Her Con Artist

CHAP-11

Piling up the clean plates and cups, i put them to their places after we had our breakfast. I looked outside the casement kitchen windows, it was sunny with stratus and altocumulus clouds and my favorite sound of bird's chirping which brought a smile on my face.

The scene flashed in front of me like a punishment, no matter how much i tried to take my mind off it, it came back like a reflex.

Throwing the kitchen towel away in frustration, i sighed as the flash back came back.

When they all were leaving for today's mission, i told everyone to be careful. Eric was last to leave the house, when i bid my byes and told him to be careful and stay safe, what he did next was unpredictable.

He stared at me with brooding eyes and walked towards me. I just looked at him waiting for him to say whatever he wanted to. He neared me with those intense blue eyes, my eyes following his hand moment. He placed his one hand on my cheek, making me look at his eyes.

Darn those eyes.

He leaned forward, with each inch he neared me, my heart picked up its speed. His eyes never left mine as his lips touched my forehead gently. His soft warm lips stayed there for a solid moment as well as his warm hand against my cheek.

I felt the warmth and love from his actions. I always longer for this kind of affection but never received it from anyone. My heart swelled up with emotions with his single act of love.

Moving back, he looked at me, his eyes searched mine for answers. I was an open book now in front of him. He was breaking my walls one by one.

"If anything happens, call me right away. I will pick up immediately, okay?" He said, his tone was soft and gentle.

I was seeing his true self, he had shown himself to me. I had also achieved opening him up, breaking his walls that he developed.

I nodded my head, trying to control the new surge of emotions. His hand was still on my cheek, caressing once, he withdrawal it. Then he left the house with me standing there, finding myself in denial. Otherwise the circumstances and this says something else.

I was indeed into him, the feelings were mutual. His gentleness and kindness towards me had won me over.

It was better to admit my feelings rather than fighting against myself over it.

After rearranging the things, i went out to spend some time outside. I always liked roaming in the new area. I was on the adventurous side, so it never tired me. I found kids playing in the front lawn of their houses as i walked past them. Hands in jackets pocket, hair tied loosely in a low pony, i walked on the sidewalk as my eyes wandered here and there. After some turns, i came to the town-market. I didn't have anything to do at home, so i decided to do window shopping, something to kill the time.

The people here were very kind and welcoming. I was window shopping in one shop when the shop owner which was an old man asked me if i was new here as he had not seen me here before. I told them that i was new here and was just looking around the place. When i was about to leave their shop, the old man and his wife handed over me a bag. It was filled with few pieces of clothes, upon asking what was it for, they said it was their custom. They always gifts to their new comers here. Thanking them for their kindness, i left the shop with a big smile on my face. I got tired in between and took a seat out at a stall, which was selling snacks and drinks. I had some money on me, so i decided to eat something as i was hungry from all the roving. I ate my sandwich and took a sip of my favorite Falsa juice. My mind went back to them.

Were they okay? Did everything worked out smoothly?

Ugh! why i am thinking about their well being.

Because you care about them. My subconscious spoke.

Shaking my head, i picked up my phone from the table and typed in the incident that happened eight years ago. I need to find information related to Eric's dad.

Was his dad also a victim of their plan?

I read many articles but couldn't find anything. It was frustrating not to know, this puzzle was getting impossible to solve. But i was not backing down so soon. Sipping on the juice, i tried digging more but all in vain. I looked at the time when my butt was starting to feel numb. My eyes widened as i looked at the time, it was two hours since i have been siting here. That's why my butt was screaming in pain.

Cursing myself for my carelessness, i took my stuff and went back home. I didn't get any call, assuming they haven't come back. After taking going through the bag of clothes which the old couple gave me, i took a shirt and decided to wear it after shower. After showering, i decided to call Edgar and talk to him.

Going down in the kitchen, i grabbed water bottle and took a seat on the stool. My finger hovered over his number, deciding what i was about to do was right or not.

Ugh, whatever.

I dialed his number and waited for him to pick. My hands were getting sweaty due to nervousness. My lips assaulted by my teeth in anxiety as well.

"Hello." He spoke with a gruff voice.

"H-hi" i stuttered but cleared my throat and grind my teeth.

Don't be a loser Monica!

"Monica?" He called out, his tone doubtful

"Yes, uncle." I said, sweetly. I called him uncle since the childhood so i never stopped calling him by this and he didn't complained about it.

"Where have you been!?" His voice held anger and a hint of worry.

"Just here and there. Don't worry, i am fine." I said with softness to assure him i was doing fine.

"I haven't seen you since that incident. When i asked Dalton about you he said you were gone on a vacation. I called you twice but your phone was turned off! You should have called me back!" He was getting angry and it was my fault partially for not telling him directly.

"Sorry. My phone was broke so i didn't get your calls. It's nothing, i was tired just needed some time off." I bit my lip in anxiety.

He sighed and spoke," Okay, if you say so. But if you need anything do tell me, remember i am your uncle before your boss."

He had said this over thousand times but each time it made my heart warm within from his love.

I felt my eyes getting wet in guilt, i fisted my hands in anger.

"Okay. Take care. I will talk to you later." I said and closed my eyes to control my anger.

"Okay dear. Take care, Monica." His voice soft, laced with affection.

I smiled sadly, putting my phone down, i rested my head against the cold table.

He would be so disappointed at me when he will come to know what i had done. I can't bear to see his disappointed look.

I heard opening of the door which made me look up and found them coming in the house. Immediately standing up, i looked at them in alert for any signs of injury.

"We are fine. Don't worry." Owen said, meeting my grave look.

I nodded my head and sigh in relief.

"Here take this." Russell says passing me two shopper bags. Looking inside i found food containers.

I looked up at him in confusion.

"We bought food on our way back." Ella said, taking off her coat and opening her hair bun.

I nodded my head and started to prepare the table as they all went to get fresh. I sat on the stool in my thoughts when i heard stools being pulled back, blinking i found everyone in the kitchen sited.

I was eating my food in silence as usual, when i felt eyes on me. Looking up, i found those blue eyes observing me. Frowning, i raised my eye brow at him in question to which he shoke his head and went back to eating. Pursing my lips in curiosity, i ignored it.

Everybody was tired and exhausted so they all went to bed early. I was not feeling like it so i went outside to play on swing for a while. Opening the door, i stepped outside and took a deep breath. Looking down at my feet as i walked towards the tree, lost in my own thoughts.

Now i days i was thinking too much.

Shaking my head to get rid of unnecessary things and tried to relax in the chilly air. It was oddly refreshing and soothing. Siting on the swing, i rocked myself back and forth. Looking up in front of me at the sky, the stars were playing hide and seek with the clouds.

"Couldn't sleep?"

I looked ahead and found Eric standing there with his hands in his pants pocket. Moon light shined on his sculptured face, enhancing the beauty of his eyes. His lips pink and plump were raised to side in a soft smile. His silky messy hair making him look more handsome.The shirt was loose at him but you could see his bulging biceps and built chest.

"Take a photo. It will last longer." He said, with a teasing glint in his tone.

Embarrassed for openly staring at him, i cleared my throat and the swing by digging my heel in the ground.

He was walking towards the fire pit and so i followed suit.

He was enjoying it, teasing me.

"What are you doing here? Ain't you tired?" I asked, while taking a seat in front of him.

"I wanted to talk to you." He said, looking up at me from the fire pit.

Crossing my arms over my chest, i rose my eyebrow at him in curiosity.

He put some wood into the pit and added oil on it. He stopped and looked at me.

"Do you really think Edgar had nothing to do with embezzlement?" He asked after a while lightening a match and threw it in the woods. They started burning. Crackles and popping of woods was the only sound you could hear in the dead silence.

"I didn't lie to you. Edgar had nothing to do with embezzlement." I spoke in his defense.

He nodded his head.

"Why did you target Green land? What's the main reason behind it?"

He dusted his hands to remove the dust of the wood from his hands. Sighing, he leaned back against the chair and played with his dice. The dice was rolling in between his thumb and index finger.

"Same as Edgar. He has our money." He says with narrowed eyes. But this anger was not directed towards me.

I waited and observed him.

All the things were pointing towards one thing- TSB Construction.

"How do you guys know each other?"i asked instead of my real question. My gut feeling was telling me to wait so i listened.

"Russell and Owen are cousins. Owen is friends with Ella and Ella is friends with Lexi. Josh is friends with Russell. I was neighbors with Russell." He explained, throwing the dice up in the air and then catching it with one hand.

"So how did you guys became a group and decided to go on hunt?" I asked, leaning forward, curious of his answer.

"Why are you asking so many questions today?" He asks with a raised eye brow.

"I need to know that whatever you guys are doing is it right or not, because i don't want to be involved in some scandal. And i am friends with you all. I am not asking for your past just the basis." I said trying not to offend him.

He rolled his eyes, grabbing a metal rod laying beside the fire pit and moved the woods around in the pit hole.

"Russell and Josh kind of have same stories as Ella's and Lexi's. I-i--" He stuttered and stopped.

Frowning, i observed him. He had his hands fisted and anger etched onto his face.

"It's okay. You don't need to tell me." It was wrong of me to ask such absurd questions.

Of course, i knew the reason. During the articles i found an article about a young man who was also fired from the job the same day as them. He was also suspected to be involved but the company didn't find much evidence on him, later he resigned himself. He died in a car accident a few months later. Some said he caused it on purpose due to the incident. His younger brother was Josh. It was a shock to me to find this about Josh indirectly.

"No it's fine." He said after a second and cleared his throat.

I stayed silent and waited for him.

"Russell used to do internship at TSB construction but he has no such history. He is here because of Lexi and Josh. Owen is Ella's best friend so he wanted to help her. We all decided to get the justice that the law failed to provide us. After all the judges were bought off by the money. If justice can play dirty so why can't we? " He explained without mentioning about himself.

I didn't asked him either. I want him to be comfortable with me and give him time for it. He had respected my privacy and hadn't once asked me about my life. So i have no right to ask him either.

"Hmm. Well, it came out nice. Look how good of friends you all are right?" I said, cheerfully. To lighten the mood.

He chuckled at my stupid statement nonetheless. I smiled as i found his worried face resolved into a relaxed one. He stopped laughing and looked at me. We both just stared at each other without saying anything and it was a comfortable silence.

"In whichever angle i see, i only find one answer." I spoke after some time.

He tilted his head to the side with questioning look in his eyes.

"Your main target is TSB Construction, right?" I asked, my hands itchy with anticipation.

"Yes you got it right...." He said, with lips pursed and it looked like he wanted to say something. When he didn't so i asked him.

"There must be someone that you are after?"

I was biting my lips anxiously as I looked at him.

"Leon Dexter."

That name was like a blow to me. My throat dried as my heart raced. I was trying to compose myself and not to show any signs of recognition.Balling up my hands into a fist, nails digging into my palm as i tried to calm down.

I pretended to not know him and nodded my head.

"Let's sleep, it's late." He said, putting water on the burning wood and stood up.

Quietly, i walked behind him in my thoughts and didn't see where i was headed and bumped into a soft yet hard thing. Confused and startled i looked straight to find my self a few inches away from Eric. Looking up to meet his eyes, i felt his arms around me pulling me towards his warmth. With his hand, he gently pushed my head so that it laid against his chest as his other hand was on my back keeping me in one place.

"Wha-"

"You looked like you needed a hug." He said, softly. Tightening his hold on me.

I felt tears coming to my eyes and my throat getting clogged with thick emotions that were swirling within me. I wrapped my arms around his waist, closed my eyes and listened to his heart beat. His gentle strokes against the back of my head was soothing. We stood there in each other arms for quite a time, moving back, i smiled at him.

He looked down at me, pushing away hair from my hair he returned me a small gentle smile.

"Thank you." I said, standing on my tip toe and laid a kiss on his cheek.

He blinked in surprise but he seemed to have liked it, making me chuckle.

"Come on, lets go." Grabbing his hand, i walked in the house.

"I was also in need of a hug too." He mummered quietly , but i heard him and didn't show it to him that i could hear him.

I felt butterflies at his statement and smiled.

We both were comforting each other. Words dont need to be said to prove we had feelings for each other, the actions were speaking itself.

Laying in bed, i smiled feeling relaxed i closed my eyes to sleep.

Next morning, after eating break fast, we all went outside to enjoy and relax ourselves. I was walking beside Owen and Eric and Owen was giving me details of yesterday.

I wasn't exactly paying him attention, i was thinking on making a plan of my owns and find the truth about -

"Hey are you even listening to me!?" Owen complained, nudging me slightly with his elbow.

I looked at him with a guilty expression to which he rolled his eyes and walked forward, linking his arm with Josh.

"Is everything okay?" Eric asked me, looking up to find him looking a head of him.

"Yes everything's fine. I was just thinking about something." I said, sharing my thoughts with him

He hummed but didn't ask what i was thinking. We reached the stall about which i have been bragging about to them. The waiters were arranging the table for us as we waited, i was looking around when i heard Eric yell my name.

"Monica!" I felt a strong grip on my arm and was pulled to my side. As soon as i was pulled a motorbike passed by me. I gasped and looked up to find Eric glaring at the biker. He pulled away and inspected me for any sings of injury.

"Hey! Stop!" Ella and Russell yelled at him but he was far away.

"Hey you s**t!" Owen shouted that made all of us burst with laughter.

"He cant hear you, you know that." Eric said, pulling the chair for me and quietly sat down beside mine.

I smiled at his actions and sat down. I found Ella and Lexi looking at me with mischievous smiles, i rose my eyebrow at him in question to which they only giggled. We ordered our food and ate it while enjoying our time together.

I was looking at Eric, observing him, his smile and carefree attitude. The way the laugh lines around his eye socket became prominent when he laughed and a dimple appeared on his cheek, making me look at him in awe. He was indeed handsome than all the man i have came across. His ash brown hair and blue eyes to his caring and smart personality, he was a whole package.

As if feeling my eyes on him, he met my eyes and smiled at me. He knew i was checking him out, he leaned forward. His mouth near my ear, his breath tickling me.

"I know i am handsome, no need to stare too much." He spoke in a gentle yet teasing voice. He bumped the bridge of his nose against my cheek as he pulled back.

"You are not that handsome, i have seen better." I lied as a reflex. I looked away, pushing away my baby hair from my face.

"I know you are lying. I can see it in your eyes." He whispered,

Turning my head towards him, i found him giving me a sly smile.

"You guys coming?" Owen asked, making us look away from each other.

"No, you guys go ahead." I said, not in mood to roam the area as i had already done exploring it.

"Come back here after you all are done." Eric said, as they looked at him

"But it woul-"

"Shh. Leave them alone. Let them spend some time alone." Ella said, putting her hand over Owens mouth.

My mouth hung open in surprise at her words to which she winked and giggled.

"What do you mean by that?" Russell asked, indeed boys are slow in these things.

"I will you on the way, now move!" Lexi said, grabbing his hand as dragged him.

They all left us alone. Eric started chuckling making me look at him with blank expression.

"Dont mind me." He said, clearing his throat. I was sure he was laughing at surprised look.

Ignoring him, i decided to ask him the question that i have been waiting for.

"When will you return the money to Edgar?"I asked,

His once carefree look was gone and he was back to his serious self.

"I will have to talk to him in person and see the records myself." He said, running fingers in his hair

"I will talk to him and ask him to make time for us." I said, to which he nodded his head.

~~~~~~~