The restaurant was Italian with a name she couldn't pronounce but that didn't matter. Jenna's heart beat wildly in her chest threatening to jump out. This wasn't a place people came to discuss business. It was a place where lovers or couples came to have a nice intimate dinner. With dim lights and well spaced out seating arrangements, it gave you the illusion of being the only people in the restaurant. There were candles and flowers on the table. A man at the table closest to them took out a rose from the vase in the middle of the table and handed it to his partner who took it blushing sweetly. Another table ahead was a young couple who couldn't keep their hands or legs off each other.

They were escorted towards the stairs that Jenna found out led to the roof. A single table was laid out just like the rest but this one was a little bigger with covered plates seating on top. As if all that wasn't romantic enough, candles were arranged on the floor forming a circle around their table. Close enough to make it romantic but far away enough to not accidentally trip on them. Christ. Jenna wanted to see what it felt like to be on a date with Jonathan if this is what he meant by a business dinner. He pulled the chair out for her and then sat on the opposite side. Until then they hadn't spoken a word.

Jonathan had picked her up from her house where Chloe had fussed with her hair until she slapped the young girl's hands away deciding to tie it loosely to the side. Jenna had picked a green wool dress with leopard trim edges that was business like but still casual and sexy. After greeting each other, Jonathan escorted her to his car and they drove away. The silence between them hadn't been awkward but Jenna had been fidgety wondering what kind of proposal he had. He was also handsome in his suit with buttons opened at his throat. She wasn't sure if she was just anxious because of his proximity or because she felt guilty for thinking there was something more between them.

They ate in silence and Jonathan only spoke when it was time for dessert. "I have a proposal"

"So you keep saying. Let's hear it" Jenna said looking at him curiously behind her cup of coffee.

"I really want to donate to your cause. It can't be easy taking care of all those children"

"It's not. But I do the best I can. Together with a few friends, we manage"

"That's just it. With more funds you wouldn't have to manage. You could hire more people, get more houses, bigger houses so you could help more kids."

"Why are you offering?"

"Shouldn't everyone be doing so? Come on Jennifer you can't seriously tell me you don't need it"

"Bullshit Jonathan. We both know you have an agenda here. Spill it or I walk"

He looked taken aback but he cleared his throat nodding. "I'm attracted to you and I'll do anything to see you or be near you"

"Okay" Jenna said getting up. She was done with this shit show. If he wasn't going to be honest with her then there was no way she would trust him to have good intentions. The kids safety came first to her no matter what. His money would help her a lot, but she couldn't go around trusting just anyone.

"Where are you going?" Jonathan asked following her lead and getting up too.

"I'm leaving Jonathan. Don't treat me like I'm some stupid bimbo. It's clear that you're lying and you know what? I don't have to keep listening to you" she walked towards the stairs missing a candle narrowly. Jenna could hear Jonathan following her but she didn't care. She was done with him. And maybe it was for the best.

Outside she saw a middle aged woman leaving a taxi parked by the curb. Jenna flew past her getting in and slamming the door. She heard the woman say something about how rude and mannerless some people were while Jonathan was calling out to her behind the woman but the taxi was already moving. She was pissed at Jonathan. And at herself too for even entertaining him. She should have thrown away his card the moment he gave it to her. Damn it. She cursed feeling really mad. This was all Jeremiah's fault. He had moved on and she wanted to think she could too. So why hadn't she picked someone as sweet as Tristan or a French stranger who would show her a good time then leave? Because that was her problem. She always went for the complicated ones.

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Jonathan swore all the way to Jenna's house. He was really stupid to think he'd fool her. True he was attracted to her but that was not the reason he wanted to help her. Why couldn't he just be honest with her? Because the truth will put her in danger? His conscience threw back being the reasonable one. And since when was he a bad liar? He lied for a living so exactly how had Jennifer figured out he was lying? This night was going downhill fast and he only hoped he could get to her house before she did. He had to do something to salvage the rest of it even if it meant parting with one of his best kept secrets. His tires screeched outside her house just as she got out of the cab.

"Jennifer" he called out but she kept walking. Jonathan followed her and in the process of locking his car while trying to catch up to her, he tripped and almost fell. "Fucking hell" he swore catching himself in the nick of time. So this is what it felt like to chase after a woman. Literally. God help him but he didn't think he would last long as the chaser. Women fell on his lap at the snap of his fingers. Never in his life had he chased a woman until now. "Give me a minute will you?" he finally got to her before she had the chance to open the door. Spinning her around he slammed her back against the wall beside the door.

"Let me go" Jenna said trying to shake off his hands but he was too strong and his hold tightened.

"Is it so hard to believe I like you?"

"No. But that's not the reason you want to get close to me. You have an agenda Jonathan and until I find out what it is I'm not letting you anywhere near my children"

"You're right" he sighed in defeat loosening his hold but not letting her go completely. "I do have a personal reason for wanting to help but I swear it doesn't involve hurting anyone. I just can't tell you anything because I don't trust you. Yet." he added as an afterthought. Jenna nodded then pushed his hands away this time successfully.

"Then come back when you do. I'll be right here Jonathan"

"Jennifer please don't be like this. How can I learn to trust you if I'm not around you?"

"I don't-" the door opened cutting her short. A man with tan skin, black hair and a big smile walked out then upon noticing them his smile widened if that was even possible. Jonathan disliked him immediately. But mostly it was because Jenna was smiling back at him her eyes shining. "Tristan. You're back" she pushed him aside then lunged at the man wrapping her arms around his neck. Instantly Jonathan felt his blood boil as the man lifted then twirled Jennifer around making her giggle. He wanted badly to be in the guy's shoes with her chest pressed against his. Damn it now he was getting possessive.

"How was it? Tell me everything. And your skin. My God. I hope you took my advice and got a tan everywhere. Is it as exotic as people say it is?" Great now she was blabbering. Jonathan scowled wondering what he should do to get such a warm welcome.

"Slow down Jen and let me speak" Tristan said making Jonathan groan inwardly. The man had a British accent and from experience he knew women worshiped accents. This was bad. Like really really bad.

"No way. Let's go back inside and you can tell me everything" they walked in closing the door on Jonathan's face without even a backward glance. A flash of hurt came out of nowhere hitting him hard than he'd anticipated. He didn't like that she forgot about him. Most of all he hated the feeling of being rejected. She'd just left him outside and he could walk in pretending that it didn't bother him but the truth was it did. If he couldn't hold her attention long enough for her to see him,, really see him then why was he there? Jonathan walked to his car feeling stupid for thinking there was something more between them.

He had spent so much time alone, never letting anyone in and the first time someone captures his attention, they're not interested. That really stung. His job required him to be wary of everyone around him. So technically he had never let anyone see the real him. Even those who thought they knew him, only knew what he'd led them to believe. After the betrayal he'd suffered as a child, he had learnt to not trust anyone but himself. He had kept everyone at arm's length which is why he was who he was. Why he was called the Lone Wolf. So what had he expected? He drove all the way home feeling empty like there was a big hole in his chest. For the first in his life he felt lonely.

At the door Lukas welcomed him with bad news. "The DEA raided one of our warehouse"

"Which one?" he asked calmly even though inside a storm was raging.

"Beta" that wasn't good. They had named their warehouses in order to keep the newbies in the dark. Only trusted men went there but as of lately it seemed like everything was falling apart. He suspected the person who had stolen from them a week earlier. He had to be the one who told the feds where the warehouse was.  Jonathan walked away leaving Lukas to stare at his back. In his office he took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello" a gruff voice said from the other end

"Put the DEA bastards on a long leash. One more sniff anywhere near me and I'll shut the whole place down." he growled then hang up.

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Nathaniel scowled at his phone. He really hated his job sometimes. It didn't matter where he was or what he was doing, one call from Jonathan meant he was pissed. The man was careful keeping their contact minimal and avoided phone calls since they could be traced. So every time his caller ID flashed his name, Nathaniel knew someone had messed up terribly. Getting up he dialed another number. "Kyle find me Gonzalez" 

Kyle groaned "Do you know what time it is?"

"I don't care. You have ten minutes"

"I should quit and take a job in a video game store in a small village where I can dictate my own hours. I hate this job"

Nathaniel scoffed "And live in a hut with a thatched roof?" when Kyle didn't reply he said "Yeah. I didn't think so. Get on it you've wasted two minutes already"

"Doesn't matter. I only need three" Kyle hang up. Nate looked at his phone again. Why was everyone hanging their phones up on him? Didn't they think he had something more to say? Maybe he should be the one to quit this job. It was starting to get complicated. Way too complicated even for him.

Twenty minutes later he was standing on top of a building the cold biting his skin. "My wife doesn't like it when I stay out late. Make it quick Darhk." a voice said from beside him. He hadn't heard the man arrive but then again he was trained to be quiet.

"What happened to leaving the Bianchi organization alone?" Nathaniel snapped. He really hated these meetings because they never ended well.

"That was the work of a hotheaded agent. He's been suspended so don't worry about it"

"Bullshit. We both know that nothing goes on in your house without your knowledge."

"So what if I authorized it?"

"Don't test my patience Gonzalez. I can ruin you with the snap of my fingers"

"Is that a threat?"

"Take it however you want but this is my last warning. There won't be a next time"

"I'm not a puppet Darhk. This thing has been going on for so many years. Others are getting antsy as to why Jonathan Blackwell is getting away with everything"

"That's not my problem. Stay away from him, you know how dangerous he is."

"I also know he's getting away with everything. One of our guys went missing last week. No one is going to let that go even if I threaten to fire them."

"That is not my problem. Keep your house in order before Blackwell turns it to ash" Nathaniel left the other man gaping at his back. They all knew what happened to people who messed with Jonathan. He wasn't someone you crossed and lived to tell the tale.

Nathaniel had met him a few years ago. Even then he knew Jonathan was dangerous. He had no family or friends which meant he had nothing to lose. Those were the worst kind of people. But there was also a sliver of goodness in him. Deep deep down there was hope for him. But you had to dig deep and he never let anyone near enough to even look at him. Let alone dig. He was a Lone Wolf alright. Nathaniel didn't want to think what Jonathan would do if the DEA didn't stop.

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I feel sorry for Jonathan. How could Jenna be so rude?

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