Jennifer found herself totally lost in Jonathan's kiss. She never knew love could feel so good. Jonathan too felt overwhelmed by the intensity of his feelings for her. He had grown up with nothing: no parents and no money. He had been fortunate that Max had found him and helped him follow his dream in business. Now he really did have it all: money, family and true love. If they lived 100 years longer, he knew he would never get enough of her. He began to reach his hand into her robe. As much as Jennifer wanted to feel their bodies entwined again, she stopped him.
"We are expecting company. I am going to get dressed," she said.
"Yes, you're right," he agreed. Reluctantly, Jonathan watched her leave to get dressed.
"That was close," James said as he and Arthur escaped the hotel.
"You are not kidding." They walked quickly as far from the hotel as possible. Entering the nearest metro station, they took a break while waiting for the train.
"We are dead!" Arthur exclaimed. "Fisk is going to kill us."
"What should we tell him?"
"I don't know. I have half a mind to get the hell out of here. Let him worry about getting the stone."
"We can't leave. We didn't get paid on the last heist."
"The more I think about it, the more I hate that Jonathan Hart," Arthur said rubbing his cheek.
"Let's just make a plan to get it later." James suggested.
"Well if we survive meeting Fisk, I am sure that will be our next assignment."
The living room was somewhat disheveled following Jonathan's encounter with Arthur and James, so he began to pick it up. He realized that he hadn't told any of his closest associates about Jennifer so he went to the phone.
"Robert?" Jonathan asked when a groggy sounding man picked up the phone.
"Jonathan?"
"Yes," he answered.
"Its .... almost 5 in the morning. Is everything alright," asked Robert Shipp one of Jonathan's vice presidents located in New York. He had been Jonathan's first management employee many years ago. Together they expanded Hart Industries beyond electronics into a conglomerate of 20 different companies. When the need to have an office in New York became apparent, Robert was the obvious choice.
"Terrific," Jonathan started. "I am sorry to wake you but I really need your help with something."
"Ya ok. You know I will do whatever."
"There is probably going to be some news about me in the paper this morning..."
"About the Kingsford deal?"
"Well that too but, actually some thing bigger. I don't have time to return and talk to everyone personally so I would like very much if you could handle it for me now and I will address it when I get back to LA."
"Ok. What is it," Robert asked curious as to what new venture Jonathan was planning to start.
"I have met someone. She is amazing; beautiful, smart, funning, exciting..." Jonathan began to get caught up in thinking of all the things he loved about Jennifer.
"Jonathan?"
"Oh sorry. Robert, I asked her to marry me and she said yes," Jonathan blurted out. There was silence on the other end of the phone.
"Robert?"
"I am sorry Jonathan, you know there is this delay on international calls. It sounded like you said you were getting married."
"Yes. I am getting married."
"Wow! How did that happen? Did you run into Nicki or something?"
"No it's not Nicki. I met someone here."
"But you have only been there three days," Robert said somewhat confused.
"Yes, I know."
"Had you known her before?"
"No," Jonathan explained, "I met her three days ago. I fell in love with her the moment I met her and now I am getting married."
"I see," Robert said in shock.
"I would like you to talk to as many of the other VP's personally. Just tell them what I told you and that you don't have details at this time. Express my regret that I cannot be there in person but I want the information to come from me not the newspapers. Let them know that they can send memos to all other staff."
"You are serious?"
"Yes Robert!"
"She must be something else, Jonathan, because this is so totally unlike you!"
"She is incredible."
"Well, congratulations then."
"Thank you." There was a knock on the door.
"Robert, I have to go now. I'll be in touch soon."
"Bye Jonathan."
Jonathan adjusted his robe and opened the door for the police and hotel security.
"Mr. Hart, we are so sorry that this incident occurred."
"Can I see your id?" Jonathan asked not wanting to make the same mistake twice.
The two officers and one security person showed their id.
"Again, we are very sorry this happened to you,"
"It's not your fault," Jonathan said leading the two police and one security person to the living area of his suite. Jennifer entered the room. She was wearing a hunter green sweater with khaki pants and she had her hair pulled into a French twist.
"Oh, hello," she said as she entered the room stopping near the security guard. Jonathan smiled and winked at Jennifer. He was admiring how beautiful she looked in that shade of green.
"This is Ms. Jennifer Edwards," Jonathan introduced her.
"Jennifer Edwards?" the security man asked again.
"Yes," both Jennifer and Jonathan verified.
"Oh, Mr. Hart I am so sorry," said the security officer taking Jennifer by the arm and leading to the door. "We thought we had secured the hotel of reporters. I can't imagine how she got in."
"Wait, wait, wait," Jonathan called. "I invited her here."
"Oh," the officer responded a bit confused. "You were so adamant about not seeing reporters, especially Ms. Edwards."
"Yes, well, I convinced him otherwise," Jennifer explained pulling away from the security guard.
The three guests all looked at Jennifer and then Jonathan.
"Yes, Ms. Edwards can be quite persuasive," Jonathan said winking at Jennifer. "I have agreed to let her stick around."
Jennifer shot Jonathan a questioning look. Aren't you going to tell these men why I am really here?
Jonathan continued, "I would like to report a break in this morning."
Jonathan explained to the police the events of the morning and apparent connection to the burglary and murder the day before. One of the police inspectors used Jonathan's phone to get more information regarding the jeweler's murder.
"Mr. Hart, Inspector Rollins is on the jeweler's case and has asked if you might be able to come down to the jewelry store and speak with him?"
"Yes, I can do that. Just give me a few minutes to shower and dress."
"Right."
"Oh, wait," Jonathan said, "How am I going to get out of here with all those press people outside?"
"We have a back passage way out the hotel. We can have a car waiting there."
Like the press won't think of that! Jennifer thought to herself.
"And what about Ms. Edwards? The press will hound me if I am seen with her." Jonathan asked.
Again Jennifer looked at Jonathan in total confusion.
"She can go out the front door. If you want her along, we can pick her up around the block," suggested the lead inspector.
"O.K." Jonathan agreed. He went to take a shower. Jennifer wanted to run into his room and demand an explanation but waited instead with the other men.
"So, Ms. Edwards," the security guard asked, "Do you have any idea who the mystery woman is?"
"Ah now, there you see. You don't like having the press around but when you want answers, who do you ask first?"
The men decided not to pursue it further.
"WHAT!!!!" Fisk yelled upon James and Arthur's return. "There are two of you. How could he possibly out do you?"
"Well, the lady got Arthur's gun..." James said. Arthur jabbed James in the ribs indicating that James disclosure was making matters worse.
"Your gun? I have hired Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum. This is a disgrace," Fisk finished.
"We are prepared to do what it takes to get the ring, Fisk." Arthur said.
"I thought you were prepared to do that this morning!"
"Admittedly we were taken off guard but it won't happen again,"
Fisk paced the room. Arthur and James watched him carefully.
"We are not going to be able to do anything right now. He will probably have bodyguards or something to protect him and his new bride. No, we will have to wait and watch. When he lets his guard down, then we will get the stone." Fisk said.
"Ok. We'll keep up on his every move," Arthur volunteered.
"You do that. Don't mess this up again."
When Jonathan finished showering and was almost dressed, he called for Jennifer.
"Ms. Edwards, would you mind helping me with my tie?"
"Not at all Mr. Hart," Jennifer agreed walking into his room expecting a good explanation. As Jennifer readied herself to complain to Jonathan, he put his hands on her mouth.
"I know what you are going to say so let me just explain," he whispered peeking out the door to see if the guests where looking in.
"You better," Jennifer said beginning to do his tie.
He put his hands on her arms, "Darling, my meeting and falling in love with you has been the most wonderful thing in my life. I don't want some two-bit cop telling the press who you are. I want to declare it myself, to all the world that I love Jennifer Edwards."
Jennifer melted. Jonathan bent forward and gave her kiss.
"So, I am forgiven?"
"Yes, you are forgiven," Jennifer smiled.
"Oh and another thing. Your hair looks great like that but, I much prefer it down," he said reaching up to remove her hairpins.
"Don't you think they'll notice?" Jennifer asked referring to the police.
"It will give them something to talk about," he said removing the last pin and running his fingers through her hair.
"You are so beautiful," he said kissing her again. Jennifer walked out of the room first. The police looked at her, noticing something was different about her.
"My hair, it just didn't look right," she explained. The men just shrugged.
Jonathan was escorted by the police through the back of the hotel and out a back door to a waiting police car. Jennifer was escorted by the security guard out the front door. As she came out several of her colleagues approached her.
"How did you get in there?"
"Hello, Jack. In the hotel? I have my ways," Jennifer responded.
"Did you find out who the mystery woman is?" another colleague asked.
Jennifer just smiled and began to walk off.
"Hey, Jennifer. Where are you going? Aren't you going to wait for Mr. Hart to make a statement?"
"Nah, I mean really Jack, there is real news going on in this town somewhere." Jennifer responded and headed up the street.
"She knows," Jack said to his colleague as they watched her leave.
"Yep."
Jennifer turned the corner at the end of the street and got into the police car where the two police and Jonathan were waiting.
"How did it go?" Jonathan asked.
"They think I have the story," Jennifer said.
"Don't you?" asked one of the police officers.
Jennifer smiled and then whispered to Jonathan, "I am the story." They both smiled.
Police investigators surrounded the jewelry store. The car carrying Jonathan and Jennifer pulled into the back alley and let them out. The investigator introduced them to Inspector Rollins who was handling the case. Jonathan recounted the details regarding the morning's incident.
"It sounds like Fisk," Rollins said to his men.
"Fisk?" Jonathan asked.
"Giles Fisk. He is a career jewel thief. He doesn't actually take the stones himself; he usually has someone else steal them. Fisk finds buyers. Over the last couple of years he has used two men, Arthur Black and James Styles to do the stealing. We have a difficult time catching them because they are picky about the jewels they steal and we never can know where they plan to strike."
"Well, how is it they could just come in here and take hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewels? Isn't there security or something,"
"According to Pete, an employee, the owner didn't feel it was worth it. He seemed to rely on the safe."
"So how did they get into the safe?" Jonathan asked.
"Arthur and James are pretty clever when it comes to safes. They can get them open in a variety of ways and often leave them looking like they'd never been touched."
"Do you think they were after the ring and the other jewels were just a perk?" Jennifer asked.
"Could be,"
"Jon...Mr. Hart. Jewels don't usually get a name unless there is something significant about them..... or a curse," Jennifer shared.
Jonathan nodded seeing where she was headed, "Pete, its Pete right?" Jonathan asked the employee.
"That's right."
"Is there some sort of story with La Coeur de la Vie?"
"Well Barney would have been able to tell you better but, as best as I know, La Coeur de la Vie was commissioned by Jean La Coeur in 1785 for his future bride, Mademoiselle Signe."
"They are described as having a happy marriage, a couple of kids. But, they were members of the upper class. During the revolution, La Madam Guillotine was consuming the elite of France so La Coeur took his family and escaped into Switzerland and later to Austria-Hungry, now Poland."
"There they stayed until their death. The ring was passed from generation to generation until the late 1930's early 40's. During that time the Nazis invaded and pretty much stole everyone's treasures. It was only speculation that the ring was taken by Nazis until 6 months ago when an old General in the SS died. His son found the ring and put it up for sale. Barney went immediately and bought it for a client he has in America."
"It's a gorgeous ring. It has the biggest purest stone I have ever seen. In fact," Pete said looking closer at Jennifer's hand, "That's it there!"
Everyone looked at Jennifer and then to Jonathan.
"The mystery is solved!" Jonathan stated. Bewildered, Jonathan explained that Jennifer was in fact his fiancée.
"That's all very nice but, my concern is with the murder and stolen jewels. I have your statements and I am pretty sure who we're after," Rollins stated.
"My real concern," Jonathan asserted not allowing Rollins to dismiss him, "is that Jennifer and I are safe."
"I don't see why not as long as you are returning to the states soon. Fisk never leaves the country. His henchmen travel only through Europe. I think once you get home, it won't be worth the effort," Inspector Rollins reassured them.
"Jonathan?" Jennifer asked. "If the story about the ring is true, this ring could belong to somebody."
"It belongs to you," Pete said. "Mr. Hart bought it from Barney who bought it from its owner."
"That may be," Jennifer continued but, "there may be a La Coeur in Poland who is the rightful heir to this ring."
"You're right," Jonathan said. "I'll tell you what. I will ask Stanley, my best researcher to see what he can find out."
"You wouldn't mind?"
"No, darling," he said, "The ring is just a symbol. The real thing is right here." Jonathan gave her kiss on the cheek.
Jonathan and Jennifer were escorted back to the car to return to the hotel.
"So what do you plan to do now?" Jennifer asked hoping Jonathan's desire to solve the jewel mystery was quashed.
"Hopefully what the inspector said is true and once we get home the thieves will give up."
"You aren't sure they will though,"
"I have seen people do more for less," he answered. Jennifer shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
"Maybe you are the heir to the ring?" Jennifer said changing the subject, "Jean La Coeur is John Heart in French."
"Really?"
"Yes."
The both laughed at the coincidence.
"Maybe I was destined to buy that ring for you," he said. "You know, you amaze me?"
"Really," Jennifer asked, pleased at Jonathan's admiration of her.
"Most people wouldn't care whether that ring may have a rightful home elsewhere."
"Thank you darling," Jennifer said. Jonathan, unable to help himself leaned over and gave her passionate kiss, which Jennifer participated in whole-heartedly.
"How long before we get back to the hotel," Jonathan asked thinking he might be able to continue his passions on their return.
"Just a moment, Mr. Hart."
"How are we going to get back in the hotel?" Jennifer asked as they neared the Ritz.
"I have an idea. Darling, would you be willing to wait out front with your colleagues?"
Jennifer eyed him suspiciously, "I guess not."
The driver let Jennifer out where they had originally picked her up. She headed back to the entrance of the hotel.
"Jennifer!" Jack called, "Couldn't find another story?"
"No, I did but, I'm done so I thought, why not come and see what Mr. Hart is up to now." Jack eyed her, certain she knew more than she was telling.
"Excuse me," called a hotel employee to the press outside the hotel door, "Mr. Hart has asked me to let you know he is prepared to make a statement. His only request is that once he is done you will leave him in peace."
Jennifer giggled to herself. He has got a lot to learn about the press.
The press gathered around the front steps waiting for Jonathan to make his statement. Jennifer tried to move up close but was quickly crowded out. As Jonathan emerged, light bulbs snapped throughout the crowd.
"I haven't done anything yet and you are taking pictures," he laughed.
"Mr. Hart, where is your mystery bride?" called one reporter.
"Is she British?" called another. Jonathan held his hands up indicating to the crowd that he was ready to speak.
"I never realized my love life was such a hot topic but, I am prepared to make a statement regarding this morning's article."
"Mr. Hart, isn't it true that you arranged for your bride-to-be to be arrested?" asked Jennifer moving her way through the crowd.
"Ah Ms. Edwards. A shrewd reporter you are," Jonathan smiled. "Let me tell you about my bride-to-be..."
"Then its true," yelled another reporter.
"If you give me minute I will tell you." Jonathan laughed amused by whole situation, "My bride-to-be is beautiful, smart, funny....."
"And?" Jennifer asked still moving her way up through the crowd.
"And kind, exciting....."
"And?" Jennifer now was almost directly in front of Jonathan.
"Ms. Edwards, you seem to know a great deal about my fiancée, why don't you come up here and tell us."
The crowd seemed baffled and Jennifer began to feel uncomfortable. But she took Jonathan's hand and stepped up beside him.
Jonathan looked at her, smiling his most mischievous grin yet. Swiftly, but gracefully, he took Jennifer in his arms. Dipping her, he gave her long, passionate kiss. Stunned, the press stood silent for a minute. Then, realizing what was happening the press began to snap pictures of the couple. Some clapped and others began shouting out more questions.
Jonathan stood Jennifer up again. Taking her hand he said, "Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I would like to introduce the future Mrs. Hart, Jennifer Edwards."
More questions were called out from the crowd. Again Jonathan held his hands up to speak.
"My statement is this: I met this beautiful lady" Jonathan started looking at Jennifer, "on this trip to your fair city. I was instantly smitten. I am most fortunate indeed, that she has agreed to marry me. The details of the wedding are not finalized. Thank you!"
Again more questions were thrown at the couple. Jonathan waved and putting his arm around Jennifer's back, he escorted her into the hotel.
"The hair," Jack said as he watched the couple leave, "I should of known it was her because of her hair."
"What?"
"Look at it. When have you ever seen her with her hair down?" Jack said.
Back up in the room the door was hardly shut before Jonathan picked Jennifer up and headed toward the bedroom.
"I want to make mad passionate love to you," he said. Jennifer giggled.
"Hey, Mr. H." Max called. Jonathan stopped in his tracks still holding Jennifer.
"Yes, Max."
Max entered the room.
"I see you have plans," Max said. "I just wanted to let you know that the plane is here and should be ready to leave again in an hour."
"An hour," Jonathan repeated.
"Yes, and everything is ready."
"An hour," Jonathan said again. "I don't think that is enough time."
Jennifer laughed, "No I don't think it is." Jonathan shook his head in disappointment and set Jennifer down.
