.....

Damian

The little bit of sleep I got barely touched the surface of relaxing me. To be honest, I realized I was more tired and stressed as I lay awake in my bed. I slowly sit up and remember that I am not alone in my apartment. To say she was on my mind would be an understatement. I couldn't shake the feeling that she was responsible for nearly crippling my business. I simply can't believe she alone is capable of it.

I was blown away when I confronted her in Drew's office. I felt as if I were being punked. There was no possible way a girl like her could be so skilled. She looked way too young to even fit the bill of a hacker. I mean she would have to have years of experience to be that good.

I slowly stand and stretch my limbs then reach for my jacket. I didn't even bother to take off my clothes. I needed to be back in the office to look over reports and get a hold of Henry to see how we can get an ironclad security measure in place. I can't afford for something like this to happen again. I make my way out of my room and go to the kitchen. I catch the time on my microwave and its almost 11pm. I make my way to the other side towards the guest rooms and stop at the one she is in. To tell you the truth, no one has stayed in my place like this. As an only child, I have no family and I have a very closed circle of friends that has grown smaller throughout the years.

I reach her door and stand there.

I gently push open the door. The room is lit with the lamp on the night stand. She is sound asleep on her side with her laptop opened beside her. At some point exhaustion probably won. I reach for her laptop and look at her screen. Her logo Ch1m3ra... is emblazoned on the desktop background with her personal touch of colored icons and an animated mouse cursor. I close it and set it aside. I can't help but stand and stare at her as she sleeps. It's a creep move, I know! But, Despite how vulnerable she looks, I can't help but wonder who she really is? I have the actual hacker that stole from me, in my home. If my PR gets wind of this, they will have a field day. If Henry finds out, he is going to shit his pants. I couldn't afford for this to get out of hand before she can locate the money. Somehow someone out there pulled a fast one and got to the money before the mob did and we need to find out who and get that money back.

I take the comforter and pull it up to cover her. She moaned softly and mumbled. I couldn't help but stare at her as she slept on her side in such a peaceful state. Before I could catch myself, I grazed the side of her cheek. My chest tightened at the way her skin felt. I blinked and immediately drew my hand back. I look at my watch and turn to leave. I make my way to the kitchen, grab my keys, briefcase and head out. I press my security code and secure the place before leaving.

I know this won't keep her in the apartment and she will find a way out. But I will at least know if she does stay that she is safe. Until then she needs to stay here. Undetected and out of harm's way. 

                                                                                                         *****

Peyton

I wake up with a start. I realized that I wasn't at home. I don't feel too good and I know what that feeling is. I slowly stand up and reach for my bag. I search in it and my stomach drops.

Oh! no....

My glucose meter. It wasn't in my bag. I must have left it at home. I walk over a change back into my clothes. I grab my bag and I walk out to the kitchen. I don't see Damian any where.

I have to go back to my place and get my machine. I walk over to the door and notice his alarm is back on. I honestly don't want to disarm it. But I have no choice. I walk quickly to the island table and pull out my laptop. I make quick use of the tools that I have and get into the server that monitors all of the alarm systems in the building. I know I'm wrong for this but I have to leave and I want to do so without setting off his alarm or breaking it again.

After typing in a few codes, I was in the server's mainframe and found the archive that kept all of the alarm codes. Every resident in the building had one. I scrolled down the list until I found his name and his code. I walked to the alarm and keyed in the code and watched the lights turn green. The alarm beeped, giving me a warning that I had a couple of minutes to exit before it as armed again. I quickly grabbed my bag and left.

I walked out the front entrance relieved that the lobby attendant was occupied with other people.

I quickly walked a few blocks until I caught a bus that would stop only a good three blocks from my house. I sat and watched the busy city slowly come to life as the bus turned the corner and entered downtown. Despite the fact of feeling hungry and weak, I enjoyed the view. When the bus got to my stop, I stood up and exited out the back entrance. I dodged on coming pedestrians as I crossed the street and continued walking. I stood outside my brownstone and nervously looked up to my window. I was hesitant of going in for fear that someone would be waiting for me. I looked around at the busy street and did not see any familiar faces. I inhaled deeply and slowly took my steps up to the door and I entered. I stepped into the darkened hall and listened, noticing the slight sounds of music mingled with the noise of outside traffic. My eyes were everywhere as I walked up the steps until I am standing before my door.

I reach for the handle and feel my heart pummel in my chest as I turned the knob and notice with relief that it was locked. I exhaled and pulled my backpack around and fish for my keys. I unlock my door and enter. I flipped the switch but no lights came on.

Damn it! The light bill was not paid.

I walk over to the refrigerator and notice the cool air and pulled my last insulin vile. It barely had anything. I walk to the kitchen table and grab my glucose monitor. I reach for an alcohol swab then prime the lance and press it to my finger. I'm a shaking mess as I squeeze the small bead of blood on the strip and wait for the result.

480!!!

Is emblazoned on the screen followed by the word High flashing in red.

I rush to one of the drawers that I keep an emergency insulin pen in but I can't find it. I'm worried and in need of insulin and I don't have any. I toss my monitor in my bag and walk out of my apartment then lock my door. I need $300 or more to purchase a vile from the pharmacy. I need to get to Gina's café to log on to the dark webs job board to hopefully snatch a job. My foggy mind barley registers much as I walk fast to the café.

I walk in relieved that its not packed and I find my way to my usual spot in the back. I pull out my laptop and begin to type. I'm in on a job within minutes helping an individual funnel unsavery pics from her spouses email account. I should feel remorseful that I helped someone in a divorce suit but at this moment the way I felt, I simply couldn't care. I watch as the balance on my debit card goes up to just shy of $300. I exhale and shake off the dizziness and reach out to do one more job as sweat trickles down my back.

The effects of my sugar is riding me but I fight to hold on as this is not my first rodeo with a high glucose level.

"Hey girl! Are you okay?" the familiar feminine voice of Gina pulls me from my mental fog.

I look and give my biggest reassuring smile. "Yea, just getting over a bad cold. Had to turn in some class work that's all."

She nods and places a new stack of magazines on the coffee table. I peer over my screen and my gaze lands on the front cover and familiar gorgeous eyes stare back at me. I look away with the reminder that I have to go back to his place if not he will come looking for me. I look at my screen and get to work and feel relieved when its all done. By the time I'm done I put away my laptop and stand. I brace myself as the room spins. I make my way out on shaky legs to Mr. Connor's pharmacy.

I put on my bravest face and force myself to look perky as I walk in. I look at the cash register and notice Mr. Conner is not there. I walk slowly up to the woman using it and return the smile she gives me.

"Good morning, how can I help you?" she says.

I look around and notice I'm alone. I rattle off the name of my insulin and brace myself for disappointment. But she smiles.

"Of course, we just got a shipment in last night. I will get it."

I'm so relieved I want to cry.

I watch her return with it and place it in a bag along with a couple of syringes.

"Is that all for you today?"

I nod. The small talk can barely come out of me as I am slowly getting sicker. I can feel the sweat dripping down my back as I shake off the spots in my vision. I take deep fortifying breaths as I make it back uptown to Damian's condo.

The moment I reach his building, I'm relieved. I pace myself and fight the sickness and lean against the wall to the elevator as it make its slow descent up to his floor.

I can feel the weight of my bag and my computer as I press the code I remembered from earlier and the door clicked. I push my way through and immediately I am met with angry grey eyes.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I went to my place," I say as I make my way toward the room where I slept.

"Why the hell would you do that, Have you forgotten that Boris's men are out there?

"No, I haven't forgotten. I needed something from my house.? I say as he follows me in the room.

I place my bag on the bed and dash to the bathroom.

"I am fine nothing happened." I insisted before shutting the door on him.

"Hey, I am not done talking to you" he yells through the door.

I dig in my bag and pull out the vile and syringe. I ignore his voice as he continues talking through the door. I try to concentrate as I measure my insulin in the syringe.

"Hey, are you listening to me," he knocks but I don't answer as I weakly lean against the sink and mentally try to remember my dose I need.

Suddenly, the door bursts open, and he steps in.

"What the hell are you doing?"

He lunges for me and slaps my syringe out of my hand and in that instant my vile of insulin drops on his floor, Glass shatters everywhere.

"You jerk, that's all that I had," I screamed as I shoved him away.

His arms wrap tightly around me as I fight to reach for the syringe on the floor. But I'm too weak and tired to get out of his hold. The bathroom grows hotter and darker as I hear him argue with me about taking drugs.

I turn to face him and yell its not drugs, its insulin.!!!

I could feel the ground beneath me give way as my vision clouded and grows dark. His voice echoes my name as he reaches for me. And then there is silence.