Grabbing her keys as she started out of her two bedroom loft apartment.  Located downtown Chicago exactly two miles from her job as a clinical research associate.  Mona had been with this company for five years, and located at this facility for the last three.  A organization started in England, researching the early phase of cancer studies.  She took pride in her job believing that it was for a great cause.  Arriving to work thirty minutes early from Monday-Saturday, although Saturdays where not required for her.  “Good morning Fred,” Mona said, to the security guard who had beautiful grey hair and all ways seemed to smile at everyone. He replied, ” good morning, Mona Lisa.” A name he had given her because her eyes seem to smile at times.  Once swiping her badge to get into the security strict-ion area, on her way to her office she sees her dear friend Cathy.  Cathy was her assistant.  She had beautiful red hair and green eyes that were hid behind her thick glasses.  Cathy was very much single and stayed alone as well with her four cats.  “TGIF,” she said to Mona.  “Hoary,” said Mona.  Lets get together and watch a new movie I downloaded from netsonflix.  “Sure,” said Cathy. I will come over at about seven p.m. Mona started with her every Friday routine.  At the end of the day the two got together as planned earlier and watched the movie.  This was normal for them to spend the weekend together watching movies or going to museums and hanging out.  Her family still resided in Huntsville, Alabama were she was born and raised.  With a country girl title staying at home was very easy for her.  A younger sibling, in fact her only sibling, called every single day.  She called her Sweet-Pea.  Being at the age of 20 and a junior at American Academy of Art without any income and so close to her sister.  She felt her income was not being used for any greater use.  So what ever she needed Mona supplied.  My adopted Mother-Sissy is what she called her.  They’re parents were very strict and felt that only items needed not wanted would be what they supplied.  Just as they did with Mona when she was a student at the University of Alabama.  Of course, Mona felt obligated to supply her little sister with everything she could possibly want that was in means of her to provide.  This Friday night however the conversation was not about jeans or money for the weekend.  It was about a car.  Mona being Mona since her job was only two miles away agreed to let her sister use her 2009 Volts Wagon Jetta, for the remainder of the school year.  “Are you crazy,” said Cathy. “I mean I knew you were a push over with your sister but I mean this takes the cake.  What next? Will you give her your apartment and move out? Good grief. Would you be my big sister as well and take my 94 Honda civic and upgrade it.” “So funny. I love my sister and our parents or very strict.  I just want her to be happy, said Mona.” “Ah (bullshit) chew,”said Cathy.  The two started laughing. That next week it was the same as any other. Mona received a request from a local high school called Butler High to attend on a class field trip for the Biology students.  Since these request had been denied so many other times for other educational programs she felt this would be as well.  The request took a back seat to her to do list that never got done. Cathy informed Mona that someone would be coming in from England.  This is no surprise to her.  Knowing that this facility had taken on a lot more responsibility and someone helping her to run the facility was greatly needed.  On Thursday when she arrived at the office she noticed know one in the board room where they schedule and talked about task to be done.  As she walked out into the hall she heard laughter and giggles coming from the lab.  Mona pushed the swing doors open and found her entire staff of 35 being lectured by her new co-associate manager, Johnson Windham.  He was a very attractive six feet two inches slender guy, with dark brown  shaggy hair that fell to his eyes and had to be brushed back occasionally.  He was very much a ladies man.  Arrogant, cocky, handsome, but great at his job.  The two instantly did not agree with each other after introductions of themselves.  They worked they in and day out as a team.  Work for the two was a piece of cake.  Her days were less stressful.  Her nights were longer.  Everything was great for her.  Months had pasted and Mona was doing well.  Johnson became the ladies man and dated a different female every single week.  Mona not only didn’t care but felt his personal life was his and his alone.  The Christmas party was coming up and it was planned for the next Saturday at six p.m.  Cathy and Mona had discussed things to wear and to do.  One thing that was on their to do list that was not normal for them was a make over.  They decided to let Mona’s sister do the honors of getting their sizes and picking up something for the two of them using the credit card she had given her for expenses.  The makeovers completely transformed the looks of the two ladies.  Cathy hair was completely not what she would normally do.  It was razor cut in a bob and her glasses were gone, she looked like a model.  Mona’s look was so elegant and beautiful her hair was no longer pulled back in the clamp it would normally be in, it was in big beautiful curls. When her sister arrived at her apartment with their new stunning look her immediate reaction was are you my sister and to Cathy, girl you are going to get laid tonight.  Mona’s dress was red, her back was out, it was lose fitting, stopping mid-thigh and the front center dropped to her belly button.  Mona quickly grabbed her trench coat.  Cathy was in all black, no sleeve, umbrella bottom dress.  Her sister drove them to the center.  Johnson arrived at the same time so Sweet-Pea says to her,”who is that.” “Oh, that’s Johnson.” “That’s Johnson,” said her sister. “Dang.” The two got out of the car and started into the building when Johnson complimented them on how beautiful they were.  While starring at Mona in away he had never before.  Mona’s cell phone went off.  It was a text from her sister that said, you are worth the wait, you are beautiful and I love you.  She smiled.  Once inside at the party Mona decided to keep her jacket on.  Everyone wanted to know if she needed the heat turned up but she simply replied by saying I have a cold, I need to sweat a little.  After consuming two glasses of cranberry and vodka  she started to feel more comfortable with her self.  Employees saw a side of her they had no idea existed.  Johnson found her behavior to be very pleasing to know she wasn’t as stuck up and boring as he thought.  In fact it was just the surface of who she was.  Mona pulled her jacket off and everyone turned and looked she was remarkably beautiful and Johnson couldn’t take his eyes off of her.  Mona being consumed with a large amounts of alcohol didn’t find this to be strange at all.  She walked up to Johnson and said to him don’t judge a book by its cover and walked out to the hall way.  When she noticed he was behind her she went into the lab.  Johnson came in behind her Mona turned to him and immediately started to kiss him.  He kissed her back.  She looked him in his eyes and said take me home with you.  Johnson being very attracted to this woman and at this point everything about her he couldn’t refuse.  This wouldn’t be his average lay.  It felt different and he knew it but Mona on the other hand was a bit under the influence.  When they arrived at his apartment Mona started to kiss him again and as he started to undress her she stopped him and said, “I am a virgin and I have been drinking, I know what I want and its you, know strings attached. I don’t want you to look at me differently and neither will I.  I am thirty-one and it is time for me to let go and who better with than you.  You have many women, you are experienced and I will not get attached.” Johnson didn’t know what to say he was wrapped up in her beauty and felt he needed her, a feeling he had never felt. They made love and to Mona it was the best feeling in the world but she was so head strong.  She had all ready convinced her self it would just be sex.  He had never waken up from a night with a woman and felt that way.  He had completely fallen for her.  The following Monday was very difficult for him.  Not Mona, she was at her usual. She did feel differently and as if she had been missing out on something.  One of her best qualities was  putting mind over heart.  Johnson pulled her to the side and wanted to talk with her.  Mona told him not to worry everything was fine.  She would not become his stalker and even though she gave him her virginity it was her choice and hers alone.  Reminding him to go back to his every day life.  Mona on the other hand decided to start dating.  A guy she had met a couple of months ago at the park while jogging that she never called was the first and last to come to mind.  Johnson convinced himself he was cool with this he decided to start back being the bachelor he was.  Things were different for him.  He no longer had the desire to be with every woman he saw.  He found himself missing Mona.  So one day he went up to her and told her how he felt and she denied him any form of relationship without second guessing herself.  He was a part of her.  To avoid getting hurt she felt this would be the best option.  He was not the same.  He finally found something he had never found.  He went to her again he decided to confess his love to her once again. Only at this time he was not taking no for an answer.  He told her he loved her, he wanted to start over and he wanted know one but her and so she decided to give him a date. Will it last? To be continued