What about New York?

Chapter 13

natalies pov
* SA trigger warning *

I had a panic attack. Why the hell did I have a panic attack? I haven't had one of those in years. I was currently hiding on the top floor where the balcony was. I had no idea what caused it bit it was as if the doors opened and people flooded in I couldn't do it.

I took a few deep breathes as one of the security guys took a step towards me. "Mr. Fitzgerald has arrived."

I thanked him before taking my last calming breath. It wasn't Graham I really wanted to see, it was Mark but I knew that if I saw him I'd strangle him on the spot. Besides I had to thank Graham for the stunning dress. I knew Graham would show, but I had no idea when or if Mark would show up.

I headed for the stairs qnd scanned the crowd. I found him within seconds and I decended the stairs as if my life depended on it. When I reached the bottom step I had to make my way through the crowd, I lost him. I stood there for a second before there was a voice in my ear.

"You look stunning"

Before I could realize that his hand was on mine, I was spinning around. We were now face to face. "Have you seen Mark?"

His jaw clenched. "Why?"

My hand fell from his and rested on his chest. "I just need to know he actually showed up so I don't have another panic attack."

His hand went to the small of my back. "You had a panic attack? When?" I had to stop him from removing his mask. "I'll kill him" his head turned.

"Graham, I'm fine.." He looked back at me and his mask really framed his eyes well. He looked almost worried. I patted his chest. "I promise, I'm okay now."

I looked passed His shoulder to see Mark. " I gotta go talk to Mark, excuse me."

His jaw was still clenched, I could slowly feel his hand clench the fabric at my waist. "Natalie." His tone was a warning.

"Graham." I mimicked His tone. We sat there just staring at each other. It was as if we both were daring the other one to move.

"Thanks for finding my date Fitzgerald, I'll take her back now." I was grabbed from Grahams arms, our eye contact ripped away from each other by Mark.

As my chest was facing Mark, I could feel Graham's chest against my back. I turned halfway and pressed my hand on Grahams stomach. "Graham..." His eyes flickered down to me before he walked away.

"Geez, he's so weird and uptight." Mark commented as I watched after him. My hand was being yanked in another direction. "Babe come on, we have to go enjoy the place. We did a great job."

We?

Mark yanked me behind him for most of the evening as he introduced me to some of his friends. I thought this whole event was to mingle with the investors, not personal people. I didn't realize that I was disassociating and on my way to a panic attack until Mark mentioned for the fifteenth time how he was so grateful for my "help" for this event.

"Excuse me." I sat my glass down and turned. Mark called after me but I ignored him and he didn't chase me. I ducked into one of the closed off areas, I pressed my hand against the wall and sucked in air. I hate this feel so much, my chest was so tight and I can't breathe. I pulled my mask off and started fanning myself with it.

"Natalie?"

I turned around, I tried to tell Graham to go away but I couldn't talk. He rushed to me and grabbed my arm. "Hey breathe," his other hand went to my stomach. "Baby I need you to breathe right now. You're okay, I'm here."