Her Con Artist

CHAP-2

Water. I want water.

Running, sweating, panting like a dog, i finally grabbed the only water bottle available in the mart. Haphazardly dropping the cap of the bottle on the floor as i chugged cold water down my throat. Quenching my thirst. Satisfaction filled my bones as i looked up and-

"Monica!." Hands shoke me aggressively, making me freeze in my dream.

What the hell?.

Gears started moving in my head as my heart was beating rapidly against my rib cage. My hand molded into a fist, throwing the covers away and threw a punch at the culprit. My vision was still bit hazy but my mind was alert.

"Oumh!! Ah!" The man fall down on the floor with thud as i punched and pushed them away.

Not giving time for the culprit to recover and fight me back, i grabbed the lamp from the side table of the bed and hit them on their abdomen, which caused them to drop their hands from their face to cover the abdomen. My hands were sweaty from the tension which was running in my body and could feel my breath caught in my chest. Upon seeing who the culprit was, i froze, gears changing in my mind.

"MONICA!." He yelled, moaning in pain and rolled to his left.

But i couldn't see him as my vision started to blur and i stumbled, dropping the lamp from my grasp, i hold onto bed frame to prevent myself from falling down.

"Monica, breathe! It's me. You are fine. Relax. Breathe!" Hands grabbed me and making me sit on the cold floor.

I took deep breaths trying to calm my nerves, but i just couldn't breath. I was having a panic attack. My throat felt constricting, drops of sweat moving down my forehead and all i could hear was my rapid heart beat in my ears.

Lub, dub, lub dub, lub dub,

I can breath.

Lub dub, lub dub,

I am fine. Take deep breaths.

Lub dub, lub dub,

Your heart is beating, you are fine.

Telling myself to follow these thoughts, i finally calmed down. Cool glass was put on my chapped lips, blinking my eyes to clear my vision what i saw made me guilty.

The culprit was my dear friend, Dalton. His lower lip had a minor cut and blood was oozing out of it. His eyes held concern and worry for me as he sat there, watching me drink water.

Shit!. I did it again.

"I am sorry, Dalton. I was so startled that i didn't recognize it was you." I said, grabbed his warm hand in my cold ones.

"It's okay. Are you okay now?. Don't have any problem breathing right?." He asked, rubbering his hand on my arm, trying to soothe me.

I shoke my head and lowered my eyes in guilty. I let out a deep breath and pushed my hair away from my face.

"Come on, let me get you fixed up." I said, not meeting his eyes and helped him stood up.

He sat on my bad as i went around to take out first Aid kit from the cabinet. Taking a seat beside him, opening the white transparent box, i cleaned his wound. Both of us sat there in silence, i was still confused about the whole incident. Taking out a cotton bud, i put small amount of ointment on it and dabbed it lightly on his lower lip. His eyes observing me, i felt my heart beat pick it's speed.

And no, it's not what you think. I was nervous due to his seriousness. He is a jolly person but whenever he gets serious means there is some trouble.

Closing the box, i sighed and looked up at him. He sat there with his arms crossed over his chest.

"What about your abdomen, is there any cut?" I asked, worriedly.

"No. Just a small bruise." He said, nonchalantly.

"I am sorry again. I-"

"You told me that you had overcome this anxiety issue. You lied to me?." He asked, softly but his voice held a dangerous tone too.

"Dalton, i never lie to you. It's just that the frequency of them appearing decreased so i thought i had overcome it. But i guess... i was wrong." I said, fidgeting my fingers. My heart slightly picked up it's speed.

"You should have told me. You know i am here for you." He said, softly and pulled me into a warm hug.

"I know. Thank you, Dalton." I said, my voice thick with emotions, shutting my eyes tightly, trying not to cry.

"What are you doing here?. Is everything alright?." I asked, pulling away after a few minutes.

He rolled his eyes at me and pinched his nostrils with his two fingers.

"You smell, go shower first." He said with a toothy smile.

"Dalton!." Blood rush to my face as i was dying of embarrassment. But it was not that i minded, it was a common thing among us to tease each other. I hit him lightly on the arm as he laughed at my red face.

"I didn't had breakfast. So i am going to make some pancakes. You have the thing's right?" He asked, standing up from the bed and clapped his hand in excitement. He was a great cook, better than me.

I nodded my head and left to freshen up. Taking my clothes off, i got under shower and plunged into my thoughts.

You are strong, Monica. You are not weak.

Just keep fighting it. One day, you will overcome it.

Just don't give up.

Water washed away my warm tears which were running down my cheeks. Looking to my red puffy eyes in the mirror, mustering up my courage, i put a smile and nodded my head.

Yes, i can do it!.

Drying my wet blonde as i walked out of bathroom, i picked up on sweet pancakes scent and felt a smile forming on my lips. Walking out of the room and into the kitchen, where he stood making pancakes, wearing an apron which was small on him. Humming to a song, while making them. He looked cute.

"Thank you for putting the things back." I said, opening the cupboard and taking out two plates for us to eat.

"No problem." He said, focused on cooking. I smiled and pulled out milk from the refrigerator.

Earlier when i walked out of the washroom, my bedsheet was straightened, lamp was on it's place on the side table. He was a well organized person where i wasn't that much organized.

"Anyway, did you remember what happened last night?." I asked him, once we settled down. Putting a pancake on my plate.

"You were heavily drunk and on the verge of passing out when you called me that you needed me. So i came here to see what was going on." He said, shaking his head in disappointment, waving his empty fork in the air in front of him.

"I am sorry, i really got drunk yesterday." I said, face palming myself.

Idiot.

"You called me and when i came here to see you passed out on the sofa. You should have been careful, you were driving drunk." He told me, rolling his eyes again. Stuffing his face with pancake.

"Hey, I wasn't drunk enough. I just had three glasses of alcohol. I-uh drank later when i came back home and you know i can be when i am drunk." I said, in defense, shrugging my shoulders.

"Monica." He said with a stern voice, telling me to come to my senses.

I sighed and nodded my head.

"Right. Sorry, i went overboard. I will try to be careful next time." I said, taking a sip of my coffee.

"I slept in the guest room as it was very late." He told me even though he knows i don't mind him sleeping here.

Again, that's not the thing that you are thinking.

I nodded my head and took the plates and started to wash them.

"Okay, now i have to go. I have to pick Zara from airport." He said, his voice held happiness, which made me smile.

Zara was his fiance. She was a painter and had went aboard for her workshop. They were the perfect ideal couple.

"Hurry go!. Say hello to her from me. Tomorrow let's have dinner together?" I proposed to which he nodded with a warm smile on his face.

He meet her through me, Zara and i were colleagues during our part time job at a coffee shop. They clicked on the spot and have been together since.

So we three became good friends over a time.

The door closed with a light rattle, leaving me in silence. It was Sunday, so i had a lot of free time on my hands.

I was almost dead by the end of the day. Spend all day cleaning and organizing my house which i have been procrastinating for weeks now.

"Gosh. My back hurts. I am getting old." I murmured, while chuckling. Laying on bed, i closed my eyes and sigh.

Same routine, same day.

We all are just going in circles, right?

Some following good paths while others following bad paths.

What will the future holds for me?

......

I can't get no satisfaction

I can't get no satisfaction

'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try

I can't get no, I can't get no

"Shut up" murmuring, i turned off the alarm.

Moving covers away from myself, i sat on my bed, eyes still close due to heavy sleep and wishing i was a bird. I don't have to cook, clean and work, just eat and fly.

Ahh, what a good thing it would have been.

Scratching my head, i went to washroom. And hey, i don't have lice in my hair. It just dandruff. Only dandruff.

Quickly tying my hair up in a ponytail, i made my way out of the house after grabbing my keys. Barely managed to reach on time, i fixed my hair and coat as i walked out of elevator.

"Good morning, Sir." Greeting my senior, i quickly walked towards the conference room.

"Hey, i was looking for you." Dalton said, as soon as i reached him standing beside my table.

"Sorry, i woke a bit late today." I said, putting files down the table and looked at the time.

"Come on, let's get going. Bring all the files we need." He said,

Quickly picking up the files, i followed him to the conference room.

I cranked my neck trying to relax my tensed neck muscles from sitting in the same position for two hours whole. The meeting ended a while ago, we managed to catch a huge deal this time. I and Dalton were wrapping up things in the conference room.

"Hungry?." He asked, laying his head against the head rest of the chair. Selves folded up, tie loosen, hair messy, he surely was tired.

"I am starving. I didn't have breakfast this morning. By the way, good presentation. Good job buddy." I said, passing a smile his way and gave a thumbs up.

He smiled and nodded his head.

"Let me give this to boss, then we will head out." He said, standing up from the chair and grabbed the files from the table.

Picking up the rest of the files, i opened the door and walked towards my office. My court shoes making click clack sound in the empty hallway, my long hair jumping up and down as i walk. Rearranging my things on the table, i picked up my make-up bag from the tables drawer and walked into the bathroom. My hazel eyes didn't look tired, which was a relief otherwise i would have dark circles by now. Taking out the blush powder, a puffy brush and my favorite nude lipstick. Applying them, i put my long blonde hair into a high pony and let two small strands fall from my pony letting them rest on either side of my face.

Hmm, nice.

Complimenting myself by looking at the mirror, i walked out of my room and put the make-up bag in the drawer. Grabbing my brown coat and phone, i walked out and towards the lift where Dalton was waiting for me. Upon hearing my heel's sound against the while marble floor, he looked up and pocketed his phone. The lift on the same as i stopped near it.

"What do you want to eat?." He asked, walking inside the lift with me following suit.

"I am craving tortilla and loaded fries. What about you?." I said, biting my lip, already thinking of eating it.

"Oh nice. I want my favorite creamy cheesy chicken pizza." He said, rubbing his hand together.

We were a big foodie. Another reason why we were good friend's.

"Fantastic. Let's go.  I can't wait." I said, chickling as Dalton nodded quickly.

After fifteen minutes we were at one of our top list restaurants. The list came into being when one day, we were telling each other which places were best for what food. So we tried the places and the food that both of us listed and then made our own top list of restaurants.

We sited after giving our orders, i sighed as i leaned back against the sofa. Dalton was talking to Zara on call as he walked back and forth with a small smile on his face. I felt a smile forming on my face as i looked at him. People are lucky who gets to find a sincere person who deeply cares about them and loves them for who they are. I sighed.

I wish God bless me with that one person too.

I sighed again while rolling my eyes, thinking it's not going to happen any time soon. As you see, my life has been messed up since the day i was born. Some say i was cursed or bring bad luck where i go. Well it wasn't true at all. The people were just s**t that's all.

"Here's your order, Maam." Food was placed on the table which snapped me out of my dark thoughts.

I nodded my head and thanked him for the food. Dalton came at the same time to sit.

"Enjoy the food. It's on me." He said, folding his tee sleeve's up and picking up the fork.

"Thank you bro." I said and happily ate, all the bad thoughts leaving my mind as foods savoury taste hit my taste buds.

My eyes closed in pleasure. Food was heaven.

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