Jeremiah turned, came face to face with Jennifer and felt like he had been sucker punched to the stomach. She was breathtakingly gorgeous reminding him of the time they'd spent in Paris. This is the kind of dress she would have worn to one of the operas they attended. And he would have enjoyed peeling it off inch by inch then proceed to make love to her all night long. But that seemed impossible now. He was afraid she wouldn't attend but  he realized he should have been worried about something else. Like the man standing beside her with his hand around her waist. Without realizing it, he gripped the glass harder. He didn't have the right to breathe the same air she did, let alone be beside her. Jennifer was his dammit

"Baby are you okay?" Daniella asked from behind him.

Loosening his grip on the glass he nodded. Just a little bit more pressure and he would have broken it. "Yeah. Have you seen my dad?"

"Ah yes. He's over there talking with my father" she told him but he wasn't paying attention to her. He couldn't stop himself from looking at his wife. She never stopped being his wife even though they had been divorced for a year now. he thought that by being with someone else it would lessen the pain he felt for losing her but it was useless. Dani drove him nuts with her insistent nagging. She was an airhead he would have dated before he met Jennifer. After her, no one measured up. She looked his way, smiled then went back to talking with that idiot. Pain like no other gripped his heart. Was this what it was going to be like? Hesitant smiles across the room then she would go back to ignoring him? NO. He wouldn't let her forget about him. Fuck he wouldn't let her move on with someone else. The only reason he'd signed those divorce papers was because he knew she still loved him and that one day she would be back. Showing up with that Jonathan fella was a mistake on her part.

"Baby you're not even listening to me. Who are you looking at?" Dani craned her neck to see but he pivoted around, blocking her view. She'd heard a few things about Jennifer from Chloe who mentioned her whenever she had a chance just to irritate Dani. But she hadn't seen any photos. Unless she went online and dug them up. Either way, he didn't want her to know Jennifer was there.

"No one. Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked just to distract her. Tapping her nose, he pecked her lips probably for the last time. He had a plan to get his wife back and it was going to start tonight. Right there.

________________________

"Stop fidgeting Jennifer. You look fine"

"I'm not flashing my private parts?"

"Now I wish you were. How long do we have to stay here anyway?" Jonathan asked looking around. If he had to guess he'd say this was some business award event. 

"An hour tops? I don't know. Are you bored already?"

"Not really. But I don't like......" he stopped, freezing when he saw a familiar figure. how long had it been since he'd last seen that man? Twenty? Twenty five? No. Twenty seven years to be exact. It was different compared to seeing him in magazines or the internet.

"Jonathan are you okay?" Jenna said reminding him where they were.

"Yes, yes. I'm fine. I just saw someone I haven't seen in a long time" he flashed her a dazzling smile "Your husband looks like he wants to skin me alive. I guess your plan is working"

"What? What plan?"

"I'm not stupid Jennifer. I know you brought me here to make him jealous which I have no problem with. I would love to rub it in his face all night"

"Why?"

"Do you want a drink? Champagne? Wine?" he changed the subject abruptly.

"Wine. White" she told him and he walked towards the bar not missing how Jeremy hurried to where Jennifer was. The guy was like a love sick puppy, it was pathetic. Jonathan decided to make him a little jealous so he'd know how Jennifer felt. It can't be easy for her to see him with someone else. And why was he dating another woman if he was still in love with his wife? This is why he didn't do relationships. They were complicated as Fuck and most of the times you ended up doing stupid things.

When he'd woken up a week ago, Penny had been long gone. He wanted to go looking for her and bring her back but he'd understood that it wouldn't work out between them. She'd told him a little about her past but he suspected she hadn't told him the whole truth. It didn't make sense that she stayed with her father for two years unless he was holding something over her head. That man had to be blackmailing her with something. He wanted to kill him for doing what he did to Penny but he couldn't do it. He had no doubt Penny would do it someday and she deserved that closure. He wouldn't take something like that away from her.

"A whiskey on the rocks please" Someone said from beside him. Jonathan didn't have to turn to know who he was. He'd prepared himself for this moment all his life. But standing beside him right that second, he was back to being that lost little boy. His throat went dry and his palms started sweating. Get yourself together Jon. You're not a child anymore. He tried giving himself a pep talk but it wasn't working. "Excuse me but do I know you?" the man asked forcing him to turn.

"No. I don't think so" Taking the two glasses the waiter had placed in front of him, he walked away marveling at how strong his voice had come out. He was done with that chapter of his life. There was no going back. Ever.

Jeremiah was still talking to Jennifer and Jonathan sighed inwardly. Poor guy was about to get a taste of his own medicine. "Here my love. Just like you ordered it" he said placing a glass of wine in Jennifer's hand. Then just to irritate her husband, he bent down and kissed her forehead. Jeremiah bunched his hands into fists which were empty, thank God for that, then said

"I'm going to find my father. Have a nice evening Jennifer" they both watched him walk away.

"Ouch that hurt" Jonathan said after Jennifer had jabbed him in the ribs.

"My Love?"

"I thought we were starting a relationship here. Did I misunderstand something?"

"Yeah. A lot of something"

"C'mon don't tell me you've never had a sex dream about us Jennifer" he whispered in her ear then smirked when she chocked on her drink.

"What?" at the raise of his eyebrows she relented. "It was just one and it wasn't that good"

"Liar"

"You're shameless."

"And hot. Don't forget that"

"Like I actually would." She murmured under her breath but he heard her. They mingled for a while talking to everybody except Jeremiah and his girlfriend. But Jonathan had to give the guy props for keeping an eye on them. He trained his eyes on them watching them like a hawk and when Jennifer headed to the bathroom, he followed her. He could have stopped the idiot but he let them be. Whatever had led to their separation, maybe it was time for those two to reconcile. and since he was a good man, he'd help them. Mainly by keeping that Daniella busy.

It's not that she wasn't pretty. She was hot in a model kind of way and if he wasn't thinking about someone else, he would have tried his luck with her. She was the kind of woman he would have enjoyed for a few days then kicked to the curb. But that stupid bullet had changed him. And yes, he was going to blame everything weird that happened to him on Cassandra and her dumb ideas.

"Hello. Why is a beautiful woman like you standing here by herself?" 

"My boyfriend is here somewhere. I just can't find him"

"So you're already taken? Damn. my bad." Jonathan pretended to be disappointed. "Do you mind if i just stand here with you then? Until he gets back that is. We don't want other men thinking you're all alone now. Do we?"

"No. I'm Daniella by the way. what is your name?" 

"Jonathan. But you can call me Jon"

__________________________

Jenna was ready to go home. She was done with this event, whatever it was but mostly she was done with seeing Jeremy rub his girlfriend in her face. Small kisses and touches that should have been hers, were now showered on that woman. She had no interest in even meeting her. In her eyes, she was the woman who was with her husband. Ex husband. She tried to remind herself that but Jeremy was still her husband. It didn't matter if they had been apart for a year. She still loved him and seeing him with someone else hurt her. More than she had anticipated. Opening the door to the restroom she got in but as she  tried to close it, someone blocked her. "Jeremy?"

"Jennifer" he said walking in and to her surprise closed the door then locked it. 

"What are you doing?" she asked even though she knew what he was doing. 

"Do you need to go?" he pointed to the other doors inside. Jennifer looked at him with wide eyes like he was crazy. What was wrong with him?

"Are you serious right now?"

"Yeah. Do you need to use the bathroom? Yes or no?"

"That is none of your business Jeremy. Why are you even here?" he stalked towards her forcing her to move back until her ass hit the sink. 

"It's my business Jennifer. Everything you do is my business. So I'll ask you for the last time. do you need to use the bathroom?"

"N... No." she stuttered knowing what was about to come. Or who to be precise. Until then, he hadn't touched her. she could feel his breath on her face since he was so close but no part of him had touched her. Goosebumps rose on the part of her thigh that was exposed by the long slit on her dress, a second before he touched her. It was a light feathery touch that had her skin flushing from the inside out. He moved his hand up her thigh until it was at the junction of her legs then stopped and whispered

"I want to rip this dress off you then lick, bite, suck on every inch of your skin until you beg me to make you come. " his hand was now on her cleavage caressing lightly. "But I'm mad at you for showing up with that Jonathan so you'll have to settle for a bathroom Fuck." at that point Jenna would have settled for anything. Her breaths were coming out shallow while her armpits couldn't stop sweating even though the air in the bathroom was cool. Swallowing she just stared at him as he unbuckled his belt slowly then unzipped his pants. 

"Jeremy I...."

"Not a word Jennifer." he cut her off dropping his pants together with his boxers. His erection sprung free making Jennifer forget about everything else. She wanted to protest that he also showed up with someone else who happened to be his girlfriend but she couldn't find the words to do so. She went willingly when he lifted her legs so she could wrap them around his waist, then dropped her purse to hold on to him. Instead of ripping her panties the way she thought he would, he just pushed them aside, sinking in to her. She hadn't been with anyone else since him and it felt so good. She concentrated on how he made her feel instead of the fact that they were in a public bathroom while his girlfriend was a few feet away, on the other side of the door. 

____________________________

"I see what you're doing"

"Which is?" Jonathan asked sipping his drink. He was ready to leave this place but he had to make sure Jennifer was fine.

"Distracting Daniella so Jere can have time alone with Jenna."

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"I think we know each other. Jonathan is it? I'm Daniel Maxwell"

"Pleasure to meet you"

"Only this isn't the first time we've met. Is it?"

Jonathan faced him. "I think I would remember meeting you Mr Maxwell. I never forget a face"

"Are you sure son? I'm almost a hundred percent sure I know you from somewhere."

"One hundred percent sure. It was nice to meet you but I have to leave" he went to turn but Mr Maxwell grabbed his arm

"What about Jennifer?"

"I'm sure she's fine with with her husband. If you'll excuse me" hurrying outside, he dropped his glass on a tray a waiter was carrying around. Once in the open, he breathed in trying to control his heart rate. Your name is Jonathan Blackwell. Remember Jonathan Blackwell. He kept chanting until the valet brought his car around. He got in and sped away thinking he'd done okay. There was also never going to be a second time. He was going to make sure of that. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he took out with one hand while the other was on the steering wheel.

"We found your crazy sexy nurse" Pasquale said from the other end.

"I didn't know we were looking for her. Fuck Pascal, there is a reason I let her go. She's supposed to stay gone. I don't want her back at the house"

"So do you prefer she stay at the Bianchi's mansion?" 

Jonathan braked abruptly making his tires screech loudly. "WHAT?!"

"You heard me. One of our boys called. Said she's there on behalf of her father."

"Is she crazy? If Wes finds out she's lying, he'll pop bullets in her head then ask questions later."

"Now what?"

"Charter a plane. It appears I owe my partner a visit." he hung up then beat on the steering wheel with the heel of his palms. What the Fuck was she looking for? What was so important that she would risk her life like that? Damn woman. She deserved to get what was coming for her.

***********************************************************************************************

Jeremy, Jenna, Daniella, Daniel, and now Penny. How much more can Jon take before he looses it?