Chapter One

Anna woke up without the love of her life beside her. Her mind knew better than to think Christian was the man for her, but her heart was beating against that thought every day. She turned toward the dim light that pushed through her plain white window curtain; the sun wasn't fully shinning over her eyes yet. The curtain was already pulling at the hem, but it didn't matter, she was broke and as long as the curtain was clean, that was enough for her. For now she had the basics in her bedroom; she only took her large dark brown dresser with her. Surprisingly, she had a large closet that was filled with her old clothes, shoes and the new clothes Christian gave to her. Her queen size bed was the only thing she purchased for the new apartment. She was a working woman now and she also wanted to have room in her bed for…she turned away from her only window and squeezed her legs together. After having amazing sex regularly, the few weeks of celibacy was frustrating her core. She still wasn't ready for someone else, it was probably a first love thing, but she was still holding onto his memory. She sat up on her bed as she always did and faced the closet. Today would be her first day at her new job and crying about a decision she made would be counterproductive to her wellbeing. She had to focus on her career now, love would come later.

She walked to her closet and looked at her clothes. Christian had surprisingly good taste. She knew she would look more sophisticated with his choices, then her shy school girl look that consisted of a single color blouse and flower skirt. She rubbed her hand against the tight fitting ocean blue dress he gave her; it was one of her favorite outfits. Yes, she would wear this dress today with simple black pumps. Shoes still wasn't her thing; she preferred to be able to walk in them. Did people really look at the shoes others were wearing that much anyway? Kate begged Anna to take the first shift in the bathroom which meant Anna had to wake up two hours early to get ready to leave for work. Anna yawned as she walked toward the bathroom holding her bra, panties and deodorant. For now she only wore a hot pink t-shirt on with nothing under it. Anna had to be able to leave out of the bathroom quickly so Kate would be able to get to ready for work. Not that Kate ever woke up on time.

Anna finished getting dressed by adding a diamond stud in each ear. She decided to keep her make up to lipstick only for now. Kate complimented Anna and told her that she didn't need much make up, she could add mascara if she wanted to bring out her eyes. Anna rolled her eyes, but really appreciated that Kate thought she was pretty. Anna never saw herself as pretty, but looking back, the few guys she dated were very attracted her. She looked in mirror and turned her body to each side to make sure the dress was flattering, but not too sexy. She didn't even know she had a shape until Christian taught her to appreciate her body. She clenched her hands at her sides; she needed to stop thinking about him. Their relationship was over; it was her choice. She released her fists, walked toward her large brown designer purse that only held her old tattered black wallet, cell phone, body spray, perfume and make up. She took one last moment to remind herself that today was the first day of the rest of her new life and that she should be happy about it. She placed a smile on her face and walked out of her bedroom door.

"You have to move on, Anna. It's for the best," she said to herself.

Christian was impeccably dressed in a navy blue suit that was paired with a white shirt. He stopped wearing ties after he and Anna parted ways. The ties felt like a vice around his neck and it reminded him of their time together. The fashion industry thought he was starting a modern business man trend, but he simply couldn't wear them anymore and he hated that he became compromised. The first woman he ever loved had made his a lesser kept man, but he had no regrets. He stood by every decision he had ever made and he wasn't going to stop believing in himself now. He took out his cell phone and glanced at it. Nothing, but professional obligations stared back at him. Was he expecting something else? She came back before, maybe she would come back again? No, there was no denying the look of fear in her face. Anna was afraid of him now. She saw what he was capable of and she couldn't deal with it. He also sensed something else, struggle. She didn't want to leave, but she felt she had to leave him. He closed his eyes to shut off his emotions. He didn't want her to feel obligated to see him so he couldn't break down again. He just needed to survive. Work was his life before and it would be his life again. Christian smelled Taylor in the elevator. Taylor was starting to overstep his bounds by using any excuse check up on him. If it was anyone else, Christian would have not allowed such behavior, but Taylor was not just his driver, he was friend and advisor as well.

The elevator doors opened smoothly and Taylor stepped out wearing one of the two suits he always wore during the week. Christian sometimes wondered what Taylor did with all the money he paid him. Taylor stood by the elevator door and said good morning to Christian while trying to sniff the air around them for anything out of the ordinary. Christian walked to Taylor, eyed him for a moment.

"Let me know if you smell something," said Christian.

Taylor swallowed. Christian should be angry, but Taylor didn't sense anything from him which was unnerving. Taylor was only able to sense a blip of feeling from Christian now and then and Taylor had to act downright incompetent to get a reaction from Christian. Taylor drove past Christian as he waited outside of his office building one day and backed up the car inch by inch while grinding the brakes. Christian winced and looked at the back of his car like he wanted to pull the car back with his bare hands, throw Taylor out of the car and drive away without him. Christian raised his hand to signal Taylor to stop the car. Taylor placed the car in park and waited for Christian to reach the car. Christian stomped toward the backseat door and tried to open the door. Taylor looked around as if he didn't notice the doors were locked. Christian slammed his hand on the hood of the car and yelled Taylor's name. Taylor was satisfied with Christian's reaction and unlocked the door. By the time Christian entered the car, Taylor only heard a steady pulse and nothing else.

"Have you lost all of your senses," asked Christian?

"My apologies, sir," said Taylor.

Christian pressed the button near the elevator door and the doors opened. Taylor stepped to the side to allow Christian to enter the elevator first. It was going to be another long day. As Taylor and Christian stood silent in the elevator, Christian noticed Taylor's uneasy heartrate. Why was Taylor so worried about him? He was fine. Christian had over eight hundred items on his to do list to keep him busy. Anna only hunted his dreams because it was the one place he couldn't control. Maybe, Christian was wrong and Taylor's behavior had nothing to do with Christian, but Alexa. She left Taylor recently and both Christian and his father, Corin did not mind her absence. Now that Christian agreed to see his father, Alexa was not needed to be at Christian's side. Christian wouldn't mind her coming back, but it was up to Alexa to make that decision.

Christian noticed the newspaper under Taylor's arm and stretched his hand toward Taylor. Taylor handed Christian the newspaper, Christian opened up the paper and proceeded to read the first page. There would be no more conversation between them, unless Christian decided to change his destination plans for the day. Taylor glanced over at Christian. Reading an actual newspaper was his boss' new activity. Even though Taylor was older than Christian, Taylor preferred to have an online subscription to his periodicals. The newspaper was just a shield from the world around him. If his head was down and focused on the newspaper, no one would dare interrupt him.

Elliot woke up with a smile on his face as he thought about Kate. They could not get enough of each other. Soon, Elliot would need to move out of his parent's house and get back to…Elliot scrunched his eye brows together and frowned. Go back to what? He hadn't worked a day in his life. Did his parents just give him money with no expectations? No wonder he went to werewolf bar looking for a fight. He didn't have a life to lose. Elliot groaned. He really needed to get out of this house. When he stood up, he planned to figure out what to do for a career. When opened the bedroom door, the scent that reached his nose stopped him in his tracks.

"Mia?"

Elliot briskly walked toward the stairs and all but skipped down them toward the front door. His parents were still in the kitchen eating, but he knew his mother was aware of Mia's scent. Elliot stopped at the foot of the stairs as he thought about his mother. She had to put on a façade every minute when she was with her husband. Could he hide his abilities from Kate for the rest of his life? The door bell rung and Elliot was now able to answer the door without drawing in unwanted attention to his abilities. When he opened the door, he purposely changed his smile to an immediate frown to tease his baby sister, but it didn't work. Mia was dressed for the runway as usual. She covered her eyes under dark brown designer sunglasses and wore a pink bandage dress with gold pumps. Her jet black hair was cut short, but she was known to change her hairstyle at any time. She smiled at her brother and took off her sun glasses.

"Ha, ha," said Mia. "Come here."

Mia pulled Elliot down to her and hugged him tightly. Elliot groaned. She knew she was stronger than him. Elliot hugged her back. She kissed his cheek and let go of him. Elliot noticed her eyes fill with water. She wiped the one tear she couldn't hold back under her eye. Elliot rubbed her arm to comfort her. She had been gone too long and seeing her family again reminded her of everything she gave up when she left them.

"Come in here," said Elliot. "Mom, dad, guess who's back!"

Mia let Elliot pull her into the house.

"My bags!"

Elliot continued pulling her into the house and walked back to her two large neon colored suitcases and carryon bag. He placed them inside the front door and closed the door. Grace screamed and ran to her daughter. Both of them held each other's arms, cried and spoke incoherent phrases to each other. Carrick walked in the living room and saw his long lost baby girl frantically holding his wife while yelling gibberish. A warm smile spread across his face as he walked toward them. Mia and Grace pulled away from each other and wiped their eyes. Carrick held his daughter tight. Mia started to silently cry against her father's chest. She kept her hands at her sides because she knew she couldn't control her strength at the moment.

"You're not going to hug me back," asked Carrick with a playful tone?

"Oh, daddy," said Mia.

Mia took a beat to manage her strength and hugged her dad. He didn't feel in distress so she knew hugged him properly. She smiled. He let go of her first and she took a step back. She wanted to put on her sunglasses, but she knew her parents wouldn't tolerate it. These were the only people she allowed to see her vulnerable.

"So, you're moving back, right," asked Carrick?

Mia shook her head. Grace rubbed her husband's arm. Carrick's feelings always lit up when their daughter was around. It was very sweet to see him acting this way.

"Well, I plan to stay here a while, but not permanently."

Carrick pouted his lips and lowered his head. Everyone laughed. Mia sternly, but lovingly reminded her father that guilt trips did not work on her. Christian was the only one in the family that fell for such cons, but Mia kept that part to herself. Carrick sighed and raised his hands in defeat. Mia and Carrick walked to the kitchen and talked as Grace and Elliot looked at each other. Who knew what shenanigans Mia was going to bring with her? Still, everyone was glad she came home.

Taylor drove home. Ever since Christian faded out and Alexa left him, he didn't have much to do anymore. When the elevator doors opened to his hotel floor, he saw Alexa standing in front of him wearing a short white leather jacket and a white mini dress with matching knee high boots. Taylor took a step back from the surprise of seeing her again. When the elevator doors almost closed, both Alexa and Taylor moved quickly to hold the door. The doors were not able to retract due to their strength. When they realized this, they let go of the doors. Taylor stepped out of the elevator and walked toward his door without breathing in front of the woman he had slept with for the past few months. He heard her footsteps behind him, she was so close. What was she doing here? He used his card key to open his room. He walked inside and felt Alexa standing right behind him.

"Did you forget something," asked Taylor?

"I was ordered here by Corin," said Alexa.

Taylor snarled and turned around to face Alexa. She came to him because she was just following orders. Why couldn't she bother Christian with this BS. Since she was here by the king's command, he had to answer whatever question she asked him. He just had to make sure he gave enough information to keep Corin from getting involved with Christian's affairs. Who knew what Corin would do if he found out that Anna had caused his son so much pain?

"Is there something wrong with Christian?"

I'm back! Thank you so much for your patience. I was working on another book, but decided to take a break to work on this story for a while. The other book is finished, but I have edit and revise it.

I started this story with Anna and Christian apart because I wanted it to feel like an actual break up before the plot thickens. I also plan to add Mia in this one as subplot.

As always, I appreciate any comments, reviews or constructive criticism.