Chapter 5 The Run In
As typical for a Friday evening, the crowd at Pod and Jerry's was spilling out into the sidewalk. Jonathan slowed his pace from a light jog to walk. He stopped to catch his breath in front of the entrance to the club. Bending over with his hand on his knees and gulping air Jonathan heard a familiar voice, " Is...is that you Mr. Hart?"
Jonathan looked up and said through ragged breaths said, "Hi Bully, yep it's me."
"Funny to see you here, you're not the high night life guy. Is everything alright? I mean its one thing to stop by before we open up, but I don't think I have ever seen you here after dark." stated Bully.
Having caught his breath Jonathan smiled a quick but nervous smile, "I like to see what I'm buying Bully, it's hard to see a night club in the dark. (wink) I'm looking for someone, Manning? Remember him?"
"Sure Mr. Hart, he came in a few minutes ago, but he wasn't alone. A pretty girl, long legs …" Bully smiled.
"That's the one. Where are they?" ask Jonathan.
"They're on the patio. Come on I'll show you" said Bully.
"Hey Mr. H!"
"Max, good! Pull the car around to the service entrance, will you. And wait there. I'm not sure how Jennifer Edward's will feel about being rescued. I may have to make a quick exit, and I'll be damned if I leave her alone with Manning." Jonathan said flatly.
Jonathan followed Bully through the throng of people. Just as they reached the patio, a woman screamed and someone rolled tail over tea kettle onto the dance floor. Then he saw her. Jennifer's deep green eyes were blazing with anger and the look of child that was miffed strewn on her face. "Jennifer" he said under his breath. But she was walking away!
"JENNIFER" Jonathan shouted. She turned to see Jonathan standing astonished with a huge grin on his face. Behind him, Elliot had regained his composure after rolling across the floor. Elliot's right eye was beginning to swell, and he couldn't stand up all the way. An enduring ache from his groin and instep prevented him that advantage. "You Bitch!" Manning yelled. Jennifer looked at Manning with a fearless glare, and turned again to leave.
Before she could make any headway through the crowd, a hand was at her elbow. "What are you doing!" she demanded. "Rescuing you," smirked Jonathan, as he led her past the bar to the kitchen and the service door.
Max stood with the car door open and before she could object she was in, with Jonathan tucked in neatly beside her, as Max slid quickly behind the wheel. They were off.
"Rescuing me?" said Jennifer, but the silly grin on Jonathan Hart's face and light in his eyes made her smile and burst out with laughter. "What music; that same laugh from today" he thought.
"I don't think I needed the help, but thank you. I guess," giggled Jennifer. There was no anger in her eyes now, only relief and a little mischief.
"Where can I drop you?" ask Jonathan. A disapproving sigh from the front seat let Jonathan know of Max's position on the matter. "I know Max; sweep her off her feet right now. I can't, not until I know more", he thought.
"The St. Regis, please Mr. Hart." instructed Jennifer.
Run In Part 2 (10 minutes is 10 minutes) aka Ten Minutes Earlier
As Elliot directed Jennifer to the patio at Pod & Jerry's, he let his hand slide down from her waist to her hind end. He lingered there just a bit to long for Jennifer's liking and she shot Elliot a narrow glare with a disapproving half smile. Elliot replied with a look to innocence feigning "I can't help it you're gorgeous" look which he believed to render most women he pursued ready and willing.
Red flags and alarms were going in Jennifer's mind. "Well a girl can dream that not all men are asses, but looks like I managed to find another one."
A bottle of sparkling California wine and two glasses arrived; the waiter disappeared without giving them menus or taking any food orders. Jennifer realized that it was time to cut and run, "Shutting this guy down could be fun. What an ego …sheesh!" So she put her little plan into action.
"My Mr. Manning, this looks more like a celebration than a quick bite to eat between new acquaintances?" Jennifer quizzically asked while batting her eye lashes.
Elliot answered as he poured two generous servings of the wine, "Well in a way it's a celebration. It's the beginning of something. We are, after all two consenting adults. And I can read people fairly well. You have been putting out the signal's baby, and I've been getting them. But you will just have to wait until we get back to my place for that 'bite'."
Jennifer's skin began to crawl, but she followed through with her plan. "Oh I see Mr. Manning" said Jennifer as she returned her glass to the table and stood up. Elliot didn't miss a beat, he was at her side immediately with his arm encircling her waist and a firm grip on her hip. Jennifer wistfully smiled into Elliot's embrace, and just as he pulled her into him….WHAM!
Elliot was doubled over, gasping for air and favoring his left foot. In one quick motion Jennifer had planted her knee firmly in Elliot's groin and slammed her stiletto heal into his left instep. Before he knew what was happening the hard edge of a new Louis Vutton clutch was welded like a golf club impacting with his right eye. Elliot unceremoniously flew tail over tea kettle on to the adjoining dance floor as a scream from an onlooker echoed through the Club.
Jennifer looked over her clutch to inspect for damage all the while thinking what a wonderful investment she had made. "Who would ever guess these bags could pack such a punch?"
She turned and began to calmly walk to the entrance. Behind her she heard two voices; one yelling "you bitch" and another calling her name "Jennifer?" It was the second voice that caught her attention, as she turned to face a wall of man with two sparking blue eyes and the biggest grin she had ever seen on his face. "Jonathan Hart? What are you doing here?" she sputtered.
Meanwhile Across Town
Candace sat in her darkened living room, the soft glow of the illuminated swimming pool in the back yard provided a bit of light. She slowly sipped her tea turning over the events of her evening with Jonathan Hart in her mind.
"What am I doing" she though, "it was so obvious that he wasn't the least bit interested in me. I was invisible to a man for the first time." In fact, Candace had never felt invisible before, but the behavior of Jonathan Hart at dinner that evening was clear. He was miles away. Jonathan had rushed everyone through the meal. Candace was amazed by Jonathan's concern for her… Jennifer Edwards. Sure Candace had fallen into an easy friendship with Jennifer. They found a connection of sorts, even though their beginnings were worlds apart. Jennifer was a very transparent person, no secrets, no past; an old money east coast girl with breeding and education, very upper crust. Candace…well, was not. But they both desired success, independence and truth.
Jonathan wasn't fawning over Jennifer Edwards's pedigree, it was the woman. Candace had it once… that "lightening strike" of instant love…true love. Could it be she had just seen it happen to someone else?
BANG! BANG! BANG! "CANDACE!" then a pause…"I know you are in there!" Startled from her thoughts, Candace leapt from her warm nest on the sofa, the woolen blanket tucked around her legs slipped to the floor.
BANG! BANG! BANG! "I know YOU ARE IN THERE!" This time Candace recognized the drunken slur of Elliot Manning as he beat his fist on her front door. Shocked and frightened Candace reached for the telephone saying under her breath, "not this time Elliot" as her trembling fingers attempted to dial the police.
A shadow from the back patio crossed over her, and she looked up to see Elliot standing at the plate glass door. She froze with terror as he glared at her said yelled again, "I see you! Now open the God Damn door you cunt! Don't forget I own you! Let me in NOW!" Elliot began to beat his open palms against the clear glass.
Candace found her voice and answered him with a high pitched shrill, "No Elliot! I'm finished." Elliot stopped and glared at her through the glass barrier, then abruptly slapped his open palms against the surface in frustration. He turned and staggered out to the pool. He stopped, leaning against a large unopened umbrella; then with a huge gesture jerked the umbrella from its stand.
Candace dropped the receiver, realizing Elliot meant to break his way in to her home. In a panic, she grabbed her car keys as Elliot pursued his assault on the glass patio door.
As the sound of shattering glass evaporated, a drunken Elliot Manning could hear the squeal of tires from the front of the house. "FUCK!" he yelled, as he stumbled to the front door throwing it open. He tried in vain, half falling half running to his car in the attempt to find Candace Quinn and remind her who was running this show.