The One Who Holds It All

House

Kylie

My alarm goes off promptly at 5:04 am-yes, I know, I’m that person. The evening and night went by so quickly yesterday, I didn’t realize how tired I was until my head hit the pillow. Getting up, I throw on my workout gear and head outside. The crisp air hits my body and I instantly feel awake. I really really hate running. In fact, most mornings I just end up walking and taking in the sights of the morning. This was definitely not one of those mornings.

Even though I went to the job yesterday, I feel even more nervous today. Possibly because I knew I was meeting my boss. Something about the aura of “leadership” made me feel anxious. I did my hour-long lap around the neighborhood, and when I got back I noticed a black car sitting in front of my house. The houses are so close together in this neighborhood, I'm sure it's just a neighbor.

Wearily side-eyeing the car, I ran inside and locked the door. This wasn’t a bad neighborhood, but to me, there is no good neighborhood completely void of crime and deception. Being a city, and right off of a college campus, all cars have to park on the side of the street. Yeah, it's just a neighbor's car.

Shaking off the feeling, I ran upstairs and hopped in the shower. I think about Amy’s note in the binder at work and take the time to pack a little overnight bag. She didn’t say for what exactly, so I ended up throwing in a bunch of things that I probably didn’t need, but hey, you never know for certain.

Megan said to dress more casually today. She didn’t exactly say "casual" all the way, so I opted for a mid-length, gray skirt that flowed just around my calves and a white long-sleeved shirt that I tucked in. I look in the mirror, trying to decide if I feel like wearing this. The inspirational picture I saw on the internet for this outfit looked great on the model, naturally, as she was probably a size 2. I am definitely not a size 2. But honestly, the way the skirt sits on my hips makes my hourglass figure look pretty curvy. I've never been afraid to show my curves, but knowing I would be standing next to Megan, the 6 foot Goddess, I was feeling a little insecure. Since it will just be us today, I'll leave it on. I slip on my flats, and go ahead and grab a pair of tennis shoes to throw in my bag on my way out the door. Not seeing Lainee anywhere yet, I stopped in the kitchen and grabbed an apple and packed a little lunch. As I’m about to head out the door, my phone buzzes.

‘Good morning, Kylie. My driver, Tony, will be picking you up for work today in our black company car. I would usually be there to introduce you, but once again, this circumstance is different. Just emailed your instructions for the morning.’

A driver?

I’m having a hard time believing what I’m reading. Although that explains why he needed my address yesterday. And that also hopefully explains the creepy black car sitting out front. Sure enough, I walked outside to see a driver standing outside of the car, waiting for me.

“Hello, I hope you are Kylie?” he asks, hesitantly.

“Hi, yes I’m Kylie,” I said with a smile.

“I am Tony, I’ll be driving you to work today, and every day, from here on out,” he says as he opens the door for me and takes my bag to the trunk.

Was this a dream? I had planned on taking the bus, but this is obviously way nicer than that.

“Thank you so much,” I said, a little unsure of his chivalry. You don’t see it much in the 21st century. It’s so refreshing!

Tony makes small talk as we head to the office. It didn’t take long to get there, especially since we didn’t have the stops that a bus would have to make along the way.

As we pull up to the front of the building, Tony gets strangely quiet.

“Kylie, Max would like you and Megan to meet him at his house today. Megan will be down shortly to ride with us. Sorry for the change of plans so abruptly.”

“Oh, that’s ok. I guess I will hang tight while we wait for her,” I said, before really thinking any of this through.

His house? What? This sounds odd.

Just then, I heard a buzz and I pull out my phone. Sure enough, it was Max.

‘Kylie, I would like you and Megan to work at my house today. We will be arriving shortly and meeting you there for a team meeting. Sorry for the change of plans. Megan will bring everything you will need to set up.'

I quickly replied.

‘Sure thing. And also thank you for the ride to work :)'

Even though technically he wasn’t the one that drove me here, I know he was the one behind the idea of it.

As I’m putting my phone in my purse, Tony gets out of the car and opens the door for Megan. She climbs in while Tony takes her roller suitcase to the trunk.

“Hey Kylie!” she beams. “Sorry for the change of plans, Max thought it would be better for all of us if we could all meet at his house. He asked if you and I could finish up a presentation they have to give a client later this week. Once they fly in they will meet us there to go over the details.”

“Oh, of course. Although I guess I’m a little apprehensive considering I’ve never met him. But I trust you, and I’ll send my roommate my location once we get there,” I laughed, only half joking.

“Haha! I would do the same. But I need you to know there is no safer place to be than at Max’s house,” she says, rather seriously. Sensing my confusion, she adds, “He lives in a gated community, guards, the whole nine-yards.”

Go figure. I’m not sure why I was picturing a small house in the suburbs. Probably because I was envisioning him eating dinner with his wife and kids after he got home from work each day. Assuming he is married, of course.

Of course he is married, you silly girl. Kylie, you have GOT to get your head out of the clouds!

Megan, Tony, and I fall into easy conversation on the way to Max’s house. From the direction we are driving, I know we are going a ways out of the city.

I take in the scenery along the way. It is always so refreshing to be outside of the fast pace of the streets. The city is fun when you want it to be, but it can be so stifling and congested. Being raised on a farm in rural Ohio, the green fields and open spaces I see are calming to my nerves.

Another 15 minutes went by, and I see us turning onto New Albany Farms Road. I’ve seen this road name somewhere before, but I can’t place where or why. Turning onto the road and driving for a few miles, I saw a ginormous home- no, castle- come into view. Envisioning what the inside might look like, Tony slows and pulls into the gated driveway.

Of course, this would be his “house”. Why do I have to be so naïve?

Then it hits me, I know where I have seen this road mentioned. This road, with its many beautiful houses, was featured in the Columbus dispatch as ‘the’ place to live if you want an estate for a home.

Megan sensed my amazement as we pulled in.

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything, yet.”