The Maureen Persona

Chapter5

Chapter 5

Jonathon watched as Megan sat alone in the secluded corner booth of the ballroom watching Jackson and Amy as they danced their anniversary waltz. He started to join her but stopped when Salvador Hunter claimed the seat next to her. He began to look away when out of the corner of his eye he saw her push him away.

Salvador had been pursuing Megan for well over a year. Up until now, she had been successful in avoiding his attempts to compromise her virtue. Still, Jonathon feared that Salvador was losing patience. A man like Salvador Hunter would only endure her rebuffs for so long. He would reach his breaking point and when he did Jonathon prayed he would be around to protect her if needed.

Jonathon had been in love with Megan for years but was afraid of telling her. He was aware of her past and how one jealous crush from a classmate had done irreparable damage to her self-esteem causing her to spiral into a deep depression that came close to pushing her to the point of no return. He had been the one to suggest that she invent a new persona that she could channel her creative side with and forget the past if only for a moment. She had taken his advice and with his help, Maureen Withers was born. Together they had invented a convincing story and with the help of Amy, who was British by birth, Meagan had been able to alter her speaking voice so that she spoke with a perfect English accent. The only people who were aware that Maureen was Megan's fictional persona besides himself were Amy, her husband Jackson, and Megan's childhood best friend Lenore Roberts. To the public, Maureen Withers was an eccentric antisocial recluse and that is the way Megan wanted it to stay. It gave her the freedom to live her life without fear of compromising her principles or her creativity.

Jonathon grabbed another glass of wine from a passing server and drained it in one gulp before making his way to the secluded table Megan was sitting at.

“Maureen,” Jonathon smiled as offered Megan his hand. “As your escort this evening I think it only proper that you indulge me in a dance.”

“Maureen and I are in the middle of something,” Salvador warned as he glared at Jonathon.

"No we aren't," Megan scooted around the booth and accepted the hand Jonathon offered her. "Thank you, Jonathon," Megan smiled and gripped his hand tighter than he anticipated. Jonathon slipped his arm around her waist and escorted her to the dance floor ignoring the look of animosity Salvador glared at him.

“Thank you,” Megan whispered as she placed her shaking hand on his shoulder. “If you hadn’t come along I don’t know if he would have let me go.”

“Megan,” Jonathon looked into her eyes and saw underlying fear just beneath the surface. “It’s alright,” he pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “I’m here for you, I’ll always be here for you,” he promised.

“You have no idea how much that means to me,” Megan rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. “No idea at all.”

The rest of the night went by without incident despite the hateful glances Salvador gave to Jonathon and his vain attempts to woo Megan from his side. Megan seemed determined to ignore his advances and Salvador was not a man to take rejection lightly. He was a man determined and no feeble assistant was going to stand in the way of something he wanted.

Megan and Jonathon stood at the curb waiting for the valet to bring the car around when Megan linked her arm around Jonathon’s and pulled him closer than normal. He patted her hand when he noticed that she was shaking ever so slightly.

“Megan,” Jonathon leaned closer as he whispered. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she met his eyes and gave him a fake smile. “Just a chill in the air.”

The valet brought the car around and upon opening the door Megan wasted no time in seating herself in the passenger seat. Jonathon promptly climbed into the driver's seat. After buckling himself in he put the car in drive and proceeded in the direction of Megan's apartment.

"I know you better than that," Jonathon finally spoke after driving several miles in silence. "Something's wrong. What is it, Megan?"

“It’s Salvador,” Megan shook her head.

“What happened?” Jonathon asked.

“He made it clear what he wants from me,” Megan paused for a moment. “And that he won’t take no for an answer. He scared me, Jonathon," Megan shook her head as her glassy eyes turned to look at him.

“I'll contact his offices and tell them you've reconsidered doing the pieces for the London office," Jonathon said as he turned down the street and her apartment building came into view. "After that, he will be out of excused to see you, at least as far as the business front."

“It’s not the business part I’m worried about,” Megan shook her head.

“Do you want me to walk with you to your door?”

“I can’t ask you to do that,” Megan shook her head.

“You’re not asking,” Jonathon touched her upper arm. “I’m offering.”

“If you don’t mind,” Megan’s eyes met his. “I’d appreciate it.”

"Let me park the car," Jonathon pulled into the apartment complex's parking lot. "And I'll see you safely to your door."

After Jonathon parked the car he wasted no time opening the passenger side door and offering Megan his hand. Together they walked to the apartment entryway and seeing Megan's unease Jonathon walked with her to her apartment door. With trembling hands, Megan fumbled with her key and was unable to unlock the door.

“Let me,” Jonathon took her hand in an attempt to steady her and placed the key in the lock.

“Thank you,” Megan breathed as she stepped into her apartment. Opening the door Megan cautiously looked inside. Reaching inside she flipped the light switch on. “Would it be too much to ask you to check for intruders?”

“Salvador really did a number on you didn’t he?” Jonathon said as he followed Megan into her apartment.

“You could say that,” Megan admitted.

“You sit on the couch and try to relax,” Jonathon guided Megan’s shaking form to the sofa, “I’ll make you some chamomile tea after I look around and you’re sure it’s safe.”

"I'm acting like a child that's afraid of the dark," Megan said as she accepted the steaming cup of tea Jonathon handed her after checking the bathroom and her bedroom for uninvited guests.

“What exactly did Salvador say to you?” Jonathon asked as he leaned forward and gave Megan his full attention.

“It’s not so much what he said,” Megan began, “but how he said it.”

“Which was,” Jonathon prompted.

“He implied that if I didn’t accept his advances,” Megan closed her eyes and shook her head as she started to shake again. “That he would force me.”

“Come here,” Jonathon pulled her into his arms and caressed her back. “You’re safe now. Will you feel better if I stay the night and sleep on the couch?”

“I’d hate to ask you to do that,” Megan buried her face in his shoulder.

“You’re not asking,” Jonathon tilted her face upward to look at him. “I’m offering.”

“If you don’t mind,” Megan admitted. “It would make me feel safer.”

“In that case,” Jonathon stood and headed toward the kitchen. “I think I’ll make myself a cup of tea. You find something to watch on Netflix and we’ll make it a movie night.”

"Thank you, Jonathon," Megan said as he crossed the room and headed toward the kitchen.

“There’s no place I’d rather be,” Jonathon gave her a smile.

“She’s not alone,” a man sitting in a brown sedan parked in the parking lot of the apartment complex spoke into his phone.

“What do you mean she’s not alone?” the person on the other side of the phone responded.

“The man that was driving the car went inside with her,” the man replied.

“Are you sure you’re at the right place?”

“I followed them from the hotel,” the man in the sedan informed the man on the phone. “It’s definitely the right place.”

“He’ll probably leave soon, when he does you can make your move.”

“What if he doesn’t leave? Then what?”

"He'll leave, Maureen isn't the kind of person that has overnight male guests."

“You may not know her as well as you think you do.”

“I don’t pay you to think. Just do what you’ve been paid to do,” the man hissed before disconnecting the call.

The man in the sedan sat in the car for over an hour when all the lights were turned off and it became clear that Maureen's male guest would be spending the night. "You don't know her well at all," the man observing the apartment shook his head as he turned the ignition and his car roared to life. "I'm not staying here all night just to satisfy one man's cravings for things he can't have."