***A few weeks later***
Jennifer had gotten settled in London, for the most part. She really missed her friends and the places she went to in New York, but she was beginning to be comfortable in London.
She had received lots of press for her article on Moonrise Innovations, and most of it was positive. There were always negative comments on her articles, regardless of how positive the article itself was.
She had called Caroline and Patrick's like she promised, and Savanna was overjoyed to talk to her. She had already sent her a postcard.
Jennifer had a meeting with her boss, where he basically gave her the assignments she was responsible for working on.
"You can work at your own pace, so as soon as you finish those, your assignment here will end".
"Ok, thank you".
It had been almost a month since she had been in London.
She was working at her desk when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hi, I'm trying to reach a Jennifer Edwards. This is Detective Adamson with the NYPD".
"This is Jennifer Edwards".
"Hi, a couple months ago you filed charges against a Noah Greenburg for mugging you. I am calling to tell you that his court date is in a week. If you aren't able to testify, you can have someone read a statement on your behalf, or you can make a video of your statement and we will try to play it."
"Ok, I will see what I can do."
He gave her his number and she promised to call him.
She hung up the phone and then called Jonathan in Los Angeles.
"Hi, can I please speak to Jonathan Hart?"
"Certainly, one moment".
"Hello?"
"Jonathan, hi. It's Jennifer. Did Detective Adamson call you about the mugging trial?"
"Yeah he did. I'm afraid I won't be able to testify".
"You won't?"
"No. Unfortunately, someone printed an article about my company that has caused me a lot of business troubles and I am stuck here trying to rebuild what she tried to rip away from me. I can't even tell you when I will be able to get out of LA again".
"Jonathan, I did no such thing. I have explained that to you more than once."
"And I have explained to you more than once that if you hadn't printed that article about me, none of what I am dealing with now would have ever happened".
"If it wasn't me who printed it, someone else could have and most likely would have. It was inevitable".
"I'm sorry, I don't see it that way."
"Well, I'm sorry you don't. You obviously never bothered to really get to know me if you think I would maliciously hurt you or anyone else".
"So, did you call to argue with me, because I am really busy trying to rebuild my company".
"No, I called because the NYPD just called. They told me that the trial was in a week, and I was going to ask you to read a statement from me while you are there, since you saw it all".
"I tell you what, if you print a retraction, I will read your statement".
"A retraction of what exactly? The truth? That's not how it works, Jonathan".
"Those are my terms, deal with it".
"No thank you, I will find someone else to do it. Goodbye, Jonathan".
She hung up.
She called Caroline, and vented to her a little.
"So, can you read a statement for me?"
"Absolutely".
"Perfect. I will mail it to you by FedEx tonight, so you should get it in the next couple days. I will put the name of the prosecutor in there and who to ask for and everything. Thank you so much, I really owe you one".
"Anytime. Any idea on when you get to come home?"
"Another month or so, most likely".
"I know a little girl who will be thrilled, and so will her momma!"
"I cannot wait myself. I mean, I love London, but I miss New York".
"We miss you too. Even Jonathan, he just doesn't realize it".
"Ha! I'll just bet he misses me about as much as I miss a root canal".
"One day, he will come to his senses…"
"If we're lucky. Well, I better go. Talk to you soon! Hug the kids for me".
"Will do. Bye".
She hung up and got back to work, and completely put Jonathan out of her mind.
***A few days later***
Jennifer was walking out of a restaurant, Churchill's. She had stopped to have a drink while she waited on a to-go order.
She had no sooner stepped out the door when she saw Jonathan getting out of a cab.
"What are you doing here?"
"Something came up and I was able to get away".
"Amazing that you can find your way to London, but going to New York to uphold your civic duty is too complicated".
"Why don't you have dinner with me and I'll explain?"
"No thanks. Have a good night".
Jennifer walked away, and left Jonathan standing there at Churchill's.
***A few hours later***
Jennifer had just gotten out of her bubble bath and into her pajamas when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Jennifer, hey, it's Caroline".
"Caroline, what's going on?"
"I have to tell you something. You are about to have a visitor".
"I am?"
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Hang on, someone's at the door."
She put the phone down and opened the door, to find Jonathan standing there.
"Can I come in? I won't stay long, I promise".
"Sure. I was on the phone, let me end the call. One moment".
She picked up the phone and walked it into the bedroom.
"Caroline, I am going to kill you."
"I love you, just hear him out".
"I'm hanging up now, I love you and I'm so killing you the next time I see you".
"Bye Jennifer".
Jennifer could tell she was laughing.
She hung up and grabbed her robe and put it on and then went back to Jonathan.
"Hi".
"Hi. Thanks for letting me in".
"Let me save you some time. I'm not printing a retraction, Jonathan."
"It's not that. I wanted to ask you if we could start fresh. I realized after you called me a few days ago that I don't want us to be unfriendly towards each other. I'm willing to wipe the slate clean if you are".
"I don't have any grievances towards you, Jonathan. I don't like the way you have treated me, at all. I can't imagine that anyone would. But your issues with me are just that-your issues".
She sat down on the couch and gestured for him to do the same.
"Jennifer-it's like this. I had a horrible start in life. One that I wouldn't wish on anyone else, ever. And because of that, I have trust issues. Because of my high-profile status, women tend to throw themselves at me, which you might think would be every man's dream. But really, it's not. It's exhausting. And they are all the same-out for one thing, can't hold a conversation to save their lives, all of that. I don't want someone who looks good but I can't talk to, and I want to be attracted to the person I can talk to, and when I met you, and realized that you had everything, I got scared and I convinced myself that you were too good to be true, hence my conversation with Patrick that night at the house that you unfortunately overheard. I worked really hard to get where I am, and to have what I have, and I did it with very little help from others. So, when you printed that article that resulted in me losing a lot of what I had, I was upset and I blamed you and I shouldn't have. Truth is, I should have checked out the deal more closely before I bought the conglomerate. That's my fault. I should have asked you to help me figure it out instead of blaming you, so I apologize. And I'm hoping that you and I can start over, so that when we do see each other at Caroline and Patrick's, it won't be awkward."
"I'm willing".
"Thank you".
She was quiet for a moment.
"Jonathan, can I ask you something?"
"Certainly".
"How is it that you were in the area when I was mugged?"
He sighed.
"I was in town on business, and I was walking back to my hotel and I saw you, and I followed you for a little bit, trying to work up the courage to ask you to dinner. You turned down the alley and I kept going, but then I didn't see you on the other end of the alley, after I had turned the corner, so I ran back and saw him mugging you and tackled him. I was only hoping to recover what he took from you, but I ended up holding him for the police".
"Are you really that mad at me that you won't testify?"
"No. I mean, I was, but I'm not anymore."
"Jonathan, let me ask you something. When you have something that you need done at your office, and you ask an employee to do it, do you expect them to do what you asked?"
"Yes, I do".
"Ok, so if they didn't do what you asked, you would be upset with them, and their job would be in jeopardy, right?"
"Yes, I suppose it would. I would definitely be upset".
"Ok. So, do you understand that investigating Moonrise Innovations was something my boss asked me to do? I didn't have a choice. I am known for copious amounts of research. It wouldn't have been my best work if I had not researched it all the way. I don't turn in half-assed assignments, that's just not me. But it's not my fault what I discovered".
"I realize that. I apologize".
"What did you say to Caroline to get her to tell you where I was?"
"I promised to watch the kids overnight next weekend so she and Patrick could go to a hotel and have a romantic dinner date in the city".
Jennifer chuckled.
"Yeah, I bet she took you up on that. And they are going to give you a run for your money, no doubt".
"And I would like to take you to dinner tomorrow night, if you're free. Consider it a peace offering. Just as friends, nothing more".
"You know the last time we went to dinner, I wasn't the right type".
"That was my defense mechanism. This time will be different, I promise".
She nodded.
"I will be done at the office around 5. Anytime after that is good for me".
"I will call you and we can arrange it tomorrow".
They stood up and walked to the door, and she let him give her a hug.
Neither of them wanted the hug to end.
Just as he was about to release her, the power went out.
"Oh geez. Well, you better sit back down. Hang on, I'm going to go get a flashlight".
She made her way to the bedroom and got a flashlight and came back.
"I think I can make my way down the stairs".
"Jonathan, it's 15 flights down to the street. And besides, this old hotel has an annoying safety feature where the stairways lock if the power goes out. Only the fire department can come and unlock them. So, there is no elevator, and no stairs till it gets repaired".
She got out some candles and walked around lighting them and placing them around the room.
After she had about 20 candles lit, it was a lot brighter.
"I hate to impose on you like this".
"It's ok, it's not your fault. I wasn't doing anything anyways".
She finally came and sat next to him on the couch. She covered her legs with a blanket.
"How did you find this hotel?"
"Someone at the Times told me about it. It's close to the Herald, it's affordable, and it feels more like an apartment than a hotel room."
"It's very nice".
"I like it. I would stay here again".
He was quiet for a few minutes.
"I should have picked up dinner before I came by. I'm starving. Wish we could order a pizza or something".
"I have some snack mix I made, would you like some?"
"Sure".
She got up and took a candle with her and made him a plate.
She came back a few minutes later with a plate of the snack mix and some cookies she had made for each of them.
"Thanks. What kind of cookies are these?"
"Family recipe. We call them Kolaches. Basically, they are sugar cookies with a fruit in the middle".
"What fruit?"
"Guess".
He took a bite.
"Orange?"
"Nope."
"Peach?"
"Nope".
"You are going to have to tell me".
"One more guess".
"I don't have any more cookies".
"Here, try one of mine".
She fed him a bite of a cookie, and then leaned back against the couch.
"Mango?"
"Nope. Apricot".
"Apricot! I never would have guessed that".
"Apparently so".
"I have an idea. I'm going to think of an item, and you get 20 questions to ask me to figure out what it is".
"Ok".
"Ok, I have my item".
"Is it a food, animal or mineral?"
"Food".
"Is it a fruit?"
"No."
"Vegetable?"
"No".
"Hmmm….Is it an entrée?"
"Yes".
"Is it pizza?"
"Ding ding ding. How'd you guess?"
"You mentioned it earlier, silly".
"Oh yeah".
She leaned forward and put her plate on the table. He placed his on the side table next to the couch.
She leaned back against the couch and pulled the blanket up around her arms.
"Are you cold?"
"Just a little. I usually get the chills at night before bed. It's how I know it's bedtime".
He wrapped an arm around her and tried to warm her up.
"Thank you".
They sat there for another half hour and she finally got up and called the front desk.
"Transformer is out. Could be morning before they fix it".
"Ok thank you".
She hung up and went and sat back down next to him on the couch.
"Well, I guess you're spending the night".