"This isn't making sense to me. I'm probably the most boring person ever. Why would anyone want to watch me on a camera and listen in on my phone calls?"
"Well darling, it could be that they want the story before you get it. Or it's that they realize that you are digging into something they want to stay hidden".
"Ok, so if someone I work with is putting a camera in my desk and a listening device in my phone, then what's the connection between that and the elevator and the guy in the street?"
"There might not be one. It could be separate".
They finished their dinner, and then Stanley got out his work computer and started showing Jennifer things on her computer that he identified as suspicious.
"I can disable some of these. Some of these I cannot."
"Should I just ask my boss for a brand new computer?"
"No, darling, that might draw attention. What if we give them bait and see if they take it?"
"You mean like write a fake story?"
"Yeah, exactly. But don't just write it, talk about it too. Give them a reason to look in your computer".
"I suppose I can do that. I really wanted to publish the next part of my airline article though".
"Well, what if I got you a computer and printer here at the Penthouse? You could work on it here, and nobody would know that you are working on it".
"Yes, please".
"Ok, Mr. Hart, I think we need to make a trip to the Times. Miss Edwards, will anyone be there tonight?"
"Just the cleaning crew at this hour".
"Perfect. If we can, we need to go there so I can hook up the camera back to the computer".
"I think we can arrange that".
She disappeared into the bedroom and came out in a pair of skinny jeans, rainboots, and a long sleeved shirt. Jonathan helped her with her jacket, and called for the car service.
Jennifer grabbed the camera and her work keys and they headed to the elevator.
They climbed in the car and Jennifer dug the listening device out of her purse.
She handed it to Jonathan.
"This is what was in the phone".
"Did you check for a new one in the new phone?"
"Yes, I did. And I superglued the lid on too".
They pulled up to the Times and went inside.
Jennifer showed them to her desk.
To her amazement, another camera was in place, and she had another new phone.
She pretended to look for something for a few minutes and then they left.
They got back into the car, and Jonathan put up the privacy glass.
"Well, whomever it is, is on to you. So, watch your back."
Jennifer nodded.
They swung by Hart Industries and Jonathan went inside and got Jennifer's computer and printer.
They said goodnight to Stanley and then headed back to the Penthouse.
"Darling, is there a work from home option?"
"I can always ask my boss about it".
"Tell your boss if she will let you work from home a few days a week, I will provide whatever equipment you will need".
She leaned over and kissed his neck.
"You're wonderful".
"I just want to make sure you're safe, darling. I love you, I would do anything for you".
They pulled up to the Plaza and went inside.
It was raining cats and dogs outside.
They came inside and Jennifer went to put her pajamas on while Jonathan set up her new computer and printer.
She poured herself a glass of wine, and then went and sat by him.
He pulled her onto his lap.
"Darling, you said something earlier about being boring. You are anything but boring".
"I don't know if that's true, but thank you".
"You are sexy, and beautiful and exciting, and vivacious, and entertaining, and genuine, and gorgeous, and amazing, and wonderful, and loving and kind, and determined and I love you with all my heart. You are not boring".
He leaned forward and gave her a few kisses.
"Thank you. I love you with all my heart too".
She kissed him and framed his face with her hands.
"Thank you for my computer and printer, and getting Stanley to come".
"I love you, all you ever have to do is ask".
They snuggled on the couch a little bit, and she told him about Ava asking if they could have lunch tomorrow.
"Great, I hope it works out".
"Me too. I hate this not talking thing we are doing".
"Well, hopefully you two can resolve it".
"I just know that if they would agree to meet you and get to know you, they would love you almost as much as I do".
"I'm willing if they are".
She finished her wine and took her glass to the sink.
She came back to find him holding his hand out to her.
She took it and he led her to the bedroom.
They were standing next to the bed and he wrapped his arms around her.
"Get comfy, and I will give you the best back massage you have ever had."
"Deal, sailor".
She kissed him and took her nightgown off and laid down on the bed.
He warmed up the massage oil and then came and climbed on top of her.
He was rubbing in the massage oil and getting all her stress spots out when the lights flickered.
Suddenly, there was a very loud clap of thunder outside.
"That's a pretty powerful storm outside".
"Yeah, it is. I'm glad that we are in here".
He rubbed her sore spots out for several minutes and then suddenly the power went out and they were plunged into darkness.
"Don't move. I'll be right back".
She heard him stumbling around and he came right back with candles and a lighter and a flashlight.
He lit several candles around the room and then opened a window in the bedroom and one in the bathroom.
He climbed on top of her again, and resumed her massage.
"Honey, have you ever been to Magellan's on 85th?"
"No, but we can go if you want".
"Morgan mentioned us going there for our girls brunch on Saturday".
"Well, I'm sure you will enjoy it. I don't think there's a restaurant in the city that's not good, really".
She was quiet for a few minutes and then she turned her head towards him.
"Darling, do you think I should do the fake story on the computer at work, or do you think I should do regular boring stories at work and do the exciting explosive FAA story here at home?"
"That's an idea, too. That might make them think that you took the hint, and make them back off".
"So my newest assignment is a new business venture in the city. I have to write an article on it".
"Well, there's a new company in town that is trying to get off the ground. Basically, you go to their website and you can design your own hotel experience. You pick the room you want, and then you customize everything-the channels on the tv, the options on the room service menu, the services available to you at the spa, and then they will tell you what weekend they have that available. Also, if you are local, you can order those things for your home, and have them come to your home for a cheaper rate, since you are staying at home, but you are living luxuriously".
"That sounds interesting. What's it called?"
"Home Hotels, I think".
He finished giving her a massage and then just laid down next to her and held her close.
She leaned over and kissed him.
"Feel better?"
"Mmmmhmmm".
She rolled onto her back and he climbed on top of her.
They had mad passionate sex before falling asleep all wrapped up together.
***The next morning***
The power came back on around 6:30, so Jennifer went ahead and got up.
She turned off most of the lights so Jonathan could keep sleeping, and then went and made coffee.
He ended up waking up and getting ready with her and they left together.
They pulled up to the Times and she turned to him.
"I love you, I'll call you later".
"I have a meeting this morning, might go on for a long time. I love you, I'll call you when it's over".
After several passionate kisses, she went inside.
Jennifer had just gotten her coffee and sat down to work when her boss called everyone to the conference room for a meeting.
"We just received word that we are getting all brand new equipment this weekend. We are talking desks, phones and computers. Everyone will also be getting new filing cabinets. So, by Friday, IT will come around with flash drives so you can all save your important computer files. Please have your desks cleaned out by Friday as well."
Someone raised their hand and asked who was donating the equipment.
"All I know is the paper got an exclusive contract with a company and they agreed to do this".
After the meeting was over, Jennifer went up to her boss and asked about working from home.
"I'm not opposed to it, but I don't want you to do it every day. You can pick one day a week and do that".
"Ok thanks".
She got back to her desk and got to work. Before she knew it, Ava was at her desk ready to go to lunch.
They decided on a salad place up the street.
As soon as they sat down, Ava looked at her.
"I'm sorry about the other day. I had good intentions, but it didn't come out right. I just don't want to see you get hurt".
"Thank you. Why are you so convinced he's going to hurt me?"
"Jennifer, he's a businessman. He's only in town sporadically. And when he's not here-do you really know what he's doing in those other places?"
"There you go again, automatically assuming he is going to stab me in the back. I'll have you know, he's nothing like what you are presuming. He is so affectionate and loving towards me. I got hurt twice this week and he was more concerned about how I was feeling afterwards than anything else. Not a lot of guys are like that".
"What do you mean you got hurt?"
"Well, he and I were walking to dinner and some guy came up to me and warned me about researching the FAA and then he pushed me down. So when we got home, Jonathan made me a hot bath and did whatever he could to make me feel better. And then Monday I went to have drinks with Morgan, and when I got home, someone hit me in the head in the elevator. Jonathan took care of me all night then too, bringing me medicine and ice packs, whatever I needed."
"Why on Earth would someone do that to you in an elevator?"
"Because I am digging up stuff on the FAA and Regent airlines. The point is, he cares about me, he loves me with all his heart and he took care of me".
"Ok, so I maybe I misjudged him. I apologize. Now please tell me you have stopped investigating the FAA and the airlines".
"I have a few things up my sleeve but nothing that is pressing at the moment".
"Look, you are like a sister to me. He isn't the only one who wants to keep you safe from harm, you know".
"I know that. But he is the only one who never judges me, never dismisses me or my feelings, and actually trusts my instincts".
"Well, in that case, I'm happy you two found each other".
"Thank you".
They finished their lunch and then headed back to the office.
They were walking down the street window-shopping on their way back.
"I can't believe we are getting all new desks and equipment."
"Me either. I'm excited though. I'm ready for a change".
"Morgan was pissed about it. Cassie didn't seem to care".
"Why would Morgan be pissed about getting new stuff that she didn't have to pay for?"
"You know how she is about change. She hates it".
They walked back to the Times and got back to work.
Jonathan sent Jennifer a gorgeous bouquet of purple roses with baby's breath that afternoon.
She dug for the card.
"Enjoy your new furniture and equipment. I love you, baby-Jonathan".
Jennifer cracked a smile and then put the card in her purse.
"What a wonderful man…"
***Saturday***
Jennifer got up and got ready for brunch with the girls.
Stanley was coming over to work on a project with Jonathan.
He arrived just before Jennifer was leaving.
"Darling, are you and Stanley going to be ok while I'm gone? Sometimes our brunches stretch on into the afternoon".
"Oh yes, we will be just fine. If we run out of work to do, we will just make some little sandwiches with the crusts cut off and moisturize our faces and talk about our feelings".
"Ha ha. I love you, I'll be home as soon as I can".
She leaned down and kissed him.
"I love you too".
She used the car service and figured she would be there in about 20 minutes.
"Ma'am, I'm having a hard time finding the place that you mentioned. Can you give me more information?"
"All I was told was Magellan's on 85th".
"I'll see if I can find a number".
A few minutes later, he rolled the glass back down.
"Ma'am, Magellan's is not on 85th, and it's closed on the weekends. It's a plumbing company".
"I see. Well, I guess can you please take me to the brunch place you took me to last week? I apologize".
"No problem at all, ma'am".
He drove her to her usual spot, and she got out.
Only Ava was still there.
"Hey, what happened to you? Morgan said you didn't want to have brunch with us anymore, that you only wanted to have brunch with Jonathan".
"That's not true! She told me that she wanted us to all have brunch at Magellan's on 85th, so I headed there".
"Jennifer, we've had brunch here every Saturday since we moved here. We've never had brunch at Magellan's."
"I know. Magellan's doesn't exist. She set me up".
"Morgan wouldn't do that to you, Jennifer".
"Well she did."
Jennifer walked up to the counter and placed a to-go order.
Ava walked up behind her.
"So what are you and Jonathan doing today?"
"Well, he and one of his employees are working on a work project. And after that, I have no idea".
"I tell you what. What if you bring him to dinner tonight? I'll call the others and we'll all come. How about the Tower Grill, 8 p.m.? I'll make the reservations".
"Fine".
They took the car service and dropped Ava off first, and then he dropped Jennifer at the Plaza.
She walked in and found them working away in the living room.
"What are you doing back so soon?"
Jennifer came and sat by him on the couch.
"Well, Morgan told me at the office the other day that we were meeting at Magellan's, on 85th. So, I had the car service take me there. There is no Magellan's on 85th. The only Magellan's in the whole city is a plumbing service. So, I had him take me to our usual place, and Ava was the only one still there. She said Morgan had told them that I only want to brunch with you from now on."
"That's so strange".
"Isn't it? Oh, and darling, tonight, we are going to dinner with all of them, at the Tower room. 8 p.m."
"Are you sure you want to do that?"
"I'm positive. If they can see how wonderful you are, then maybe they will stop all this nonsense."
She fed him bites of her waffle, while he and Stanley finished up their project.
She turned on a movie and curled up next to him.
Jonathan and Stanley worked till early afternoon, and then he left.
Jonathan and Jennifer watched another movie and laid around till it was time to get ready.
Jennifer took a long shower and then dried and curled her hair. She chose a black leather strapless mini dress, and paired it with black strappy stilettos. Her makeup was flawless, as usual.
She was in the kitchen switching her purses when Jonathan came out of the bedroom.
"Baby, you ready?"
"Yeah, I'm ready".
"You look sensational".
He spun her around and dipped her and kissed her.
"Thank you".
They headed to the elevator and held hands as they walked through the lobby.
She leaned close to Jonathan.
"I feel like everyone is staring at us".
"If they are it's because you are smoking hot tonight in that dress".
"Jonathan! I'm serious. I mean they are really staring".
He helped her into the car and then climbed in after her.
He gave the driver the name of the restaurant and then put up the privacy glass.
He could hardly take his hands off Jennifer for the rest of the ride.
"Darling, we can't do this here- I promise, as soon as we get back home, I'm all yours".
She kissed him several times, and then they arrived at the Tower room.
They walked in and told the hostess they were meeting friends.
"Yes, I just sat them. Right this way".
She led them to the table.
Ava and her date were there, along with Cassie and her date.
"Hi. Everyone, this is Jonathan Hart. Jonathan, this is Ava and that's Cassie".
"And this is Jeff Barker".
"And this is Ryan Martin".
Jonathan pulled out Jennifer's chair for her and then sat down next to her.
"Morgan should be on her way. She said her date lives in New Jersey so it might take them a minute to get here".
Jonathan ordered white wines for the table, and a couple appetizers to share.
Inevitably, the women started chatting on their side of the table and the men started chatting on theirs.
About 10 minutes into the conversation, Morgan and her date arrived.
"Hi everyone, this is Stuart Ramsey".
Jennifer turned to say hi, and found herself staring into the face of the man who pushed her down on the sidewalk.
"Hi. Nice to meet you".