Since Jackson headed to TAO, he dressed to impress. Due to his muscular build, he couldn't just buy something off the rack, but thankfully his tailor had a suit ready that he hadn't picked up yet. Or he should say Evelyn never picked up, as she usually did that sort of thing for him.

Jackson added a few accessories of a designer belt, shoes, and cufflinks. Finally, he was ready and showed up at the downtown restaurant with five minutes to spare.

"Reservation for Jackson Brewer."

The hostess nodded. "Right this way, Mr. Brewer." She led him over to a table near the huge Quan-Yin statue that was the restaurant's centerpiece. This was one of Evelyn's favorite restaurants to dine in. She was a huge fan of restaurants with a fusion of tastes, and this Pan-Asian restaurant was known for its diverse fare.

Jackson fiddled with his napkin and silverware. He missed Evelyn. Perhaps it was because he always took for granted that she'd be here for him. Now that she wasn't, he felt... lost.

"Will Ms. Quinn be joining you?" the server asked Jackson, knowing he never dined alone.

"No, not tonight," Jackson said. He looked at his watch. His informant was late, and after making that crack about him, it grated on Jackson's last nerve.

He ordered some miso soup with tofu and manila clams and the wagyu rib-eye teppanyaki as his meal, along with some wine.

"Would you care for some fried rice?"

"No, I'd prefer the Cantonese cauliflower."

"As you wish." His server left to place his order.

Jackson received and ate his meal alone. He was never alone. If he did not have Evie by his side, there was always someone to take her place. Jackson felt miserable and furious. He called his informant. "Where are you?"

"I'm here. Dinner is too... intimate. Come to the club. You'll find me."

Jackson hung up and paid for his meal. TAO had a hidden gem, a nightclub that was separate from the restaurant that only served drinks. Being Jackson Brewer he had no problems getting in as the place often caters to VIPS and celebrities. He stood at the top tier and looked over the balcony, scanning the crowd for who he was looking for. The floor was packed with people either there to party or to dance. 

Of course, his snitch would want to meet him here. The dim lights and crowd would keep them from being noticed. There was a tap on his shoulder.

"Did you enjoy your meal?"

"You know I didn't."

"I do know. Just like I know the pictures taken tonight will make for a very sad story about how your fiancé took off to Missouri with her lover. Leaving you to dine in your favorite spot all alone, looking so miserable without her."

"Is this what you meant by a negative campaign?"

"Yes. If you want the world to love you, you'll need to crush the one you "supposedly" love."

"I do love, her."

"Please. You've done nothing but belittle and demean her. You've cheated on her, made her look like a fool so she couldn't succeed. I may be helping you spin a better story but don't think for one minute I believe my own bullshit. Decker is right. You don't deserve her."

Jackson growled in anger. "I decide what I deserve. You just keep doing your job, if you want what you asked for. You're betraying everyone's trust that works with you and you're going to stand there spouting virtues to me? What a joke."

"I'm doing what I have to do to succeed."

"Well, then it looks like we have a lot in common. So, tell me your idea."

"It's simple. You act as the injured party. Sasha Miller has been fired. Discredited so she will no longer be an issue. Kaylee will continue to paint you as the wronged party and when she through all of America will despise Evelyn Quinn for leaving you for a nobody like Calem Decker."

"Let me buy you a drink?"

"I can't be seen with you. Just because Sasha has been taken out doesn't mean there won't be others who are chomping at the bit to take her place. Just remember for this to work it means no more flings, affairs, make-out sessions, whatever you call them. That all has to stop. You have to become the virtuous one. Meanwhile, to ensure your victory I've hired a private eye in Missouri to tail Evelyn. If Evelyn spends any time with Decker we'll have pictures of the entire affair."

"But she's already broken up with me."

"Yes, but the only people to know that are you and her. Did she return the ring?"

"I don't know, maybe. She's sent all my stuff to LA."

"Then have your assistant dumpster dive to find it. Because for the grand finale, you going to go to Missouri and try to win back the love of your life."

"When she turns you down, well... she'll be done for and you'll get to walk away America's most loved bachelor. You'll be free to screw anyone you want, which I'm sure you will. Or she'll accept you and everyone will be happy again. So, it's a win-win, for you anyway."

"I don't like the idea of Evelyn getting hurt."

"Really? You're going to go all noble on me now? Every time you slept with a girl you hurt her. Every time you made her look like a fool you hurt her. Her reputation as a dim-witted twit has been already solidified in New York thanks to you. She has no chance of getting a restaurant opened in this city. So, who cares what the rest of the world thinks of Evelyn Quinn? You want to be loved, don't you? You want to keep making movies?"

Jackson solemnly nodded. "Then you do as I say. Denny will be happy and you'll be back on set before you know it. Sleeping with whoever you like. I'm counting on you not to screw this up. I'll be in touch. Until then, don't call, and don't even think of summoning me to another meeting. I won't come. Understand?"

"Yeah, I got it."

"Good."

"Have a good night, Jackson." And with that, his informant disappeared into the crowd leaving him standing there feeling more alone than ever. He never thought he'd sink this low, but there was no backing out now.

In the morning, Jackson called his assistant and told him to look for the ring and to call him if he found it. He let Denny know he had a plan but it may delay production a few more days. If it meant saving Jackson's reputation and therefore his film, Denny was all for it.

Jackson passed a newsstand and saw the next edition of Know Now. He saw Kaylee Bardot's article with a picture of him on the front cover looking miserable eating dinner alone. The article was entitled, "All Alone in the Big City." Jackson flipped to it and read,

Jackson Brewer returned to New York taking time from his hectic schedule from shooting his newest film, "Kill 'Em All 3" to surprise his fiancé only to find his apartment empty, things missing. Had he been robbed? Has his fiancé Evelyn Quinn, dumped his belongings, to make room for the new love of her life Calem Decker?

We don't know. What we do know is Jackson was left at a table for one at Evelyn's favorite restaurant to eat a solitary meal. All night, Jackson spent alone even when frequenting TAO's nightclub.

"I'm committed to this relationship," Brewer told us when we called him for a statement. "I know I haven't been perfect, that things have been rough these last few months between Evelyn and me but I meant it when I said I loved her, and only her. I only wish I knew where she was now."

It is the question on all of our minds. Where is Evelyn Quinn? Jackson had returned to tell her he had forgiven her for having an affair with Decker and that he wanted to fix things between them, but it would seem both Evelyn Quinn and Calem Decker have both left New York. Did they leave together? We cannot say but it does seem highly suspicious.

Already as he sat sipping his espresso, he noticed people looking at him with pity. The plan was working. By lunch, he had people stopping him in the street telling him they were sorry and they hoped things worked out for him and Evelyn.

Within a few days, he checked out Evelyn's Go Fund Me Account and smiled as it had stalled out. Every day Jackson went out publicly. He ate alone, he drank alone, he shopped alone and the press was eating it up.

His assistant had called he found the ring and was overnighting it to Jackson. It would be at the apartment tomorrow. Wherever Evelyn was Jackson hoped she was as miserable as he was.

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