Loving Munroe

by Danelle Nelson

  The last two weeks had equated to waking up and walking to work each day or getting into the car with Terry lately. But each day was the same, never failing to provide the exact same experience. I silently wondered how one would break this habit, break the circle of life. Maybe it was impossible, maybe it was destiny.

  “Are you okay?” Tim’s voice echoed through my thoughts, breaking my trance.

  “Yeah. I was only thinking of how mechanical life is. How no matter how hard you try; a routine always falls into place…These people don’t even see each other. They’re so determined to make it to work, or the doctor, or home, that they completely ignore the people around them.”

  “True.”

  “I was so engrossed by my life that I didn’t even put together that Matt had stolen my key. Can you imagine what could have happened had Terry not been there?” The officers at the station had driven home the fact that me and Nate were unbelievably lucky. After their interview with him the night before they’d said Matt seemed unpredictable. He’d gone on and on about us wanting to be together…

  “Nate is right, Vanessa. You have to stop blaming yourself for his actions,” Tim grabbed my arm, pulling me into his side. “You can’t control everything. I’ve upped your security though, so that we can be more prepared. I’d rather you not stay at the apartment any longer. I can have your things brought over.”

  “Stop,” I pulled away, looking into his eyes, “You can’t protect me from everything. Extra security will be fine. We barely know each other, Tim. I’d feel smothered. I enjoy every second we spend together but living together would be too much.”

  “You can’t complain about the amount of security, then.”

  “I won’t. And spending the night isn’t off limits,” I winked.

  “Hmm. What about permanently spending the night?”

  “Tim!” I rolled my eyes, “Stop, please.”

  “Yeah, okay,” he winked.

  We pulled up to the curb where Tim climbed out before offering his hand. I grabbed it, allowing him to help me out of the car. We walked hand in hand through the lobby before getting onto the elevator. The police station was across town, and it had taken us near an hour to get through traffic.

  The elevator dinged on the fiftieth floor, and we walked out to be greeted by Vicki, who was sitting at her computer. “Hey you two!”

  “Good morning, Vicki. How’s my schedule looking?”

  “Clear, boss.”

  “Keep it that way,” Tim squeezed my hand gently before veering off into his own office, shutting the door behind him. The privacy glass spread across the walls, shielding him from view.

  “Are you two official?” Vicki squirmed in her seat.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “I knew it! Did he show up at your house yesterday morning? He left the office sick as soon as you called in, which he never does.”

  Usually I’d avoid telling someone about my life, or anyone else’s life, but I trusted Vicki, “Yes, but don’t say anything.”

  “Girl, you know I won’t. I can’t believe it, you’ve snagged Mr. Untouchable!”

  My cheeks flushed, “Quiet,” I laughed. I turned my computer on and waited for the screen to load. I needed to put Mr. Collin’s meeting with Tim into the schedule for next week. I pulled up the scheduling software and noticed Tim had an entire day blocked out next week, interfering with what he’d asked me to do. “Vicki, what’s Tim doing next Wednesday?”

  “He didn’t say, just emailed me that he’d be out that day.”

  “He wanted me to schedule a business meeting with Mr. Collin next week. I was going to do Wednesday as that’s his usual meeting day,” I paused, thinking.

  “Put him in for Thursday. Mr. Munroe will see the time block and if it’s an issue he’ll let us know.”

  “True,” I clicked on the day and scheduled the meeting for one in the afternoon. I decided to send an email to Tim just to let him know that I’d scheduled it before sending the email to Mr. Collin.

  ‘I’ve placed your meeting with Mr. Collin’s in for next Thursday at one. If this isn’t okay, please let me know immediately.”

  With the email sent I grabbed my cellphone and belongings, taking them to the breakroom to put into my locker. Just as I opened the small lock my phone rang, my dad’s name flashing across the screen.

  “Hey Daddy.”

  “Vanessa Fox, how dare you not tell me what was going on with you and Matt!” His voice boomed over the speaker, causing me to pull the phone away from my ear.

  “Calm down, Daddy. He’s in jail,” I started, before being cut off.

  “He’s in jail! ‘He’s in jail’ she says. Vanessa, you are coming home.”

  “Daddy, I’m not coming home. I’m fine here.”

  “Nonsense, I will not have my only daughter in a state that I cannot protect her. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you,” his voice trailed off, the hurt evident.

  My mother had been killed when I was three. She’d gone on a business trip for her company, never to return. They’d sent her to Mexico to close on a large deal, where she was kidnapped and held for ransom. By the time her company had told my dad, it was too late. I don’t remember much of her, I’ve only got memories my father’s shared, and pictures. “I promise nothings going to happen, Daddy. Tim, my boss, he’s hired security for me. I’m being escorted everywhere I go, including someone sitting outside my apartment at night,” a little white lie never hurt anyone. “How do you even know, Daddy?”

  “It’s all over the damn news!”

  Crap. “I’m sorry you found out that way. I meant to tell you about Matt sooner, but I was afraid.”

  “Afraid of what? Of me? Ness, you can tell me anything.”

  “It isn’t you… I just felt like a failure. Everything you’ve warned me about, I ignored. I ended up in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship, even though I knew all the warning signs. I didn’t want to let you down, Daddy.”

  “You could never let me down, Ness.”

  “Look at the mess I’m in now, though. I did let you down, and I’m sorry.”

  “This man, this Tim, is he taking care of you?”

  “Yeah, he’s great, Daddy. It’s still early, but he’s doing everything in his power to keep Matt away. I’m okay, trust me.”

  “The minute something else happens you’re coming home, Ness, you hear me?”

  “Okay, Daddy. I’ve got to go though, I’m at work. I’ll call you tonight when I get off.”

  “Okay baby-girl. Take care of yourself,” his voice was shaking, full of emotion.

  “I love you, Daddy.”

  “I love you too, Ness.”

  I hung the phone up and put my things into the locker. Letting out a large sigh I made my way back down the hallway to the front desk, taking my seat at the computer. I pulled up the news to find headlines of Matt’s break-in and kidnapping all over the local news. ‘Local Millionaire’s Fling Caught in Kidnapping’. The headline stared at me, pictures of Nate and I walking into the police station sitting below it. Tim’s car was at the curb, the tint too dark to see inside. The press seemed to be loving me at the moment. Not only did Mr. Untouchable have a new love interest, the love interest was an idiot.

  “Was your roommate really kidnapped?”

  I turned at Vicki’s voice, cringing, “Yeah, sort of. Matt, the guy we saw at the club. He stole my key that night and tied Nate up yesterday evening. When I got back to the apartment last night Terry intervened and he as arrested.”

  “Jesus, I’m sorry! I had no clue.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” I closed the tab, “Did you bring your lunch today?”

  “Nope, want to order in?”

  “Never thought you’d ask,” I laughed.

  Chapter three

  The day at the office passed by slowly, my mind unable to focus on anything but Matt. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t help but feel responsible for this entire mess.
Just as five rolled around Tim came strolling out of his office, “Vanessa, are you ready?”

  “Sure thing,” I turned the computer screen off and grabbed my purse, “Let’s go.” We got into the elevator alone, Vickie already having left for the day, “What hotel are we staying at?”

  “I’ve reserved a room at the ritz. My mother would like us to stop by though, before going to the hotel. Are you okay with that?”

  My heart beat fastened as I clutched my purse to my chest, “Meet your mom?”

  “Well, technically you’ll meet my entire family. She’s invited us for dinner.”

  “Okay,” I paused, unsure, “Do you think they’ll like me?”

  Tim laughed, “I think they’ll love you, Vanessa. I’ve asked them to keep their comments about last night to themselves,” his eyes peered downwards, avoiding my gaze.

  “Right…We’ll have to face the questions at some point though, right? Is it better if we address them at the start, then get on with the night?” I didn’t know any other way than just biting the bullet.

  “Perhaps. I don’t want you to feel attacked though, right out the gate. It’s the first time you’ll be meeting them.”

  “I won’t feel attacked, I don’t think.”

  “And if you do?”

  “I’ll deal with it, Tim,” the elevator doors opened and we stepped into the crowded lobby. Tim’s hand fell to the small of my back, leading me out of the lobby and into the sleek SUV that sat on the curb waiting for us. “Good evening, Terry,” I smiled at the man.

  “Good evening, Ms. Fox,” he smiled.

  The door quietly shut behind us, “If you think you can handle it, then we’ll address it as soon as we arrive.”

  “I think that’s for the best. Otherwise it will be all they can think about and I won’t truly get to know them.”

  Tim’s childhood home was situated in the heart of Greenwich, Connecticut, taking us a little over an hour with traffic to arrive. His home was immaculate, a large four-car garage with red doors meeting us halfway down the long, winding driveway, the large chestnut trees providing cover from the outside world. The house itself was brick and outrageously large. My own home from Minnesota could fit inside of it twenty times over. “This is immaculate,” I whispered, “You grew up here?”

  “It was rather lonely,” Tim’s eyes scanned the yard before us, the large antique streetlamps lining the small walkways around the house providing enough light to adequately see the surrounding yard. There was a swimming pool to the right, with a small storage shed to the left. A large lake sat a mere three-hundred feet from the house, a large boat house harboring a small trolling boat. “It was only me, my brother, and my sister. My parents weren’t home very often due to work.”

  “What type of work are they involved in?”

  “My mother is a politician; my father owns a real estate company up north.”

  “A politician?” I hadn’t ever asked what his parents did. Nor did I really know much about them. I had been too wrapped up in our newly kindled relationship to step outside of my own box and ask questions.

  “Yeah—she’s part of the twelfth district here, in the house. Rather boring, but she loves it.”

  “Interesting… My father would likely love her. Do you get your own love of real estate from your father then?”

  “No,” he replied harshly, “I don’t get anything from him.”

  The reaction sent a small shiver down my spine, “I didn’t realize there was hostility there.”

  “A conversation for another time,” the car came to a stop outside of the front door, Terry getting out and opening the door.

  “Ms. Fox, Mr. Munroe,” he shut the door quietly behind us.

  “Thank you, Terry,” we walked hand in hand towards the bright red entrance, my heart racing as we took each small step. I was meeting his parents.

  The door opened before we could knock, a small woman in her fifties welcoming us with a warm, wonderful smile. Her black hair sat in a bob around her head, the same wonderful blue eyes that Tim had stared back at us, her smile reaching not only her lips, but her beautiful baby-blues. Hominess emitted from her being, a strange, welcoming embrace seemed to reach out and touch us. “Timmy!”

  “Hey mom,” he let go of my hand and embraced her in a hug before turning back towards me. I twiddled my thumbs together behind my back, a small smile sitting upon my lips, “This is her. This is Vanessa.”

  “Sweetheart, welcome!” She unexpectedly grabbed me, pulling me into a hug, “It’s wonderful to meet you. We’ve heard so much about you in the last three weeks.”

  “Oh,” I paused, he talked about me? “It’s wonderful to meet you as well. Your son is a saint, Mrs. Munroe,” I positioned myself by Tim’s side.

  “Oh, a saint he is not, Vanessa. But alas, he’s finally found love.”

  I gasped, unable to stop myself. Love? Was she insane? We’d only known each other three weeks! “Hah, right,” I smiled, trying to hide my outrage. I turned to Tim, who was standing stalk still and as red as a beet.

  “Where is everyone,” he managed to croak out.

  “In the sitting room, of course. Come,” she grabbed my hand and walked me towards the sitting room. The house was elegantly decorated, Persian rugs sat on the floors and large, elaborate side pieces were strategically placed about.

  “TIMMY!” The family shouted as we made our way into the large room. His brother was equally handsome as Tim, the soft brown hair sat above baby-blue eyes. He was younger, and a bit smaller built. His sister had long brown hair that fell to her waist, her eyes were brown, though. She appeared to be in her teens, nineteen at the most.

  Tim stepped forward and squeezed my hand, “Everyone, this is Vanessa.”

  “Hey.”

  “We’ve heard so much about you,” his sister exclaimed, “Please, call me Angie.”

  “Pleasure to meet you, Angie… And everyone else.”

  “Please, Ms. Fox, sit,” his mother guided me towards a large sitting chair near the fireplace. The heat of the flames licked out and touched me, providing much needed comfort.

  The scent of meat wafted through the air, making my stomach growl rather loudly, “That smells delicious, what’s for dinner?”

  “New York cut steaks, sweet potatoes and a cesar salad, my dear.”

  My face flushed as I realized I didn’t know Tim’s mothers name, “I’m terribly sorry, Mrs.?”

  “Mrs. nothing, dear, call me Carol.”

  “Carol,” I smiled, “That sounds wonderful.”

  “So, Vanessa, tell us about yourself,” Tim’s brother said while putting his phone down.

  “Well,” I paused, waiting for his name.

  “Marcus.”

  “Well Marcus, I’m from a small town in Minnesota. I came to New York after I graduated at Harvard, looking for work and following my best friend.”

  “Harvard? That’s prestigious!” Marcus answered.

  “You could say that. Though a prestigious school doesn’t quite help much on the job front I’ve learnt.”

  “Vanessa didn’t have enough experience,” Tim replied.

  “Experience smerience.”

  “No, your brother’s right. I was turned down from countless jobs due to inexperience. It was debilitating. They should offer more direct experience opportunities. Offer job placement or something to get your foot into the door. For as expensive as that school is, they don’t do much once you’re gone.”

  “You could really do something there,” Carol interrupted, “Have you thought of speaking with the dean about starting a program?”

  “I’d need a business to offer, and I’m afraid I’m only an administrative assistant at the moment. Maybe one day though, when I’m doing bigger and better thins.”

  “You are doing bigger and better things, Vanessa. You’ve my entire company in the palm of your hand, you’ve just denied it.”

  “Woah, you can’t say that. We’ve known each other all of
three weeks, Tim.”

  “Tim’s smitten, Vanessa. Embrace it the doofus never falls in love.”

  “Love, everyone keeps saying that,” I laughed while picking at my nail. I kept my eyes adverted from his family, attempting to keep my blood pressure down.

  “Leave her alone, guys. Is dinner ready yet, mom? It’s been a while since I’ve had your cooking.”

  “Of course, Tim. Let us move to the dining room.”

  We all stood, following Carol into the large dining room which was situated on the west side of the house. The oak table sat twelve, far more than were here. We each took a seat, Tim’s father sitting at the head of the table and his mother sitting at the opposite end. Maids brought out the numerous dishes, while the conversation switched to sports. “When should we bring it up?” I leaned into Tim, whispering into his ear.

  “Now,” he looked into my eyes before leaning inwards, planting a small kiss on my forehead. “Everyone,” the sport conversations stopped as everyone gave us their full attention, “We wanted to talk about the news this morning.”

  The family looked around at each other, ignoring Tim and I’s gaze, “What news, darling?”

  “Mom, we all know what news we’re talking about. It’s the headline of every station in New York.”

  “We don’t have to talk about it, honey.”

  “We do,” I stepped in, taking over the conversation. “My ex, Matt, he did some crazy stuff yesterday. He did hold my roommate hostage, and Terry, Tim’s driver did intervein and save our lives.”

  “Why would he do such a thing?” Tim’s sister asked.

  “He’s psychotic, insane. I don’t know, truthfully. I’m just glad your brother had a security detail on me. I can’t say that I love him, yet, but things are going good. Despite my ex.”

  The room was quiet, the mention of me not loving him seeming to put a damper on the entire situation, “We’ve only really just met. I, nor anyone else, can expect you to love me already. I’m just glad she’s okay.”