Hart Industries
Jennifer was nervous, she'd been here countless times as Jonathan's wife and a board member but this time, she was in charge of the whole company, She still had to answer to the Board but the day to day executive decisions were up to her. Max wanted to come with her like he was dropping her off at school but she had insisted that he simply drop her off at the curb, she felt like a teenager but Max agreed, he would agree to anything if it meant she got out of bed.
The first few days after the explosion, she'd crawled into bed and refused to budge, going so far as to go on a hunger strike but in true Max Form, He'd made sure she ate, even spoon feeding her so she wouldn't make herself sick.
Often when she was tired of lying in bed and crying, she'd sit in the bay window and watch the camera crews set up across the street, just hoping for movement inside the gated community, Jennifer would wonder when they would give up but when she saw Max giving them bottles of water and sandwiches, she knew that they were there for the long haul.
Jennifer finally pulled herself together and decided this was the moment she had to forge her new path, she put on her power dress, the dress Jonathan said made her look like a sexy socialite off to have a fling with the tennis pro and then to lunch with her rich husband.
Max drove her to Hart Industries, and for a few minutes, she felt Paralyzed with fear, that this wasn't right, that Jonathan should be up in his office on the 20th floor with his view overlooking all of downtown Los Angeles.
"Mrs. H, you can wait a few extra days," Max's voice broke into her thoughts
"It's now or never. " She said sighing and getting out of the car.
Jennifer walked through the revolving door and into the Main Lobby, just off to her right was the large Oil Portrait she'd had commissioned of Jonathan for the 10th Anniversary of Hart Industries, she remembered when she unveiled to him, he'd commented how he never realized how big his head was or that he was ridiculously handsome in a Cary Grant way.
She stopped in front of it, "Wish me Luck, Darling," and took the elevator up to the 20th floor, Jennifer walked, eyes forward from the stares as she passed people, knowing they were whispering about the Widow Hart.
Jonathan's assistant and Personal Secretary Deena Andrews was sitting at her desk, a pretty petite blonde whom Jonathan considered, after Jennifer of course, his right arm and she knew more about the company than even he did.
"Hello Deena," Jennifer said quietly.
"Mrs. Hart!" Deena jumped up, "Welcome, I have everything arranged for your day."
Jennifer had to admit, Deena's eagerness made her forget her broke heart for the moment and she was grateful that Deena hadn't mentioned Jonathan yet.
"Alright let's get to work," Jennifer stood outside Jonathan's office.
After several minutes, Deena cleared her throat, "Mrs. Hart?"
"I'm sorry, right .." She opened the office door and put her briefcase on the large oak office, "What do we have first?"
"A Board meeting in 15 then a stockholder's meeting at 11 then a conference call with Tokyo and somewhere in between Stanley Freson will come barging in here with the budget for next Month's quarterly. Then Lunch followed by a Meeting with Sophie Evans and if you have time, possible a quick meeting down in Fashion with Ophelia Reagan for the new Hart line."
Jennifer's head was spinning, No Wonder Jonathan often came home and went straight to the bar. "Okay, Let's get started. "
"Oh and if you could review these documents before the board meeting, it would help," Deena handed her a stack of papers.
Jennifer started to read them slowly but Deena was impatient, "Why don't we wait on those instead, we've got to get you to the board meeting,"
Jennifer stood up, "Deena, You are a wonder, Thank you,"
Deena blushed and hurried Jennifer to the conference room, "You'll be meeting with Theodore Perry, Raymond Fez and Steven Hyde, remember that Mr. Fez is deaf in his right ear while Mr. Perry doesn't have a censor in his head so don't be surprised at whatever comes out"
"Oh Great and Mr. Hyde?"
"Huge Drunk," Deena nodded and brought her into the conference room.
"Hello Gentleman," Jennifer turned on her brightest fake smile
"Mrs. Hart," Raymond Fez,a portly man with a balding head and mustache stood up, "Let me be the first one to extend our deepest sympathies to you on the death of Mr. Hart, he was a great man."
Jennifer swallowed, "Thank you,"
"Eh?" He extended his head forward to hear her
"THANK YOU" She practically screamed.
"Mrs. Hart!" Mr. Perry, a slender man with a head of dark hair opened his arms to give Jennifer a hug but remembering what Deena said, she instead shook his hand. "Glad to have you on Board, little Darlin"
"Thank you," She sidestepped to meet Mr. Hyde, who swayed a little and she could smell his breath from across the room, She took a deep breath and shook his hand
"Mrs. Hart, how wonderful to see you, I gotta say your husband was one of the best son of a bitches I've ever met!" Mr. Hyde was a medium built sandy hair from the south.
"Thank you," She backtracked quickly and sat in a chair.
"Mrs. Hart, That's Mr. Hart's chair, "Deena whispered and pointed to the end of the conference table, Jennifer quickly stood up and sat down.
"Mrs. Hart, Let's get down to brass tack here, Are you really up to the task of running a corporation of this caliber?" Mr. Fez asked
Jennifer was taken back for a bit, " Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because and no offense Darlin, you just buried your husband, this isn't something that a recently widowed woman should take on," He continued.
"What Mr. Fez means is that isn't a bit premature before you decide to take on such a risky venture?" Mr. Hyde asked
Jennifer took a pause, "I believe that I can do this job because I had an excellent teacher but If you don't think after a trial period that I'm not living up to Jonathan Hart's legacy, I will step aside without fanfare and leave what my husband built from the ground up."
All three of them nodded.
"Give me six months and if by then, that the company isn't up to expectation, I'll go" She continued.
All three men nodded, "Six months" They said in unison.
"Fine now that is over with, What is first on the docket, "She set her eyes on firm and her jaw line.
"One of our auto companies in Sandusky, Ohio ..Callahan Auto is hemorrhaging money since T.B. Callahan took over and we're thinking of severing ties to avoid a big financial loss" Mr. Fez said
"Why is it Hemorrhaging money?" Jennifer asked
"Excuse me," Mr. Hyde asked
"Why is Callahan Auto Hemorrhaging money?" Jennifer repeated
All three men weren't sure of the answer.
"Before we decide to pull funding, I want to find out why, Have someone down in Finance do some research and in the meantime, Why don't we have T.B. Callahan himself come in for a meeting?" Jennifer said
"Why?" Mr. Perry asked
"Why? Because I would like to have a face to face and find out if there are other reasons that This once successful company is drowning," Jennifer raised her eyebrow that immediately shut up the three men up, "Deena, will you arrange for T.B. Callahan to fly out immediately?"
"Yes Ma'am," Deena nodded, checking her watch, "Mrs. Hart, you are due for that conference call,"
"Right, Well thank you Gentleman" She stood up and walked out with Deena, "I need a decontamination shower after that,"
Deena laughed.
The rest of the day just flew by, there were so many people who wanted her attention and were begging for just five minutes but she somehow managed to cope and when the day was over and Max was out front waiting for her, she practically collapsed in the seat.
"How was it?" Max pulled away.
"The other kids were nice but some were mean," She said closing her eyes and falling asleep
Max laughed and drove them home.
AMERICAN HOSPITAL- PARIS
The American Patient Charlie had improved his injuries from his accident enough to be able to be moved into a Private Room, he was still having very little memory recall and was still blind but he'd been able to get up and move around.
Jenny, his therapist was trying to figure out a way to bring out more information from him but wasn't having any luck. He remembered the Last time the Lakers won and whether or not the Rams had a shot in hell of making a comeback but for simple information such as whether or not he had a family or if he even had a job.
Often Jenny noticed that when she probed further, He retreated into himself and would grow quiet. A few nights the nurses noted that he would call out "Jennifer" in his sleep, when he wasn't having night terrors.
Sometimes she wondered if he wasn't having selective memory loss because he could recall details that were clues to his past but couldn't elaborate on and he could speak both French and American. This man was a true enigma but Jenny was determined to put the pieces together.
One day, She found him walking in the Gardens of the Hospital, some of the patients had built a community garden and with fountains as well as benches, it was like a modern day Garden of Eden. With the Bandages around his eyes and the walking cane, He looked so lost.
"Mr. Charlie," She called quietly
"Hello Jenny," He said feeling his way to the bench and sitting down.
"How are you feeling today?" She sat beside him.
"About the same," He said, she noticed that he had a habit of touching his chin when he was concerned about something.
"I've spoken to the Doctors and the Nurses, they said you are making excellent progress except that you are having night terrors," She put her hand on his.
"I wouldn't call them night terrors exactly, sometimes I have dreams where I'm being chased with a girl who has the reddest hair I've ever seen and it seems like we're constantly running away from someone. Other times, I can hear her laughter and I can see us dancing around a room and, it's so stupid," Charlie swallowed
"I'm sure it's not,"
"There's a song I keep hearing but I'm not sure of the words or if it's even a song. It's almost haunting," He looked away.
Jenny paused, "Can you sing it for me"
Charlie Cleared His Throat, "Let me call you sweetheart, I'm in love with you," He stopped, "That's all I remember."
"That's a very famous song, I'm sure it has some significant reason behind it." Jenny paused, "I'd like to try something along the lines of Hypnosis to try to recover your memory, if you'd like,"
"It's worth a shot," Charlie couldn't but feel like a growing connection to Jenny.
Much more than just Patient and Doctor.
