry".
"And, you had no right to go through my desk or my briefcase. I trusted you, Daniel. How could you do this to me?"
"I just want your paper to be the best, and I thought your article about that murder could have been more compelling if you mentioned the other accusations".
"Do you really not understand that if we had printed that story that you wrote and distributed it that I could have been sued?"
"That's a bit of a stretch, Jennifer".
"A stretch? Hell, that guy has ties to organized crime. He could have had me killed, if I was lucky. Otherwise, he could have sued me for everything I have, everything that I have worked very hard for and that means something to me. You had no right to do any of it, you don't work here!"
"What proof do you have that it was me?"
"Video proof. You turned 2 of the 3 cameras in the press room away. You forgot the third camera. You also forgot the camera in the hallway-the one that shows you entering and exiting the press room, as well as the one that shows you entering my office and going through my desk and briefcase".
He was quiet and just looked down.
Jennifer continued.
"You haven't been trained on the machines. So, let's pretend you broke the machine. That could have potentially cost me around $200,000 to repair or replace. You did manage to print about 45 copies, so at $1.50 an issue, plus ½ cartridge of ink and about 1/8 of a press roll, we are only talking about $300".
"Do you want me to pay you?"
"No. I want you to get out. And I want you to stay out."
"You can't mean that".
"Oh, I do. I trusted you, and you destroyed that trust. I don't even recognize you right now. You aren't the same guy I met a few months ago, who made me laugh and who I enjoyed spending time with. There was a time where I would have never thought twice about having you around my job or my home. But now…that's gone. You need to go".
"Jennifer-don't do this. Come on, I apologize. Let me make it up to you".
"No thank you. Just go, please".
"Can I call you in a few days when you've had time to calm down?"
"I'd rather you didn't. And before you spend the money-any flower deliveries, or deliveries of any kind will be thrown out and won't get you anywhere".
He got up and left without saying anything. Jennifer pulled up the parking lot cameras and watched him get in his vehicle and drive away.
She was just about to call Jonathan when her phone rang.
"Hello, this is Jennifer Edwards".
"Hey".
"Hey. Perfect timing. Daniel was here and he just left".
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. He was pathetic. He tried to say he just wanted my article to be more compelling. And when I brought up how much he did cost me, as well as how much he could have cost me, he got all smug and indignant and asked me if I wanted him to pay me".
"Well, I'm glad you won't have to see him anymore".
"Me too. How was your meeting?"
"Good. Long, but good. We both got most of what we wanted, in the end".
"That's great".
"So, can I interest you in a home-cooked dinner tonight?"
"I think you might be able to".
"Great. How about I pick you up at 7?"
"That sounds wonderful".
"Well, I better get back to work".
"Yeah, I need to call Megan. I'll see you tonight".
"Bye darling".
"Bye darling".
She hung up the phone and immediately unscrewed the receiver to check for listening devices. Finding none, she dialed Megan's number.
She picked up on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Jennifer Edwards. I need to update you on some developments. Can you come to my office? I have some things to actually show you".
"Sure. I was going to call you this afternoon anyways. The trial has been set for this Thursday. How about I drop by in say, an hour?"
"Perfect".
"Ok, see you then".
Jennifer hung up and got back to work, and right on time, Megan showed up.
"Hi, come on in".
"Hi".
"Ok, so for the past few months, I have been dating this guy named Daniel. And everything was going great. And then he and I were at my apartment when the news came in about Thomas Cohen. Then, he was here and I was getting the layout together, and then the next day, someone showed me that the article I had written about Thomas Cohen had been switched, so I pulled the video footage, and discovered that it was my boyfriend Daniel who did the switch. So, I was all set to confront him, and then another guy, Jonathan-my witness, he came by and told me that Daniel had put GPS units on my vehicle".
"How did he know that?"
"He sold me the vehicle a few months ago. I took it to the dealership to get some maintenance done, and they found the GPS units and called him thinking he still owned the car".
"I see."
"So, Jonathan had one of his executives analyze the GPS units and they found that Daniel registered them in his name. We also have video footage of him tampering with them here in this parking lot".
"Interesting".
"Yes, I thought so, too. So, he and I were supposed to have dinner Sunday night. I showed up and was parking when I saw him. He was getting hot and heavy in a car with Stella".
"Our Stella?!"
"Yes. I snapped a few pictures".
She pushed the folder across the table towards Megan.
"So, to recap-we have video footage of him tampering with my press machines, tampering with the cameras that would have showed him tampering with the machines-he forgot one in the press room and the two in the hallway- and footage of him tampering with the GPS unit he put on my vehicle without my consent or my knowledge, and photos of him making out with the person who is suing me and who stands to gain the most had his plan for libel gone through".
"Have you confronted him yet?"
"Yes. I only confronted him about swapping the story and tampering with the machines. He doesn't know that I know about the GPS units or that I saw him with Stella".
"Good. Keep that going. I am going to subpoena him, as a witness. So, he's probably going to ask you what he's supposed to testify and swear to. If he does, just say you don't know. And then when I have him on the stand, I am going to ask him questions about whether or not you two dated, and whether or not you, in his opinion, were dedicated to the paper-did you come to work every day, or did you take days off all the time to spend with him, things like that. And then I'm going to hit him hard with the video footage and the GPS units, and the pictures of him and Stella and explain to the judge that it appears that they were trying to discredit you in order to swing the case in her favor".
"I like that".
"Ok, so 9 a.m. Thursday, at the courthouse".
"I'll be there".
"Great. See you then".
She handed Megan the evidence and then Megan headed out and Jennifer got back to work.
She worked till 4:45 and then headed home.
She took a long bubble bath and then put on some black and white palazzo pants and a bright pink top, and some strappy black sandals.
Jonathan arrived at 6:15 to pick her up.
"Hi, you're early".
"Well, I know where we are going tonight, so I wanted to spend a few extra minutes with you beforehand".
"Where are we going?"
"We are going to my house. There's someone I want you to meet".
"Oh? Who is that?"
"Max. He's like my dad. He took me in when I was a kid and he's really and truly the only family I've ever known".
"I can't wait to meet him".
He leaned down and kissed her a few times.
"He and I are going to fight tonight, for sure".
"Over what.?"
"You".
"Well, you have an edge over him. Did Max come in town to see me?"
"No, Max lives with me. When I was 12, I got a paper route, and he faithfully bought a paper from me every day. So, I was living in the orphanage but the nuns, they couldn't teach me things, like how to be a man, or how to shave or even how to tie a tie. Max took me under his wing, and taught me those things. And when I got in trouble, he was the one who helped me out, both with the police and the nuns. When I got out of the Navy, he put a roof over my head and loaned me the startup money to start Hart Industries when the banks wouldn't. Now, he lives with me and works for me. I guess you could say he's my houseman. He does the cooking and the cleaning and errands, stuff like that".
"He sounds wonderful".
"He is. And he's going to love you, I just know it".
They shared a long, passionate kiss and then left.
They held hands all the way through the lobby and out to the car, where he opened the door for her and held it as she slid into the seat.
"Thank you".
They had a nice drive to his home, in a gated community with beach access.
"Jonathan, your home is lovely".
"Thanks. It's pretty modern. It was built about 12 years ago. I'm the first owner. It has 7 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, an eat-in kitchen, patio, sunroom, and pool. And the garage is pretty nice".
They pulled up into the garage and parked.
As they walked into the house, Jonathan took her hand and led her to the kitchen.
"Hey Mr. H. Just in time".
"Hey Max. Max, you remember Jennifer Edwards?"
"Sure. The lady who bought the car".
"Yes, that's me. It's so lovely to formally meet you".
"Dinner smells great, Max".
"You twos are in for a treat! I dug this out from the wayback of my cookbook! Mr. H. said you was fond of veggies. So, we have lemon and rosemary salmon with a fresh lemon dill sauce, and some fresh arugula with an assortment of fresh vegetables, and parmesan couscous, because Mr. H. likes grains with his salmon".
"That sounds fantastic".
"Can we help?"
"No, no. I'm Max, I got this. You two go relax, it will be ready soon".
Jonathan took Jennifer's hand and gave her a tour of the house.
"Ok, so that was the kitchen. This is the living room, and the dining room, and down that hallway is Max's quarters-he has his own bedroom and bathroom. The main laundry room is down that hall as well. And down this hallway, is my master suite and bath and I took out a closet and added in my own laundry room. Across the hall from my room is an office and upstairs we have a movie room, two guest rooms and two more bathrooms. There's a half bath right here under the stairs and that door out there leads to my favorite place, the patio".
"You have a very lovely home. It feels so cozy".
"Yeah, it is. I like the open floorplan too. You can go to Max's end of the house from the kitchen or from the living room, and you can go upstairs from two different places. You aren't trapped into one end of the house".
They walked outside to the patio. He had a nice porch swing and a lovely patio table and chairs. The yard was sloped and led towards a bricked-off cliff, and he had a pool in one end.
"It's very peaceful out here".
"Yeah, it is".
He turned on the patio lights and they swung on the swing for a few minutes until Max brought them their dinner.
"Ok, here we go. I brought a fresh bottle of Rose from the fridge as well".
"Great thinking, Max".
"Enjoy!"
"Max, why don't you eat with us?"
"I appreciate the invite, but I have a poker game to get to, Miss Edwards."
"Ok, maybe next time".
Jennifer stepped forward and hugged him and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you for making dinner for us".
"My pleasure. Hope you come back real soon, Miss Edwards".
"She will, Max, don't worry".
Jennifer nodded.
They had a nice, quiet, romantic dinner on the patio and then Jonathan drove her back to her apartment.
He stayed for a few minutes, and then told her goodnight.
"I'll call you tomorrow. Sweet dreams".
"Thank you for a most pleasant evening".
She leaned up and kissed him nice and slow.
"Busy day tomorrow?"
"Not terribly. You?"
"Same old, same old".
"Goodnight Darling. I'll call you tomorrow".
"Goodnight".
A final kiss goodbye and she locked the door behind him.
As she climbed into bed that night, she realized she was still feeling foolish for having fallen for Daniel, but she had never felt for Daniel what she was now feeling for Jonathan.
It feels good to be happy again.