The Maureen Persona

Chapter 1

8 years later

The smell of acetone and acrylic paint surrounded Megan as she dipped her thumb into a container of red paint and pressed it firmly in the bottom right corner of the canvas on top of her signature. This was so that her thumbprint would always be on her work. She had worked tirelessly on it for the last six weeks and at long last it was finished. It wasn’t her best work, but it certainly was the work that would generate the most buzz in the art community. Maureen Withers was not known for being charitable, but this charity was near and dear to her heart. That is the reason why she had gone against the norm and offered to donate a painting for auction under the condition that all the proceeds generated from the auction price would go to charity. She had gone to great lengths to ensure that the auction house would not be paid a percentage of the sale price.

“It’s breathtaking,” Johnathon, Megan’s assistant, said in awe as he entered the studio. “Are you going to hang it in the gallery before the auction?”

“I’m considering it,” Megan took several steps back and studied the painting. “It would give me more exposure.”

“Is that something you want?” Johnathon gave her a questioning look. “You’ve worked hard on your recluse persona. If you suddenly started displaying your artwork, it might affect that?”

“If it wasn’t for charity I’d agree, but the more exposure the piece gets the more it could get at the auction.”

“I’ll contact Mrs. Honeywell and let her know the piece is finished,” Johnathon said as he pulled out his phone and sent a text to the charity event director.

Looking at the piece, Megan could not help but be happy with the result. It wasn’t like her normal pieces that consisted of soft pastels and muted shading. This piece was outside the lines of normalcy compared to her past works. Megan knew it could be detrimental to her art career, but she had felt the need to reinvent her art style and this charity auction was just the place to do it. If the public did not accept the new style, she would simply say the piece was different because it was for charity, and then she would continue the style that she was known for and make a change again in a few years.

“This came for you today,” Jonathon handed her an envelope. “It was forwarded from your old address, and it was addressed to Megan Whitherspoon, not Maureen Withers.”

“Elizabethtown?” Megan studied the return address. “It's been a long time since I've got anything from there.” Opening the envelope, a wide smile spread across her face as she read and pulled out an inner envelope.

“What is it?” Jonathon asked.

“It’s from one of my friends from high school. It’s an invitation to his wedding. He’s getting married in three weeks,” Megan responded as she handed the invitation to Jonathon. "I haven’t seen him since high school. I’m surprised he’d think to invite me.”

“What’s this mean?” Jonathon asked, pointing to the handwritten message scribbled on the inner envelope of the invitation.

“To the one who always had my back,” Megan laughed. “It was a joke me and Gerald had with one another back in high school.”

“Is that all you were?” Jonathon questioned, with a spark of jealousy in his eyes. “Just friends?”

“Yeah,” Megan smiled as she untied her apron and tossed it under the easel. “I wasn’t Gerald's type, and truth be told, he wasn’t mine.”

“You don’t talk much about your life back then,” Jonathon gave her a questioning look. “Bad memories?”

“You could say that” Megan lowered her head and grabbed several paint brushes and headed to the sink. "Let’s just say there was a certain individual that made my high school life extremely difficult, and I wanted to get as far away from him as possible.”

“Old flame?” Jonathon guessed.

“No actually,” Megan gave Jonathon a sad look. “Just the opposite. The ass never had the guts to ask me out and threatened anybody else that attempted to.”

“What,” Jonathon looked at her in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Wish I was,” Megan shook her head. “I went all through school thinking something was wrong with me, then on graduation day Gerald told me what he had done.”

“Why didn’t he tell you before then?” Jonathon asked.

“Apparently, Raymond had a violent streak, and when one guy didn’t heed his warnings, he ended up with a broken leg and in the ICU for a month. After that, people started avoiding me like the plague, well except for Gerald and his cousin Lenore.”

“It's hard to believe anyone would be that vindictive?” Jonathon shook his head in disbelief.

“Well he was,” Megan shrugged. “Poor Robbie paid a high price for asking me out. I try not to dwell on the past, especially on the things I cannot change.” Megan shook her head and gave her assistant a dazzling smile. “I’m a different person now.”

“Thats right,” Jonathon said with a grin. “Today you are Maureen Withers, the British artist that has taken the art world by storm.”

“Yes, I am,” Megan responded in a British accent, before busting out into laughter.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jonathon,” Megan gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Do I have any appointments this week?”

“You have a lunch meeting with Salvadore Hunter tomorrow afternoon,” Jonathon informed her.

“Can’t you postpone it,” Megan rolled her eyes.

“I would, but this is the fourth reschedule this month,” he reminded her. “I know you don’t like talking to him, but he is one of your largest benefactors, and he is quite smitten with you.”

“He's smitten with Maureen Withers,” Megan gave a light laugh. “If he knew the real me, he wouldn’t give me the time of day. Men like Salvadore don’t have time for the Megan Whitherspoon’s of the world.”

“That may be true, but I am running out of excuses to give him about why you keep rescheduling,” Jonathon explained. “It’s supposed to be a business meeting, I could accompany you,” Jonathon offered. “As your assistant, it would be acceptable for me to be there.”

“As tempting as that sounds, I’d better see him alone. You remember what happened last time you came. Besides,” Megan looked at the wedding invitation and smiled. “I might just have the perfect excuse if he makes another one of his illustrious propositions.”

"He is a determined individual when it comes to you," Jonathon stated. "After three years of trying, you'd think he'd move on to someone else."

"Men like Salvadore like a challenge," Megan grabbed a large hat and scarf from the coat hanger by the door. "That's all I am to him. I know that if I gave into his advances he'd stop seeing me within a week. Besides, he's not my type."

"What exactly is your type," Jonathon hesitated to ask.

"I've never really thought about it," Megan pondered the thought. "For one thing, he'd have to be single.

"I'm single," Jonathon offered, meeting her eyes.

"Yes you are," Megan smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "And sexy too."

"You think so?" Jonathon asked, clearly intrigued by her appraisal of him.

"Trust me Jonathon," Megan purred. "You are very sexy. If you weren't my assistant, I'd give your girlfriend a run for the money."

"You mean Amanda?" Jonathon asked, to which Megan nodded. "We broke up last month. So I'm on the market should you change your mind about mixing business with pleasure,'" he gave her a smirk.

"Oh Jonathon," Megan took his face in her hands and kissed him boldly on the lips. "That's why I love you so much. You always know how to make me smile. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning," Megan said as she tied the scarf around her head and headed toward her car.

Jonathon sighed as he watched her walk away, the gentle sway of her hips capturing his attention and forcing him to fight the urge to run after her. He wanted nothing more than to grab her and tell her exactly how much he loved and had always loved her ever since they first five years ago. If the day ever came, and she gave him a hint of encouragement, he would do just that, but until then he would keep his love for her a carefully hidden secret.