When Jennifer walked into the magazine office the following Monday, her mind was still reeling from the interaction she'd had with Jonathan Hart that Friday before.
Over the weekend, he had managed to get under her skin, but Jennifer hadn't been able to stop thinking about him. At all.
His blue eyes, his charming boyish grin…no, no Jennifer. You can't do that. Anyone but him.
As she walked into her office, her hands full, she noticed a massive bouquet of fresh flowers on her desk and immediately gasped in exasperation.
" What on earth?" she murmured, too quiet for Marcia to hear.
Marica was leaning in the doorway, staring at the large floral arrangement wondering if he had sent her those flowers.
" Marcia. Where did these come from?" Jennifer asks, raising a brow. She furrowed her brow as she tried to set her things down on her desk but the floral arrangement was making it quite difficult.
She found the floral arrangement more annoying than anything. It was just another obstacle in her way.
Marica moved the vase out of the way so Jennifer could set her things down. She glanced down at the card and noticed Jonathan's name as the sender.
She looked up at Jennifer with a look of surprise that quickly settled into a smile.
" Jen, these are from Jonathan Hart, who by the way, I noticed pining for your attention Friday night. I was working late and I happened to notice an exchange between you two in the parking lot." She smirked.
Jennifer set her things down and rubbed her temples, overwhelmed by both the flowers currently sitting on her desk and the fact that Marcia had seen their little exchange.
" That Jonathan Hart is a rat."
Marica only laughed, before pausing a beat to speak. " Well, that rat you're talking about happens to be one of the wealthiest men in the world and he happens to be falling in love with you."
Jennifer's finger's paused their massage on her temples and she looked over at Marcia, raising a brow.
" Oh Marcia, be serious!" Jennifer exclaimed, shaking her head at the thought.
" What do the two of us have in common?" Jennifer asks, crossing her arms as she sat back in the chair to look at Marcia, wondering what was going through her mind.
" They say opposites attract." Marica pauses before continuing, " Besides, how long has it been since you've been on a proper date?" she asks as the corners of her mouth turn up into a smirk.
" My love life is none of your concern. And even more importantly, Jonathan Hart couldn't care less about me." Jennifer waves the notion off.
" Oh but he does. Listen Jennifer, think of exploring this personal and vulnerable side of Jonathan Hart as a way to get the story we've been needing. It'll be for research and nothing more. You don't have to grow attached to him, although your demeanor tells me otherwise. Entertain a few dates with the man and then you never have to see him again." Marcia suggests with a shrug.
Jennifer pauses a moment, running a hand through her auburn hair considering the implications of leading Jonathan on. Part of her was growing attached to him and she hated to even admit that. The other part of her also realized if she did get to know him, she'd get that story and that raise she was needing.
" You've wanted that raise for how long?" Marcia reminds her before turning on her heels and leaving Jennifer alone in the office.
When Marcia put it like that, to get the story, to get the information it didn't sound half bad…however, it seems as though Jonathan clearly had something else on his mind or was he perhaps sending her flowers to throw her off her game, and maybe, just maybe…she did too.
She stares at the flowers before grabbing the card attached to them. She carefully opens it up, half expecting for it to all be one colossal joke.
" For a stubborn redhead- J.H."
She found herself blushing and the corners of her mouth turned up into a smirk.
Once alone, she ran her fingers of the type of the card and sat pondering his blue eyes, his undeniable boyish charm, and that…that smile.
Taking a breath, Jennifer's hand hovers over the phone on her desk, trying to decide if she should call Jonathan.
After all, the gauntlet had been thrown, hadn't it?
Peering over her desk and the stack of papers, Jennifer spots the invitation to the LA Zoo benefit. She hatches a plan in her mind.
" Hart Industries, this is Liz speaking." came the friendly voice over the line.
Jennifer paused a beat trying to gather her thoughts. " Hi, this is Jennifer Edwards. Might I speak to Mr. Hart if he's available?"
Liz was wondering if Jennifer would call. She smiled a little bit, privy to understand the reason for the call.
After all, Jonathan had the florist come to the office early that morning when he selected the bouquet he had sent to Jennifer.
" Of course. His meeting just ended. One moment." Liz set the phone down, pressing a button to mute her end and stood up. She smoothed her skirt as she stood and walked to Jonathan's door before knocking.
She waits a moment before entering and found Jonathan staring out the office windows, his hands in his pockets and his back to the door indicated he was in deep thought..
" Mr. Hart, a call for you and I think this is one you will want to take." Liz tells him.
Jonathan turns to her and raises a brow.
" It's not Clara's school again is it?" Jonathan worries furrowing his brow.
" It's Ms. Edwards." Liz says the hint of a smile on her face.
Jonathan's face relaxed and he smiled a bit as he thought of Jennifer.
" Thank you, Liz. I'll pick up the call here." Jonathan says, staying put a moment longer by the window, waiting for her to exit his office.
Once she did, Jonathan clears his throat and takes a seat at his desk.
His finger hovers over the blinking number '2' before he presses it and picks up the phone.
" This is Jonathan Hart" he says, keeping his tone professional, but the smile on his face says otherwise. He knew who was on the other line.
" To answer your question about us redheads, yes we can be a bit stubborn, but I like to think of it as an attribute that I use to my advantage." Jennifer says.
Jonathan reclined back in his leather chair, a chuckle escaping his lips.
" I take it, my gesture has been well received then? Am I correct?" he asks, feeling a bit rusty at this whole flirting thing.
Is that what I'm doing? Flirting?
" You are correct indeed, Jonathan." Jennifer says, albeit her voice was cautious and gentle.
Jonathan felt his heart flutter. The way she said his name, Jonathan, it stirred up feelings. He remains cautious in his approach, as he eyed the photo of his daughter on his desk.
" Jonathan, I- there's a gala coming up for the Los Angeles Zoo and I was wondering…" Jennifer's voice trailed off.
Damn it, what am I doing? Inviting him on a date?
" Wondering if perhaps I'd join you?" he finished her sentence, the trace of a smile in his voice.
"Yes. That. Join me. It's not a date, rather, it's just, I had an extra ticket and I figured well, well maybe we could go together." Jennifer says, putting her head in her hands as the blush on her cheeks crept in.
" For a journalist you do have a way with words." Jonathan teased.
" But, to answer your question, consider it an unofficial date. Just one friend escorting another." Jonathan replied, his tone mildly teasing.
TBC…
