A Simple Complexity

About the Book

A Simple Complexity JONATHAN MEERIER hates his life. He’s never had the courage to take a chance. As a result, he is stuck in a tedious accounting job at his father’s company and watches from the sidelines as his more assertive friend, DRAKE, scores with the ladies. All that changes on a sunny July day in 2000. Jonathan quits his job and books a flight for Paris. More than anything, he wants to find a career he can feel passionate about and find a woman he can share his life with. To pay his expenses while he ponders his future, Jonathan contracts with a tutoring agency to teach English during the day. But at night, he becomes a student of gender interaction at the Parisian night spots. While in Paris, Jonathan meets JACQUES and ARNIE, two Frenchmen with divergent philosophies. Jacques is a happily married postman who delivers advice as well as the mail. He counsels Jonathan to pursue his passions in love and work. On the other hand, Arnie, the proprietor of a small bar, is a cynical divorcee who believes that relationships are a competition for power. He recommends that Jonathan have no commitments with women and teaches Jonathan the subtle techniques of seduction. While at a popular nightclub, A drunken man keeps pestering ARIELLE until Jonathan confronts him. A fight ensues and all parties are removed from the bar. Out of gratitude, Arielle agrees to a series of English lessons with Jonathan. He intrigues Arielle, a thirty-three old lingerie model with his odd notions of a female empowered world. Arielle proclaims that it is a man’s world, as men are physically stronger and control more money. Jonathan insists that women wield more power, as men are willing to do anything to win a woman’s favor. Their friendly banter hides the growing attraction between them. As Jonathan debates the power of the sexes, he also explores the dilemma of his future. He is drawn to the stock exchange and realizes he had ignored his passion for predicting the success of sports figure and musicians. He is fascinated by the intensity of stock trading and wants to become a part of it. He decides his future career belongs on Wall Street. Independent Arielle confesses she faces a career decision of her own. Her aging body is no longer in demand as it once was. As their English lessons outgrow the conference room and move into the streets of Paris, Jonathan encourages Arielle to pursue her love of art and museums by considering a career working in a museum. Jonathan realizes his feelings for Arielle have grown into love, but he still doesn’t have the courage to tell her. Instead, he sends an anonymous love letter and poem that enthrall and confuse Arielle. She suspects her mysterious admirer is a co-worker at the modeling agency and pursues this suspicion to disastrous results. Twice divorced, Arielle is protective of her privacy and reluctant to enter another relationship. But intelligent and reflective Jonathan is so unlike the other men she’s known, she can’t help but seek his company. Finally, he asks her out on a date, but when he over-imbibes, he mistakes awakening on her sofa as permanent relegation to the non-romantic status of “friend.” Hurt, Jonathan writes Arielle a final note professing his love, then leaves for the next flight home. As his taxi nears the airport, he realizes he has reverted to the gutless man he thought he’d left behind. He swallows his fear and orders the taxi to turn around. He orchestrates a dynamic return to Arielle’s apartment, where Arielle admits it is a woman’s world--but she is willing to share it with him.

About the Author

The author was born and raised in Southern California, attended Chapman University and later received an MBA from the University of San Francisco. When not writing, he is probably having another misadventure at the bridge table. The author lives in Southern California.