"You are behind all this? The man pushing me down in the street, and knocking me out in the elevator?"
"Well, I wouldn't say I'm behind it. I asked him to suggest that you stop investigating my father's company. He came up with the ideas all on his own. I listened in on your phone at the office, so that I could know when you were going to meet your source".
"How is this your father's company? Your last name is Price, and the owner of the company's last name is Reynolds".
"Morgan Price is my alias. My real name is Victoria Elizabeth Reynolds".
"So it was you that caused the company to have to change their name and rebrand?"
"Well, that depends on who you ask. I say no. My father said yes. He demoted me and gave me a bullshit title of company PR rep, that doesn't pay jack shit. So, I got an outside job to make ends meet, hence me working in sales at the Paper. I left Victoria behind, and I became Morgan and the rest, they say, is history. Till you started butting in. Oh well, what happened to you was not my fault. You were warned to back off".
"Morgan, I didn't deserve any of that. I've been nothing but kind to you, and I had every right to investigate your family's company. I think you forget, I was on the plane that your family's company owned that crashed. I could have been killed, Morgan. Many innocent people were killed. How can you live with yourself?"
"It's very simple. I have my eyes on the fortune that I'm going to inherit, when my parents pass away. And all I care about are the dollar signs I'm seeing. This is my lane, and everyone else needs to find their own lane and get out of mine".
"You are the saddest human being I think I've ever met".
"I'm sorry you feel that way".
Jennifer turned back to her lunch and tried to ignore Morgan.
Jonathan reached over and patted her thigh.
They finished their lunch in silence, and then the agent came back and asked for Morgan.
She turned to Jonathan and Jennifer.
"Please stay in here, I will be back to get you after she is done testifying".
"Thank you".
Jennifer let out a deep sigh when Morgan and the agent left the room.
She sat down on the couch.
He came and wrapped his arm around her.
"I just feel so foolish."
"Darling, you had no way of knowing who she really was, or what she was up to".
"I know, but I just can't handle it. This is all my fault".
"None of this is your fault. Absolutely none of it".
"One good thing did come out of the plane crash, I suppose. I met and fell in love with you".
She leaned over and kissed him.
"And I met and fell in love with you, too".
He captured her face in his hands and gave her the most perfect kiss.
"Distract me, darling. I'm going crazy".
"Let's play 20 questions. You start".
"Ok. Let me think….Oh I've got it!"
She leaned over and started kissing his neck.
"No fair influencing the judge".
"Darling…when we were at my father's house, what did you and he talk about when I wasn't in the room?"
"Oh no. No, no. A man cannot reveal the contents of a conversation with his future father-in-law."
"Says who?"
"I'm pretty sure it's illegal, baby".
"Jonathan! It is not".
"Well, then I will go with answer b. Ask your father".
"Oh yeah, like he'll tell me".
"Sorry darling. I love you, but bro code comes into check here."
"You and my father have a bro code?"
"All men have a bro code. It's implied".
"You're really not going to tell me?"
"I'm really not. And you will be just fine".
He leaned over and kissed her.
"You know, I could call my father and tell him you really did kidnap me".
"That doesn't sound like you".
"Or, I could refuse to make love to you for the rest of the year".
"That, sounds like you".
"Eat your heart out, buster".
Just then, the door opened and Morgan and the agent came back.
"What in the hell did you tell them?1?"
"The truth, Morgan, or Victoria, or whomever you are. We told them the truth".
"Miss Edwards, Mr. Hart, they have a few more questions for you".
Jonathan and Jennifer stood up and walked with agent out of the room, leaving Morgan to stew in her own misery.
They were seated in front of the panel again.
"Hi, thank you for rejoining us. We just wanted to ask you something-how did you find out the information that Is in the documents you presented?"
"I researched it I have a source who met me in various places and gave me the information".
"Who is your source?"
"I am not revealing that".
"How are they connected to the company?"
"I cannot reveal that".
"If you cannot reveal how you got the information, then how can we trust that the information is legitimate?"
"I have never and will never print anything other than the facts. I don't put anything inflammatory or untrue in any of my articles, regardless of who or what I'm writing about. And I don't mean to brag, but I'm known for my copious amounts of research. I thoroughly investigate every single part of every article I write, and this one was no exception. I investigated the FAA, I investigated Regent Airlines, I even investigated people who worked for those places but who hadn't worked there for a very long time. To put it mildly, you can trust my research because it's the real deal".
"Miss Edwards, did you have any residual effects from the plane crash?"
"I had nightmares for a little bit. I had a fear of flying to the point that I would go overboard to make sure that we had regular seats on the flight, and not pods. It has eased over time, but it was very harrowing for a bit".
"And you, Mr. Hart?"
"I had a broken ankle, so that was a reminder. I didn't have nightmares of the crash, per se, but I did have unsettling dreams about trying to save Jennifer".
She reached over and squeezed his hand.
"Thank you, Miss Edwards. Mr. Hart, did you research any of this?"
"No, I didn't. I am a businessman, not a journalist. After Jennifer told me about them reusing parts that were worn out, I did assign one of my employees to investigate and see if any of my companies use any of the same products, which we do not. I also issued a standard memo for all my companies that we would not be repurposing worn out materials or equipment pieces for safety reasons".
"Very well, Mr. Hart, Miss Edwards, we thank you for your candor and straight forward responses. We thank you for your research into this. It is the recommendation of this panel that Regent Airlines face serious sanctions, along with the FAA. Here in New York, we have a victim's rights law. And that law states that if a company is found to be at fault, they must compensate the victim. We will have a hearing this afternoon to determine exactly how much Regent and the FAA will have to compensate their victims. Someone will be in touch with you regarding your stake. Thank you for testifying today".
They were ushered out and free to go.
They took the car service back to the Penthouse. As soon as they came in, Jennifer headed straight for the bedroom, to change clothes.
Jonathan made them both a double vodka martini with a twist of lime.
He brought hers to her in the bedroom, and found her in the bathroom throwing up.
"Darling, are you alright?"
"Can….you….blech….get me….a cold compress, please?"
"Certainly".
He made her a cold compress and took it to her.
"Thank you".
"Maybe it was the salad you ate today".
"Yeah, maybe. Or maybe it's nerves. I've been holding it in all day".
He helped her up and she stepped over to the sink to wash her face.
By the time he had changed clothes, she was sipping on her drink.
"Darling, what do you say we order in?"
"I say sure. Somewhere that has soup".
"Soup? Darling, it's almost 85 degrees outside".
"Jonathan, I want soup! I don't care how hot it is outside, I want it!"
"Ok, ok. You want soup, fine. I'll order you soup".
He went and found some to-go menus and they finally picked a place and placed the order.
She leaned up against him and turned on the tv.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
He got up and got it.
It was Morgan.
"Hi, I need to speak to you and Jennifer".
"Come on in".
She stormed into the living room and stood in front of Jennifer.
"Where in the hell do you get off ruining my life the way you did this afternoon?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You and your testimony. Because of you, Regent airlines is being fined into the billions. After we pay out all that money, plus the fines they are making us pay for short changing the FAA, we are going to be beyond broke. And because of it, my father has fired me and cut me off. Do you realize that I now have to pay my own way?"
"Poor, poor princess".
"How dare you not back off investigating when my brother told you to!"
"How dare you have your brother attack me!"
"How. Dare. You. Take this to the point that you are bankrupting my family and destroying our legacy!"
Jennifer stood up and glared at Morgan.
"How dare you use our friendship for your ill-gotten gains!"
"You seem to forget-I knew you before. Before you even met Jonathan. You want to portray this goody-goody image now, fine. You go right ahead. I remember when you didn't hesitate to pick up men in bars, and sleep with them on the first date. You may have forgotten where you came from but I haven't".
"I have been completely honest with Jonathan about my past, thank you. And my past is just that-my past".
"Is it?"
"Yes, it is".
"Obviously, you don't have a clue about having to make it on your own! Let me fill you in. When my mother died, it was just my father and I in the house. My brother was away at boarding school, and I could have lit fireworks in my nose and sat in my father's lap and he still wouldn't pay attention to me. I had to claw and fight and scrap for every single thing. It was only after I graduated with my MBA, that my father finally started to respect me. You have no idea what that feels like. Maybe if you did, you wouldn't have caused my family and I to pay all these fines that they are imposing on us, because of you".
"On the contrary. My mother passed away when I was 12, and I had a father who barely noticed me. He sent me to boarding school because thankfully he recognized that I needed more than he could give me. So, yeah, I do get it. I have worked for and earned everything I have without his help most of the time. So don't pull that pampered princess routine on me. Your fines and restitution as a result of your actions and your family's company's actions are not my fault, nor are they Jonathan's."
"You didn't have to testify".
"Yes, I did."
"I disagree".
"I don't give a damn".
"You aren't the only one with investigative sources. My sources tell me that your father has a sizeable cash stash. I tell you what, have him pay the fines for us, and we'll call it even".
"I have a better idea. Get the hell out of our apartment".
"This isn't over, Edwards".
"I have nothing more to say to you, Morgan. Don't bother contacting me again".
Jennifer got up and stormed into the bedroom, while Jonathan got up and opened the door.
Morgan stormed out without a word.
Jonathan closed the door behind her and then went to find Jennifer.
She was in the bathroom, leaning up against the mirror.
He walked up and put his arms around her.
"Darling, you feel very warm. Are you sure you're feeling ok?"
"I'm just angry".
He held her till she calmed down some and stroked her hair.
"You know what I'm thinking?"
"What?"
"That I'm the luckiest man alive."
"How do you figure?"
"Well, I survived a plane crash that by all accounts I should have perished in. My company is doing well, I have my health. And the best part of all is that I have you".
She looked up to him.
"I love you, honey".
"I love you too".
They shared a few passionate kisses.
"Come on, let's go watch a movie".
They headed to the couch and snuggled up together.
She turned to him and put her hand on his chest.
"Darling, what she said about me picking up men in bars, that…..that wasn't accurate".
He looked at her confused.
"Yes, it is".