"Did he see us?"
"I don't think so".
"Well, we don't have anything to hide. If he wants to follow us, let him. I just don't want him to hassle you when I'm not around".
"Darling, you can't stay by my side 24 hours a day, that's not practical".
"I know that. I'm planning on putting security at the house."
"Jonathan, that's going to make us all miserable".
They arrived at the doctor's office and went inside.
She signed in and then sat down in the waiting room.
They called her back a few minutes later, but wouldn't let Jonathan come with her.
"I'll be ok, darling. It's alright".
She went back with the nurse. She was given a complete physical, a blood test, and an eye test.
Dr. Manchester declared her to be in perfect health and gave her a statement saying so.
"Thank you, doctor".
She went out to the waiting room again, and checked out, and found Jonathan.
"Ok, we can go".
"Everything alright?"
"Everything is perfect".
They headed back home, and he made some phone calls while she read on the couch.
Around 5, she got up and got ready for the dinner party.
She put on a pair of black wide-legged pants, with a black tank top and a sparkly silver sheer top over it. She put on some strappy silver heels and curled her hair.
They arrived at the party right on time, at 6:30.
Jonathan could tell she was nervous.
"Relax darling, they are going to love you".
He opened the car door for her, and they laced their fingers together as they walked up to the door.
"Jonathan, these aren't people you do business with, these are your friends. There's a little more at stake".
"I know that. And I promise you, they will love you".
They went inside and checked their coats.
Everyone was in the living room, having cocktails.
"Jonathan, you made it!"
"Hi. Everyone, this is my fiancé, Jennifer Edwards".
"Hi, lovely to meet you all".
"Please, make yourself at home. Can we get you a cocktail?"
"Just sparkling water, if you have any, thank you".
For the next two hours, they mingled, and chatted with just about everyone. Just before they were going to leave, Jennifer excused herself and headed to the bathroom.
"Be right back, darling".
While she was gone, everyone told Jonathan how adorable she was.
"She's perfect, Jonathan. You have to bring her back".
"I will. I will".
Jennifer reappeared by his side then.
"So, tell us, did you set a date yet?"
"August 26th, we think. There's a lot at stake."
"Like what?"
"Well, my family is on the east coast, so we will have to make sure that they can get here. Plus, we haven't found a venue yet, and I need to find a dress."
"Are your parents coming out anytime soon?"
"My mother passed away when I was 12, and my father splits his time between Maryland and Europe, so we probably won't see him till the wedding".
"Well, if you need someone to go with you when you look for a dress, I'm happy to go with you".
"Thank you, that's very kind. I'll let you know when I go shopping".
They said their goodnights and headed home.
As he started the car, he looked over at her.
"See, what did I tell you? They loved you".
He kissed her cheek, and then drove them home.
They had just changed for bed when the phone rang.
Jonathan reached over and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Hart, it's Stanley. I came upon an interesting development, and I was wondering if it would be ok if I came by to speak with you about it. I think it's best if we don't speak about this at the office".
"Sure, come on over".
"I'll be right there, Mr. Hart".
They hung up and he looked at Jennifer.
"Stanley from the office is coming over. He says it's important".
Jennifer quickly changed out of her nightgown and into some pajama pants and a pajama top and her slippers.
They were sitting on the couch watching tv when the doorbell rang.
Jonathan got up and answered it and let Stanley in.
"Hi, come on in".
"Hello. Thanks for letting me come by so late".
"No problem. Now what's this all about?"
"Well, it's that project you put me on, the one where I was to research the business deals. I kept digging, and I discovered a pattern. And so I dug into that a little more, and I discovered something very interesting. I think I figured out how Elliott Manning was able to find out about the business deals. He wasn't cold calling people up and down the coast like we thought."
"What do you think it is?"
"I think there's a mole in the company, sir. I dug into who was working for Elliott Manning, and found that someone with the same social security number works for us and him. I looked up that person's recent activity in our company database and they were involved in every single deal that has been canceled lately".
"Who is it?"
"James Piedmont. He works in accounting".
"Yes, I remember him. I hired him just after I came back from Australia".
"If my digging is correct, and it usually is, he is working for you and for him at the same time. And, I went by the office tonight, and I found something that alarmed me. I believe he planted a bug in your office. I found a listening device under the lip of your desk. I also found a listening device hooked to a recording device in his office, and if I'm correct, there's probably a GPS on your car".
"You are welcome to go look, Stanley. It's in the garage".
"I'll be right back".
Jonathan sat by Jennifer on the couch while Stanley went to check Jonathan's car.
He could tell she was upset.
He put his arm around her.
"This isn't your fault. This is his fault".
"I just feel so guilty".
"Now look, I told you, if I have to, I'll start it all from scratch. It's alright".
"I just don't understand what he thinks he's going to gain from all of this. I mean, yeah, some people cut ties with you professionally. But you aren't out of business. And you and I are still getting married, it's not like he's been successful at breaking us up, so why bother?"
Stanley came back in then.
"Mr. Hart, did your car come with a GPS?"
"No, it didn't."
"Well, he for sure put one on your car. He had it screwed in, so that it wouldn't fall off".
"He must have gotten to my car when I was picking you up at the airport."
"I'm sorry, darling".
"Mr. Hart, if you have a screwdriver, I'm happy to take it off your car".
"Certainly."
He went to the tool box and got him the screwdriver and then came back to sit by Jennifer.
He picked up the phone and called a friend and asked him to come over.
"Right away".
"Who's coming over?"
"My friend, Bill McDowell. He's on the membership committee at the club. I want to ask him something and I think he's the only one who will be straight with me".
Stanley came back in and handed the screwdriver and the GPS to Jonathan.
"Stanley, I will deal with James first thing Monday morning. Please don't say anything to him, but I will need the documents you uncovered as proof".
"Yes, Mr. Hart".
"Thanks for coming, and thanks for all your hard work, Stanley".
"There's just one more thing, sir. I know that you are friends with Lt. Gray. I found some documents that indicate that Mr. Manning might be deceiving the United States Government. I feel like it's my civic duty to report that, sir. Do you think you could forward the file to Lt. Gray?"
"What kind of documents?"
"An email between him and his lawyer where he states that he hasn't paid taxes in 10 years and has no intentions of starting now. He also states in the email explicit instructions on how he wants his lawyer to set up fake corporations to funnel the money through so it won't be as easily detected".
"Yes, I will be glad to give that file to Lt. Gray. Do you have it with you?"
"I do. I'll be right back".
Stanley came back and gave the file to Jonathan.
"I'll see you at the office, Mr. Hart. Great seeing you again, Miss Edwards".
"Thank you, Stanley, for all you're doing to help Jonathan. We really appreciate it".
"No problem, Miss Edwards".
"Goodnight Stanley".
They had a few quiet moments before Bill showed up.
"Valentine, great to see you!"
"Thanks for coming over, Bill".
They walked over to the couch.
"Bill, this is my fiancé, Jennifer Edwards. Jennifer, this is Bill McDowell, one of my best and oldest friends".
"Hi, it's nice to meet you".
"Valentine, she's even more lovelier than you deserve".
"Why thank you".
They sat down, and Jonathan got right to the point.
"We went and looked at the wedding hall at the club last weekend. Afterwards, Jennifer filled out the membership application, and I agreed to sponsor her. And then we got a letter saying that she wasn't a good fit for membership and that her application had been denied".
"That's crazy. The membership committee isn't supposed to meet till next week".
"Here's the letter I got in the mail. This came Wednesday".
She handed him the letter.
He looked it over and then handed it back to her.
"This isn't official club letterhead from the membership committee."
They both looked at each other.
"Elliott", they said in unison.
"Manning?" Bill looked at Jonathan.
"You know him?"
"He's been calling me all week, trying to get me to partner with him. How do you know him?"
"Well, when Jonathan moved to Tokyo this last time, we separated and I took an overseas assignment in Australia. The paper I was working for put me up in one of his hotels. He and I started dating, but then I broke up with him and went back to Jonathan".
"How long did you date him?"
"Just a couple of months."
"Is this that same yahoo that gave the press conference saying you kidnapped some woman?"
"Yes. Jennifer is that woman".
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I just forgot the details".
"Oh, that's alright. I had one of my employees do some digging because Monday and Tuesday of this week, Jennifer and I attended a business dinner. And both nights, every thing was going perfectly well, and then as soon as they found out her name, they refused to do business with me. The person I was supposed to meet with Wednesday canceled, as did the one for Thursday night. Then my employee came over tonight and told me that he dug up proof that one of Manning's employees is also one of my employees, and he found tracking and recording devices in my office, his office, and on my car. Plus, he found proof that he hasn't paid taxes in years and has no intentions of doing so".
"Valentine, I think you need to go to the authorities about Manning. This is above your pay grade".
"Monthly poker game is this Sunday, I'll talk to him after that".
"Good plan".
"So, Bill, are you married?"
"No, I'm divorced. Have a son, who lives up in Oregon. Here at home, it's just me and my dog".
"Well, you will have to come to dinner with us one night, so you can tell me more stories about Jonathan".
"Will do, pretty lady. Will do".
He came over and kissed her cheek.
"Anytime you want to leave this guy and be treated like a princess, give me a call".
"Oh, well, that's not necessary. Jonathan already treats me like a queen".
"Atta boy, Valentine. She's a keeper".
"She certainly is."
"Listen, I'll talk to the head of the club and tell them that you got a phony letter and see if they can't rush your application through".
"Thank you, I appreciate it".
They walked to the door and Jennifer embraced Jonathan.
"Thanks for coming by, Bill. And thanks for your help with the club".
"Anytime, Valentine. Listen Jennifer, whatever this guy tells you about me in the Navy, it's all lies. Unless it ends with me getting the lady, then it's all true".
She chuckled.
"I'll keep that in mind".
"Goodnight, you two".
"Goodnight".
"Night Bill".
Jonathan locked the door behind him and turned out the light.
He turned and looked at Jennifer.
"Goodnight", they said in unison.
He turned out the lights while she got a glass of water, and then they headed to bed.
She changed back into her nightgown and then climbed into bed next to him.
She curled up next to him and he took her in his arms.
"I can't believe Elliott went to all this trouble. I just can't figure out what he's trying to achieve. I mean, surely, he doesn't think I'm coming back to him".
"My guess is he knows for sure that you aren't. So, he is going to make you and I regret that, any way he can".
"That's crazy. My relationship with you is so much better than my relationship with him ever was".
"Yeah, but he's not looking at it in terms of value. He's looking at it in terms of a conquest, in terms of what he can gain from the competition he's convinced himself that everything is".
"I guess. I just hate that my being involved with him is causing you troubles".
"It's not your fault, darling".
She scratched his chest some and gave him a couple of chest kisses.
"So, tell me about the gala tomorrow night".
"Well, it's a really fun evening, usually. They have dancing, and a buffet and a cash bar, and a silent auction, and all of it benefits the Children's hospital."
"What a great cause".
"I really think you will enjoy it".
"If I get a chance to dance with you, I know I will".
He kissed her passionately, and then reached up and turned off the light.
They made love a few times before they fell asleep, all wrapped up together.
***Middle of the night***
Sometime in the night, a shadowy figure carefully took the screen off one of the living room windows. They gently pried the window up and then climbed inside.
The shadowy figure snuck through the house, and finally found Jonathan and Jennifer's room. They stood, staring at Jennifer as she slept for a few moments. Just before they crept out of the room, they left her a present on the nightstand.
Jonathan and Jennifer slept through the whole thing, never waking up at all.