Hacker (Book 1)

Veronica Chapter 10

Bright lights shine in my face. My eyes flutter open. I hear the slow beeping of the heart monitor. My heart beet.

I turn slowly to see Sebastian sitting in the chair next to me. He has a deep concerned look on his face. He was looking at the ground so he didn't see me wake up.

"Sebastian?" I croak, my voice is dry from the lack of speaking.

"You're awake," he says. His eyes hold mine. Something about his face is comforting.

"Well, I'm not dead," I say trying to smile.

"But you almost were," he says taking my hand in his, "You almost died." His voice was quiet, but also he sound almost afraid.

"But I didn't," I reassure, giving his hand a little squeeze.

"You didn't," he says, flashing his beautiful smile.

"So what now?" I ask my heart thudding.

"What do you mean?" He asks.

"Well, I'm here, so what am I going to do," I ask.

"Well, to start off, how about some glasses," he says placing black glasses on my face.

I smile, "You remembered."

"Well, it was what convinced you to come with me," he says, "That, and my charming personality."

"What charming personality?" I ask laughing.

"Hey," he said. I still have a smile on my face when he adds, "I'm glad you're here."

Before I can respond, the doctor comes in. He is carrying a clipboard, looking very official. No emotion covers his face.

"Veronica?" He asks.

"Yes, that's me, and you are?" I ask.

"Dr. Marshall," he says, "I'm the guy that saved your life."

"Well, Mr. Snobby, to be perfectly clear Sebastian saved my life, but if that's what makes you feel special then you do you," I snap.

He stands there for a second stunned. After a moment of him staring at me with his jaw dropped he regains his arrogant personality, and says, "The bullet didn't hit anything vital, but the amount of blood you lost was fatal. It'll be a few weeks before you will even be close to full recovery."

Is this guy for real? Seriously, I'm not an idiot. I look at him with the look of I'm about to punch him in the face.

He at least as some common sense because  he clears his throat, and says, "I'll keep you posted."

"How considerate," I say sarcastically.

"I think you scared him away," Sebastian says, after Dr. Snobby left.

"Really, I didn't notice," I reply.

"Once you're able to move, the Director wants to see you," he says.

"I can move now," I say trying to sit up. Pain shoots through my stomach. I wince.

"Not very well," he says.

"You try getting shot in the stomach," I say defensively.

"No thanks that sounds painful," he replies.

I shoot him a glare. At this he smiles and says, "You're much prettier when you smile."

Before I can respond he looks down at his phone. He looks back up at me.

"I have to go," he says. He gets up, his hand slowly detaching from mine. Have we been holding hands this whole time. Now that his hand is gone, I feel weird, like when you wear heels all day then when you take them off you walk differently, like there's a dent in the floor. That's what it feels like. Not the dent in the floor part, but the feeling weird part.

I shake my head. It must be all in my mind. It has to be.

***

It's been several days, and I'm now able to move without damaging anything. It isn't pretty or comfortable though.Sebastian has visited once since I woke up. I assume he's doing agent like things. I on the other hand have gotten caught up on my reading.

My new glasses are amazing. I like not having technology in my eyeballs. Now I don't feel like the government can blow my brains out with a click of the button. Well, I am in their headquarters though, so they still could, but that's not the point.

I was reading some book about technology, don't ask me the name of it
I wouldn't be able to pronounce it, when two men came in, one was Sebastian who smiled his charming smile that made my stomach drop every time I saw him. The other was a tall surely man you looked liked he had never smiled a day in his life.

"Veronica, the Director's ready to see you now," Sebastian says. He helps me up, then we head off on the next adventure.